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Hello everyone. I want to share with you my very first build. It is done now and I'm very pleased with the result. I am a learning guitar player (don't dare to call myself a beginner yet). I own a cheapo Harley Benton Strat copy and a nice Epiphone G400 that I use as my main practice instrument. A couple of months ago I came across an advert for this amazing looking Soviet era Ural 650. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-OlU05gB-wKgwFtDqhuglWzKo9rbB2wv/view?usp=drivesdk Totally fell in love with it. But after doing some research I found out that these were of pretty poor quality even when new, and since the 70s even the good ones got bent out of shape and are pretty much unplayable. So I decided to build one myself. I wanted a guitar to practice at work during my breaks, but a quiet one, unplugged, but electric. I had my strat copy at work and since that is hollow and made out of pine wood, was sounding pretty nice and clear unplugged. So the plan was to make a (kind of) hollow guitar, with a soundhole (maybe to amplify a bit the sound) and have only the neck pickup since I mostly use that one, and the guitar will be used unplugged most of the time. I didn't want to spend too much on this project so I tried to use whatever I could find. All the tools and materials used: -Pine wood -drill with various size drill bits -angle grinder with sandpaper disk attached -wood chisel -hand saw -wood adhesive -wood filler -2 cans of primer -yellow, red, black paint, one can each -2 cans clear laquer -various sandpaper grits -turtle wax -screwdrivers -a whole lot of elbow grease and dedication First I picked my wood. As I work I a cemetery I found I nice pine plank we use to surround the grave at funerals. All the planks had knots so no chance of finding one without it. As I did not have any professional tools to carve out the inside of the guitar, and the plank was too thin anyway, it was going to be made out of two layers. I had to cut a piece of plank in half, along the edge, to make the thin layer that will go at the back. As I did not have any cutout of the Ural, I had to rely on a very low resolution image of the design. I had to print it out on paper, glue the papers together, resize the image on the PC and keep printing it until I was happy with the size of the print. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-myVGBhL9rpPngJgGFWpZGXpr0td9jVN/view?usp=drivesdk I didn't have any clamps to glue the board pieces together so I used a lot of heavy marble shares I had and just pressed them together, the sheer weight keeping them nice and tight. https://drive.google.com/file/d/101k-DF1JxCQXU1nt_IuzjTO5L-mpqwXX/view?usp=drivesdk Trace the overal shape of the ural using the paper print. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-zvLSJzFP-NBn1IhPZwnL7w6ijW-6aFv/view?usp=drivesdk Using a hand saw and the angle grinder, cut the front and back pieces. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ukF70qY_XqFE92jfwhJ87o9f5CfEYxo/view?usp=drivesdk Using the drill, cut out a lot from the middle of the front half, using the paper print as a reference to see where the pickguard would go, leaving just enough space for the screw to catch on to. Then it was the crucial part of cutting the neck pocket. I was going to use a neck from an old strat copy as I have no knowledge in building one, so I used the strat scale. Spent over whole day with just a flat wood chisel and a rubber hammer. At the end of the day, the neck fit almost perfectly, nice and tight. I wanted to use the same screw holes the neck already had, so I shaped a piece of paper, put it in between the old strat and it's neck, screwed it in, then used that paper to see where I need to drill the new holes on the one I was building, drilling from the inside of the pocket. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-mg1n7_iZkYnMr8-06__ko9C60dIILAT/view?usp=drivesdk Using wood filler, patched some imperfections, sanded the wood extensively for two days, then applied the first light of primer. https://drive.google.com/file/d/103Z_Whq4yAAaVzy3zlKVyRTXRs808el8/view?usp=drivesdk I wanted a simple, front loading bridge. I picked a Strat style one. To connect the ground, drilled a hole under it to go towards the inside. Left the wood to settle for two weeks. Came back, applied several coats of primer over 3 days. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-THnvPl95YVZdz6B_t5dKEAL8oJB3Lhk/view?usp=drivesdk Then it was time for the yellow paint. A whole can used, several layers over 3 days. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-FNadnxBxrXlusmbTs4ynIFwC6Astq-n/view?usp=drivesdk Then came the red paint. Very inexperienced, put way too much, but decided to polish off the excess. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-PAqe7A2BHz-BIEH-p3IQmJAOwdQFHmk/view?usp=drivesdk Because of the polishing, the patterns of the wood were showing red, but I loved the effect! Then the black edge went on. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-IEgmURUoci14-wdv8yDqjfnP2jVvlIs/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-BZaABw-S2wMKHxf_EltfEeSLIHDhc0f/view?usp=drivesdk Considering the variety of 'organs' I was putting into it and the material used, decided to calle it The monster, and applied the appropriate decal. Printed it out myself on waterside decal paper. More sanding and blending. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-CCGN9whiH1B3XbeDF8smdAJ3ssMmYoF/view?usp=drivesdk Time for the clear lacquer, 2 cans applied over 3 days. Now for ther pickguard. The Ural design looked a bit bland so decided to make my own. With a piece of paper over the body, traced it's outline then sketched the shape of the pickguard. Cut it out then used it to trace the outline on the pickguard material. I used a 4 ply golden brown sheet. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-9IzG7rJ8O4NIaUqtqa-CThfj25j0-Dk/view?usp=drivesdk For pickup I used a Wilkinson Telecaster, the volume knobs are Les Paul style, used the bottom of a cup to trace the outline of the soundhole. This took me a whole day, as I only had the drill, saw, and sandpaper to do it. Connected the electronics, etc. Drilled the holes for the pickguard screws, put in the strap pegs and finally the strings. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-jq_ieFDMyq5Witv6zamL7qhVh0Bpu8-/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-42OCrQ4JQ2g8TVW3_aJpn3mGgWmPB2A/view?usp=drivesdk I plugged it in, tuned it, set up the intonation. Put it down and admired it. I could not believe it. I was so happy with the result and so proud of myself. I never thought I could actually make it look so good and fully work and sound as it should. To be honest, I don't know how I did it. When I was working on it it was like I was in a trance - my brain would just freeze and my hands just kept going. I know the material used is not great. But this is not a high standard instrument. I just wanted something to jam with at work. The parts used came from 4 different styles as well, and the soundhole may look out of place. But it works for me and I love it! What are your thoughts on it?

I want to start by saying i'm completely new to guitar making. I am choosing to make one as this will be my tenth guitar, so i want it to be special. I felt as though making my own would be better than buying one. With that out the way, hello i'm Andrew. As this is my first one I will be building straight from a kit (This one to be exact https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Seattle-Jazz-Electric-Guitar-DIY-Kit/PZU) This will cut out some of the work like some parts and most the wood cutting. The artwork will be fine as i have a friend who has agreed to do it for me, and the wood work will be easy as my friend own's a small wood cutting shop. I however have very limited knowledge on electronics. I don't want the guitar to sound like what comes in the box so i have ordered some Seymore Duncan SH-2 and SH-4 Humbuckers instead. I want to wire it up to play more like a Fender Jaguar with that sort of control setup, i have looked online for diagrams and electronic's and cannot find them anywhere, so if someone could possible link me some tutorials as well as links to buy parts. Thank you for you're time, Andrew Smith :)

Hey Everyone! Welcome to my new thread on my first proper guitar build! I've been designing this for a while and I'm currently doing an accurate drawing of what it will look like. I had help from people like @ScottR, @curtisa and more to progress in my design and make it better. So thank you to all of them. Here is the link to that thread. Just so you know, I have experience with woodworking and others so I'm not going into this with nothing. The Design So I have been designing off of a telecaster, shape wise, as I have always loved the shape. Other guitars I have designed from include a PRS, Gibson and one of my current guitars, a Lag Arkane. It is a 25" scale with 24 Frets. To start this whole project off, I drew round my Lag Arkane body to get a rough outline. Then I shaped the guitar from that, adding the Telecaster shape. The headstock I designed off a PRS and a guitar that an old guitar buddy was given, a Seraph Sabre. Look him up, Jon Beedle. Here's the original rough design shape of both guitar and headstock. After I got the rough design, I attempted at creating an accurate design however it failed because of improper measurements. So I scrapped it, you can see it in the other thread. The Hardware and other stuff Wood I've been looking into different kinds of wood for this guitar, however I finalised on Black Korina for the body. I made this decision because 1 I like the wood and 2 I can get my hands on it quite easily! I'll need two halves of it so I can route out the middle of the guitar and then glue the top over it (If that makes sense). For the neck I was thinking just Mahogany as I have a lot of very old mahogany to use. It's about 200 years old! and then an ebony fretboard. Electronics I'm thinking humbuckers, don't know what yet (leave suggestion if you wish) but one in the bridge, one in the neck. I was looking into P90s but i'd rather use pickups I'm familiar with at first. I will have the input on the front, like an SG with two Tone and a Volume Knob. I'm hoping to use a Gibson switch as my selector for pickups. Other Stuff The bridge is cheap (£16) but I don't wast anything expensive at the moment. I got it from Northwest Guitars. It's a hardtail and it's chunky which is what I wanted. Currently up to this day I only have this. The Build Last night, 18/02/17, I embarked on a new adventure. I had the advice of people on the other thread, had the equipment, had the pride so I set off drawing a new design. I started by placing my ruler down on the table and drawing out a beautifully straight 25" line for my High E to nut scale. I then made a mark where the 24th fret will be and drew a line 90 degrees to it (you'll see in the pictures) and then added 3mm and that is where my pickup shall go. At the Bridge end of the scale length, I got my bridge that I bought and measured it up to the line with my High E. (My High E saddle is protruded 85%-ish-of the way out). I then went about sketching around the bridge. Then I took the Saddles off the bridge and drew the 5 holes where the bridge is screwed on and then the 6 holes for the strings-see images. From there, I got the measurement from E to E which was 54mm and added 4mm to each side. From there I drew a line from the middle marks on the bridge to the Nut in order to get the fretboard width. As shown in the first few drawings. Upon starting this at 11;25 on 19/02/17 this is all I have done. I plan on finishing this drawing soon and then buying the wood and starting!! Next I am going to mark the humbuckers and draw the body shape and headstock.

Hello all! So I spotted this sweet little kit that the previous owner had painted, and for the price I couldn't resist... Since I'm just not the kind of guy to just leave stuff well alone, I was thinking about converting the kit to a headless one. I'm thinking I would just chop off the head and screw a clamping bracket just after the nut. I was looking at some cheap Chinese bridges on AliExpress since the kit doesn't really warrant the money I'd spend on a top notch setup (not sure how to determine compatibility.) Any input would be appreciated and I'll post more pictures when I dig into it. inspiration

Hi, My friend and I are currently building a Fender Jaguar in Sherwood green based on Johnny Marr's custom model. We are currently stuck on the wiring and how to basically put all the components together and which component's we would need. On the top plate we have a 3 way panel in which we intend to create: A killswitch (toggle on/off), a treble boost (roller wheel), and a bass removal/minimiser (roller wheel). As this is our first build we have vague to no idea on how to add these features. A list of components with how we'd put them in would be greatly appreciated, (also how to ground it, as we don't want to get that wrong at all). All help appreciated, Cheers

Well hello there, my parents got me a kit guitar. I once told them I was watching and reading a lot about building a guitar. And now I want to take the oppertunity to learn about "building" a guitar, even thou all I have to do with the Thomann kit is finishing and putting all the parts together (which probably is way more than I currently expect it to be) As you probably read in the title it's a LP kit. http://www.thomann.de/de/harley_benton_electric_guitar_kit_lpstyle.htm this one to be more specific. I don't know what kind of finish I want it to have, but I thought of eigher a swirl in darker and lighter tones of blue, or using ink to darken the grain and trying a "poor-mans-sunburst". I'm not sure if the ink would do much, since its basswood and it usually doesnt have a lot of grain. I'll post a picture of the actual guitar as soon as I rip into the packaging and get it out of its cardbord prison. I hope you guys can help me if I have questions, and tell me if (or rather that) I have done stuff horribly wrong (and also hide my mistakes. Have a nice day, and most importand rock on Hendrik