Author Topic: My self-built guitar, with pics and a video (Read 4537 times)

marmoset · « **on:** May 24, 2007, 05:27:31 PM »

I've posted some WIP pics in another thread, but it's up and playing now.

I built this guitar in my school technology labs, it took me several months, because I was learning how to use tools as I went along (initially I couldn't even use a plane).

The neck was bought off ebay, it's old stock from a small UK luthier. The hardware was bought from my local music shop. The guitar is finished, wired, the lot, all I need is knob for the volume pot.

edit: I need to screw the pickguard onto the body too, but I'm on exam leave, so I can't get access to a drill or screws. That's why the pickguard is sellotaped on for now :P

The shape is my own design, so any opinions on it (or anything else) would be great :)

I've recorded a short demo vid, the mic on the camera makes it sound a bit fizzy, but it's not too bad. On it there is:

Clean arpeggios with chorus
Jazz chords + solo
Distorted chords + solo
Phrygian dominant metal section (I pulled that one out of my hindquarters )

It's a first take so I **** up a few times :oops:

Video here:

dave_mc · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2007, 05:34:01 PM »

very nice... i like the shape.

what are the specs (hardware, wood, etc.?)

marmoset · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2007, 05:37:15 PM »

The body is birch ply, which isn't renowned for its tonal vibrance, but for my first build I didn't want to mess up some nice (and expensive) mahogany. The neck is rock maple with a rosewood fretboard, the pickups are one Kent Armstrong something which I got in a sale, and one stock pickup from my old guitar. The other hardware I bought from my local music shop. The bridge is the top of a strat trem screwed into the body instead of the trem block.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2007, 06:44:22 PM »

I am impressed. I think the design is original though I would think that you could probably come up with a head stock design that better suits-I mean that in a positive way. I have not got the time right now to watch the vid though. Excellent!

dave_mc · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2007, 09:03:11 PM »

Quote from: marmoset

The body is birch ply, which isn't renowned for its tonal vibrance, but for my first build I didn't want to mess up some nice (and expensive) mahogany. The neck is rock maple with a rosewood fretboard, the pickups are one Kent Armstrong something which I got in a sale, and one stock pickup from my old guitar. The other hardware I bought from my local music shop. The bridge is the top of a strat trem screwed into the body instead of the trem block.

ah, that makes sense (the ply)... i agree with 38th about the headstock, i didn't actually notice it first time round. but the body shape is really good.

EDIT: nice playing in the video, by the way.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2007, 09:24:26 PM »

He didn't make the neck - So I guess he didn't have a choice on the headstock :p

Nice build mate!

Would love to try myself sometime!

38thBeatle · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2007, 10:34:14 PM »

Thats what I meant Noodle-indeed if he's have designed and made the neck, I would bet he'd have come up with something. He's bought a neck to get the project done and, like I said, I meant it in a gentle caring positive way.

Tarzan · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2007, 10:46:16 PM »

Nice guitar, I started one myself last summer, I even managed to get a really nice piece of mahogany for £15, because it was an off cut from from a timber merchant. But I gave up after getting the body shape, it just seemed like too much effort because I'd probably screw it up anyway, but this thread might just have given me the inspiration i needed to pick it up again after my GCSEs.

Again, really nice looking guitar.

marmoset · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2007, 11:58:05 PM »

Thanks guys, it's great to get feedback on something that's been living in my head for a few months. I may well sand the headstock to something a little more radical, I'm thinking pointy yet curvy.

Dave, thanks for the compliment on the playing, I play classical guitar more seriously, so it's nice to record some electricy stuff :)

WezV · « **Reply #9 on:** May 25, 2007, 10:49:53 AM »

Quote from: marmoset

The body is birch ply, which isn't renowned for its tonal vibrance, but for my first build I didn't want to mess up some nice (and expensive) mahogany.

Its one of the better 'school-project' guitars i have seen, but i cant abide plywood for bodies. Although i must say that i quite like the look around the edges.

I work at a school and have recently found an old hidden stash of mahogany bookcases and they have let me have a few planks for free. They also have old iroko worktops that i am tempted to try at some point.

Wood for guitar bodies does not have to be expensive and there are lots of alternative choices other than mahogany that work much better than plywood. Stuff like idigbo (Sometimes sold as korina), or sapelle (a good mahogany substitute) can be picked up for very reasonable prices and work perfectly. . . .

. . . . not to mention that its a much more pleasant experience working with solid wood compared to plyboard.

Anyway, nice work on the first but now make one out of proper wood

marmoset · « **Reply #10 on:** May 25, 2007, 11:32:06 AM »

Yeah, on reflection I could probably have got some proper solid wood for a not-too-greatly increased price. I don't find the tone is that bad though, on the video the cleans sound OK to me, the distorted tones are a bit questionable.

There's always the next one I suppose, although as it happens I'm planning a bass made out of metal at the moment, so wood might not be an issue :twisted:

dave_mc · « **Reply #11 on:** May 25, 2007, 12:44:56 PM »

Quote from: noodleplugerine

He didn't make the neck - So I guess he didn't have a choice on the headstock :p

ah, i missed that. sorry!

Quote from: marmoset

Dave, thanks for the compliment on the playing, I play classical guitar more seriously, so it's nice to record some electricy stuff :)

:drink:

apmaman · « **Reply #12 on:** May 25, 2007, 10:54:37 PM »

Sweet looking guitar!

I wish I did that this year or made an amp. It was my last year and I shoulda took techy. Made myself a wee marshall clone.

The video has really good playing! the chorus stuff at the start is brilliant!
if you ever get around to editing the headstock i would just sharpen the end of it like one of the spikes. leave the curves of the headstock and make them narrow into a point if you know what I mean?

marmoset · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2007, 11:19:23 AM »

Quote from: apmaman

Sweet looking guitar!
The video has really good playing! the chorus stuff at the start is brilliant!

Thanks :D

Quote from: apmaman

if you ever get around to editing the headstock i would just sharpen the end of it like one of the spikes. leave the curves of the headstock and make them narrow into a point if you know what I mean

That sounds like a great idea, so I could keep some of the curves but make them a little more aggressive. Any other ideas for the headstock are welcome too :)