Thread: A new year build

Greg Ward supplies timber and would drive through your area regularly

Thanks mate.

I'm now 95% decided on Queensland maple for the body...

What you dont say is the level of skill and equipment you have for the task. If you are light on on those I would seriously consider an aftermarket neck. Fretboard will be done and you will just need to bolt it on. Easy peasy.

If you are well kitted out I would do a laminated neck to balance strength and weight. With a couple of carbon fibre rods and a truss rod you should be able to strip out a fair bit of weight. Think Red Cedar and QLD Maple perhaps. Im personally wouldnt bind it, I would route a round over. It depends on the amount of homage you are paying to that Les Paul shape.

I would also endorse Greg from Boutique Timbers. He cut me some lovely QLD Walnut a few years ago. Perfect for caps )

Thanks for the reply.

Whilst I'm not overly experienced in woodworking I am pretty handy and feel confident enough to give it a go.

I did consider buying a neck but I'm in no hurry and don't mind donating some timber to the firewood pile if it doesn't work out.

It's all about the shed time for me.

I do have a Triton work table, router table and enough hand tools to be pretty confident of getting there in the end.

Looking forward to getting some progress pics up soon.

I think over Xmas I might get a start on the body template.

Thanks for the pointers.

...

Originally Posted by Tritonitis

Thanks for the reply.

Whilst I'm not overly experienced in woodworking I am pretty handy and feel confident enough to give it a go.

I did consider buying a neck but I'm in no hurry and don't mind donating some timber to the firewood pile if it doesn't work out.

It's all about the shed time for me.

I do have a Triton work table, router table and enough hand tools to be pretty confident of getting there in the end.

Looking forward to getting some progress pics up soon.

I think over Xmas I might get a start on the body template.

Thanks for the pointers.

...

There are a few critical measurements - like bridge placement, string depth on the nut and fretboard flare and neck angle, scale length, fret slots, etc...

My suggestion - if this is your first build - get all your hardware first (including tuners, electronics and even strings). A lot of the critical measurements are dependant on the hardware you choose.
And besides if drop a pile of cash on purchasing your hardware first - it'll give you incentive to actually complete the build.

Thanks Jeff. Pretty much the plan of attack. Buy the hardware and specialty tools between us so we've invested some money as incentive to finish also to help with the final layout.

Thanks again.

Have a safe and merry Christmas...

I'm keen to head up to Wauchope for the clearance sale, even if just for a day out.

From their list of timbers I see rosewood for the fretboard, but is there anything else in the list I should try and get for the body or neck?

WAT.jpg

I also have some Bunnings vouchers ( thanks Santa ) so I am considering a sander.

I have a Bosch 18V drill with battery ( which I love ) so I'm tossing up between these two.

Bosch Blue 18V Cordless Orbital Sander | Bunnings Warehouse

Bosch 18V Li-Ion Cordless Multi Sander - Skin Only | Bunnings Warehouse

Would one be better than the other for guitar building? I love the blue Bosch stuff, so that would be my preference, but if the green type is more suited, I'll grab that then.


Thanks in advance, ...

edit: or maybe both?

IMHO the key to a smooth build (acoustic or electric) is a plan....a nice big full scale paper plan on which you can write stuff and take measurements. I'm currently half way through a multiscale OM acoustic and without a plan I wouldn't have a hope of getting the tuner positions on the headstock correct for a straight string pull. Ditto for laying out the asymmetrical falcate bracing.

Thanks mate. I've found full scale plans for the two designs that I'll choose from, an ES335 or a 59 Les Paul.

I'm really looking forward to it and been doing a lot of research...

Hey all...

From the above list of timbers from Wauchope, which should I be seriously considering?

I'm thinking rosewood for the fretboard, Tasmanian blackwood for the body (a nice dark colour and being a chambered guitar weight should be OK) so that leaves the neck? Same as the body?

Any thoughts or other suggestions appreciated.

Once I get the timbers sorted it will be full steam ahead...

I have attached a sketch of the guitar, although I think that the f holes need some work and I think I'll add a Bigsby

GUITAR.jpg

...

Qld maple or blackwood will work for the neck.
Make sure its all quatersawn..
Im located in merewether, have been making guitars for several years, if u need any assistance get in contact.
Im happy for u to drop around and i can answer questions.

Thanks mate. Appreciate the feedback and invite. I might take you up on your offer and come and have a chat before I get too far into it and make a blue.

Thanks, .

+1 for Queensland Maple. I use it alot on my acoustics. It's easy to get, easy to work and I love the look of the stuff, especially under french polish.

Your sketch up looks good, just remember the older versions of these guitars were made with plywood, custom ones with spruce tops sound nice and carved maple another thing all together.

if your putting the tailpiece and bridge into the body, then your going to have to run a block inside the body, which is typical for epiphones and so forth, if you want it to sound nice acoustically consider putting a rear tailpiece on and a floating bridge, and then the top can react differently and IMO more acoustically

Steve