Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello!

I've been itching to build my own guitar from scratch for the past few years, but I've never found the time to do so. However, this year I am making it my goal to at least start one!

I have been browsing online websites to absorb as much information as I can! Anyone have any books they might recommend me? I'm interested in making an electric guitar!

I am currently located in Vancouver, BC; anyone know of some good local lumber suppliers?

Thanks in advance!
Quips

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David
Vancouver, BC

Quips, I don't have an answer for you, but Welcome to OLF. A name, at least in a signature, would be nice. You'll find you get better response if folks can identify with an individual, and not a made up name. If you search the archives, I think you'll find some threads that have dealt with electric building books. Here is one example.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Quips,

Welcome to the forum.
Electric guitar building extraordinaire, Mike Snider, http://www.sniderguitars.com and I just finished a DVD on how to build your own electric guitar. It is available through LMI, one of our sponsors. http://www.lmii.com
This DVD will show you how to build a "stratish" type electric from start to finish.
We are currently working on an advanced electric instructional DVD that will show you how to build a "les Paulish" type electric from start to finish. This DVD will also be available through LMI in a few months.

If Robbie's electric guitar DVD's are as good as his acoustic ones, you won't go wrong with them.

I've always liked Melvin Hiscock's book - it shows a good overview of both bolt on and neck-through designs (set neck too? Can't remember - I haven't gone there yet.) I'm building a neck through 4-string bass right now (but following a geological time scale for progress) which follows Melvin's guidance closely.

Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Welcome to the adventure. Got any time and patience? I started my first build last thanksgiving. I am going to be putting the finish on it this week maybe. Try your local library. I got 5 or 6 good accoustic build books that I used.

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Mark Ewing
Columbus Ohio
"Trees are an important and precious thing. We should build good things with them. Building good guitars with heart are the best use for them." K. Yairi.

I don't doubt Robbie's videos will be excellent, but The Bible, for me, is still Melvyn Hiscock's book. I built my first electric, a 5-string neck-through bass, using this book and with no other help. No internet, no-one to ask for help. He shows how to make a neck-through, a set neck and a bolt-on. My advice is always to buy Melvyn's book, read it thoroughly, then read it again and then start.
I think my first one turned out OK.

Edit. Jim and I were typing simultaneously (but I'm slower).

I watched a sneak peek view of Robbie and Mike's DVD, and to me it is by far the best DVD done in his series. It shows how to build using hand tools and machine tools. Highly recommended!!

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

New to Luthiery
Advice appreciated

RUN!!! SCREAMING!! Like your finanicial life depended on it!

Welcome Quips!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice, WaddyT! I'll definitely add a name onto my signature once I figure out how; my name is David.

Robbie O'Brien,
Much thanks for pointing me towards those links - Mike Snider's guitars look fantastic! An instructional DVD would be a great help... I'll purchase the dvd regarding the "les paulish" type electric for sure!

Thanks Jim! I have recently purchased the book and its great!

mark11, definitely will do. I plan to have everything planned out quite thoroughly before I start. Thanks a bunch!
Much thanks for pointing me towards Melvin Hiscock's book, Dave. I'm currently reading that at the moment while I wallow through various videos on the internet.
LuthierSupplier, I will take a look! I can't wait for the second dvd!

Thanks for the warm welcome! I must say... this is quite an expensive hobby. I have been visiting home depot lately, contemplating whether I should purchase some of those pretty machines or build the guitar out of mostly hand held tools.

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David
Vancouver, BC

Progress report!

Material Gathering:
-I have purchased enough Honduras Mahogany to produce 3 guitars for some of my "later" projects once I am more familiarized with my woodworking abilities.
-On the lookout for figured maple, namely quilted or curly maple! I've ran into some birdseye but it just doesn't seem to be my thing.

Tools:
I have not yet purchased any tools yet.

Design:
I have purchased a small drafting set. So far... I am planning for a 25" scale length with 2 humbucker style pickups. I haven't yet determined exactly where I will place everything as I will need to research quite a bit more!

Sticky Points:
I can't seem to decide whether I should purchase some pickups or make my own! I have seen a few DIY guitar pickup guides and it seems very straightforward.

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David
Vancouver, BC

Welcome David!

Regarding the costs associated with guitar building - Freddy Prince in his monologue use to tell people that it was no secret that he was a cocaine user but that he kicked the habit and took up golf instead. He went on to say if anyone thinks that golf is cheaper than cocaine they have a lot to learn.......

Great to have you here.

Now there's another new guy to pick on/abuse!
Good luck with your guitar, and great to see on the forum. There's a site with a few good tutorials you might want to check out.
http://projectguitar.com/menu/tutorial.htm
hope it helps!
Matthew

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-They made me do this-
My name is Matthew Luce

Thanks for the welcome, Hesh! I sure hope I don't fall through the hole that is growing in my wallet!



Matthew, thanks for the helpful link! I'll definitely be reading all that.

Wow! Thanks for the heads up!

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David
Vancouver, BC

Progress Report!

Material Gathering:
- I have found a source for a plethora of hardwood lumber. I have purchased a few 10' boards of 5/4 African Mahogany; It is less than half the price of Honduras Mahogany! I'll definitely have to test the sound differences between the two.
- I have also stumbled across a supplier of maple tops for major guitar companies; After some friendly chit chat and digging through a pile of billets about to head to PRS, I found some nice curly and quilted maple tops. They were nice enough to bookmatch them for me. I've noticed that the billets being sent to PRS are all extremely similar in dimensions, whereas the Gibson stockpile has a very large variation (some billets are as thin as ~5/4").

Tools:
- I have purchased some relatively cheap bench tools - If i truly plan to build more guitars, I'll upgrade.
- 13" thickness Planer, 9" bench top bandsaw (any recommendations on a bandsaw upgrade? I need something that can resaw; 12" cutting height would be ideal), 6" Jointer, Oscillating Spindle sander, scroll saw, drill press w/ laser, and a bunch of hand tools!

Sticky Points:
- Noise restriction bylaw!
- Decided to just buy pickups; In the future I MUST try making them myself!

Design:
- I have made 2 designs: a single cutaway and a double cutaway at 25" scale length;

Build:
- Currently carving the top of my single cutaway design.

Pictures:
- Once I figure out how!

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David
Vancouver, BC

Hi David, welcome to the OLF. Enjoy making your first guitar - take it slow and make lots of jigs. Post pictures as you go along, we like pictures.

Cheers,
Dave F.

P.S. Great name!

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Howdy David,
Can't wait to see pictures of it. I have so much stuff I want to try and build from looking at all these guitars people post on here. Someone will post a picture of some new design of an end graft or new sound hole design and my mind starts reeling.

Anyway, welcome Big Dave!

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Sorry If I haven't posted in a while!

I have completed the first guitar! Just needs to move the bass side of the bridge a little away and it should be good!

I wasn't able to take pictures of it in progress as I JUST got my hands on a digital camera!
Here is a picture of one that is being worked on, too.

I'm planning to start using a neck angle somewhere between 1-2degrees instead of the 2.5degrees to accomdate the use of a tremolo bridge, too.

I also need to move the bridge pickup a little further away from the bridge.

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David
Vancouver, BC

Looks fantastic.

Darrin