Thanks for your comments!
Hmm, somehow I thought making the whole body would be much more work. But perhaps the only extra work would be machining the neck pocket to the correct height (I have to check, but these usually have a flat bottom right? No angle needed?) and the back pockets. Plus I'd be able to move the selector switch to the original EVH position or wherever.
So basically I'd be buying an expensive neck then :O (it's not easy to find a nicely figured axis neck...)
Of course I can start copying the Axis that I have, and see how far I get.
I was thinking about going to a hobby workshop for woodworking to have access to equipment like a bandsaw and a table router. Perhaps I'll have to buy my own bearing guided router bit. I have only basic woodworking experience, and using handtools for precision work will need a lot of practice.
I like the sidelook of an unbound top, so that's what I'd be going for.
What's the order of things?
1. Measure Axis body, rout templates (plywood?) with bearing-guided bit, make sure not to kill my dearest guitar
2. Cut new body to roughly the correct shape (planarizer, bandsaw)
3. Cut top to roughly correct shape (probably bookmatched, so first planarize and glue that together)
4. Make armrest on body (sanding?)
5. Bend top to fit with armrest (do I drill holes in body+top for alignment?)
6. Glue body and top (clamping armrest is tricky?)
7. Machine to final shape (rout with template, sanding?)
8. Use templates to rout the neck, pickup, trem pockets, drill holes for switch and volume knob.
9. Finishing
