JimF

That looks sweet! I have a soft spot for HS guitars

Thanks! Flattered you like the knives! Means a lot coming from you. I just need my own Lion Blanket now!

I have to admit I did wonder if the slots were deep enough, but we shall cross that bridge when we arrive at it! I have broken down the whole build process in my head, and (I may regret saying this but) the whole guitar building thing seems not so much complicated, but a series of relatively straight forward but highly accurate tasks!

Thanks! Just need to get stuck in!

Hi All, I'm starting a build thread mainly to keep track of my progress and also for hints & tips if anyone stops me going wrong somewhere, and encouragement if I get disheartened! As per the title, this is my first build from scratch. Like everyone else I've done a few parts builds, but I've also got experience with woodwork from a little knifemaking sideline I've done until changing jobs recently. For those who are interested, here are some pics: Back to the case in hand! I'm building the following: 6 string Blackmachine type guitar Tulip Poplar body Maple top (below average figuring) Padauk neck with wenge centre strip & white laminates (0.6mm thick), scarf joint into headstock. Ebony ferret Fixed Hipshot-style bridge Locking tuners Still undecided on pickups, I have a single Sentient, but I fancy white/zebra pups in this build so am toying with the idea of a set of Irongear pickups. For the price I don't think I can go wrong. Colour and finish wise I'll be going for an unfinished neck, oiled body and stained top. Haven't decided whether to go for oiled satin finish on the top or wipe on poly buffed to a high gloss. Colour will be a light brown/dark amber non burst. I'm cheating with this build as I have bought a pre-slotted, pre-radiused fretboard, and I'll be using router templates On to pics! Router templates from http://www.templatesandjigs.com/ Photos from the eBay listing of the top wood: This is the type of finish I'm aiming for colour wise: Pics of the raw materials: Looking forward to getting started in the coming weeks!

Wow! I have a guitar with Luminlays and it’s life changing

Ooooh I am excite

Now you can justify buying exotic woods to get the use out of your tools!

Another good point! No additional plumbing services should be offered

Oooooh i’ll Definitely be in touch then!!!

100% the same. There’s a grit deposit station (correct term?) within 5 miles of my house and my street has never been gritted since I’ve lived here! You can’t beat a Subaru! I’ve got fond memories of a few winters ago in my race prepped Subaru with slick track tyres and bucket seats driving past the struggling BMW X5 types who couldn’t get traction! Anyway! To get back on track, regarding spraying your matte finishes, is the paint “ordinary” and it’s a matte lacquer, or is the paint different as well? Would you ever take on foreigner spray jobs if a body was to magically arrive from the North West one day?

I had a similar thing when trying to turn a kitchen knife making hobby into a small business. The problem isn’t always how much to charge for the first commissioned build; it’s how much to charge for the second and third when people have seen how much the first guy got for £1000. Also when itemising the bill/quote for the first customer, make sure you allocate enough for your time. Because the next guy may want cheaper woods and hardware but a more labour intensive build. But if he hears from guy no.1 you charged a flat £250 builders fee then he may be expecting a different price. Scott’s advice is very good. But make sure he runs his choices past you. It’s not good if he turns up with wood that’s barely millimetres from being too small, and warped requiring extra work etc. Perhaps if you were to ask him to source his hardware, then feel him out for what woods he would like, then you can go back to him with a “perfect world” option and a “lower price backup” option. For example if I was having a guitar with a painted body I would spend all my money on exotic neck woods (cocobolo Purple Heart and wenge 7 pc with a ziricote fretboard!!!) One piece of advice I would tell myself (and remind myself) is that potential customers actually want your work, they want your products, and they don’t mind you charging for it. If you feel your handiwork and time is valued at £500 which would make the build cost £1300, then go back to him with that figure with your head held high. And offer more cost effective alternatives with regards to materials, hardware etc but not your time. Don’t apologise for giving your work a value. That’s something that took me a while to get my head around. You could say, “yes the build is £1300, but pay me half up front for materials and half on completion”. Most of all, don’t let deadlines and the stress of building for others ruin your hobby like it did for me!

You mentioned there is a local community with 20 builders - would you be able to perhaps observe those builders. Or perhaps do your learning from books and practice and when you get stuck at a difficult part, go round to a builder with a crate of beer or bottle of whisky and say “Hey buddy can I borrow you to help me with.....” There are some very talented builders in the Balkans. I have an early custom made Wreck 7 string which is incredible.

Your first name and username sounds like a fantastic 80s guitar. “Have you seen the guitarist in that band tonight? He’s playing a Douglas Crusader!”

Oh don’t start me on couriers and the snow! Along with Work I’ve also got the joys of selling bits from my race car (another expensive hobby) to fund guitar building, and living up a steep hill at the top of a high village!

Deary me the curve on that heel is pure art! Fantastic work as always! I had my eye on the pinky dinky on eBay but my bank balance said no