Building a guitar from scratch
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Posted on Jun 14, 2006 11:02 am
SgtPepper517
Member Since: Dec 04, 2005
I recently built a guitar from a kit, and had a blast building it. Well now the summer is here and i don't have school so i am bored as ever. Has anyone here built a guitar from a block of wood? About how much did it cost when its all said and done, and how long/difficult was it to build. I have heard that you need to have exact specifications for the neck, so where do I find those? Thanks in advance. :)
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 14, 2006 11:19 am thought about it, but other avenues keep me pretty busy.
I'd guess there's quite a few luthier related sites around on the inet. Stew-Mac would be a good place to look (if you haven't already).
So far as cost: depends on how complex you are, or how good at scrounging =)
How long/ difficult: see above, as complexity will certainly be a factor. I was re-finishing my telecaster, and had spent lots of time sanding, wanting a totally flat and closed finish before coating it.
Many guitar manufacturers have specs for neck shapes, and widths. I'm sure you could get info from luthier sites as well.
Also, I guess build difficulty / cost depends on what tools you have, or have access to, plus how much skill you have with tools, like shaping the body, neck, frets, routing, etc.
That's kinda why I haven't gotten into it. It would cost a bunch to do it how I'd like to do it. Plus take lots of time I don't already have =)
Jun 14, 2006 11:21 am I have thought about doing that a lot, having a complete machine shop at my disposal means I can do a lot of things most people can't, plus I was a machinst for many years. Even with that, I would NEVER attempt to make a neck, only a body.
Jun 14, 2006 11:23 am My dad bought me a book on how to build a les paul knock off. I'll dig up the title...
Jun 14, 2006 12:44 pm i've got a friend who built one out of a 2x4...he called it 'the plank'...it was pretty much like a steinberger with a fender neck...with one humbucker. that mofo fedback like no other guitar i've ever heard...the sound wasn't very great, but he used it to practice on with a mini fender twin amp that ran on a 9v battery at work. i could get some info from him if ya want.
Jun 14, 2006 02:37 pm Wow that was quick, thanks for the posts.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 16, 2006 08:07 am ha, I should make a plank. I've got two old humbuckers from something (i've no idea where) that I could put in a frank-en-guitar.
Maybe a quick afternoon project, so as not to take up any real time or money =).
Jun 16, 2006 08:10 am yeah, man, I got the old pickups from my Washburn before the QTuners went in there...good idea.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 16, 2006 05:29 pm OK, sounds like a good compatition. Who can build the best sounding guitar out of a 2 x 4.
