Wood vs. cost on first build project

Hey all...I'm about to begin the build process on my first guitar design. Somewhat traditional shapes, but neck-through construction (think Fenders meet Firebirds). I'm very familiar with this building process, as I worked in the wood shop at Tobias basses for a while.

But my question is this: Should I splurge on the wood for this first build?...i.e. figured maple neck, etc. ?? Or should I play it safe and go with the plain jane stuff, incase I make a design mistake, or even (gasp) a slip on the router? I don't want to have to scrap a nice piece of wood.

My ultimate goal is to be able to sell guitars for a living, and make a business out of it. So I'll be "showing off" this first guitar, trying to generate some interest. So it needs to be a good looking guitar.

I don't have enough $$$ to make two guitars at once right now.

Highly-figured wood does offer more eye appeal, but as you pointed out, often costs more. If you decide to go with the "plain-jane" stuff on your first prototype, some amber tint on a plain maple neck can add some needed character. I personally dislike those totally white maple necks. When I ordered an Allparts neck from Rob D here on our forum which had very little figuring, he put a deep amber tint on the plain maple and it looks great.

As for a plain body or wood with an unappealing grain, you could of course go with a solid color to completely cover the wood.

As for a plain body or wood with an unappealing grain, you could of course go with a solid color to completely cover the wood.

Yeah, but it's going to be a neck-through body design, so I really want to be able to show off how the body wings meet the neck. It's a very visually appealing design, and I don't want to cover that up on my first example.

The plan is to do two "models" right now.

(1) "Strat"-ish. Mahogany/walnut multi-lam neck with an ebony fingerboard. Hollow mahogany body wings with a flamed maple top.
(2) "Tele"-ish. Maple/walnut multi-lam neck with a rosewood fingerboard. Hollow mahogany body wings with a flamed maple top.

I'm still working on a headstock design. It will be an angled headstock, with 3-on-a-side tuners...but straight string pull.

Use cheap wood on your prototype to get your design worked out then once its all the way you want it use good wood. You might change alot of things in the building process and using expensive woods would cost alot more if you screw up or change your mind it would be a wiser move to use the cheap stuff.

So I'll be "showing off" this first guitar, trying to generate some interest. So it needs to be a good looking guitar.

I don't have enough $$$ to make two guitars at once right now.

Right now you only have one customer. Your first task is to build a working instrument by yourself. I wouldn't be "showing off" the first guitar unless it is playable and you have played it long enough to be happy with it yourself. Your ideas about what make a desirable guitar may change once you've played something you made. Customers won't care what it looks like or the level of craftmanship if it doesn't make you happy first.

I wouldn't start talking to potential customers until after you've got your tools all gathered and you've built enough guitars to be happy with your own work.
Build this first one for yourself.

...for all you know, the lobster tank at the supermarket is going to bust open tomorrow right when you're walking past, and they'll all get out and claw you to death.

make the nicest guitar you can with whatever money you can hustle. there'll be flaws, of course, but so what? like the late, great leon fullerton once said, "if you don't go all the way, / you'll kick yourself someday."

uh...do they have lobsters in texas?

Do the Strat first with cheap woods, then if it turns out good make the Tele nice :D

uh...do they have lobsters in texas?


Yep. And they play a mean claw-style slide!

you know when i was building lutes and guitars there is apoint when you are in the groove-and for me this didnt happen after the first go-round, nor the second or third..

significant refinements come about even if seemingly minor


i would consider also that your show piece isnt coming for a while


-id suggest getting high quality light weight SERVICEABLE WOOD-and make several- in different finshes or colors-this alone can have a dramatic affect-just a well done finish can be stunning on the plainest of woods

get a feel for what people value-just reading the posts here and Iv learned that what i value isnt always so important to others and vice versa...so consider this with your hardware too


-save the higher dollar stuff until you get into the groove aaand...with no disrespect whatsoever...consider what your price point has to be....if you have a plain jane which plays and sound great sell it for a reasonable amount..feel out the market...people are reluctant about unrecognised name instruments..i have read threads here that if itdont say fender they wont consider it-no matter who its built by..l.so explore what the market will bear and keep costs down...i suggest to you that regardless of how pretty your insturment..you will appeal to a certain market segment

for example ....my local repairman built a nice LP junior single cut-nice work great frets and nut-great pickup, a bit too fat neck (more teh taper than the thickness-it takes a bit to get a neck that really feels right-its only a fraction of an inch difference but you can usually feel it-and a cumbersome feeling neck was a common mistake in my early attempts-and you really dont know till its on and finsihed) -his finish was like tung oil, crude and porous-he wanted $1800-this made no sense to me ...none...he worked very hard i know-but it had no value to most at this price....