Thread: First Guitar build... many concerns!

Welcome to the Forum Trav002,
There is a great bunch of guys & girls in this forum, so ask lots of questions and I am sure some one will answer your questions.
I am also having a go at my first build, so I am in the same boat as you.
I am going to try & build a Weissenborn, we all have to start some where and they say once you start to build you get the luthier bug and keep building.
So enjoy take your time and you will get there, post pictures of your progress.
Regards Bob

There are so many different ways of doing things, just read as much as you can and go with what you like. The fact you have a les paul already makes it easy to start as you have all your measurements but if you wanna do something different go for it. Just always plan well ahead else it will take you forever to get things done, mines taking forever, but is worth it.


-Chris

Originally Posted by Trav002

My real issues are in the manufacturing and processing. I've looked at so many peoples step by step builds and NONE of them are the same process. Some people use different tools, some people take shortcuts.

Ive been doing a bit of research into instrument history and am just amazed at what has been done by hand tools in the past BUT the instruments Ive been perving at were made by full time craftsmen who probably churned out hundreds during their lifetimes. Only the best survived of course.

The more machinery you have access to the faster and potentially more easy your build will be. Most of us sit somewhere between well equipped modern workshop and rudimentary equipment. This is probably the main reason for the variation. You will ask a question and get a number of different answers based on resources and the experiences of using those resources. Im more a hand tool guy so I'll tell you to use a razor saw and other will tell you to get the Stewmac jig for cutting fret slots. I'll tell you to hand apply finishes, others will tell you to spray. All of us can potentially make historically worthwhile instruments.

You need to sift through the information and grab the bits you can make work for you. And, of course you next instrument will be much better! Piccies are really important BTW

Originally Posted by Trav002

Hey all,
I'm going to used the hardware from my Epiphone Les Paul for the new guitar.

My real issues are in the manufacturing and processing. I've looked at so many peoples step by step builds and NONE of them are the same process. Some people use different tools, some people take shortcuts.

Although I am very anxious to get my guitar built so I can start playing again I have already told myself I WILL NOT rush this.

Hey welcome to the forum, good to see someone else from the USA on here i was getting lonely. But i too am working on my first build and its a LP design so maybe we could help each other out. and yeah dont rush it i rushed a few parts and im not sure if youve seen my build thread but i made the body way too thick and had to waste a lot of wood and also forgot to flip my template so some really nice wood is under everything

idk what tools you have access to but a drill press makes some spots a lot easier like the cavities

also do you have plans cuz your really going to want some

anyway welcome and hope to see your build

well...

before laying a cutting edge on your nice wood, perhaps it might be an idea to build something a little smaller or less complex in terms of material workability

from the looks of the materials tht you have for your project, you will prob require some very sharp edges on all cutting tools as well as some prior woodworking skills/knowledge...as well as some industrial power tools if you wish to avoid using muscles all day chipping away at very hard wood

if you have never built a guitar before...it might be an idea to use more easily 'workable materials' cos the workability of wenge/cocobolo/paduak is nowhere as EASY as, say , mahogany/poplar/alder

i would suggest learning how to make/use templates for most everything on guitar...say using some 9-12 mm mdf sheets

if you can't make the template, you prob can't make the guitar

then i would get comfortable with a router and a roller bearing router bit (for pattern following)

good luck with everything

I've been building furniture for the last 4 years, during the summer when I'm not in school. Also I have been doing hand carving on and off for a number of years. I feel comfortable with my woodwork skills.

A professor at my school as been doing woodwork for the majority of his life, something like 30 years I think. It used to be his full time job. He said I am welcome to use his workshop and tools. I have some of my own, but I lack the space.

As for the templates I've drawn them all out, I'm just waiting to go home (parents house) to pick my tools. I bought 1/4in hardboard for my templates.

I thought about using traditional woods for my LP but I have a tendency to go all out when I do something. And these woods were so beautiful that I just couldn't pass them up.

My friend who owns a famous guitar/music store in NY, House of Guitars, sold me the guitar I broke. Being the type of guy he is he told me he'd sell me another one for half the price I paid for the first one, and he sold me the first one for cheap to begin with. I told him I wanted to give this a shot first.

Either way, whether it goes perfect or not, I'm gonna learn something and that's my ultimate goal, besides having a new guitar.

BTW, has anyone ever done/attempted a compound radius on a fingerboard? I'm tempted

well...it appears you are primed ready for some guitar making!

the 1/4in hardboard (though i would prefer a thicker template material) will prove the tale as you make your templates...going smoothly here augurs well for the real build

'going all out on doing something' is a good prerequisite for a unique instrument, imo

as for compound radius....i be more inclined to just do a FLAT fretboard radius

but then you have to determine in your mind how important a radius curve is to your playing style(are u a predominantly chord type player or a 2 string-powa-chord-wild-bending-devil?)...and balance tht out with the issue of fretting out when going for bends at the higher frets ....

doing an accurate compound radius fretboard surface would have to be one of the more complicated aspects of lutherie imo (espc if u have no cnc machine or pre-radiused board)

I agree with you there and I will probably just go with a flat radius

However, it is a very cool concept

I might add, if you haven't got a cutter for you router with the roller bearing between the shank and the cutting edges, go get one. Will make your life so much easier. Maybe one with three flutes if they exist, my searches have turned up fruitless but you may have more choice over there.

I'll look into it for sure. Anything that will make it "easier". I'm gonna hold off on buying tools until I see what my Prof has to offer. Hopefully it will save me a few dead presidents

So I'm trying to think ahead

First off, I know that cocobolo is a very oily wood and can be very tempermental with glues.

From what I've read, the general consensus is to clean the gluing surface with acetone and apply the glue immediately after, and its bust if the surface is fresh cut.

I've been looking into glues and i think I'm leaning towards the waterproof titebond III
Any suggestions?

I also looked into finishes. I know that i want it to be a clear, low-gloss. Should I avoid water based finishes? It seems like i should since water and oil don't mix.
Again, any suggestions?

I won't be buying the finish material any time soon but i want to pick up the glue while I'm home next week (there's pretty much nothing where I live except forest).

Originally Posted by Trav002

From what I've read, the general consensus is to clean the gluing surface with acetone and apply the glue immediately after, and its bust if the surface is fresh cut.
.

best*

i glue cocobolo with araldite (2 pack epoxy) without any problems

as for finishes ...i have seen lovely lacquer on it...as well as all types of other finishes

i doubt you would have any problems with the finishing aspect as long as the sanding process has been recent

Originally Posted by R3R

i glue cocobolo with araldite (2 pack epoxy) without any problems

Thats interesting, a lot of people said to stay away from epoxy. I don't see why, maybe I'll bust out my chemistry book and see if it makes a difference (insert nerdy smiley).

How much adhesive should I need for the whole guitar?