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PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:54 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 2:14 pm
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Location: United States

First I would like to say hello, as I am a new member.  Second, I am building a solidbody electric guitar and have some questions (this will be the first guitar I make).  I am planning to build a guitar with a double cutaway les paul body style.  I plan to install a standard american strat tremelo system, one modern classic gibson humbucker, and one gibson p90 single coil pickup.  That is the main part.  I was wondering if it is best to go ahead and order everything now so i can measure it up, or would it be okay to order as I go.  The main thing that brought this up to me was that I do not know the exact measurments of the gear I want to install so I'm not sure if I need it to begin.  Please give your suggestions or thoughts and ideas or questions for this guitar.  I would really appreciate some help.



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PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:57 pm 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2004 1:20 pm
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Location: United States
[QUOTE=bmg6690]

<FONT face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size=3>First I would like to say hello, as I am a new member.  Second, I am building a solidbody electric guitar and have some questions (this will be the first guitar I make).  I am planning to build a guitar with a double cutaway les paul body style.  I plan to install a standard american strat tremelo system, one modern classic gibson humbucker, and one gibson p90 single coil pickup.  That is the main part.  I was wondering if it is best to go ahead and order everything now so i can measure it up, or would it be okay to order as I go.  The main thing that brought this up to me was that I do not know the exact measurments of the gear I want to install so I'm not sure if I need it to begin.  Please give your suggestions or thoughts and ideas or questions for this guitar.  I would really appreciate some help.

[/QUOTE]

The first thing I would do is draw a detailed plan. That should make everything clearer.

Arched or flat top?

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:18 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:25 pm
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Location: Netherlands
The way to do this:

1) order your hardware (all the important stuff - bridge, tuning machines)
2) draw a full-sized plan, front and side views. The level of detail is up to you. Accurate neck position, angles, hardware location are essential.
3) start building.


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:40 am 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 2:14 pm
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Location: United States

I am planning on making a flat top.  For drawing the plans out, is there a way to determine things like the size of the pickup pockets with out measuring the actual pickups?  Like is there a universal pocket size for this or do they need to be carefully measured before planning the pocket.  Do you think the humbucker and p90 sounds okay or will one drown out the other or anything like that?



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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:52 pm 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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There are templates for p90s and humbuckers around. Google for them. I would be surprised if you can't find a PDF doc with them in it, if you can't find them let me know and I will scan some for you.


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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:49 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

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Location: United States
I cant quite find one.  The closest i can find is over priced templates for sale on some websites.  That would be great if you could scan them, or maybe if you could just find me a link.  Either way I would really appreciate it.


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:57 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Humbucker specs.

Ron

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Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:05 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

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Thanks


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:08 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Also, I believe the Melvyn Hiscock book has the drawing for the P90 cutout.

Ron

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Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:14 pm 
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Koa
Koa

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Location: United States
Those "overpriced templates" aren't so overpriced when you consider your time and the precision with which they are made. I hardly ever build jigs that I can buy these days. Stew Mac's pickup templates are very reasonable for what they are, I think.


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:28 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

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I am really new to this, I guess once I keep getting into this and go furthur into the project I will realize it is reasonable.  I guess at first look they seemed a little pricey



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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:51 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:50 pm
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Location: United States
First name: John
Last Name: Lewis
City: Newnan
State: Georgia
Zip/Postal Code: 30265
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Pickup templates from stewmac - what Rick said; buy these for $11.00 + shipping and go to it.

Good luck-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:56 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:25 pm
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Location: Netherlands
The templates are cheap, and I'm lazy.

This said, go ahead and get the Hiscock book. Making a P-90 template requires a few bits of straight scrap, a router, a square, and a drill bit for the corners. And I'd reccomend measuring the actual pickups, because the routes may not be as 'tight' as you prefer them (I've never had issues, but I've seen people complain before.)


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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:35 am 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 2:14 pm
Posts: 7
Location: United States

Does this template for a strat tremelo system have the template for both screws and the posts if you flip it?  I cant really tell.


http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Routing /1/Tremolo_Routing_Templates/Pictures.html#details



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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:43 pm 
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Mahogany
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Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:38 pm
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Location: United Kingdom

The Hiscock book also contains a strat tremolo template, which can be used to make your own router templates.  I highly recommend buying the book, not just for the templates, but for the overview of construction it'll give you.


The web, and forums like this, PG and the MIMF are great, but for a comprehensive overview, 'Make your Own Electric Guitar' is tough to beat.



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