my guitar building attempts

rbjammin · #1 05-18-2007, 06:25 PM

I was curious how a 27" scale length 7 string guitar would play and sound, but could not find one nearby, so, I decided to make my own. It was a fun experience most of the time. Even when it was not fun, I was still learning!

Both have an ebony fingerboard, stainless steel frets, hipshot bridge and a volume control that is a push-push pickup selection switch.

The first guitar was started in June, 2006, but was so problematic that I didn't work on it for about 9 months. I made a lot of mistakes, but also learned a lot. The body is chambered and has a mahogany back and maple top and neck.

The second guitar was started because I was so frustrated with the guitar on the left! It is a solid mahogany body and neck with a tung oil finish. Unfortunately, the wood figuring does not show well in the picture. It is quite amazing!

Moderators, please feel free to resize the pictures if desired. I couldn't figure out how to resize them!

AlkyHauler · #2 05-18-2007, 10:21 PM

Dude they look awesome.

Jemwielder · #3 05-18-2007, 10:23 PM

Nice. How do they play?

Devo · #4 05-19-2007, 06:12 AM

they are great! love the blank canvas fingerboards! some close-ups and back shots would be great if you could get them...

Most frist time guitar builders bight off way more than they can chew and abandon their projects! That you took on building these difficult guitars and saw them through is a serious achievement!

Hope you keep it up cause they look great!

more pics and sound/video clips if possible

Steve

scotte_za · #5 05-19-2007, 06:17 AM

tell us more about the first time building experience please? i received my gutiar building book about a month ago, im reading it through twice before i attempt anything

the.godfather · #6 05-19-2007, 01:59 PM

They look pretty cool to me.

Nice job man!

Ibateur · #7 05-19-2007, 04:28 PM

Those guitars are beautiful! They look very well made.

Like the no-tone simplicity.

Distantshore · #8 05-19-2007, 04:43 PM

Incredible!

rbjammin · #9 05-21-2007, 08:53 AM

Thank you all for your kind words! I will try to post pictures of the backs.

In my opinion, and of the few others which have played them, both guitars play quite well. They are comfortable to play sitting or standing. The necks are finished only with tung oil so they are very smooth. It is taking some time to get used to the 27" scale length, but that is probably because I am not playing every day. I am sure that if I played more often, the scale length would not be an issue. The other people that have played them did not notice the scale length. Some did not immediately notice they were playing a seven string!

With respect to the building process, I would say the most important thing is order in which things are done. For example, since the neck is glued in, the hole for the neck pickup wiring had to be drilled before the neck is installed. What helped me figure out the order was to write out each step in detail and then sort what steps are related or dependant.

Having the proper tools definately helps the process! As an absolute minimum, I would recommend a hand drill, hand saw, clamps, lots of sandpaper, router and related bits, rasp, fret saw and fret file. Ideally, having a jointer/planer, band saw, drill press, radius sanding blocks, fret-press caul, orbital sander, nut files, chisel and finger plane will make the building process easier and probably result in a better guitar.

Overall, if you enjoy making things, building a guitar is a rewarding experience. The initial investment in tools, and parts can make it more expensive than buying something factory-made. If you are thinking about building one, total up the cost to build one yourself and compare it to what is already available.

rbjammin · #10 05-21-2007, 10:28 AM

Here are pictures of the backs:

Awakened Sleeper · #11 07-03-2007, 08:14 PM

Wow! I can't believe I missed this thread. Both of those look amazing man, extremely cool work. I'll bet they play just as good as they look.

mi2tom · #12 07-04-2007, 12:09 AM

Totally amazing! Good job

Ferrous Lepidoptera · #13 07-04-2007, 12:55 AM

I'm always amazed to see people making instruments from wood. I made a couple of guitar racks out of wood (pine) and they are pretty crude, though servicable, but the experience gave me a better appreciation for the difference between my crude carpentry and real craftmanship. These look pretty nice. it seems amazing to me that, given a board of wood, something so precise -- to tolerances much less than 1mm -- can be made from it.

The back of the neck of the 2nd one looks pretty interesting.