alexisguitars Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Hi everyone, my first topic here. There are some awesome looking guitars in this thread, really inspiring stuff!I wanted to share my guitar build. It was my first attempt at doing this and in using most of the tools so it has been an ongoing project for about 3-4 years (doing small bits here and there) while I fix my previous mistakes haha but that's all part of the fun! I hope it never ends, I'm addicted to this hobby now.The final thing has gone through so many changes - three neck changes, different pickup configurations, different hardware. It has had quite a journey but one that I've loved every step of.Here's a few pics of the start. I am uploaded these from my own blog, so as I update the blog I will update this thread. I can only upload photos that have a URL, so I will update this thread as I update my blog. But for anyone interested in the step by step process of this, please take a look at my blog:https://alexisguitars.wordpress.com/You get a sneak peak of the finished thing at the top.I will post the finished product shortly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexisguitars Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 As you can see in the photos above, I drew out the design on a 2-piece blank. I don't know what wood it is, the person I got it from couldn't tell me, but it has nice grain and it's pretty heavy.I just drew the design on by hand and used a jigsaw to cut it out. The edges aren't so smooth and there are a few areas along the sides where it isn't round, but a little angular. People have told me to sand it down or round it off, but I actually like that my first homemade guitar looks homemade.The design was simply a combination of a strat, SG and les paul design and this is what I ended up with.This was also the first time I used a router, so it took me ages while I carefully routed out the neck pocket, pickup cavities etc.Speaking of pickups, *spoiler alert* this has now become and H-S-S guitar rather than standard S-S-S configuration. Full details here: https://alexisguitars.wordpress.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Looks good! You were cutting surprisingly close to the finished line with the jigsaw there....the blades on those are notoriously wander-y and prone to non-perpendicular cutting. It seems to have worked out okay though. I'd definitely consider working the sides more unless you're really into the rough kind of look. Have you used a router for shaping before, or is that something you're working up to attempting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 That's got some cherry like color and figure, but I'm not sold on the grain being cherry. I may have to do a little research.SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexisguitars Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Looks good! You were cutting surprisingly close to the finished line with the jigsaw there....the blades on those are notoriously wander-y and prone to non-perpendicular cutting. It seems to have worked out okay though. I'd definitely consider working the sides more unless you're really into the rough kind of look. Have you used a router for shaping before, or is that something you're working up to attempting?Thank you for the feedback Yes, I learnt the hard way that the jigsaw isn't the most precise! I didn't even consider using a router for shaping. Perhaps for the next one! I am new to all of this really, so I am still learning the tools of the trade. Since this one I have worked on several other guitars doing maintenance work or putting kit s/spare parts together, but I've never cut out a body since so my next one I will definitely look into using a router. This whole project has been trial and error, but I've been fortunate enough to learn a lot from it. I'm too attached to this guitar to go over the sides now. However, I am planning a second guitar with the same shape which I'm hoping to be more ambitious for and make it look smoother along the sides. Maybe even find a way to add some contour on it so it isn't a solid slab. I do like this guitar looking like a rough project though.That's got some cherry like color and figure, but I'm not sold on the grain being cherry. I may have to do a little research.SRSR if you can identify the wood that would be so awesome haha I thought I'd never know what it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EthanB08 Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 In some of the blog photos it looks like it's Makore maybe?Trial and error, it's a great way to learn things fast! It's kind of a necessary part of any craftsmanship, expanding ones knowledge of what doesn't run smoothly helps one identify what does. Good luck with your project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexisguitars Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Thank you buddy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Here's some cherry: http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/cherry, american black.htmHere's some makore: http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/makore.htmHere's most everything else: http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/I love that site. I'm still leaning towards cherry, after looking at a cherry board I have......but you may find something on that site that looks even closer.SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Cherry burns like hell off the router and likes to crack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexisguitars Posted October 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Looking at those links cherry seems like a good shout. The sides of the guitar burnt quite a lot after the jigsaw cutting so Prospheta I think you just provided the final clue that it might be cherry haha.I will be updating the blog soon so will have some more pics of progress to put on this thread this tonight or this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Cherry seems like a nice wood but I've never had it in a large enough piece to make anything guitar-y from it yet. A Cherry Strat seems appropriate somehow. Not sure. Just seems right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexisguitars Posted October 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) So I have here the guitar's first look. The journey of how it go there is documented on the blog https://alexisguitars.wordpress.com But here you have it And a close up of the body: I'm very happy with how it turned out actually. The colour was achieved with Red Mahogany Stain. I can't remember how many coats though. I just put a few light coats of Satin poly to finish it off.The colour was a bit blotchy and I don't know how best to have dealt with that. I didn't apply any product (grain filler, etc.) onto the guitar so I am sure that has something to do with it. I'm working on another guitar at the moment and it also came up blotchy (though that is basswood and I knew what I was in for with that one, no surprise there!) so any advise would be much appreciated! Although, I forgave myself for blotchiness on this first attempt haha!Now this guitar has changed a lot since then! The neck changed another 2 times, and the bridge pickup changed to a humbucker. The whole wiring changed too as well as the bridge - you can see the bridge piece here is a little loose. That all got fixed and I will update on that shortly Although that big hole (which the bridge piece is loosely sitting in) has left a scar Edited October 11, 2015 by alexisguitars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Blotchy is a trademark of cherry. It is actually figure caused by wavy grain similar to quilted maple. A lot of cherry does that randomly though, instead of in nice patterns.SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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