Guitar Builders Group

Members

• LaDeana Dockery
• Aaron Norton
• Aaron Rivers

Meeting Days and Times

1st, 2nd, & 3rd and 5th Tuesdays at 7:00pm

First Class for Guitar building skills class:

Late August/early Sept.

Resources

Vendors

• https://warmoth.com/
• https://www.guitarfetish.com/
• https://www.stewmac.com/
• https://masterybridge.com
• https://www.lollarguitars.com

Reddit

• https://www.reddit.com/r/Guitar/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/Luthier/

YouTube

• https://www.youtube.com/@CrimsonCustomGuitars

Fret Calculators

• https://www.stewmac.com/fret-calculator/
• https://www.omnicalculator.com/other/fret

Specific Guitars

Fender Telecaster

• https://www.tdpri.com/forums/

Guitar Building Steps (Gemini(

Building a guitar takes patience and precision. Here's an expanded breakdown of 25 steps to guide you through the process:

Planning and Design (5 Steps)

1. Research Guitar Types: Decide between acoustic or electric guitar. Explore different body styles (dreadnought, Les Paul, Stratocaster, etc.) and understand how they affect sound.
2. Choose Your Scale Length: Scale length impacts string tension and playing feel. Research common scale lengths (24.75" for many electrics, 25.5" for some Fenders) and consider your playing style.
3. Sketch Your Design: If you're not using pre-made plans, sketch your desired guitar form, including dimensions and hardware placement.
4. Select Wood (Body): Pick tonewoods like mahogany, spruce, or alder based on weight, tonal preference, and visual appeal. Consider grain patterns for the top.
5. Select Wood (Neck): Choose a strong, stable wood like maple or mahogany for the neck. Consider the fretboard wood (ebony, rosewood) for aesthetics and playability.

Body Building (7 Steps)

1. Source or Make Templates: If not using plans, create precise templates for the guitar body outline on cardboard or MDF.
2. Rough Cut Body Pieces: Use a bandsaw to cut the body shape based on your templates or plans, leaving room for final shaping.
3. Join Body Pieces (Gluing): Carefully glue the body pieces together using clamps and ensure a tight fit for structural integrity.
4. Refine Body Shape: Use rasps and sandpaper to achieve the exact body outline.
5. Route Body Channels (Optional): For some designs, use a router to create channels for the neck joint, pickup cavities (electric guitars), and other hardware.
6. Drill Body Holes: Precisely drill holes for the bridge posts, string ferrules (holes for strings to pass through the body), and other hardware according to your plans.
7. Shaping the Soundhole (Acoustic Guitars): For acoustic guitars, meticulously cut and shape the soundhole using a drill, jigsaw, and files. Ensure smooth edges.
8. Shaping the Neck Pocket: Rout or carve the neck pocket in the body to perfectly house the neck for a solid joint.

Neck Building (6 Steps)

1. Shape the Neck Blank: Begin with rough neck wood and cut it to your desired neck profile (C-shaped, U-shaped, etc.) using saws and hand tools.
2. Shape the Headstock: Design the headstock shape according to your guitar style (Strat headstock, Tele headstock, etc.). Drill holes for tuning machines.
3. Carve the Fretboard Slot: Use a router or jig to create a precise slot for the frets to sit perfectly leveled.
4. Install the Truss Rod (Optional for electric guitars): This metal rod allows neck adjustments. Rout a channel and install the rod with proper anchor points.
5. Install the Frets: Press pre-cut frets into the fretboard slot and carefully hammer them in for a tight fit. Ensure they're all level for optimal playability.
6. Fret Leveling and Dressing: Meticulously polish and level the fret tops using specialized tools to ensure smooth string action.

Finishing and Assembly (7 Steps)

1. Sanding (Multiple Steps): This is a multi-stage process using progressively finer sandpaper grits to achieve a perfectly smooth body and neck surface.
2. Apply Finish (Optional for natural look): For a natural wood look, use a clear lacquer or oil finish. Apply multiple thin coats with proper drying between each.
3. Apply Stain and Finish (for colored finish): Apply colored stain for a desired aesthetic, then follow with a clear finish for protection.
4. Install Neck: Carefully glue and clamp the neck into the neck pocket, ensuring proper alignment for straight string pull.
5. Mount Hardware: Install the bridge, tuners, pickups (electric guitars), pickguard (electric guitars), and other hardware according to your plans.
6. String Up and Adjust: Attach the strings following the correct order and tuning. Make truss rod adjustments for proper neck relief and intonation adjustments at the bridge for each string.

Remember, this is a general guideline. Each step might involve further techniques, and consulting luthier resources and instructional videos is highly recommended. Happy building!