Thread: dimensions required for a guitar

I trawled the internet for a while, getting all the info I could. I think this site was a good kicking off point for all kinds of stuff. I think - it could have been annoying.

Anyway it's here: http://www.projectguitar.com/

REMEMBER THE FIRST RULE OF THE INTERNET: TAKE EVERYTHING WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. GET PROOF BEFORE YOU BELIEVE IT.

I found a lot of great advice and measurements and stuff, and some pure fiction. The thing I have found is most guitar makers are happy to talk about guitar making, so talk your head off, and good luck.

OK, I just followed up the link I gave you and found something I hadn't seen before, which is a photo tutorial on the making of a strat. These people have lots of tools I don't have and I assume you won't have, but you can easy see how to do what they do "the old way" ie by hand. Check it out.

http://www.desopolis.com/midwest/Strat1.htm

Originally Posted by fts_sjk

hey guys,

i thought i'd pop into Anagotes next week, to see if they have any suitable tonewoods.
what are some to look out for?
what're the ideal dimensions i should get?
for a les paul, with a maple cap, a telecaster or a stratocaster body, and the necks?

What the????? I thought you were planning to build an acoustic during your lunchtimes at school. Now youre eyeing up wood for an electric.

Forgive me for sounding like a cranky old adult but maybe the first thing you should decide is what sort of guitar youre going to make before you go a step further.

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

What the????? I thought you were planning to build an acoustic during your lunchtimes at school. Now youre eyeing up wood for an electric.

Forgive me for sounding like a cranky old adult but maybe the first thing you should decide is what sort of guitar youre going to make before you go a step further.

sorry about that kiwigeo,
i'll deffinately be doing the acoustic, however i'm just waiting for a particular supplier that might be able to source some good wood's later in the year..

as well, i also need to save up quite a bit of money.

so i thought i'd start on the electric guitar project i researched on earlier in the year, and while i am busy doing the electric, i would be saving up for the acoustic.

Fair enough. Just make sure that acoustic gets built at some stage.

Cheers Martin

Nah flag the acoustic mate, they're for cranky old adults.

If you're building an electric, decide what sort of electric suits you. That might give you an idea of what wood to look out for - you don't *have* to use the typical wood for any particular guitar, or even copy the shape, but if you want to build a Strat/Tele, or want that sound, I think they typically use Ash or Alder for the body and Maple for the neck (bolt on in Strats and Teles), Rosewood for fretboard. A Les Paul is most typically a Mahogany body, Mahogany or Maple (I think they use maple in some) neck (Set Neck). The figured maple cap is your choice, but you're getting into expensive territory..

Warmoth's is the best place I've found for a list of woods and their tonal descriptions:
http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/option..._bodywoods.cfm
http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/necks/...itar_neckwoods

try a tele man - its easy
you can put any kinda pickups you like - buckers p90's vintage tele
suit yourself on the wood as well
i'd forget about the accoustic for awhile until you get a bit more experience besides which at ur age a electric like a hot lookin tele is nothin but a chick magnet
so be warned

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Fair enough. Just make sure that acoustic gets built at some stage.

Cheers Martin

course it will mate .
thanks for all your help, kiwigeo, your a legend!


how about a telecaster shape with humbuckers?
could i just use the standard strat/fender hardware, but just route the pickup cavities for humbuckers?


what sort of common tonewoods do they have at anagotes?
i dont think they'd stock alder and ash, but what are some aussie alternatives?

what's the differnce between a telecaster neck and a stratocaster neck?

i've got a stratocaster neck from a cheap guitar, except the frets were really really bad, so i took them all out, (except for 3 i cant get out, the last 3).
could i use that for my tele?

or should i make a tele neck?

Originally Posted by fts_sjk

what sort of common tonewoods do they have at anagotes?
i dont think they'd stock alder and ash, but what are some aussie alternatives?

they dont have alder or ash, but they have some good things. they have some qld maple (aswell as rock maple) some cherry (bit pricey being cherry) some walnut (qld and american, both fairly pricey) some mahogany (plantation and not plantation) myrtle (havent heard much about it, but remember myrtle being used as a tonewood) aswell as new guinea rosewood (is used for acoustic necks) they also have silky oak (nice figure if you choose the right piece) also have some a few other things, but its really up to you.

i have been going to them for a bit, havent actually finished any of the builds, but have the wood for atleast 3, one bass and 2 guitars. i picked up some walnut for the build which i am mostly through, if i really get working ill have it ready for finishing in a week or so, its going to be my first neck build so well see how long it takes. also have some qld maple for a body or 2, and some png rosewood for a body. also have 3 neck laminates, one being wenge, zebrano and png rosewood for a one piece through neck bass (one piece with a 5 piece laminate!!, im putting the truss rod in from the backand using the neck wood for the fretboard).

there good guys at anagote, dave who works there is a good guy to talk to as he plays and has built an acoustic.