Has anyone here ever constucted their own guitar?

[scoot_14]

I wish I was skilled at woodwork or something. I think it would be really cool to build a guitar at home. I've looked around the internet and there are people who will build them for you, or sell you plans, but no really helpful directions for building and designing yourself.

[Chris_Norris41]

Well, I bought a right handed Takamine guitar. Bought a new bridge, nut, and sadlle and made it a left handed guitar...does that count??

I wish I had the skills to build my own...that would be awesome!

[scoot_14]

Originally posted by Chris_Norris41
Well, I bought a right handed Takamine guitar. Bought a new bridge, nut, and sadlle and made it a left handed guitar...does that count??

I wish I had the skills to build my own...that would be awesome!

I'd say it counts for something. Must have been fun, or nerve racking.

[petershaw]

i know what you mean about nerve racking. i saw a make-your-own martin guitar kit.. how scared would i be putting that together! i'd be pissed if i screwed it up!

[Chris_Norris41]

yes. very nerve racking! but it works great now!

[mdmt619]

one of my friends bought a kit to make a statocaster and is working on it now, it should turn out pretty cool. he also bought an old beat up guitar and is gonna fix it up

[clemson357]

i don't know if an electric is really what he was talking about, that seems pretty simple

i have thought about doing it myself also, but no time in the near future. im sure you would need frames to bend the wood around, clamps, humidifier... etc.

[scoot_14]

Originally posted by clemson357
i don't know if an electric is really what he was talking about, that seems pretty simple

i have thought about doing it myself also, but no time in the near future. im sure you would need frames to bend the wood around, clamps, humidifier... etc.

For discussion either electric or acoustic applies in my mind. I think though that it seems much more difficult to build a hollow bodied guitar.

I understand that kits are probably the only way that most of us could make a guitar, but to me I'd only try doing it if I did most of the work myself, no kit involved. If I'm going to build a guitar, especially an electric, I want to design the size and shape of it. The specifics of fret design and bridge work are way out of my league as of now though.

What do you guys think about kits? I think it takes the personal touch out of it, but it does still allow you to construct the guitar which I'm sure is an experience that can't be taken away.

[clemson357]

if you want to build your own highly personal electric, i would start with a design of the body, try to find a similair/bigger guitar and cut it down to what you like. it could turn out nothing like what you started with, which im sure was your idea. plus that way all the holes and electrical stuff is there. you could buy different pickups too, since you would probably be starting out with a cheap one.

[scoot_14]

Originally posted by clemson357
if you want to build your own highly personal electric, i would start with a design of the body, try to find a similair/bigger guitar and cut it down to what you like. it could turn out nothing like what you started with, which im sure was your idea. plus that way all the holes and electrical stuff is there. you could buy different pickups too, since you would probably be starting out with a cheap one.

That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of starting with an existing body.