Guitar Building/Modifications

sevenAU · 30th January 2007, 11:14 PM

Who has ever taken the dive into hand building guitars? I though someone here might of maybe?

Well anyway, i have been building guitars for a while and thought i might see if anyone else had.

I have some pics:

Here is an 06 paintjob i did on a non FR RG:

It's a subtle swirl, not a full on Vai job.

Here is the current bitch i'm building:

Just LP jr, ELM body so far. Have some figured blackwood for the fretboard and i have yet to choose the neck wood.

Well its just some of my work, not amazing by any means, just something to look at.

7au.

OverDriven · 31st January 2007, 6:25 PM

i really dig the paint work on the RG, im looking forward to see what comes next

Getho · 1st February 2007, 7:08 PM

Hi, I've dabbled in making a guitar for last years VCE Wood tech.

Cost about 1k all up and sounds awesome, just wished I'd spent more time on the fret board, and dressing the frets.

The body is Mahogany, with a maple top, the neck is mahogany and the fretboard is ebony.

t00ch · 1st February 2007, 9:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Getho

Hi, I've dabbled in making a guitar for last years VCE Wood tech.

Cost about 1k all up and sounds awesome, just wished I'd spent more time on the fret board, and dressing the frets.

The body is Mahogany, with a maple top, the neck is mahogany and the fretboard is ebony.

You're joking me!? You made that from scratch in VCE wood tech?

Fark me, well done mate. Better than the shite I used to make

Getho · 1st February 2007, 10:20 PM

10 months of work, as well as lots of cursing, throwing tools around the shop and breaking scrap wood.

But yep, every bit of that guitar was made from scratch by me.

bl4ck32 · 1st February 2007, 10:39 PM

why not go for polished gold pup's?

dinos22 · 1st February 2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Getho

Hi, I've dabbled in making a guitar for last years VCE Wood tech.

Cost about 1k all up and sounds awesome, just wished I'd spent more time on the fret board, and dressing the frets.

The body is Mahogany, with a maple top, the neck is mahogany and the fretboard is ebony.

wow nice job man

spootmonkey · 2nd February 2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl4ck32

why not go for polished gold pup's?

Because then you don't get brewtal gain.

Willybomb · 2nd February 2007, 8:31 AM

Personally, because the gold plating wears off.

sevenAU · 2nd February 2007, 9:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Getho

Hi, I've dabbled in making a guitar for last years VCE Wood tech.

Cost about 1k all up and sounds awesome, just wished I'd spent more time on the fret board, and dressing the frets.

The body is Mahogany, with a maple top, the neck is mahogany and the fretboard is ebony.

Fucking nice!

African Mahogany right? Khaya?

I love building guitars, it's just something that a few people ever do.

Willybomb · 2nd February 2007, 12:31 PM

Gotta say I love that swirl finish on the RG.

I mod all my guitars to some extent, usually a neck shave and pickups at the least, to a refinish/reshape/refit at the most.

I've never done the whole block of wood into a guitar though, seems like too much work. My Lesocaster is a parts mutt consisting of a Hohner neck, parts body from somewhere, fixed non trem strat bridge, Dimarzio superdistortion in the bridge and a Kev Special in the neck, handmade scratchplate. Finished with a rub-in emerald stain.

I've dones a few others but they're no longer with us, and my Kramer is getting new pickups soon... soon... maybe a Tonezone and a Humbucker from Hell, or an SD JB/Jazz combo.

Willy.

dinos22 · 2nd February 2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willybomb

Gotta say I love that swirl finish on the RG.

I mod all my guitars to some extent, usually a neck shave and pickups at the least, to a refinish/reshape/refit at the most.

I've never done the whole block of wood into a guitar though, seems like too much work. My Lesocaster is a parts mutt consisting of a Hohner neck, parts body from somewhere, fixed non trem strat bridge, Dimarzio superdistortion in the bridge and a Kev Special in the neck, handmade scratchplate. Finished with a rub-in emerald stain.

I've dones a few others but they're no longer with us, and my Kramer is getting new pickups soon... soon... maybe a Tonezone and a Humbucker from Hell, or an SD JB/Jazz combo.

Willy.

man i wouldn't mind a neck shave on my one

how much does that cost

Willybomb · 2nd February 2007, 1:07 PM

I do it myself by hand. Essentially just a rubdown along the back of teh neck with some coarser paper, and then rubbing the neck with very fine (000) steel wool.

Willy.

spootmonkey · 1st March 2007, 2:52 PM

Dropping a P90 into the LP tonight barring any disasters. I vaguely recall someone like DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan doing a socket sorta thing to simplify switching out pups and wouldn't mind installing one myself. Anyone have a pic/link?

marty_s13 · 1st March 2007, 3:20 PM

I REALLY want to get into it, but I don't have the tools and don't know where to begin. I think I might start with blank necks and bodies as discussed in another thread and take it further.

Fantastic work by both of you btw!

30th January 2007, 11:14 PM	#1
sevenAU Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Australia Posts: 511	Guitar Building/Modifications Who has ever taken the dive into hand building guitars? I though someone here might of maybe? Well anyway, i have been building guitars for a while and thought i might see if anyone else had. I have some pics: Here is an 06 paintjob i did on a non FR RG: It's a subtle swirl, not a full on Vai job. Here is the current bitch i'm building: Just LP jr, ELM body so far. Have some figured blackwood for the fretboard and i have yet to choose the neck wood. Well its just some of my work, not amazing by any means, just something to look at. 7au. __________________ OCAU Guitar Players Club (2)

1st February 2007, 10:39 PM	#6
bl4ck32 Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: adlaide Posts: 4,345	why not go for polished gold pup's? __________________ C:\ C:\dos C:\dos\run run\dos\run

2nd February 2007, 8:31 AM	#9
Willybomb Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Ballarat Posts: 6,270	Personally, because the gold plating wears off. __________________ Rockstarguitar - Guitar lessons in the Ballarat area Looking to teach or learn guitar? Then you need my book! 30+ successful trades and counting Offical OCAU Musicians Guild Member #15 OCAU Guitar Players club

2nd February 2007, 12:31 PM	#11
Willybomb Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Ballarat Posts: 6,270	Gotta say I love that swirl finish on the RG. I mod all my guitars to some extent, usually a neck shave and pickups at the least, to a refinish/reshape/refit at the most. I've never done the whole block of wood into a guitar though, seems like too much work. My Lesocaster is a parts mutt consisting of a Hohner neck, parts body from somewhere, fixed non trem strat bridge, Dimarzio superdistortion in the bridge and a Kev Special in the neck, handmade scratchplate. Finished with a rub-in emerald stain. I've dones a few others but they're no longer with us, and my Kramer is getting new pickups soon... soon... maybe a Tonezone and a Humbucker from Hell, or an SD JB/Jazz combo. Willy. __________________ Rockstarguitar - Guitar lessons in the Ballarat area Looking to teach or learn guitar? Then you need my book! 30+ successful trades and counting Offical OCAU Musicians Guild Member #15 OCAU Guitar Players club

2nd February 2007, 1:07 PM	#13
Willybomb Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Ballarat Posts: 6,270	I do it myself by hand. Essentially just a rubdown along the back of teh neck with some coarser paper, and then rubbing the neck with very fine (000) steel wool. Willy. __________________ Rockstarguitar - Guitar lessons in the Ballarat area Looking to teach or learn guitar? Then you need my book! 30+ successful trades and counting Offical OCAU Musicians Guild Member #15 OCAU Guitar Players club

31st January 2007, 6:25 PM	#2
OverDriven Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,076	i really dig the paint work on the RG, im looking forward to see what comes next

1st February 2007, 7:08 PM	#3
Getho Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 185	Hi, I've dabbled in making a guitar for last years VCE Wood tech. Cost about 1k all up and sounds awesome, just wished I'd spent more time on the fret board, and dressing the frets. The body is Mahogany, with a maple top, the neck is mahogany and the fretboard is ebony.

1st February 2007, 10:20 PM	#5
Getho Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 185	10 months of work, as well as lots of cursing, throwing tools around the shop and breaking scrap wood. But yep, every bit of that guitar was made from scratch by me.

1st March 2007, 2:52 PM	#14
spootmonkey Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: DPR Brunswick Posts: 7,726	Dropping a P90 into the LP tonight barring any disasters. I vaguely recall someone like DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan doing a socket sorta thing to simplify switching out pups and wouldn't mind installing one myself. Anyone have a pic/link? __________________ "[T]here’s a way things are, it coincides with what I was brought up to believe, and the extraordinary coincidence of such is never reflected upon[.]"

1st March 2007, 3:20 PM	#15
marty_s13 Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide Posts: 2,749	I REALLY want to get into it, but I don't have the tools and don't know where to begin. I think I might start with blank necks and bodies as discussed in another thread and take it further. Fantastic work by both of you btw!