michaelbambridge

Hi.I'm just collecting all the parts to make my first "telecaster" look-a-like. I bought a set of plans from e-bay, and compiled a list of parts required(always best to get bits first, then no problems with fitting into holes etc. that might be wrong shape/size)Before buying from suppliers I checked out e-bay again.Wow, what terrific savings I've made already.For example,a complete neck for £24, a bridge complete with both pickups for £16, all the switches and knobs for £4,etc etc. If you can wait a little it's ceratinly worth it. Body will be a reclaimed mahogany table-top.Good luck.Mike.

Hi everyone!

I still havn't made by first guitar yet, being a poor uni-student...

So my question is: What is the cheapest guitar possible to build? How much would it cost and what parts would be on it? Any suggestions? 

The bodydesign can always be made to fit my desire but it's all the electronic parts that is the real problem...

I don't have the kind of money to build a highquality one but I still want to build something...  It's a first build after all.

How should I reduce the building cost?

I just want it simple with one or maybe two pickups.

Maybe I should just build a body to begin with?

So can you guys help me with a checklist of parts(model) and the possible price of these? 

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I'm totally confused with all the pro's and con's of "tone" as obtained from different woods, but would like to throw this one in. I have access to some Beech. Nice straight grain and well known for it's strength when used for furniture,but can anyone advise me if it suitable for necks? I'm using mahogany (reclaimed table-top) for the body just because it was free!Cheers.

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my query,the answers were,as you can see,unanamous.I shall now be looking for a local supplier of hardwoods.

Hello everyone,apologies if this seems a stupid question.I'm about to start my first build and have already decided that my guitar body will end up painted. It seems to me that to make the body from some exotic hardwood would be a waste of money and resources.Therefore, I'm considering using plywood (multiplex in USA?),or MDF. Now I might be missing something here, but is there a valid reason why either can't be used? Both are quite dense so sustain should be good.Neither

suffer from splitting or warping,so what's the problem.Is it just a case of snobbery in that these are cheap products?Please enlighten this novice. Thanks.

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MDF is made of small fibres held together by a huge mass of glue. For an instrument to sound 'good', the body woods need to transfer vibrations/soundwaves well. With MDF being formed of so many small fibres, and glue being amazingly poor at transmitting said soundwaves, it does not lend itself to musical instrument making well. Neither does plywood, although it has fewer pieces (just the number of sheets in the ply), the differing grain directions would cause the same sort of transfer problems as with the fibres of MDF.

It's not a case of snobbery that they are cheap, they just aren't usually considered good enough (there's a reason why even the cheapest guitars these days never use plywood). Aesthetics aside, they're pretty much functionally inadequate.

You'll do much better (as was suggested above), to buy a cheap hardwood like Alder/Ash for your project.

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Hello everyone,apologies if this seems a stupid question.I'm about to start my first build and have already decided that my guitar body will end up painted. It seems to me that to make the body from some exotic hardwood would be a waste of money and resources.Therefore, I'm considering using plywood (multiplex in USA?),or MDF. Now I might be missing something here, but is there a valid reason why either can't be used? Both are quite dense so sustain should be good.Neither

suffer from splitting or warping,so what's the problem.Is it just a case of snobbery in that these are cheap products?Please enlighten this novice. Thanks.