Author Topic: My Summer Monstrosity - The Experience of Building a Guitar (Read 11691 times)

WezV · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2007, 03:06:58 PM »

sawing it down would obviously leave un-plated ends that would be even worse.

I wouldnt say its something to worry about on this one, its very minor - more something to make sure you correct on the next one... there is always a next one!!

other than that you could look into whether different size bars are available or creating one out out of somehing else.

try not to take my critique in a negative way because it really wasnt meant that way - this is an amazing guitar!!! Just a bad habit of mine

thats my teacher side and since i am in the middle of a 6 week beak from telling the kids what they should do to improve it all spills out here. You should see how critical i get about my own stuff!!!!!

Ted · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2007, 04:04:27 PM »

$%&# :o - thats great! I'm very impressed. Grand job.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2007, 04:37:52 PM »

Very impressive - I'm gunna have to look into getting a guitar of my own built one day =)

blue · « **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2007, 04:53:59 PM »

stunning guitar! congratulations, hard to believe it's your first attempt!

as Wez said, i think the only thing anyone could complain about would be personal taste, i think it looks fantastic myself, and as you said yourself, it's unique. no one else has one like it!

Ratrod · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2007, 05:26:29 PM »

Quite impressive for a first build. But maybe you should leave the inlay work to a real artist with computerized machinery that is more accurate than the human hand. (Very expensive stuff)

I recently had this T-cover made by this guy:
http://www.sharkinlay.com/

WezV · « **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2007, 06:00:51 PM »

CNC is cheating!!!

dave_mc · « **Reply #21 on:** August 08, 2007, 06:21:09 PM »

just to echo what wez said, that truss rod cover is extremely minor. I wouldn't have a notion about where to even start a build...

Philly Q · « **Reply #22 on:** August 08, 2007, 07:47:00 PM »

I think it looks fantastic, well done! :D

One thing I always wonder about with you guys who build from scratch - did you have access to a huge array of tools? I'd love to have a go at building a guitar (if I had the time), but it must be bloody hard work if all you have is a typical domestic toolbox. On the other hand, all those labour-saving devices like bandsaws, fret-slotting guides, radiused sanding blocks, fret files etc represent a serious financial outlay.

What would you say are the essential guitar-making tools :?:

opprobrium_9 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2007, 08:15:12 PM »

@ Ratrod: i mean, i am an artist, i have done sculpture, i paint, i draw with intensive detail. Without elevating myself, which i hate, i have been praised for my natural talent at art all my life, and usually excel at any sub-field in that huge spectrum - this is just a general fact, i am not trying to win any awards in anyone's eyes. If you have ever used an engraving tool you would understand how incredibly difficult it is to use, this is not even close to drawing, the accuracy and concentration involved can take a lifetime if not more to perfect. This was my first attempt at doing anything like that. 11ish hours just for the engraving was rushing for me. Also note that it is a very blurry picture, i couldn't get it to focus too well. Well at least someone mentions the inlay, bout bloody time.

EDIT: Personally, i thought the inlay was one of the other things that was total shite on my guitar, but good enough for a first try i suppose. There are so many things i am unhappy with on this instrument, but when i step back and look at the whole i just sit there and say to myself: "I MADE THIS?"

@ Phil: yeah i did have access to a bunch of tools, and there are some things that are far more essential than others.

Planes: Block Planes, Scr@per planes, Rebating planes, the list goes on
Chisels (preferably in a number of sizes)
Gouges
CLAMPS CLAMPS AND MORE CLAMPS: different sizes, different types (wood and metal)
Lots of spare ply
there are more, but yes it is a huge expenditure. For instance my friend got a block plane and it was 300 or something insane like that. Band saws seem to be almost essential if you want to save yourself time in the cutting process. However, i only used the bandsaw once, and that was to cut out the ROUGH shape of my body. Saved ages. As well as the fret saw/slotting guide, that saves SO much time, and is far more accurate then by hand. Aside from the major ones, there are sooo many little things that even if they aren't REALLY needed, they just get the job done that much faster.

WezV · « **Reply #24 on:** August 08, 2007, 08:44:14 PM »

all the tools just make it quicker and easier. I started with nothing but brought basic woodwork tools, a router and a bench drill and sawed my first body out by hand. I would recommend a small bandsaw a decent router and a good pillar drill + basic word-working tools for someone thinking about starting. all the fretting tools represent a large outlay but most can be made or you can buy ready slotted and radiused boards to save tool money on the first few builds. It someitmes takes a bit of ingenuity to work out how you are gonna do something with the bare minimum of tools but thats part of the fun

but obviously what you really need is a very expensive CNC machine to cut those perfect inlays :P

Philly Q · « **Reply #25 on:** August 08, 2007, 09:45:06 PM »

Quote from: WezV

but obviously what you really need is a very expensive CNC machine to cut those perfect inlays :P

Yeah, I was thinking of that as the starting point...

Thanks for the info, guys. I already have my (trusty and much-used) router and a slightly wobbly pillar drill, plus a few StewMac gadgets, but I figured a bandsaw (and maybe some kind of sanding drums?) would be fairly essential. I did once totally re-shape and contour an old Fender Bronco body using my router and an assortment of hand tools, so that was almost a bit of building from scratch; it was hard work. I wouldn't be at all confident about shaping a neck, but my "do everything very very slowly and carefully" approach usually works. Eventually.

I suppose, in a way, build-your-own GAS is more healthy than regular GAS. At least you can't rush into it.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #26 on:** August 08, 2007, 10:12:01 PM »

Very nice, it does scream out for body binding though - it looks kind of naked at the minute.

Go on, binding! binding! binding! binding! binding! binding! binding! :lol:

:twisted:

38thBeatle · « **Reply #27 on:** August 08, 2007, 10:35:07 PM »

That is an amazing piece of work. Clearly not Blues Twinfan-this is a country guitar if ever I saw one...seriously, great job!

rahnooo · « **Reply #28 on:** August 09, 2007, 12:08:42 AM »

Quote from: Philly Q

IOne thing I always wonder about with you guys who build from scratch - did you have access to a huge array of tools?

Pretty much all the tools used were common or garden wood working tools. There certyainly weren't any radiused sanding blocks, just a 2" x 6" block of 6mm birch ply with 150Grit sanding paper stuck to it.

Off the top of my head, on the course the only specific guitar making tools used were a fret slotting jig from www.necx-products.co.uk, fret files, and nut files.

It still costs a fair bit to put together a fully workign tool box (I'm currently costing mine and it's far from cheap) but using a minimal number of specialist tools does keep some costs down :)

*Rahnooo*

opprobrium_9 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 09, 2007, 02:10:21 AM »

Quote from: WezV

You should see how critical i get about my own stuff!!!!!

HA!! Well me too! At the end of (and probably well towards the beginning) everyone on the course was fed up with the complaints i made about how much my guitar sucked - especially the inlay :roll: