My custom guitar thread

failsafe306 · #1 02-26-2008, 01:04 AM

I'm trying my hand and building my own custom guitar from the ground up. I've never really worked with wood before, but I'm getting better every day. So far, I've been through two body blanks, 4 neck blanks, and 3 fretboard blanks, LOL. But each on is getting much better than the one before it, and I'm learning TONS about woodworking.

I've acquired a bandsaw, router, planes, and other various tools so far, and learning how to use them as I go.

Here's the basic build:

Alder body....RG shape, old style neck joint
Maple neck....much thicker than a Wizard, more like my 08 USA Fender Strat
Jumbo frets
Rosewood fretboard
Gotoh hardtail bridge
Graphtech nut
EMG 85- bridge
EMG 89- neck
One push/pull volume to tap EMG 89
3-way blade switch

I'm unsure about the color, but I'm thinking along the lines of seafoam grean

As of now, here is the progress I've made.

Body- cut out and routed the edges smooth.
Neck- glued the scarf joint and routed the truss rod channel.
Fretboard- going to purchase a new blank tomorrow. While tapering the sides to the proper dimensions, somehow I planed about 1mm too much on one side right at the nut. So to prevent that from happening again, tonight I made a template out of aluminum that I can use a router guide to get the taper at a perfect 42mm at the nut and 56mm at the heel.

Pictures to come tomorrow! Feel free to comment and leave me some words of encouragement

-Chris

Hikey Mikey · #2 02-26-2008, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by failsafe306

. . . I've never really worked with wood before, but I'm getting better every day. . . . and I'm learning TONS about woodworking.

. . . Feel free to comment and leave me some words of encouragement

You have a great attitude! It sounds like you are on the way to producing a cool guitar, but even if you never do, you have already learned a lot and had a great time doing it. Can't wait for the pics . . .

failsafe306 · #3 02-26-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hikey Mikey

You have a great attitude! It sounds like you are on the way to producing a cool guitar, but even if you never do, you have already learned a lot and had a great time doing it. Can't wait for the pics . . .

Thanks Mikey.

shreddersymphony · #4 02-26-2008, 10:29 PM

Custom guitar = most rewarding experience/instrument ever, my second one's gonna be done in a little over a week. Best of luck with your buildin'.

RG462 · #5 02-27-2008, 12:04 AM

that's great that you are learning to build guitars! I myself have been interested with for a while doing paintjobs and refinishes on guitars but to the lack of tools, I have not been able to get started!

failsafe306 · #6 02-28-2008, 12:50 AM

Made some progress tonight. I picked up another piece of rosewood, and sanded/planed it down flat, then used my homemade fretting jig to saw in the fret slots nice and straight, and perfectly spaced. Tomorrow I will be cutting out the rough shape of the fretboard and gluing it onto the neck. Once the glue dries for at least 24 hours, I'll then use my homemade routing template to take the neck/fretboard down to it's final side to side dimensions, and starting to shape the back of the neck.

Flobanez · #7 02-28-2008, 01:58 AM

Sounds awesome. Keep us posted with some pics!

LonePhantom · #8 02-28-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by failsafe306

Made some progress tonight. I picked up another piece of rosewood, and sanded/planed it down flat, then used my homemade fretting jig to saw in the fret slots nice and straight, and perfectly spaced. Tomorrow I will be cutting out the rough shape of the fretboard and gluing it onto the neck. Once the glue dries for at least 24 hours, I'll then use my homemade routing template to take the neck/fretboard down to it's final side to side dimensions, and starting to shape the back of the neck.

Cool! Any details on your fretting jig?

DaniJem · #9 02-28-2008, 07:48 PM

I want to see your project... post pics!

and good luck!

failsafe306 · #10 02-28-2008, 08:17 PM

I'm searching for my camera to computer cable, I was able to take a few pics last night.

failsafe306 · #11 03-09-2008, 11:08 PM

Okay, so I got as far as gluing the fretboard onto the neck, and started to shape the top profile. Everything was going swell until the router gouged a HUGE chunk out of frets 22 & 24.

Oh well, sh!t happens right? I bought ANOTHER neck and fretboard blank (this makes #4, lol) and went to work again. Yesterday, I cut the scarf joint and glued it, and today I successfully routed out the truss rod channel, even more precise than the first time. I drew out the neck profile on the blank, and proceeded to do a rough cut out on the bandsaw, leaving 1-2mm of "oops" room to work with. So far so good.

I'm waiting on my fretboard rule from Stewmac to show up, should be here Wed, hopefully. As soon as it gets here, I'll mark and saw my frets, and glue it to the neck.

Getting better every attempt!

richard1973 · #12 03-10-2008, 10:21 AM

By the time u finish you'll be able to play your guitar by a nice campfire with all the wood your collecting

It's cool that your taking this project on, all the best to you

DaniJem · #13 03-10-2008, 11:11 AM

and you dont forget post pics!!!

failsafe306 · #14 03-10-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard1973

By the time u finish you'll be able to play your guitar by a nice campfire with all the wood your collecting

It's cool that your taking this project on, all the best to you

Haha I know! Lots of nice maple and rosewood ought to keep the fire going very nicely.

DrDissy · #15 03-10-2008, 11:35 PM

Sounds awesome/want to see progress pics. My only comment is that EMGs really aren't that satisfying after a while-if you want actives Seymour Duncan Blackouts are a huge step forward. Other than that, this sounds really neat.