Beast8576 Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 I am new to playing guitar (only a year) but I would love to make a solid body based on the beatles bass, I think this would be a great looking guitar, retro and one of a kind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jester Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 (edited) I am new to playing guitar (only a year) but I would love to make a solid body based on the beatles bass, I think this would be a great looking guitar, retro and one of a kind Before you do anything else, buy this book: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans/B...ric_Guitar.html Read it through like 4-5 times without touching any tools or wood. Since you haven't been playing for that long either you don't probably know all that much about how a guitar actually works (just assuming, correct me if I'm wrong). What you could do is take your guitart apart see how it is done. That helped me to visualize a lot better how much work goes on to a guitar in order for it to work properly. Melvyn will guide you trough the whole process in that book, so get it! Then comes the part which puts most people off; Money. You're talking a serious investment on tools and materials if you plan on doing more than one. You could always borrow some tools, but every tool has a learning process to it (power, hand, it doesn't matter) and every tool is different. So I'd say buy your own tools. Like Melvyn points out, it is possible to build a guitar using hand tools, but it will be A LOT harder than using simple power tools. Doing (ie) the neck pocket with a chisel is not advised. If you don't have at least a few years of experience using hand tools, then forget it. In the end you will NOT have a working instrument. Not meaning to sound harsh but that's the way it goes. Check this out: http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=10353 I'm not really sure what your question were in the first place ( ), but this should answer that. Edited October 22, 2006 by Jester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ducati Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 The Beatle bass! That would be a cool approach to a different guitar body shape. I like the idea... let us know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyManAndy Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Yeh, make sure you get Melvyn Hiscock's book, you can't beat it: http://gettextbooks.com/search/?isbn=0953104907 You can get it cheaper there. Do a lot of reading on these forums too. You'll find lots of info. CMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast8576 Posted October 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 I have really looked over my guitar so I am familar with the mechanic's. My greatest resource right now is my father, when it comes to working with wood, metal, plastic or just about anything else that can be cut, hammered, glued, and/of nailed he has done it or has forgoten how to do it. Plus he already has all the wood working tools one would need. I have drawn a rough outline of different bodys, (look here... ]http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=17414528) I am still playing around with this idea I am not planing on useing and controls on the body, and I would buy a paddle neck. I Would use a hard tail bridge. 3x3 tuners for a balanced look. I beleive that I will use maple for the body and neck with 2 or 3 different stains for deep rich violin color. I would use tung oil for the finial finish for that satin shine thats just beutiful. While this is a very basic design I beleave it will be extremly cool. Does anyone have any sugestion on where to buy a good neck at resonable prices? Thanks for input/advice, I will be happy for any knowage that people are willing to share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jester Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 I have really looked over my guitar so I am familar with the mechanic's. My greatest resource right now is my father, when it comes to working with wood, metal, plastic or just about anything else that can be cut, hammered, glued, and/of nailed he has done it or has forgoten how to do it. Plus he already has all the wood working tools one would need. I have drawn a rough outline of different bodys, (look here... ]http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=17414528) I am still playing around with this idea I am not planing on useing and controls on the body, and I would buy a paddle neck. I Would use a hard tail bridge. 3x3 tuners for a balanced look. I beleive that I will use maple for the body and neck with 2 or 3 different stains for deep rich violin color. I would use tung oil for the finial finish for that satin shine thats just beutiful. While this is a very basic design I beleave it will be extremly cool. Does anyone have any sugestion on where to buy a good neck at resonable prices? Thanks for input/advice, I will be happy for any knowage that people are willing to share. I see you're in a pretty good situation then. Sorry for the lecture, but you didn't say much about you or your situation (nor did really ask anything). Just do a lot of reading on the subject and you're good to go. Anyway... Stewmac sells some paddle necks: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_necks,...itar_Necks.html http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_necks,...uitar_Neck.html Rockinger probably has what you're looking for: http://www.rockinger.com/index.html?lang=ENG Hope these help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doeringer Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Since most first builds don't come out as ideal instruments, and since you don't have much experience, another option is to build from a kit. Your design options are limited, and if you get a low end kit, you still won't have a superior instument, but it will provide a great learning experience and you will have a playable instrument. THen move on to building your design. The best advice that I hear regularly on this site is there is no quick way. Spend your time learning and take your time and design every detail out first. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hopkins Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 I'm currently in the final phases of a Squire '51 rebuild. Once that's finished I'm moving onto one of the Saga PRS kits. I bought mine for £89 on EBay...Most UK based suppliers sell them for around £135. I would then like to move onto building my own from scratch but I don't have any space for a workshop so chances are that's gonna remain an ambition for the time being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rahimiiii Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Another possible option is buy a paddle neck from Warmoth, then buy a pre routed body blank from Warmoth as well. They sell body blanks and will route all the critical dimisions like neck pocket, pickup and control routing of your choice on the blank for like 50 dollars more. That way you can just concentrate on shaping the body rather than worrying about getting critical diminsion right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast8576 Posted October 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Thank you for your imput, I have to think about the best course here, I will get people posted on any progress that I make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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