Rabs Posted April 7, 2013 Posted April 7, 2013 So I have decided to go ahead and do two guitars... I have the wood and quite a few of the bits of hardware and trim I need already so why the hell not.. :) So I decided to have two threads as this project will be slow till I finish the first one but I will do bits here and there at the same time... Sooo.. First things first.. What shape... As I said before I want to do a Tele type ish guitar as I love Teles but not Fender necks (ok shoot me :))... So why not make my own hybrid version :) Ive had a look about and have found that there are templates you can print out (as I don't have any Fenders to draw around :)) and have already decided on a double cut shape :P What do you reckon (one is for a semi hollow but ignore that, its the body shape im looking at). 1 or 2 Also found a Fender headstock template that should be useful. And if you didn't see it in my other thread.. This is the wood I have for this second guitar. (yes it was also a door :)) So I may get the body done this week.. Hopefully more soon.. :)
Rabs Posted April 8, 2013 Author Posted April 8, 2013 I started sanding down this new wood today that came from a different door... Now I used some of this wood to make the neck of the first build and I can say that its like stone compared to the pine that I used for the body of the first build. So im not really sure what type of wood it is... Ive tried looking at wood grain pictures on the net and cant work it out.. I don't think its pine? What do you reckon, anyone that knows their wood grain? (not that it makes much difference, I will use it anyway.. Would just be interesting to know :)) This is the first two bits.. Two more to go.
krock Posted April 8, 2013 Posted April 8, 2013 I like the design 1 that you've made, should look pretty cool with a tele style control panel. Just for the love of god dont put a reverse tele headstock on it like the chapman ML1's
Rabs Posted April 9, 2013 Author Posted April 9, 2013 So ive been looking around at some finish and body options.. And I REALLY like this (without the F-hole semi hollow).. And have also decided on a glued in neck so this is the kind of thing I have in mind for that The thought of doing my own version of a Tele is quite exciting.. :)
Rabs Posted April 9, 2013 Author Posted April 9, 2013 I like the design 1 that you've made, should look pretty cool with a tele style control panel. Just for the love of god dont put a reverse tele headstock on it like the chapman ML1's Yeah I think im gonna go that way.. like the one in the above pic. :)
Rabs Posted April 9, 2013 Author Posted April 9, 2013 So, not had much time for guitary things today but just started some prep work.. You see the first build im still doing, I just went at it with a jigsaw and so some of what happened was luck.. The problem is it left me with VERY uneven sides for the body blocks and im having the same trouble with the cap pieces.. getting straight sides is hard.. So this time around im building templates first and will use my router bit that has a template guide to cut the main body wood.. All being well if it works it will cut the amount of sanding and levelling I have to do after. So today I printed out some template shapes so I can then transfer that to some scrap wood and use it to get the shape right then to cut around. The first one I did was a bit too Gibson DC like.. So I did two.. Heres the paper versions I think this is a bit rounded and the end of the guitar a bit to fat So I made another with a slightly slimmed down body and horns I kinda like them both but I think to make something different I will go with the less roundy one. Heres them ready to be cut tomorrow. May as well cut both and keep it in case I do more :) Roundy Less roundy :) Hopefully as I say buy doing these it should save me a lot of time (hopefully )
krock Posted April 10, 2013 Posted April 10, 2013 You see the first build im still doing, I just went at it with a jigsaw and so some of what happened was luck.. The problem is it left me with VERY uneven sides for the body blocks and im having the same trouble with the cap pieces.. getting straight sides is hard.. So this time around im building templates first and will use my router bit that has a template guide to cut the main body wood.. All being well if it works it will cut the amount of sanding and levelling I have to do after. It's good that now that because you've started a few of these projects, you know tricks to make them better each time. Btw, where is that red tele strat hybrid pic from?
badbluesplayer Posted April 10, 2013 Posted April 10, 2013 I started sanding down this new wood today that came from a different door... Now I used some of this wood to make the neck of the first build and I can say that its like stone compared to the pine that I used for the body of the first build. So im not really sure what type of wood it is... Ive tried looking at wood grain pictures on the net and cant work it out.. I don't think its pine? What do you reckon, anyone that knows their wood grain? (not that it makes much difference, I will use it anyway.. Would just be interesting to know :)) This is the first two bits.. Two more to go. I am good at identifying american woods but not european woods. But it looks like a softwood. Maybe spruce. You can identify it by doing an examination of the resin canals in the endgrain under a magnifying glass. There's three types of softwoods. Pines have lots of large resin canals. Spruce & larch have fewer small canals. True firs, hemlocks and yews have no canals. So if you post a pic of the cross section at 15X maybe we can figure it out.
Rabs Posted April 10, 2013 Author Posted April 10, 2013 Hello.. So welcome to my first video on these projects.. I thought if im gonna do a video of the whole build it will be good to have some video footage to show. Even though im not sure its that interesting watching me cut some wood :) Its not like im a pro (yet :)). So here you go if your interested in seeing my tent and where I work.. And how hard I make it on myself and how amateur it all still is compared to someone who has a workshop and the right tools.. Im not moaning.. I knew it would be hard doing it this way but that's always been the challenge.. To see if I could do it using the most basic of tools. You will also see here (and I know im letting myself in for a barrage of comments here about my technique or the blade im using etc) how tough this wood is as I have a slight technical issue :)
Rabs Posted April 10, 2013 Author Posted April 10, 2013 I am good at identifying american woods but not european woods. But it looks like a softwood. Maybe spruce. You can identify it by doing an examination of the resin canals in the endgrain under a magnifying glass. There's three types of softwoods. Pines have lots of large resin canals. Spruce & larch have fewer small canals. True firs, hemlocks and yews have no canals. So if you post a pic of the cross section at 15X maybe we can figure it out. See what you think then on the video.. And I mean that in the way that im not sure.. I think this wood is pretty hard but haven't really worked with a traditional hardwood yet.. In saying that I have no idea what wood it is.
Rabs Posted April 14, 2013 Author Posted April 14, 2013 Hello.. So today I learned a good lesson.. I had the two blocks of wood im going to use for the body and was once again breaking my back trying to get the sides straight and to line up.. Sooo I used my router and used the template guide to run along a straight but of wood I have (a pre cut one)... And my lord, it worked.. So I glued the body together today.. This is a great thing cos I would have spent days trying to get it right by hand and just saved myself a lot of work and got the job done efficiently.. Hooorahhhhh :) So this is it.. Im REALLY happy.. nice and tight (the first build I did was not so great and one of the reasons im putting a cap on that one)... Tight as a... hmmmm really tight thing :) and after a quick wipe The ONLY issue now is that I have trimmed the wood by an extra like 2mm.. Which just means I will flatten the body curve out a bit.. Which is no problem.. May try that on the morrow..
Rabs Posted April 16, 2013 Author Posted April 16, 2013 Today I got to doing the main body slab.. So I did a time lapse video as to try and not bore everyone to death :) I start with the Jigsaw to get the rough shape then move to my new technique which is using my router with the template edge.. This gets me a much closer finish.... So heres the template which ive slimmed the body and horns down a bit And heres my router bit.. You will see it has bareings on the top which is what allows it to follow a template. And heres the video.. only 1:30 long :) And the outcome.. Still needs a bit of sanding.. but is ot far off what I want (those lines you can see are the glue that I have to sand back still from when I glued the body. More to come soon.. Tomorrow im gonna concentrate on my first project now I have some bits ive been waiting for. :)
surfpup Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 With a handheld jigsaw no less. I know how hard that is. BTW, it looks a bit hornier than I thought it would - kinda modern Strat instead of Tele?
Rabs Posted April 17, 2013 Author Posted April 17, 2013 With a handheld jigsaw no less. I know how hard that is. BTW, it looks a bit hornier than I thought it would - kinda modern Strat instead of Tele? Lol yeah these things kinda have a way of shaping themselves.. I thinned the design out a bit cos I thought the first template was a bit too rounded and fat at the back... So its just a sort of mish mash.. A Fender inspired guitar more than a Fender shape... But then I like doing my own thing after all this is my guitar, not a Fender :) (its just all the best shapes seem to have been thought of already).
Rabs Posted April 17, 2013 Author Posted April 17, 2013 Oh yeah.. I forgot to mention.. The other thing I just went and got cheap on ebay for this build... Some Flamy Maple Veneer :) Perrrdddyyyyyy Its only thin BUT I intend to use it for the front of the guitar for some extra eye candy :) looking forward to getting that and seeing what its like.
Rabs Posted April 26, 2013 Author Posted April 26, 2013 Not so much been going on with this project this week as ive been concentrating on build 1.. But I have two things to report. First the neck piece is ready for its trussrod Secondly I now have two bits of veneer to choose from for the top of this guitar.. What do you reckon? Slightly flamy maple Or Birdseye maple that only cost £3 off ebay :) (really hard to take a good picture of that). More to come on this project (as soon as I get that neck on build 1 out the way :))
pippy Posted April 28, 2013 Posted April 28, 2013 Secondly I now have two bits of veneer to choose from for the top of this guitar.. What do you reckon? Personally, I'd go with the flame. Looking good! P.
Rabs Posted April 28, 2013 Author Posted April 28, 2013 Personally, I'd go with the flame. Looking good! P. Cheers man... I also have a third option on the way... (went a bit mad veneer buying, but they are only cheap and will provide an amazing finish). Figured Walnut
pippy Posted April 28, 2013 Posted April 28, 2013 OOOH....! Definitely the Walnut! Millions of guitars have flame Maple but flame Walnut? Much more individual and the contrast in the different 'ripples' should look stunning. It will also take a finish beautifully - whether a clear-coat, a stain or a dye-pigment. P.
Rabs Posted April 28, 2013 Author Posted April 28, 2013 OOOH....! Definitely the Walnut! Millions of guitars have flame Maple but flame Walnut? Much more individual and the contrast in the different 'ripples' should look stunning. It will also take a finish beautifully - whether a clear-coat, a stain or a dye-pigment. P. That's pretty much what I thought when I saw it Shame id already bought the other two. But I do intend to make more so they wont go to waste :)
Rabs Posted May 2, 2013 Author Posted May 2, 2013 Been busy with build number one so not much to tell really but this project is still going.. I got the trussrod through today so I can start on the neck soon.. I did get that flamey walnut veneer today and its as nice as it looked in the pic.. Heres my pic of it.. REALLY looking forward to working with that. The only other news is that ive moved production into my parents garage now so hopefully things will start to kick up a gear... I know.. a total mess.. But you should have seen it a week ago before I cleaned it up lol.. We are gradually going to empty it out so I should get a bit more space soon.. But its really nice being in a larger work area with air coming in lol.. much better And more importantly I now have shelving.. How novel :) So.... sorry for the slightly boring update but for anyone following this there will be some big ones soon now I have a better working environment.
Rabs Posted May 8, 2013 Author Posted May 8, 2013 Hello project #2 watchers. So today as you may have seen I was working on the fret markers for build 1.. So while that was drying I decided to get on with the neck for this build.. So the last time I did a trussrod it was pain.. I had no idea how to use my router properly and make sure I get a straight line.. This time around it shows I have learned as I did it today really quick. No fuss and more accurately. Sweet :) On my first pass I almost get it right in one So so close :) So a bit of chiselling And FREEKIN SWEET.. almost flush to the neck Then I decided to start getting the neck shape ready.. I went at the sides with my trusty router And we have a nice start here.. I think im going to need to add some wings to the headstock to get it to size but that's no issue.. So.. more soon :)
moparguy Posted May 9, 2013 Posted May 9, 2013 The master luthier is at it again! This is gonna be good, I can see that already
Rabs Posted May 9, 2013 Author Posted May 9, 2013 The master luthier is at it again! This is gonna be good, I can see that already Lol.. cheers man.. not quite a master yet me thinks :) BUT yes I can really see this one looking amazing... Quite excited about it The veneers I got should make it look stunning.
pippy Posted May 9, 2013 Posted May 9, 2013 Are you going to put a veneer on the #1, Rabs? That walnut looks great! P.
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