Guitar Build #2....In Progress

[Knottscott]

My oldest son recently asked if I'd build him a solid body electric guitar.... my 2nd guitar project. We agreed on a unique slightly "goth" shape, green curly maple front, and a black back made from ash. A purchased unfinished Les Paul style neck is on order, which will likely be painted black. The head stock will be shaped to compliment the body...maybe some color compliments too. It'll be trimmed with gold and black hardware. The pickups will be a GFS Fatbody single neck, Wilkinson single mid, and a double humbucker from an OLP John Petrucci Signature guitar. We're still deciding on a wiring scheme, but it'll likely be a simple 5-way switch, tone, and volume pots.

So far I've traced out a template, cut the front and back blanks from the template, and have shaped the front using a combination of router bits and hand chisels. Lots of sanding too! I've also cut a chamber for the electronics in the back, and have fashioned a cover. The back will likely be painted black, but since the first step in popping the grain on the maple was to stain it black, I stained the back at the same time...no harm done, and if the paint ever chips, it'll reveal black stained ash. The next step was to sand off the black stain, leaving just the darkened grain on the maple. Kelly green was then added to stain the front. I was ready to give the Transtint dyes from Woodcraft a shot, but rather than make the 28 mile round trip and spend $18 per 2 oz bottle, I decided to experiment with the RIT fabric dyes from local stores...$3 each, and so far the results have been really good.

The template:


The roughed out body routed using a pattern bit on the template:


The front side of the back piece with the chamber for switches hogged out:


The back stained black, with chamber cover (back will get black lacquer):


The maple front after receiving black stain, then sanded:


The maple front stained green:


Here are some files pics of the neck. It'll get black lacquer and a shape to compliment the body:
Rosewood fret board, maple back and head stock, block inlays:



More to come!

[sscherin]

This is something I might want to try.. (when I get another band saw)

Where did you buy the the neck?

[Knottscott]

Ebay....$45 shipped. Dozens of choices with prices all over the map. You could do this with a jig saw too. The BS and jigsaw is used to rough the shape, then I used a pattern bit to trace the template. A good sander is pretty handy...my Ridgid OSS sanders has been earning it's keep lately!

[Knottscott]

How do you cut the cavities for the electronics and the neck pocket? Did you make your guitar from a precise plan, or did you do this on your own? I don't play either, but this is intriguing.
Dave

Dave - I used forstner bits to rough the opening, then a straight bit free hand. I initially traced a circle and routed to the lines and chiseled the final touches. There are lots of ways to do that, and the chamber can be many shapes and locations depending.

No plans to speak of, but there are loads of wire schematics and help online. My son showed me a shape he wanted, then we experimented with other shapes that I could (and would) actually build. Lotsa sketches to start with. It's his and I want him to like it, but in order for me to "take the plunge" and feel inspired to dive in over my head, it needs to be something I'm happy with too.

[3thumbs]

The Grizzly kits look like the bodies are one solid piece. I didn't think of making it out of two pieces, a front and a back. (that makes good sense) How thick are they? I would think that the body and neck would have to be really strong where they connect, given the pull from the tight strings.
I think that weight would be a consideration when choosing a wood. Jatoba would look nice, but probably way too heavy.
I'm getting really interested in this. I'm sure that there will be a guitar project in my shop soon!
DM

[SHADOWFOX]

That is going to be one sick guitar!! Thank you for sharing the progress and please keep them coming.

[Knottscott]

Thanks Chris! I will...

Dave - Most are in the range of 1-1/2" but some are thicker some are thinner. Most bolt on necks use four really long screws and a neck plate that acts as an oversized washer. A "neck thru" type neck would be stronger but the bolt-ons are way easier and seem to be fine.

Some woods are better for sound than others. Not sure about Jatoba, but you can always google "tone woods", or ask on one of the many guitar building websites. Project Guitar, MIMF, and Harmony Central are just a few. There's so much help at your finger tips...you won't be alone!

[Rand]

Looks awesome!

Can't wait to see the finished piece.

[9johnny5]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!! Can't wait for the final product - keep us posted with plenty of pics!!!

Johnny C.

[Knottscott]

Here's where things stand as of noon today. All the parts and hardware are in.

Here's the top with the natural maple revealed on the sides. There's one coat of spar varnish to protect the stained surface, plus help prevent fading.


The back now has black paint. While rounding over the edges, we liked the look of the natural ash revealed as well, so we've decided to keep it....got some sanding ahead.


Here's the top and back together next to the unfinished Eden neck. The maple and ash should take on a more golden color as we clear coat it. The neck will get black paint.


Since all the parts are here, we couldn't resist a sneak preview of how it'll look. The unfinished neck is just sitting there, as are the pickup covers and knobs. These pics give the illusion that we're much further along than we are, but we're encouraged by the look so far.


Still to come...some sanding of the back, many more clear coats (lacquer), cut outs for the pickups and input jack, more clear coats, fine sanding, shaping the neck, painting the neck, more clear coats, very fine sanding, drilling holes for the tuning pegs, final clear coat, wiring everything, setting the neck, polishing, stringing it, and sound check! (I probably forgot something too...)

[jabe]

Looks SICK!!! Your son must be happy. I had a student make one out of Koa wood, He made everything in the school shop except he could not afford the electronics for it. Some yrs. after he graduated, I ran into him and he told me he completed the guitar. He bought a used one from the pawn shop, striped the electronics out of it and installed it on the one he made. It was a cheaper way to go. Keep the pictures coming.

[sparkeyjames]

Looks killer. Use a piece of quilted maple veneer on the headstock too with same color. With that said I'll bet your son's band mates are going be plenty jealous when they see that axe. H3ll I'm jealous as all I have is a MIM parts O' caster made from selected Fender parts purchased off of eBay.

[Rand]

Lookin good.

Are you going for just 2 singlecoil pups or is that a space for a humbucker near the bridge?

[Knottscott]

Lookin good.

Are you going for just 2 singlecoil pups or is that a space for a humbucker near the bridge?

It'll be an HSS...GFS Alnico Fat Body single in the neck, Wilkinson single mid, and a double HB from my brother's OLP Pettuci Signature. Any favorite schematic ideas?

[sparkeyjames]

It'll be an HSS...GFS Alnico Fat Body single in the neck, Wilkinson single mid, and a double HB from my brother's OLP Pettuci Signature. Any favorite schematic ideas?

Yup just two. A push pull pot at the master volume position to make the HB a single coil and a blender pot in lieu of a a second tone pot. A blender pot can make for some interesting tonal variations.

A blender pot is a pot where position 10 turns the pot off ie no current flows through it.

I have my strat wired with a blender pot. So I have Master Volume, Master Tone and the blender. The blender blends the neck or bridge in depending on what is selected by the 5 way switch to the ones that are selected.

Example.. say I'm using the bridge pickup, position 1 on 5 way selector, and I turn the blender knob to 1 the neck pickup is then blended fully into the sound. At 5 half the neck pickup output is blended with the bridge pickup.

If your using position 4 on the 5 way pickup selector (neck-middle) putting the blender on 1 blends in the bridge so you get all 3 pickups running.
If your using middle pickup it does nothing. If your using position 2 (bridge-middle) it blends in the neck. Position 5 (neck) then it blends bridge. Position 1 on a 5 way switch (bridge) and it blends neck pickup. It's quite flexible. 10 on the blender dial turns off blending.

If your only going to use 2 pots max then your choices become more limited or you may have to use a stacked pot.