Instructions, tips on assembly, etc

[dcbrown73]

I've been playing guitar for years and I have many hobbies, but this is my first foray into building a guitar.

Is there any step-by-step instruction out there?  I mean putting a guitar together, I can surely figure out.  What I'm really wanting is instructions that detail best practices and state those little nuances that you only learn through trial and error.  Given I went all out (spared no expense) on my first build.  I would prefer not to learn things the hard way if I can help it.

This is the guitar I'm building.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

 

[rgand]

It might do well for you to look at a number of the build threads in 'A Work In Progress'. Many of them explain the things you will need to know. Check out the threads with lots of replies because there might be more details that will help you in them.

 

[dcbrown73]

lol, wow.  That seems obvious enough yet I completely brain-fartted and didn't think of that.

Thanks Rgand, I will definitely do a lot of reading in those threads!

 

[rgand]

If nothing else, you'll get ideas for another 10 guitars.  :laughing11:

BTW, that one you're just starting on is going to be a beautiful one.

 

[PhilHill]

I second Rgand's suggestion. Research is always good, that and patience. Take your time and look things over well. Check and double check the way things fit and the position they should be in. Like the old saying " Measure twice, cut once." If you run into a problem, stop and check it out before going further. I think it's cool that you recognize that nobody starts out knowing it all, and are willing to ask for help.

 

[Rick]

I third it

 

[TheGreatRedDragon]

There are quite a few series on Youtube showing step-by-step assemblies.

I built my first two parts guitars a few months ago at the same time. The Charvel I built had some headaches (primarily electrical) but the Warmoth I built came together in an afternoon, the only delays were in finishing the neck and waiting for a knob that fit the pot.

Just stay calm, breath and take it one step at a time.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

If you can find a copy of the book “Custom Guitar Building” by Bob Feather (aka Telenator), it is a great introduction to building a guitar from parts. I have a copy somewhere, I found it to be very helpful when I was getting started in this hobby.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1630685356/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UAZwEbHF3R49A

 

[ghotiphry]

How to drill a hole. This is important.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/cFaaIN3RNxI[/youtube]

 

[stratamania]

Tips and Tricks... Take your time, ask questions if needed.

Setting up your Tremolo or Floyd Rose
https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=29622.0


Forum Headings  (Inlcudes Tips and Tricks, Wiring, Hardware etc) Look out for stickies at the top of the categories.
https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php#c1

There are links to some builds I did in my signature which have a lot of photos and discussion which you might find useful.  I added this one also as the signature is limited to a number of characters.
Metallic Black Cherry Floyd Rose Non-Fine Tuner
https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=30781.msg432979#msg432979

 

[rauchman]

Tips and Tricks... Take your time, ask questions if needed.

Setting up your Tremolo of Floyd Rose
https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=29622.0


Forum Headings  (Inlcudes Tips and Tricks, Wiring, Hardware etc) Look out for stickies at the top of the categories.
https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php#c1

There are links to some builds I did in my signature which have a lot of photos and discussion which you might find useful.  I added this one also as the signature is limited to a number of characters.
Metallic Black Cherry Floyd Rose Non-Fine Tuner
https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=30781.msg432979#msg432979

Sticky worthy!

 

[Cactus Jack]

I've only assembled a few guitars but below is my basic order. I have a few build threads that illustrate all the mistakes I've made...check them out and save yourself a bunch of time .

My general approach to assembling guitars:

Neck: I like to do as much to the neck before bolting it to the body. I start by assessing the frets and then leveling, crowning, and polishing. Once I'm done with the frets I burnish the wood and finally install the tuners. I then set it aside until I'm done with the body. I spend a lot of time on the neck, usually several hours. If I had to guess I'd say I spend a solid 75% of the entire assembly time working on the neck.

Body: I test fit the hardware and run then run the pickup wires, bridge wire and get the electronics cavity squared away. I don't bother with copper lining, but this would be a good time to do so.

Electronics: None of my guitars have pickguards so I do all the wiring in the cavity. I like to prep the components first and connect the pickups last. I personally start with grounding points then transition to the output jack, capacitors, and jumper wires. I then wire up the pickups starting with the grounds then the hots. After every ground connection, I test the joint with my multi-meter. Depending on what I want to wire, this part can take a lot of time, not as much time as prepping the neck, but a good amount of time which requires constant focus and attention to detail.

Setup: Bolt the neck on, set relief, set bridge action, reset relief, reset bridge action, set nut action, reset everything, intonate, recheck everything, have a drink or two, recheck everything (usually less tedious this time), call it good and enjoy. The first time I attempted my own setup it took me hours. I've since setup 6 of my own guitars, know my exact specs, and can nail this start to finish in under an hour...unless I cut the nut too low...which I have done...more than once...

 

[guitarslinger21]

Be very careful drilling stuff.  Use pieces of tape on the bit to show you where to stop.  I drilled through a body once since Warmoth doesn't do their WRHB holes correctly.  Still my fault for drilling through.

Learn how to drill through paint.

Use those strap button gaskets if you don't want the paint to chip off when you tighten them.

You will need a set of nut files.  Get six of them slightly larger than your string gauge.

don't make the tuner screw pilot holes too small.  Those screws strip and break very easily.

Actually, make sure all of your pilot holes are big enough.  I had a bigsby mounting screw break in half.  It's still there.

 

[ByteFrenzy]

+1 for tape on the bit as a depth stop. But make sure it's stuck on the bit really good, I once had a piece of tape happily ride up the drill shaft as I was drilling. Fortunately in a wall and not anything instrument related, and I didn't come out the other side of the wall, but it was a warning I won't forget.

 

[timanator]

Does warmoth offer any service to assemble the neck and body. As in action and all that if you purchase the bridge from them with the neck and body?

Thanks,

 

[Cagey]

No. As I understand it, their licensing agreement(s) with Fender (and whoever) specifically rely on them not being an instrument manufacturer. They don't even put together "kits". They're a parts manufacturer/dealer. But, there are certainly luthiers/techs out in the world you can hire to do that sort of thing for you if you're lacking in some of the tools/knowledge/talent/confidence you feel is needed to do such a thing. I happen to know a guy who knows a guy...

 

[BroccoliRob]

Experimentation is the mother of creation, my man. use the tools of the information superhighway. Dive in and get you head in the game, but don't ovethink things. Wait those cancel each other out, nvm.


For ex. (short for example) the reason I go by Robert (or Roberto) is because on chatroulette I experimented and told somebody my name was 'Bo' and they asked if it was short for something and I said it was short for Bob and she disconnected from our chat. My experiment taught me my full (or full-ish name) name would mean I'd get less questions and fewer awkward silences

U live u learn then u get luvs and a guitar