45 replies to this topic

[Garagetone]

Long time lurker, just joined. Here goes my first thread! I'm going to try to make my intro quick...

I never would have dreamed of ACTUALLY building a guitar just 3 months ago, but I found another forum that had a bunch of d00ds making bodies from 2x4's and old shelves, and I was inspired beyond belief. I had been saving for a Jazzmaster, and instead ran out and got a router. I made a template using scaled up images I downloaded from Fender's website, and checked it against a pickguard I had purchased on eBay. My first blank was a pair of poplar boards from Lowes, glued together side by side. The end result was a decent guitar from $16 worth of wood. When somebody offered me $80 for it, I thought "Why not? I'll just make another. I have the tools now." And so started a chain of events that led to setting up a full blown wood shop and having over 20 guitar bodies come out of a little garage in Corona.

After I crafted a bunch of "standard" bodies, I decided to merge the guitars from my two favorite bands. Kurdt's Jag Stang, with Thurston's Jazzmaster. Here was the mock up:


The template for the body was made by scaling up images of a Jag Stang, and comparing the blown up image to a pickguard I got on eBay. When I was confident in it's accuracy, I traced it onto my body blank and got to cutting with a jig saw.




The edges of the body were sanded smooth using an oscillating spindle sander, and the cavities were hogged out using a forstner bit on my drill press.


I made up some templates for the cavities out of 1/2" MDF using a Jazzmaster pickguard, and the jig saw (with a tiny blade). Then I used the template with my router to clean up the cavities.


Let's see... what's next...

Ah, I hit the corners of the body with a roundover bit on the router. The same day, I got a bunch of my parts in the mail, and I was too excited to try everything. I traced an Allparts mustang pickguard onto 1/2" MDF and cut it out to make a pickguard template (like Stewmac.com suggests) and cut out a test-fit pickguard using some really cheap acrylic.


I have been digging some old school woodworking lately; hand tools and what not... I thought it would be cool to contour the heel, so I had at it with a No.5 Jack plane, a spokeshave, a stack of sandpaper, and a series of files... I also used some of those tools to shape a giant belly contour. This will be a PLAYER, so I want it to be as comfy as possible



After the thing was sanded all pretty, I used about a whole can of Deft sanding sealer to get that smooth, glassy surface...

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0822.jpg

The pickguard was made with a thicker, nicer "Lexan" plexi-glass. It cut and worked more like a hardened rubber than a brittle plastic. The cut pickguard felt more sturdy than a "real" pickguard, believe it or not.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0817.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0819.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0820.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0821.jpg

I like to make my pickguards from this clear material, and paint them from behind (like the pickguardian does). I hit this one with a pearl clear coat from behind.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0827.jpg

Then I hit it with some white.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0839.jpg

The body was primered white and sanded a bit with 600 grit.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0833.jpg

And it was hit with what felt like a million THIN coats of a red that I'd say is pretty close to Fiesta...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0834.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0840.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0837.jpg

And just today I was able to try on some of the parts for a preview of what is to come! Still waiting for the neck, bridge, and pickups to come in...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/andrewdoeshair/IMG_0842.jpg

I'll keep you guys updated

[JaguarOW]

Welcome to the forum

there's a thread about your work somewhere around here

[Garagetone]

Welcome to the forum

there's a thread about your work somewhere around here

I know! I just read it and was SO stoked. I called my wife over, like "Look! People know what I'm doing in the garage all day!"

Although it made me realize I have too many online pseudonyms... Time to go change some myspace names and my OSG name...

[funtoosh]

uhm ... WOW!!

now that s a mash-up of a mash-up guitar, great idea, great work, especially fond of the contoured heel.

(hey, corona, isn't there a fender plant?)

[gilmourish]

can someone link me to this thread about all his builds please?

[Disappearer]

It's called "andrewlovesgrunge ebay seller". (sorry it's hard posting links on my Ipod <_<)
That guitar is really great, I love it.
It's great when we get new builds and stuff on here, even though I'm useless at it myself. And nice avatar.

[Joey]

Bout damn time ya joined up here man! I seen your stuff on ebay a month or two ago. Love how ya miss match different guitar parts up. Espically love how ya toss the stuff up on ebay for next to nothing and let people decide what it's worth to them.

Errmm... only thing I love more then guitars are tools... how about some of your tool-shop-porn!

[Garagetone]

Thanks everyone!

(hey, corona, isn't there a fender plant?)

Yes. I live 3 minutes from the Fender factory and custom shop. Not to mention the Fender Museum (where they have, or had Kurt's guitars and stuff)...

Actually, my local lumber store is like 2 miles from the custom shop, and I've collected (from talking to employees at the lumber yard) that Fender's custom builders often go in there for wood. So in a way, I guess you could say my builds are made from the EXACT same stuff as Fender's (yeah right, they probably spit on the poplar and basswood I usually work with, and go straight for the ash, walnut, mahogany, and such that I am still nervous to work with. I mean, I'd throw up if I ruined a $50 piece of wood, so I want to ruin a bunch of poplar and basswood pieces first!)

[Garagetone]

Bout damn time ya joined up here man! I seen your stuff on ebay a month or two ago. Love how ya miss match different guitar parts up. Espically love how ya toss the stuff up on ebay for next to nothing and let people decide what it's worth to them.

Errmm... only thing I love more then guitars are tools... how about some of your tool-shop-porn!

I'm still new to tools, but I definately get an in-betweenie when I walk into the right tool store...

So far I've been getting the bare minimum to get the job done, since I have very little space to work. But my first few builds were done with JUST a hand held Ryobi router I got from Home Depot for $60. After I sold one of those bodies I bought a Central Machinery drill press on eBay for $19 (DEEEAAAAL!) and was using it with a drum sander bit until I sold two or three more bodies and got a Central Machinery oscillating spindle sander. Even until Christmas, I was cutting bodies from blanks by tracing a secured template with a router. I was researching band saws, but I was directed by a member of OSG to get a jig saw instead. Best choice I could have made; it takes up no room and can cut a body out in 6 minutes. I went with a Bosch. My jig saw is the only tool I have where I got a lot more than the entry-level model, because I figured a $50 Black and Decker would probably explode if I tried to push it through a 2" thick piece of walnut...

I was lucky enough to buy clean, surfaced pieces of wood for my first few builds, but when glueing two pieces of basswood together at one point I realized that there were gaps in the joint. I freaked out and was like "How is a person supposed to cut a PERFECT edge!?" and I started looking at joiners, but another builder recommended a No.5 Jack plane. Even thought the jack plane cost like $20 less than a fancy joiner table would have, I thought it would be really cool to say "HAND made" and mean it... I also picked up an ancient spokeshav on eBay (for $20) and have fallen in love with the feeling of pushing it into a piece of wood to see thin ribbons of wood just melt off... Mmm! I want to buy some chisels and see how I like that...

Then last week I got my first thickness planer. I went with a $200 Ryobi, just because it is 13" wide, and the next best option I had was a $280 Porter Cable at only 12" wide... I've been having a problem with snipe, and was ready to return the thing, but then I read on a woodworking forum that snipe will happen on even the most expensive planers. This is my current challenge in the shop right now...

[feedbackismyfriend]

welcome to the forum dude! I've seen your stuff a couple times and was really impressed. I actually thought about adding you as a friend on myspace, but it struck me as a little bit weird since I wasn't planning on ordering anything from you.

[Fran]

Welcome to the forum Andrew, great to have you here!

Nice job on sanding out between them horns, i had the same task
Im impressed you use a site Jigsaw for the body outline, have you had any problems with the blade wandering?

[NathanStang75]

Brilliant stuff! I feel i'm surrounded by all these mad carpenters!!!! Tool porn indeed.

[Joey]

I'm still new to tools, but I definately get an in-betweenie when I walk into the right tool store...

So far I've been getting the bare minimum to get the job done, since I have very little space to work. But my first few builds were done with JUST a hand held Ryobi router I got from Home Depot for $60. After I sold one of those bodies I bought a Central Machinery drill press on eBay for $19 (DEEEAAAAL!) and was using it with a drum sander bit until I sold two or three more bodies and got a Central Machinery oscillating spindle sander. Even until Christmas, I was cutting bodies from blanks by tracing a secured template with a router. I was researching band saws, but I was directed by a member of OSG to get a jig saw instead. Best choice I could have made; it takes up no room and can cut a body out in 6 minutes. I went with a Bosch. My jig saw is the only tool I have where I got a lot more than the entry-level model, because I figured a $50 Black and Decker would probably explode if I tried to push it through a 2" thick piece of walnut...

Bosch is the best when it comes to Jigsaws & jigsaw blades. I used to use a scroll saw but it took 25 minutes & 3 blades to cut. I've also used a jigsaw & bosch blade, worked a hell of alot faster then a scroll saw. I just upgraded to a Ridgid 14" bandsaw, it was $379 marked down to $232 (reconditioned).... I couldn't walk away from it at that price, so I bought it. I use a 1/8" blade, it cuts like butter. I can get closer to the line with a bandsaw, but you still have to be careful that the blade doesn't wander off on the bottom, though it's perfect on top. The closer you can get to the line, the less your router has to work & less tear out.

I was lucky enough to buy clean, surfaced pieces of wood for my first few builds, but when glueing two pieces of basswood together at one point I realized that there were gaps in the joint. I freaked out and was like "How is a person supposed to cut a PERFECT edge!?" and I started looking at joiners, but another builder recommended a No.5 Jack plane. Even thought the jack plane cost like $20 less than a fancy joiner table would have, I thought it would be really cool to say "HAND made" and mean it... I also picked up an ancient spokeshav on eBay (for $20) and have fallen in love with the feeling of pushing it into a piece of wood to see thin ribbons of wood just melt off... Mmm! I want to buy some chisels and see how I like that...

I tried "jointing" my blanks with a table saw... rip it against the fence, rip the other side & repeat once again... it gets close but not "perfect". I picked up a 4" Jet Jointer, from Craigslist for $145. It's probally 15 years old, made in Taiwan but I have no complaints. If you plan on working a lot of raw bulky rough cut lumber, then you may want a 6" or 8" jointer. But 4" is all you need for jointing guitar bodies.

Jet 4" Jointer, 3/4 Horsepower, used $145


I gotta Delta BOSS (splinder sander) from Lowes on clearance under $200. The BOSS is a damn good spindle sander, plenty of power & quiet. Jet Dust Collector & 1 3/4 Horsepower Delta Table Saw for $400 all together on craigslist. Dust collector is a must when your drill out your cavities with your drill bits on the drill press, keeps the guitar top clean so you can see your lines... this process generates alot of wood chips.

Then last week I got my first thickness planer. I went with a $200 Ryobi, just because it is 13" wide, and the next best option I had was a $280 Porter Cable at only 12" wide... I've been having a problem with snipe, and was ready to return the thing, but then I read on a woodworking forum that snipe will happen on even the most expensive planers. This is my current challenge in the shop right now...

I would return it. Get a used 15" planer... Jet, Grizzly (president makes guitars), Delta or any other brand is good. I prefer 15" cause you can glue your bodies then run them thru the planer and get a "perfect" flat guitar. I missed a Jet 15" planer on craigslist this morning for $300, it was gone in 15 minutes ----> deal of a life time. They also make 18" & 20" planer, if you wanna do a flying V (16" wide) you need a 18" planer.

Snipe is gonna happen. I usually get a positive hump, not a negative dip with the cabinet shop planer that I use. Learn your planer, and adjust your board length to it. If your getting bad dips in the end of the board, go ahead and instead of using 20" blanks, use 24" blanks to account for "bad" wood.

For every power tool you use, it has a bad side effect & requires another power tool to fix. After I run my blanks thru a planer, I run them down a conveyor belt drum sander. These drum sanders are $900+ new. I've seen them on craigslist for $450, was gonna get one a few weeks ago but again... somebody beat me to it. They'll remove all the machine marks left by the planer.

15" planer & conveyor belt drum sander are the two big items I'm trying to buy right now. I use a cab shop down the street planer & sander currently.

[funtoosh]

Brilliant stuff! I feel i'm surrounded by all these mad carpenters!!!! Tool porn indeed.

+1

[Garagetone]

Neck arrived today

[foxyloxy]

Fap Fap Fap.

[busydoingnothing]

HOT! All in all, how much do you think you spent on it?

[Al(ex)]

Sweet project! Blogging this!

[gilmourish]

that is awesome! must be blogged!

also; can you blog that ac/dc still rock? in a real ac/dc mood >.<

whats that playing now? oh yeah, a place to bury strangers hehe

[foxyloxy]

also; can you blog that ac/dc still rock? in a real ac/dc mood >.<

NO!