Build a new Guitar?

[Deleted]

So, I have been thinking of trying to build a new guitar. I have been thinking and thinking on it a lot! My dilemma is I don't have all the tools that I once had. I would have to make from simple tools.

  I may buy a kit and alter the kit, or buy a neck and make the body.

 I have been watching videos of people making guitars out of plywood, pallet wood, and so on.

As far as the neck goes I would buy a pre made one and more than likely would reshape it and re do the fret board and put in new frets. I thought that would be the way to go as far as the neck goes.

I remember a long time ago I challenged Dane to a scrap wood build off. I don't know what happened to that idea. But it seems Dane was up for it back then.

Well, anyways, As far as woods for the body goes I have not decided what I would do. I may go over to Home Depot Or Lowe's to see what they have on hand.

 A long time ago I build 2 guitars that I called "copper Ts." They had a lot of copper on them. Yes I no longer have them. I sold them a long while back. So I am thinking of doing a Copper T-3

  This one would have the most copper I ever put on a guitar. If I had a way to solder copper I would make the whole body out it. I have enough to make a whole body out of copper. But I may make the top full copper. It's still in the thinking stage.

As you all know I like Teles, But I might even make an LP body with a lot of copper on it and call it Copper LP. I would really like to copy the 3X3 body shape ( on the guitar build off) or something close to it. But like I said, it's still in thinking stages.

It will be a while before I could even start to do anything like this. I have to go have some surgery done this Thursday the 1st of Oct. So it will have to be a couple of weeks after that before I could even think of doing this.

 But I wanted to see what any of you might think? Any ideas on body shape? Kinds of woods. Please remember this has got to be done on the cheap. I no longer have money coming in from selling guitars or working on them. I really don't have any that I am willing to sell at this time. But if you have any thoughts on it let me know!

Thanks!

EB

[antares]

Good idea Eddie. How about a Tele but with an arm chamfer and a gut carve like on a Strat?

When I've screened wiring compartments with self-adhesive copper foil tape, it has been trivially easy to solder at the overlaps, but copper makes a very efficient heat sink so liberal use on a guitar is no doubt different since it's such an excellent heat sink. This has made me realise that apart from.wiring, I've never actually soldered copper- even in plumbing I've always used compression fittings. Hmm ...

e&oe ...

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2020 16:19:43 GMT -6 antares said:

Good idea Eddie. How about a Tele but with an arm chamfer and a gut carve like on a Strat?

When I've screened wiring compartments with self-adhesive copper foil tape, it has been trivially easy to solder at the overlaps, but copper makes a very efficient heat sink so liberal use on a guitar is no doubt different since it's such an excellent heat sink. This has made me realise that apart from.wiring, I've never actually soldered copper- even in plumbing I've always used compression fittings. Hmm ...

e&oe ...

I learned a long time ago about sweating copper joints and even did that for putting panels on cars. It's not hard at all. I have worked with led a lot. I have built a lot of led sleds in my day. No Bondo! LOL!

 There is a guy on FB that builds a lot of steal body guitars. I have never seen any full copper bodied guitars. I am sure someone has made one, but I haven't seen one. All I need is one of the propane torches. But I would need to find the right kind of led to do the job. I may be able to get some from a stain glass place. Hum...

 Well, I'll be looking in to it. But I could always do the top in copper.

You must have been in my brain. I was thinking of the belly cut and the arm rest. LOL! Wish I could make a neck through guitar. But I just don't know if I can pull it off. I have no clamps to clamp up the wood to make the neck blank. I would also have to come up with a way to cut it once I have glued up.

 Well, I have some time to think on it. I will be out of it for a while after my surgery. Thanks for the in put!

EB 

[dnic]

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, never sell tools. Even though I bought some of them. Never sell tools. I know, I know, you do what you have to do at the time.

I also liked Tamar's guitar shape but why don't you try to do your own original design? You got a few weeks try sketching some things out. Something might click. Cut out some cardboard templates to sit or stand with. Maybe go for total ergonomics at first with no thought toward the visual appeal. I don't know just thinking out loud. I should take my own advice.

I don't remember the scrap wood challenge but I don't remember much so that's no surprise. I have two have to answers for that, I don't have any scrap wood it's all precocious. Or I make all my guitars out of scrap wood! I do actually source a lot of guitar wood locally. I recently picked up a couple good size pieces of maple that have been in a guys barn for years. Nice and dry.

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2020 7:46:43 GMT -6 dnic said:

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, never sell tools. Even though I bought some of them. Never sell tools. I know, I know, you do what you have to do at the time.

I also liked Tamar's guitar shape but why don't you try to do your own original design? You got a few weeks try sketching some things out. Something might click. Cut out some cardboard templates to sit or stand with. Maybe go for total ergonomics at first with no thought toward the visual appeal. I don't know just thinking out loud. I should take my own advice.

I don't remember the scrap wood challenge but I don't remember much so that's no surprise. I have two have to answers for that, I don't have any scrap wood it's all precocious. Or I make all my guitars out of scrap wood! I do actually source a lot of guitar wood locally. I recently picked up a couple good size pieces of maple that have been in a guys barn for years. Nice and dry.

Dane, what I met by scrap wood was, wood that we had laying around after a build. At that day and time I had lots and lots of pieces of wood of all kinds of wood. Like mahogany, maple cherry and so on. So what I wanted to do back then was take all the scraps and make a guitar out of them. But now I don't even have that.

 It was a long time ago when I said something about it. I think what happened was, I moved back to AZ about the same time. So by the time I got there and did some moving around I had forgotten about it. LOL!

 Yep, I am thinking of maybe drawing something on paper. Kind of like what I did when I did the guitar attack guitar. Took some time but I think I came up with something that was pleasing to the eye.

   I don't want to go over board with it. I want it with some clean lines, no points. Kind of like an old car, sleek and smooth. But yet have that "Kustom" look! Hum...

EB

[antares]

Just one hour ago I got an emergency telephone call from my sister five miles away. My nephew had got one of those triple "Russian" rings stuck on his finger and not only his finger but the nail bed too was turning blue. Uncle Steve to the rescue. Funny that. A pair of flush end cutters- a heavy duty version of fret pulling pliers was deployed and all is well again. The point is I have lots of tools and as Dane says, never sell tools, though I well appreciate that you had your valid reasons.

Sometimes I look at the trappings of modern life that my feckless friends and family enjoy and I think of the tools that I chose to spent my cash on instead. "Who ya gonna call?" Hmm.

e&oe ...

[dnic]

Gonna look like an car? Gotta have some wings then, Eddie!

Way to save the day Steve!

[antares]

Yup- a Firebird Eddie! A bit difficult to pull off with limited tools though. That's why I stayed with the Tele design.

e&oe ...

[Deleted]

Well I am healing up from the surgery. In a lot of pain. They put 4 hole in my gut. But I am doing a little better today.

 As far as my tools goes. I did keep a few things. But I had no room to keep all of my big wonderful tools I once had.

 I still have my joiner planer,table top belt sander, router, and my small sander (angle) I did buy me a new hand sander and a new jig saw. The only clamps I have left are what I call spindle clamps. I use them on acoustic guitars and for putting on fret boards.

In order for me to make a neck I would need more clamps.

 I have been thinking about the shape of the body. And it will depend on the woods I use. It will be another week or two before I can get out and look for some wood.

 I would really like to maybe go with a body with only a single cut away kind of like what a Tele has.

 I watched a guy the other day on TV and he was using solder on copper. LOL! He was using one of them touches you get at the hardware store with propane in it. He never did say what kind of solder he was using. As soon as I can I'll go over to the pluming department at the hardware store and see what they have. One thing for sure, this body will be copper or at least the top will be. I already have an idea on how I was the copper to look. Hum... You will have to wait and see... LOL!

Dane, what would you charge me for a 25" scale fret board With a 12" radius? I am thinking something with a dark wood. It does not have to be ebony. Only dark. Something that would go with copper. I don't know if I will go that way or not (making a neck).

 I really don't know when I can even build this or not. I just spent a lot of money on my surgery. So, It may be a while. Then I will have to start collecting parts for the guitar.

 As far a the build it self goes. I think it would be fun to show people that you don't need a lot of tools to build a guitar from scratch. Again if I decide to build one from scratch. And it will take a while to do, due to money. I'll have it all worked out in the 2 to 3 weeks from now.

 EB   

[dnic]

Hey Eddie, glad you're doing better. Don't rush the recovery buddy, plenty of time for guitar building.

Do you just want the fretboard? not on a neck right? Hey I've got some wenge boards slotted. Flat but I can add the radius. PM me I don't think they like # posted in the main forum.

[Deleted]

Until further notice I will not be doing this build anytime soon. A lot of things have to come into play before I can even think of any kind of a build. Don't know what I was thinking. LOL!

EB

[antares]

No worries Eddie. You're in the driving seat Brother. Stay safe.

e&oe ...

[Deleted]

OK, after going through all of my thoughts and ideas and taking it over with the wife, I am going to go ahead and build a guitar from scratch.

 I got some poster board so I can design the guitar. That is were it will start. Once I am happy with that, I will get some wood to make the templates for the build.

  I will have to buy a few things like clamps to pull it off. I will be using hard woods I can buy from Lows or Home Depot.

I figure this build will take some time. For one I don't have my hobby income to support it. So I will have to buy things a little at a time.

  It seems funny how I have gone full circle. I started out with a jig saw and a router and a hand drill. Now I will be basically doing this build with them tools. LOL!

 I have this thing in me that I need to build something. So, that is one reason for this build. Plus I would like to show people that you don't need a full on wood shop to make guitars.

 So now it's onto the planning stages. I will start another post for the build. I will be doing something different for me on this build. As some of you know I like to try and build guitars with a little bit of a twist to it. But keeping classic lines.

 

 I don't even want to hint at what I am think of yet. I want to draw it out and see how it looks first.

 So keep an eye out for the new post. It will be coming soon!

EB

[dnic]

Well Eddie with a lack of power tools you will up your arm muscles. Should be interesting