DIY Build

[Tempest]

Hey y'all! 

So this isn't something that is coming up soon or anything but recently I played one of these http://www.fanoguitars.com/altdefactoPX6.html and fell in love with the body shape. Super comfortable and an awesome look IMO.  Its kind of like an oversized non-reverse Firebird.  It much too expensive for me though so I was considering making my own with a Warmoth neck.  I don't think Warmoths body blanks are quite large enough to fit the shape though. 

So here's my question, what kind of tools would I need, and how difficult would it be to get a blank piece of wood and make my own body, complete with the right size neck pocket and routes and such?

I've never done anything like this so just wondering if I could even attempt it or not.

Thanks!
Chase

:rock-on:

 

[bagman67]

Suppose you ordered a lefty firebird with no cavity rout in the back?  Then you'd only have to rout for controls, rather than start from scratch.

 

[Tempest]

Suppose you ordered a lefty firebird with no cavity rout in the back?  Then you'd only have to rout for controls, rather than start from scratch.

I suppose that's true but it just wouldn't quite be the same. I'd really be more interested in making my own kind of thing

 

[DesmoDog]

Google the telecaster forum (tdpri) and search the home depot section. There are numerous threads on building guitars there that will give you more info than you could possibly absorb before your first build.

 

[SkuttleFunk]

So here's my question, what kind of tools would I need, and how difficult would it be to get a blank piece of wood and make my own body, complete with the right size neck pocket and routes and such?

it all depends on you're current tool skills, what woodworking tools you have access to, what tools you're willing/able to purchase, and how much wood you're willing to scrap to acquire the skills needed to make that body yourself (or how much you're willing to pay somebody to do all the work you don't have the skills and/or tools to do yourself)

buying tools to make guitars is a dark road to go down, and it's worse than crack once you get your first taste of building. I've invested way more than I care to admit in getting myself where I have all the tools needed to do my own guitar/bass builds from rough limber ... and I'm still not properly set-up to accommodate what needs to be done for a consistently high quality finish


simple road: see if W will do a custom sized body blank with the neck pocket and mounting screw holes already cut for you. from here you can then get by with an inexpensive bandsaw, drillpress, and a decent router for the rest of what you'll need to do. odds are you can find a friend or two who can help you gain access to these tools, and you won't need to find somebody who has the more expensive tools like planers, jointers, large re-sawing bandsaws, etc ...

all the best,

R

 

[Cagey]

buying tools to make guitars is a dark road to go down, and it's worse than crack once you get your first taste of building. I've invested way more than I care to admit in getting myself where I have all the tools needed to do my own guitar/bass builds from rough limber.

Hehe! Ain't that the truth? And it isn't just the major tools that will eat your wallet. All the little peripheral stuff you need to make those tools useful or to clean up after them will nickel-dime you to death. My fretworking toolbox alone has probably cost me $800+, and I don't even install frets. I just make them work and play well with others. It's actually too easy to get high-quality fretted necks, so there's little point in setting up to do them yourself unless you're interested in restoration work. But, making them perform well is time-intensive so the neck builders don't do it, and as a result there's a market there of discerning players.

 

[Tempest]

Ah, sounds like this might be a bit beyond me haha, I don't think I really know anyone with a bunch of woodworking tools either... hm..  :-\


Thanks for the info though guys, I appreciate it

 

[Cagey]

Ah, sounds like this might be a bit beyond me haha, I don't think I really know anyone with a bunch of woodworking tools either... hm..  :-\
Thanks for the info though guys, I appreciate it

You'd probably be better at it than you think. Good tools make a lot of things much easier than you might imagine. It's the cheap tools you gotta watch out for. They almost always end up costing you more than the good stuff does. Still...

A man's gotta know his limitations...​

On the other hand, you could nickel-dime a dream to life, if you've already got a guitar to play. Usually, the problem with tools and talent is time. Somebody wants to do something RFN, and after a bit of research finds out it's not possible without a huge bank account and/or line of credit. But, if you're willing to wait a year or two, you can buy things in the sequence you need them, and it's all a lot easier to swallow. Still costs you a pile, but it's over time and you also still have all the tools, which are either good for other things or for making more guitars. Or whatever. Find something your wife/girlfriend/mother would like, and make that for her. Lotta forgiveness for tool expenditures in that kind of move, and you get to learn how the tools work and become more familiar with them so you can keep all your fingers.