Custom Built Guitars

very impressive. I've been taking pics of my guitars for years in the lawn and in the garden. Makes for great pics. I love the headstock....

This situation would kinda erk me also. I always smirk when I see someone posting a "guitar build" when they're really just assembling parts. They should call it a "guitar assembly" IMHO.

Anyways, if you call him on it there is the possibility he might not ever order from you again. Who is it really hurting? There a lot of people doing what you do out there. I think the bottom line is do you want to potentially sacrifice a customer for pride? Your making money doing what you like. I'd consider myself lucky.

Just my 2 cents.

it's not about pride. It's about right and wrong. It is wrong to claim someone elses work is yours. If I were a writer it would have been plagerism.

Yes, there are a lot of people who do what I do, and there is an entire world full of potential customers..............

Can you get any pics of what he did ?

I've seen pictures of the guitar, but you can't see the dowels. I only know they are there because he told me....

well can look at it this way when it falls apart because of his "set neck" your name isnt attaced to the guitar.

and it will. Him admitting that alone tells anyone who knows anything about guitars that he didn't build it. And yup....he can have all the credit. Real shoddy workmanship on his part.

first off i am gonna say i dont conisder my self a builder. i personaly dont think you can call your self a builder until you build your own neck. but thats me.

maybe many of you missed my initial point. This guy gave credit to all the parts manufacturers except me. He pointed out the pickups were gfs, the hardware wilkinson..etc. Then he said he built the guitar. Well I hand cut every fret slot, I hand radiused the fingerboard, I carved the neck, and I routed the body. Therefor in my eyes, and any other logical persons eyes, I built the guitar. He finished it, assembled it, and flat out ruined it by setting the neck with four 3/8 inch dowels. And yes, the neck route is still 5/8 deep.

well I got my answer as to the mods he made to set the neck. No he did'nt add to the neck (other than a heel), so he also didn't route the neck pocket deeper. He drilled four 3/8 holes and inserted dowels. Thats his idea of a set neck . He can have 100% of the credit for that build.

pretty darn cool!

I also would care if he just said " I have a builder make the bodys and necks for me" and not name me. At least it's honest. Claiming you built something you didn't build is bogus...plain and simple.

I'll answer as many questions as I can remember. Parts builds are fine. We all buy certain parts for builds. But this guy gives credit to gfs, wilkinson, etc. And no he did a nitro paint job. Not a very good job polishing it though. Pretty scratched up with fine sandpaper scratches. Yes Wez...I've seen your parts builds, and you give credit to the parts (bodys, necks etc). As have I when I haven't made a neck. And there is nothing wrong with buying bodys or necks. Just be honest and give credit to the builder.

One thing I did notice in his picture of the guitar is it has a set neck. I made the body and neck as a bolt on, per his request, and he was going to drill the bolt holes. It is clearly set. I'm simply going to ask him about the mods he made to the body and neck to make it a set neck. And make it clear to his "friends" that he commissioned me to build it.

so I log onto facebook and see a regular customer...who buys unfinished guitar kits from me adds me as a friend. I look at his pics...and there are 2 of the guitars I sold him unfinished... assembled and finished. He claims he "built " them. Gives gfs credit for the parts.... but no meantion that I actually "built" the guitars. He simply finished and assembled them. I made the necks, I made the bodys. Kinda irritates me A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And all his "friends" saying...."great job building those". When I BUILT THEM! Not sure what to do here. I think I'll take the high road, call him out and forgo any more money from this poser........

very nice. Scrapwood guiatrs are always my favorites. Great job!

and she is finished. Sounds and plays great. Time to package her up...

very nice build...

cool. I'm building myself a LPJR double cut. Mahogony and rosewood.........

a few more pics

2 way trussrod.

I looked at the brazillian cherry at my lumber supplier, and thought it would make an excellant fretboard. It does. And $11 got me enough of it for about 5 fretboards. Or a neck and a few fretboards.

this weeks guitar build. Multiwood phantom inspired build. poplar wings, maple, antique cherry and 2 narrow strips of elm in the center. Brazillian Cherry fingerboard. The neck is 4 pieces of maple , 2 strips of cherry, and the center piece is mahogony.

set neck. Fret markers are made of glued up scraps of pickguard material. The pickups and hardware is stuff I had lying around.

Why did you paint the headstock black? Btw the guitar looks cool

too cover up a screwup . Thanks!

cool stuff. I really like #'s 24 and 26. I don't think I'd ever want to put either of them down...

she is finished.

I can personally testify that cherry is maple-bright.

but so much prettier imho

So then my idea of a neck- thru solid Cherry isn't as crazy as I think?

I've got a chunk of cherry in the shop right now - 6/4 X 48 X 14 3/8

Was thinking of making a few teles, but would sacrifice it for a solid 1 piece .... hmmm.....

not crazy at all.

and here is where I am as of this morning. I think I'll get the last couple of coats of clear on today. And it will be ready to assemble early in the week when my pickups get here...

I REALLY HATE THE FLOOD CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

neck shaped....

trial assembly

that is where I left off a few months ago. Last week I was cleaning up the shop and dusted this off. I decided it should have a set neck. So I added a piece to the neck, and modded the neck route appropriately. Sorry, no pics of that. Glued, filed, sanded etc. Grainfilled, sealed and we are here.

I just recently dug this one out of the mothballs. Well out from under a pile of sawdust . I started it months ago..then got sidetrackeed. Plans changed along the way as well. I actually remembered to take a few pics along the way.

roughed out body blank

roughed out neck blank

a little routing done

a little work with the grinder, sander and router and I'm here..

I've never used oak as a neck wood, but I too have used it as a fingerboard. I have however turned A LOT of oak on a lathe. If your tools aren't sharp it will tear out. So my thought is if I can turn oak, I know darn well I can shape a neck without tearout. BUT I haven't tried it.