I'm Going to try and build a guitar...PLEASE HELP!!

[1,000 Watts]

Okay...I'm in a Design + Engineering course and I want to build a guitar for many reasons...2 of those are: That I really enjoy playing my Axe, and I NEED a good grade in this class....

- I have plenty of time to spare for this project...sort of.....

- I need templates for the Job...I'm thinking of either a V or and RG shape....but i already have a RG..so mainly V...

- I'm going to have a fund raiser at my school to help raise funds for this project...

- I'm going to make a design using Photoshop CS2 to add to the finished product...

- I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me approximately the amount of time and money it took them to build their first guitar.


Please and thank you...I really appreciate all the help I can get with this!!! :smile:



What I have found so far:

'58 V template (http://www.guitarbuildingtemplates.com/KorinaV.htm#)

Build Page (http://www.guitarbuild.com/)

[DLR Guitars]

I would be a little hesitant to recommend a set-neck guitar like that V to a first timer. Not at all saying it can't be done, but the degree of difficulty is more IMO. However, if you wanted to to a V, you could always do a through-neck guitar. Stew-mac has a 24-fret through-neck here:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_necks,_wood/Electric_guitar:_Necks/24_Fret_Through-body_Guitar_Neck.html

That might be a better way to go. I also recommend you look at the Kramer Baretta. Thats one of the sexies guitars out there, and my personal favorite.

http://v.joudrier.free.fr/kramer-2.JPG

and they have a template for it on the same page as the V

[1,000 Watts]

Cool. I just want to make a really cool looking V that also sounds great at the same time.. :)

:eek: :eek: ...That neck is SOOOOOOOOO expensive!!!

[1,000 Watts]

$1,000 eh? Not AS bad as I thought it would be...and this is including EVERYTHING? (pick ups, strings, tuners, etc.)

[1,000 Watts]

I should probably add that i'm only 14 and that money isn't everywhere for me...and my parents aren't the type you hit up for money...And I will keep you posted... :)

[DLR Guitars]

using that neck, and something like this un-joined body blank, you could make the wings of your V and glue them to the neck clamping them nice and hard (probably one at a time would work better). You have the basis of your guitar for less than $400. That leaves you $600 for tools pickups, and whatnot.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NICE-2-pc-ALDER-GUITAR-BODY-BLANK-BOARDS-3398_W0QQitemZ330032385556QQihZ014QQcategoryZ41406 QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[1,000 Watts]

So...If I raise $1,000 I'd have $600 left for all that stuff? After the purchases listed above? hmm....

[mishmannah]

$1,000 eh? Not AS bad as I thought it would be...and this is including EVERYTHING? (pick ups, strings, tuners, etc.)

Ah well, excluding pup(s)... :o

I imagine a solidbody electric is gonna be a little cheaper than an acoustic

[ViOLATiON]

You can usually find a cheap pair of pickups for $25 - $50 (2 humbuckers that is) at local shops or ebay.

[martinedwards]

Sorry to rain on th $1000 guitar parade.....

but the dread I just finished.......

AA sitka Spruce bearclaw top. $16
bracing linings etc: laying around so free
Neck, back & sides: salvaged from a dumpster so again free!!
truss rod $14
fingerboard $19
Binding $18
Tuners £25
Nut saddle & pins $30
Frets $6
Mother of pearl inlays $4
pick-up $42
Case $70
Strings $2 (72 sets at a time... they work out REAL cheap!!!)

Altogether thats


$236

or about £125

INCLUDING a hard case!!!!!

OK, so it'll look crap and sound worse right?

well, it looks like this.....


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/40600097-1.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/40600103.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/40600096.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/40600095.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/40600100-1.jpg
and listen to the dread demo tracks at my Luthier soundclick below.

Its not too bad!!!!

Now to be fair this was my 9th build and I'm getting fairly good at it, but don't think that it HAS to be expensive!!!!!

scrounge what you can. see if there is a big furniture manufacturer or shop fitters works near you. You wouldn't BELIEVE the wood I've got for free.

Yesterday I got enough oak, mahogany & walnut for 10 electric guitars and maybe 5 sets of acoustic back & sides (necks included) Ya just gotta have the balls to ask!!!!!

[D|s]

i agree, building a guitar especially a solid body can be quite cheapish. ive almost completed mine and it roughly cost me NOT more than $650...

that said.. it takes time. and the more time u take, the better it will be!

[mishmannah]

Sorry to rain on th $1000 guitar parade.....

but the dread I just finished.......



AA sitka Spruce bearclaw top. $16
bracing linings etc: laying around so free
Neck, back & sides: salvaged from a dumpster so again free!!
truss rod $14
fingerboard $19
Binding $18
Tuners £25
Nut saddle & pins $30
Frets $6
Mother of pearl inlays $4
pick-up $42
Case $70
Strings $2 (72 sets at a time... they work out REAL cheap!!!)



Parade being rained on: Priceless...


:p

[1,000 Watts]

So building the type of the guitar that the Gibson '58 V would cost about.... :confuse:
that's what i'm gonna make.. :)

[martinedwards]

Guitarfetish.com

tunomatic & tailstop $14.95 each

Vintage 59 zebra PAF $34.95 each

Les Paul wiring kit $22.95

Wilkinson locking tuners $28.95

STEWMAC.com

Rosewood Fingerboard $18.36

6 feet fretwire $7.52

nut $3.30

fret marker dots 9 x 58c = $5.22

$186.10 plus post for all the bits except the wood.

Mahogany Fireplace surrounds make GREAT necks if you can get 'em (ask Brian May!) and a big lump of hardwood for the body? get down to your local furniture manufacturer and SCROUNGE!!!!!

Of course there are places you could spend the $186 on a single H/B pup!!!

[1,000 Watts]

Nice... :D

[1,000 Watts]

Guitarfetish.com

tunomatic & tailstop $14.95 each

Vintage 59 zebra PAF $34.95 each

Les Paul wiring kit $22.95

Wilkinson locking tuners $28.95

STEWMAC.com

Rosewood Fingerboard $18.36

6 feet fretwire $7.52

nut $3.30

fret marker dots 9 x 58c = $5.22

$186.10 plus post for all the bits except the wood.

Mahogany Fireplace surrounds make GREAT necks if you can get 'em (ask Brian May!) and a big lump of hardwood for the body? get down to your local furniture manufacturer and SCROUNGE!!!!!

Of course there are places you could spend the $186 on a single H/B pup!!!

Can I find a V bridge there? :(

[D|s]

i realyl dont suggest doing a V as ur first guitar. ud be better off doing a strat(or similar) design

[1,000 Watts]

How about an Ibanez JEM shape?

[DLR Guitars]

How about a Baretta ;)

[ohhmygod]

How about a Warlock ? If u like Mick then go for it mate.

[Peeb]

Guitarfetish.com ...
Beat me to the punch- that's where I was going to recommend looking!

[martinedwards]

why not a V?

mostly straight cuts, it's gotta be easier to make than a strat with all those curves, not to mentopn the slope on the top and the belly bulge scoop in the back!!

A V is just a big plank!!

A bolt on neck and it's easy!!

[D|s]

well im only saying what i read in the book i used to make my guitar...

but personally id prefer a strat shape

[1,000 Watts]

why not a V?

mostly straight cuts, it's gotta be easier to make than a strat with all those curves, not to mentopn the slope on the top and the belly bulge scoop in the back!!

A V is just a big plank!!

A bolt on neck and it's easy!!

Sweet...and to DLR...the Barretta has a cool shape...but the Pup placement and all that doesn't catch my eye very much... :) Sorry.

[1,000 Watts]

where can I find a V style bridge, though?

[DLR Guitars]

http://instruments.search.ebay.com/v-bridge_Guitar_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR8QQfsooZ1QQfso pZ1QQsacatZ3858

Right there


Oh, and I was just joking about you builging a Baretta. I figured it wasn't really up your alley, but I couldn't resist saying it. As a matter of fact, I just had Ogier from here construct me a body blank for a modified flying V of my own. they are cool guitars

[DLR Guitars]

why not a V?

mostly straight cuts, it's gotta be easier to make than a strat with all those curves, not to mentopn the slope on the top and the belly bulge scoop in the back!!

A V is just a big plank!!

A bolt on neck and it's easy!!

I do agree with you, if its a bolt on neck. Relatively simple disign, no coutours to do, but the templates he was looking at were set neck, and if I remember correctly, had a tilted back neck, which might be tough for a first build.

[1,000 Watts]

Well where can I find a template for a V that has a bolt on or Neck Thru? (Preferably Neck-Thru)

[1,000 Watts]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1967-Flying-V-routing-tracing-templates_W0QQitemZ7421314411QQihZ016QQcategoryZ33 040QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


How's that? :)

[DLR Guitars]

That is neither neck-through nor bolt on, and is the same template you posted originally posted at the beginning of the thread. It is the same seller, just over Ebay.

[1,000 Watts]

Crap...can someone PLEASE find me a Neck-Thru template for a V?

-Thanks!

[1,000 Watts]

Okay..... I just did the math for all the stuff and I came up with $950 NOT including paint and all that crap....SO....if I could get someone to tell me approximately how much an airbrush costs, that would be great...I already have an Air Compresser...so that's all set... :)




THIS GUITAR (http://www.jacksonguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=2803040803) is the one I would like a template for...it has a neck-Thru neck and all that and I love the design...thank you!


-Deven

[martinedwards]

I don't even draw a template for my builds.

just get some wood and some powertools and GO CRAZY!!!!!

[1,000 Watts]

I can't I'm a horrible artist and the shape would be crap...so if someone can find me a template for it that'd be GREAT! :D

[1,000 Watts]

Things I have NOT found yet:


Template for the jackson V - Next Day Shipping Needed
X Style inlays
Air Brush
Paint for the Air Brush
Nut
Tuners

Things I HAVE found:


Strings
Neck
Wood
Bridge
Knobs, etc.



Any help with the things I have NOT found is greatly appreciated!!!

[1,000 Watts]

Specs of Jackson V:


Body - Alder with Flame Maple Top on Transparent Colors
Neck - Neck-Thru-Body Quartersawn Maple
Neck Dimensions - 3rd Fret: .775”, 12th Fret: .835”
Tuners - Die-Cast Tuners
Fingerboard - Ebony
# Of Frets - 24 Jumbo Frets
Controls - Volume (Bridge Pickup), Volume (Neck Pickup), Master Tone
Bridge - Floyd Rose® Original™ Double Locking 2-Point Tremolo
Hardware - 3 Position Blade
Hardware - Black
Pickgaurd - None
Total Length - 25.5”
Width At Nut - 1-11/16”


Any help with finding those parts would also be GREATLY appreciated!!!

[1,000 Watts]

*Bump* Any help guys/girls? :(

[strat]

you could get a ready made one

[1,000 Watts]

No...I need to build it myself...it's a school project....and it wouldn't be the same afterwards, anyways...

[martinedwards]

you could just bite the bullet and accept that none of us know where to get a V template!!!

Sorry Dude, draw one yourself.

Use a data projector on a wall. measure the scale length and make sure it's the same as the strwmac fingerboard you'll be buying.......

then just draw round it.

I've done this a few times now, most recently with a Taylor Doubleneck......

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/40600016.jpg

and a Lowden Jumbo.......
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/20063rd105.jpg

make sure the projector is FLAT so you don't get "keystone" distortion

[1,000 Watts]

Man....that sucks.....so NOBODY know where to find a template for that V? Man.....

[DLR Guitars]

Make a template out of Plywood. Thats what I'd do. Its really not that hard to draw a V shaped guitar. Draw a straight line This will be your center line. then measuer up X inches, and then mirror the exact same line below. Then do the same thing, but with shorter lines farther down the centerline. From the ends if the lines you should be able to draw a symetrical V shape. Work from there to get things right. Then, measure, measure, measure, and measure again all of your specs, like bridge placement, neck scale, ect...

[1,000 Watts]

Man.... Hrmm...I'll try later....

[wackakapow]

Yeah it shouldn't be too big a deal to draw a V, don't you have a friend that could wing it? It's a solidbody, by no means does it have to be the perfect ripoff of the original.

On cost notes, I also built my first guitar around 14 and I managed to pull it off spending only about $150-175.

Wood:supplied by school; free
Neck, bridge pickup, tuners, pickup selector: ripped off of old aria pro guitar; $40 from buddy.
Tailpiece and bridge: like $25 or something.
used dimarzio for neck: $40.
Used volume/tone stacked pot: free from local luthier.
Varnish, sandpaper, steel wool: $45.

Grande totale: around $130. Canadian.

This is the result:
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/8752/thescarabjroom0fr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Try to find a junker guitar for parts, they are often totally useful and will save you a bundle. Crap guitars sometimes have great necks, especially old japanese ones. Won't be able to get that V head, I guess, but still, save youself a couple hundred. I did manage to run across a lot of freebies, so you could probably expect to spend a little more, but man, for a $1000 you might as well just go out and buy a tele.

[DLR Guitars]

I think there are a couple of people selling Ibanez necks in the classifieds here that might look cool. If you could find a bolt-on Jackson neck, it would look killer with the V shaped body. If you want a template for a bolt-on neck V shaped body for a neck you buy somewhere else, let me know and I may be able to help you out and do something for ya. We can talk about price.

[1,000 Watts]

I'll check that out.....anyways...once I find a working scanner, I'll upload a scetch I drew.... :)

[1,000 Watts]

Anybody know where I can find a THIN Neck with a V Headstock???

[D|s]

ebaY?

[1,000 Watts]

I looked...maybe I just couldn't find it...any help? :(

[D|s]

ever thought of jackson necks? i got one for my project and their quality is amazing!! just a thought :)

[1,000 Watts]

Yup..I'm buying one!! :) No need for Dean necks... Buying a Jackson Neck--24 Frets--Reversed Headstock... $99.95!!! :D :D

[mjshailes]

Dean ML X neck $30 id get that if i was you its the neck that comes off of the bolt on neck series of the Dimebag ML.

I tried one of these guitars at my local music shop and it was thin and fast.

And its only $30 :D:D:D:D:D:D

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dean-ML-X-guitar-neck-project_W0QQitemZ230038401040QQihZ013QQcategoryZ41 423QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[1,000 Watts]

No thanks.. :)

[mjshailes]

Why not?

[martinedwards]

Sorry, I'm with lilmaggot on that one!!!

yuk!!

[ViOLATiON]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/excellent-DEAN-V-headstock-guitar-neck-24-75-scale_W0QQitemZ150046128334QQihZ005QQcategoryZ4142 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Dean-Guitar-Neck_W0QQitemZ170038609161QQihZ007QQcategoryZ41435 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

How's about them? I'd go with the second one... comes with locking nut, and the seller has 100% feedback.

[1,000 Watts]

Appreciate the effort..But i'm all set..I'm going with the Jackson Neck... :)

[1,000 Watts]

Can anyone find me the style toggle that the Ibanez RG321 has.. BUT is a 3-Way Toggle...Not a 5-Way-Toggle.... Thanks! :)

[mjshailes]

You can use a telecaster switch or any three way strat style toggle switch for that both are avalibe cheap(for low quality ones) and more expensive(the higher grade suff) from nearly all parts websites and all good guitar stores.

[1,000 Watts]

well what's the difference between a high-end switch and a low-end switch??? What would be lost if I got a low-end one instead of a high-end one?

[mjshailes]

Life span and just overall quality of componets used to make the switch.

[Diablo666Bass]

about the V template, if you get a good image of it you could scale it in photoshop. then trace it in CAD, and print it out in sections. tape the sections together, cut out, and trace to wood.

if you don't have any of these programs i could do it for you.

if i do it:
it wont be exact, it'll be a general outline.
if the pic is good enough, i could trace the bridge, pups, knobs, etc.
i cannot do curves, only straight lines. (i'm not that experienced in CAD)

this method of tracing works really well. i did it for the bass i want to build, and it came out almost perfect.

(i have a question about pups, here is the link... http://guitar.zentao.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52262)

[1,000 Watts]

Nah...I'm all set with templates and all that..I haven't updated the first post in a while...I'll update it now....

[1,000 Watts]

Finally got some half way decent images of my sketches:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/GFX_Lover/Sketch1.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/GFX_Lover/Sketch2.jpg

And so you know, the upper circle is the volume knob and the lower one is the Toggle switch...

[martinedwards]

Id be worried about banging my right hand against the volume in a strumming frenzy.......

[1,000 Watts]

I can always move it down a bit.. :)

[1,000 Watts]

Do you think the pick-ups are too far apart? ...Oh, and it will be better aligned once I start building it.. ;)

[DLR Guitars]

Id be worried about banging my right hand against the volume in a strumming frenzy.......


Really? he's leaving more room than on a strat. I actually prefer to have it where he's got it. It allows me to hit a note or chord and then cut the volume real quick at the end of a song to avoid excess noise and whatnot.

[DLR Guitars]

Oh, and a couple of things about your sketch:

1. You might want to square off the top of your V so that the neck will fit on. Look at the back of your RG guitar how the neck meets the body, The same idea applies

2. I would move the bridge humbucker back closer to the bridge, and the neck pickup back more to make room for the neck pocket. Look at some pictures of guitars with stopbar bridges like the one you're going to use. They don't have to be Vs. But check out something like a Les Paul or a Gibson SG and see how the pickups are positioned to the bridge.

[1,000 Watts]

Okay, cool. And those are just rough idea sketches. I'm gonna cut the top off of the sketch once I get the neck so I know that I have an accurate measurement. :)

-Deven.