Thread: Guitar Templates

google it
have a look for the tdpri forum
i have a tele build thread on their somewhere.... altough i wouldnt build using my (oldskool/homebrew) methods lol
but yea.. thats the tele forum (tdpri i think thats what it is)
has hundreds of threads of builds on it

Well you can do what i did, find some one with a tele, trace around it and then cut out the shape with some good plastic and there you go a template.
Cheers Bob,

Originally Posted by woodturner777

Well you can do what i did, find some one with a tele, trace around it and then cut out the shape with some good plastic and there you go a template.
Cheers Bob,

tht is exactly wht i did

except i already have a few teles and i used thin (5mm or so) MDF for template material

but a full scale drawing with measurements is available for free on the tele forum

Thanks heaps guys,

The tele forum was really use full. I have just purchased a nice piece of qld maple from http://luthierssupplies.com.au. Do you think a tele would be an easier build then a strat, as my first build. And am wondering if any one might be able to recommened the most useful router bits and sizes that are needed for guitar building with 1/2 in router.

Thanks

a traditional Tele is much easier to build than a traditional Strat imo

for a start, a trad Tele is flat front and back and there are only 2 pick up holes and a channel if using pickguard as well as a control cavity to rout

no need to rout for strat tremolo bridge, or carve the arm rest and belly cut

as for router bits, i would recommend a smallish size following bit with ball bearings above the cutter when held in typical hand held router

the big sized (>1/2") roller bits are good for cleaning the body edges in one swoop but they are way too big for use when routing out neck pockets and the like using thin templates

oh and router bits (at least to me) are extraordinarily expensive... a recent 1/2" bit with a ball bearing roller above the cutter costs me 40+ dollas

indeed bearing bits are damn expensive!!

the only thing that really makes a strat more dificult is the trem rout....

i reckon if this is a first project, a hardtail strat would be great....
that way you will get to practice routing, shaping, template making.....

Thanks again guys,

I think I will go with strat body and buy a neck until I get the wood working skills up. I brought the book " Build your own Electric guitar" by Martin Oakham today and plan to use the plans for a strat in it. I will start posting pics as I go this week.

Cheers,