Official Luthiers Forum!

I've been researching what tools are needed to build a complete electric guitar (body, top, neck, fretboard, binding, routing, etc.), but I can't seem to find a clear, complete answer on what I need to get started. My budget is about $500-600. Also, any particular brands to look for or stay away from? Thanks.

Hey there and welcome to the OLF!

It's a tough question to answer and there really is no such thing as a complete answer for you because there are so very many variables. From what kind of ax you are interested in building to what skills and tools you already have and of course what you already mentioned the budget as well all of these things will have bearing on what you may need.

My suggestion for you is to break down the guitar building into specific, major tasks and analyze or ask the forum what you need based on what you have or have access to and approach the project this way, one task centric step at a time.

The first question that you may want to ask yourself is as far as you can tell for now why are you interested in building a guitar? If the answer is to have a killer ax for yourself and you don't think that you will have interest beyond this what you will need will be the basics. If your interest is in Lutherie in general and you are pretty sure that you will remain interested your tool list will likely include higher quality tools and more of them as well.

So you can see we can't really answer this question well for you and that's why you have not received a complete answer so far.

Consider breaking down the tasks associated with what kind of guitar that you wish to build and then perhaps ask us what we would use to complete these specific tasks. The answers that you will receive will likely be more suited to your goals with this approach.

This thread can still get you where you want to go so-to-speak simply be more specific in your next post indicating what you want to do more specifically and what you have so far to do it with. The guys here are as helpful as can be and I am sure that once you refine the question(s) you will have ample decent and thoughtful replies.

Again welcome aboard!

Thanks for the thorough response! I will edit my post to be more specific.

Hesh's reply is very good and should be read carefully. However I think you also want some specific answers and I'll try to give them in a couple of different ways. First, find a couple of electric guitar build threads (this forum doesn't normally have complete threads but they are out there). Here is one that I did on a Les Paul type of guitar - it is a scratch build with the exception of the fretboard (which I'll discuss in a minute), has wood binding and a chambered body.

http://www.harmonycentral.com/forum/for ... clip-added

I am a small time builder who works in a garage shop, I mostly build acoustics but once in a while an electric like this. Just go thru the steps on the thread and look at the tools I use - see if that makes sense or if there is another way for you to do it.

Next, remember that you can buy necks, bodies, fretboards in any stage of completion and assemble them into a very nice guitar. Some people consider this "building" - it certainly does limit the need for special tools (or abilities) which can be difficult for a beginner.

Next, get Melvyn Hiscock's book Make Your Own Electric Guitar. Everything you need to know to build in several different styles (bolt on neck like a Fender, set neck like a Gibson, thru neck like some of the fancy bases).

Finally, let me just list the major parts of the guitar and the tools that I use to make them:

Body and top - I don't own a thickness sander so I take the blanks to a cabinet shop. You can do that with planes if you are very good. Cut out the shape with a band saw and make the various holes and cavities with a router and drill press. If it has a carved top like a Lester I use little hand planes and chisels. To bind the body you need a router and some special bits. You'll need to make templates for the various cavities.

Neck - I do the rough shaping on a bandsaw and everything else with a spokeshave, chisels, rasps, and sandpaper. A router for the truss rod channel, drill press for the tuners.

Fretboard - you need some sort of miter box and a little saw with the correct kerf, plus some very accurate measurements. I choose to buy my fretboards pre slotted - it saves a lot of trouble and if you screw up one slot you've ruined the board.

Fretting - a small hammer, some files and a flat sanding block, fret crowning file. Lately I've been pressing frets but started by hammering them.

Finish - there are a lot of possibilities here from hand applied oil or varnishes to spraying. I have a small compressor and gun which allows me to do sun bursts, my finishes are good but still not professional.

Wiring and electronics - you'll need a soldering iron, wire strippers and a little bit of wiring skill.

Final setup - nut files, a wrench for your truss rod and whatever your bridge needs, feeler gauges and other measuring tools.

Last thought - start simple with a kit where some of the work is pre done for you. On your second one add a couple of tools and do more of the steps. After a couple you will have equipped your shop the way you want it and will be doing most of the work.

Good luck, have fun.

Let me add another thought - choose the type of guitar that you build carefully. Leo designed his guitars to be easily fabricated on an assembly line while Gibsons tend to be figity in their construction. I would seriously consider a Tele or similar as your first build (even tho I've got to admit I've never build one LOL)