Lex Luthier

EDIT: I MISS READ YOUR POST, SORRY. RE-reading your post, a sanding drum really does the job, whether in a drillpress, or like I do it, with the idle drum of my stationary belt sander. I good way would be to make a fence and take off a little bit at a time with a sanding drum. You could use a handsaw to rough the shape and use sanding blocks and sanding dowels if you don't have any power tools.

To combat the "What tools do I need to build a guitar?" threads, I have started a list with descriptions of what I feel are the tools you need to contruct a guitar. It's still under construction, and I think input from other experienced members would be useful, as my way isn't THE way. Also, maybe listing websites of manufactures and stores where these tools are sold would be useful. What tools do I need to build a guitar?

I like to 'Slap' my necks in place first of all, because I align the neck center with the center of the body, plus the bridge is easier to move IMO.

To me it sounds like you're refering to where the neck is sitting on the body, not the 5/8" depth of the rout, and that the pickguard covers the little bit between the pickup and the neck...this is my understanding from what read, so when asking if you should rout 1/8" deeper, you are refering to routing the neck pocket 1/8" closer to the pickup to eliminate the gap? If you do this you will change the placement of the bridge. This is what I understand when I read your post, maybe I'm not making sence? If you are asking about routing the 5/8" depth deeper, I've never done this, so there may be a problem with the bridge, plus your pup cavities would need to go deeper. If this is the case that's odd that your Fender's neck pocket has a depth of 3/4", unless you measured the pickguard too. I'm cunfused... I've noticed that with all the instruments I've built too. PS. Am I spelling 'rout' right? Or is it route?

Here is a rough draft of a tools list. This is just what I think, so other member input would really help out. Still under construction. http://fullservesite.com/lexluthier/tools.html

Just go to my website! Kidding, I'm just really proud of my shop. I'll make a list too, maybe a required/minimal tools list, and a 'luxury' tools list.

I finished it about a month ago. Was a fun project. Fitting the neck was a challenge, I had to make sure it had a specific height at the placement of the bridge, and at the neck joint, it actually took two tries, and I had to add a lamination to the base of the neck. The finish isn't exactly what I was hoping for. I used Minwax Red Oak 215, I stained the bare wood inself, and what happened was the different grain orientaion on the front absorbed, due to the arching, the stain in different amounts. Basically the more end-grain-ish portions are the darker portions. I think I also should have put a second coat on. I then sanded the stain off the edges to give the violin an antique look, which I think the weird staining adds too, and shot three coats on Deft Semi-Gloss Laquer on it, and rubbed it down with a synthetic steel whool pad. I don't really play the violin, but I think it sounds pretty good for what it is.

I think one way to combat repeat threads would be to pin a topic with answers to the most commonly repeated threads. For instance I've seen a number of 'what tools do I need to build a guitar?' threads in the tools section. Why not have something like LGM's pinned threads in the inlay/finish chat where required/minimal tools are listed, same thing in the electric guitars section to combat the 'Is Pine a good body wood?' or 'What woods can I use?' type threads. EDIT:We also should pin a topic listing recommended books.

That thing is LOOOOOOOOOONG gone. I thought the idea of relicing a guitar was cool, until I DID IT. I wasn't happy with the thing and sold it to a young guitar player taking lessons at a local place for less that half what I put into it, but it has a good home now.

I made a violin from the Stewmac violin kit, but I'm waiting for a thickness sander to go on sale before I make anything more, probably that bass you mention...could be awhile though...

I'M BACK!!!!!! Thanks Wes, Derek, and ESPECIALLY Brian, who just emailed me!

What about that other one you were working on? It had vines and a handle, like an Ibanez, or something?

Because, perhaps, he didn't want to see the truth about his work.

The mini jet aint good for clears? That's what I was looking at, but I was also looking at the ones designed for clears, like LGM uses.

This would be the proper way to do it. If you look around on the net there are probably plans to make one. You could make the structure out of anything, but to be safe you should have an explosion proof fan and filtering system.

But you could still take your time a do a god job on them. I build all my instruments as if I am selling them, so then if there is a flaw, or something, I have a nice instrument with a small flaw.

Yeah, I use 1/16" steel rod. I dry clamp the top in place and drill holes for the rods where the there are cavities, and I also use a caul to clamp, like a piece of MDF or partical board, the thicker the better, to spread out the clamping force. I also do this with fingerboards, drilling the holes for the rods in fret slots.

Congrats on your first custom order...I remember my first.

Hi, my name is Matt and I'm 20yrs. I started building guitars about 7 1/2 years ago, back in elementary school. My very first was an acoustic, but my main focus has been solid body electric guitars/basses, but I built other acoustic instruments as well. Here are examples of my work: Some of my instruments While still in highschool I got a part-time job at Northwood Guitars,which lead to 5 months of full time employment as soon as I graduated, mainly bracing the soundbaords and backs, and gluing the backs and soundboards to the side assemblies. I consider myself a hobby builder, but a more serious hobby builder, who would like break into it as a full time career...eventually. I have never done repairs, and don't really care to do that, I also don't really like doing custom order instruments, though I've done two. I've been playing for a bit longer than building, but spent more time building once I got into that. I took violin lessons three years ago, played the alto and barry sax in elementary school, and have just begun teaching myself the cello. Matt

Probably a browser cache thing

http://www.madeiracustomguitars.freeservers.com/tools.html I wont post a direct link, just copy and paste in your browser and remove the TOOLS.HTML and prepare to be forwarded to a spam website! I'm not sure what the hell is going on. I'm not that mad, because I terminated the site a month or so ago, and have a new one. Does anybody know what's up?

I remember seeing pieces of flamed maple in my old highschools gym floor.

That's what my dad said, I think WHMS or something is who it should be reported to.

No, who are they?

Look on ebay, that's where I got mine.