Thread: 1st woodwork project- Construction of a Strat / Superstrat style guitar

Looking good Luke.

I suggest you rout the 'lectronics cavities, and neck pocket sooner rather than later, as it is much easier working on a flat surface.

Matthew

Originally Posted by contrebasse

I suggest you rout the 'lectronics cavities, and neck pocket sooner rather than later, as it is much easier working on a flat surface.

Thats a good idea MAtthew, thanks for pointing that out. Does that mean routing holes for the bridge and pickups as well? I haven't got the bridge or pickups yet so I'm not sure how big the holes need to be....

Also I'm going to make the neck myself, I've bought the truss rod, fingerboard and frets for it, I'm just going to use the leatherwood I used in between the body bits.

I'd be inclined to do the neck next, and then route the neck pocket to ensure a snug fit. Once you've test fitted the neck, then you can do your bridge and pickup placements. That way everything will be precise rather than your best estimate ... which may be a mm or two out.

That body looks fairly thick ... what's the depth ... and how does the weight feel at this early stage?

It's coming together well ... keep up with the posting

Alright, that's a good idea, I will do the neck first. That would probably help with scale length, harmonics etc anyway.

IT is quite thick, and quite heavy at this stage, but once we rout out areas and sculpt body contours and electronics cavaties it will be similar to other guitars. Even beveling the edge and cutting the arm scoop has taken a lot of the weight off! Also putting the neck on will make it feel more balanced.

No routing, just the Forstner bits and chisel as I'm not going to take the risk of bodging up the project! Without your chosen "no pickguard" , mistakes will stand out like bollocks. My Finnish mate sent this link , maybe we can steal some more ideas? http://www.instructables.com/id/Buil...ctric-Guitar!/
Who the hell was Forstner anyway?

Hi Luke... good to see a budding tweaker on the loose.

I'm guessing you've decided on a Fender scale length but, (tho my days of guitar building are over other than a couple more lap steels), if I was to do one from scratch now I'd absolutely go for a Paul Reed Smith scale length of 25". Gibson usually use 24.75" - hence the classic loose/fat Les Paul feel - and Fenders usually are 25.5" - giving the tighter tension and ringing, fence wire sound of a Strat. The PRS 25" is a lovely length giving a bit more snap than a Gibson without the over-edginess and finger workout of a tightly strung Fender. It puts the frets comfortably close together without being crowded like a Gibson. It's just a thought... tho possibly not helpful at this stage.

Oh-Oh

... there goes the neighbourhood ...



Griff I could tell a thing or two about that fence-wire sound, eh?

Paul, I did my first pickup cavity rout the other day. The trick is to use the drill to waste out the middle then use the router with a "follower" bit (with a bearing at the top of the bit) following a template with the correct pickup hole size stuck to the top with doublesided. You can buy the perspex templates for about $5 each from Stewmac. You get a nice neat hole this way, with a clean bottom(!) but the router bit costs around $45.

how about an update, Luke? Any progress pics?

Originally Posted by contrebasse

how about an update, Luke? Any progress pics?

Yeah Luke ... listen to your Uncle ... updates and photos please

Bump.

Contrebasse ... I'm holding you personally responsible for going down, smacking Luke across the back of the head, and getting an update on this build

I thought about that. Problem is, Luke's very capable of running me through with a broad sword if I'm not nice to him ...

I know the feeling ... my two eldest kids now tower over me and my two youngest are rapidly catching up. Sort of makes me glad I didn't beat them when they were younger

Perhaps a better strategy would be for you to ask Luke very nicely ... but first check to see if he's carrying that broad sword .

He's carrying a heavy load of schoolwork, that's what...

Luke & I cut and shaped the neck last weekend and are pondering the next move. If he isn't overburdened with school this week I'll get him to post some pics and mull over the varaibles. I will say , leatherwood is a strong timber but works nicely and I think will have a very nice end feel. In the meantime , does anyone know how to go about cutting the groove for the truss rod? A concave groove seems to be the done thing , for obvious reasons. I thought maybe using a circular saw to cut the groove , then what??? Stuffing this up is more than my life is worth. He wields that broadsword with aplomb! My neck is on the line too!