I've read for months, first build time, your thoughts

[Fatcat211]

First off, thank you. This is a great place to come and read, relax, and learn. You guys stay on topic and are courteous to each other. No web personas here!

Anyway, I'm about to start my first build. It's going to be a LP/Tele hybrid along the lines of the Fano SP6. I have a strat style neck from gfs that I've shaped the headstock and massaged the frets. I'll be building the body.

I've taken the t downs files and overlaid it on an LP body I traced. Im at the phase of making my templates now. I only intend to build this one guitar and don't want to spend a ton of time making templates. With that said, would it be advisable just to make one 3/4 template for the pickup, control and neck pocket routes? I was going to just trace my body shape onto my ash blank, jigsaw to 1/8 of the line and spindle sand to shape. I've never really understood the benefit to sanding then routing to final shape at the risk of tear out. Maybe I'm a little spooked to use a router for the first time and would rather sand more.

I've read enough to give me a healthy fear of the router, so I'll err on the side of cautious(even though Im a semi pro auto mechanic).

Thanks again and keep up this great community,

[bcarter_1]

I believe the routing is to ensure the sides are straight, but I am still learning alot of this.
The time invested to make a template is valuable, I use it to adjust to the router, but I have never used one before.

[bcarter_1]

I don't know if you saw the thread about printable guitar templates, here is a link to a LP Tele hybrid.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home...ml#post1778513

[Jack Wells]

I only intend to build this one guitar

You say that now but I doubt many who frequent this particular forum have built only one guitar. Those who have probably have a second one in the planning stages.

Go ahead ........ build this one your way. You can make templates for the next ones.

[adirondak5]

Hi and welcome aboard , you can sand the body to shape on a spindle sander and get the sides square but you are going to have to do a good bit of hand sanding to get it nice and smooth , a good smooth template and a router with a good sharp bit make pretty short work of it , and you still need to sand the sides by hand but the smooth lines are there , but it can be done the way you suggest. IMO the risk of tear out is pretty low if your routing technique is good.
Depending on your router and routes for your neck pocket and pickups yea , one template would do it . I think after sanding an ash body nice and smooth to final shape with a spindle sander , and finishing up by hand , you will understand the benefit of routing to final shape , especially if you build more than one. But here's another option , here is a link for a Robo-Sander , its a pattern following sanding drum , IMO it would be a bit easier to final shape a body with a template and one of these , if your template is good and smooth , and if you have a drill press . Good luck with your build and betcha can't just build one

http://www.luthiersfriend.com/robosa...obosander.html

[jkingma]

Jack is right. Before I finished my first guitar I was planning my next 3 or 4.

Have fun with your project.

[Fatcat211]

I'm hoping use of a spindle sander on my drill press keeps my edges square.

Bcarter, thanks for that link. I found that a few weeks after I started my own drawing concoction. I like the control placement in that drawing and used it as a guide. I've also seen the other builds by taipan etc.

Jack! 1" pattern bit/.75 template, check! You might be right about only one build, let's see how this one goes. I need to remain focused on writing and playing. I want that fano style without the big price tag. Did anyone see Eric Gales demo the sp6? What a unique player. Love his style.

[bcarter_1]

Originally Posted by jkingma

Jack is right. Before I finished my first guitar I was planning my next 3 or 4.

Have fun with your project.

+1
I had a fall off my bike and broke my collarbone, so I couldn't use my right arm all summer, and have not even finished the two builds I started.
I have two definite bass builds planned, and one more if I can make a headless bridge with tuners.

[Fatcat211]

Requisite photo for proof. :) Im taking favorite elements from as many guitars as possible.

[bcarter_1]

I like the looks of the Hybrid, my Bro in law wants to make a Billie Joe Armstrong guitar.
I may have to do one like this.

What kind of wood are you using?

What kind of finish is going on it?

Brian

[fretman_2]

+3...just finished my first scratch build and have parts in waiting for two more...LOL.

Just dive in and build...the guitars are amazingly forgiving. Just get your fret positions right.

Originally Posted by bcarter_1

+1
I had a fall off my bike and broke my collarbone, so I couldn't use my right arm all summer, and have not even finished the two builds I started.
I have two definite bass builds planned, and one more if I can make a headless bridge with tuners.

[Fatcat211]

1 pcs ash blank from a local specialty wood yard. Not sure of the ash species but it's pretty heavy 7/4 thickness. I plan on using tru oil over white stain. I've done a neck before with tru and love the results with no equipment. Only part of the build I'm concerned with is the neck pocket. I had a strat heeled neck and want to use it. I plan on using jacks 2 board method for the sides and centerline, then drawn trace the heel curve. I'll do a few trial runs for fit.

[dblues]

"I'll do a few trial runs for fit."

That's the key. I studied the Jack Wells thread for making neck pocket template directly from the neck, made 2 or 3 templates and cut 5 or 6 neck pockets before going to the actual body blank I'm using. I used pine from Lowes that was about 1 1/2" x 10" for practice and will use the same for my first couple of builds. Started getting good results after about 3 or 4th try on the neck pocket. I"m pretty much doing the the same for all of the other steps. It's like making two guitars at the same time but one of them you can screw up all you want. It helps me to do the "practice run" only when I'm ready go to the real deal. That way I'm more confident and can remember what I'm supposed to do. Have fun and be safe!

[Colt W. Knight]

Take the time to make the templates. You will get added practice cutting, routing, and sanding. Plus, you will end up with a better product in the end. If you make a mistake on the mdf, you can simply goto homedepot and grab some more. If you screw up your body blank, thats an expensive mistake.

[Mojotron]

To make the first guitar body from scratch you are going to very likely spend a lot more and spend a great deal more time than just buying a body from Warmoth or USACG... and just have them do a custom job on a body for you. Even if you try to control the effort it will likely take the same amount of effort and time as if you had gone the full route of multiple templates and using a router...

IMO - Building from scratch, with some experience, you can save time or money but never both and the costs/time are never small on the first one if you want a good outcome. If you were wanting to make the best guitar out there and wanted to make 100 if that's what it took or wanted to make several, or just wanted a hobby to keep you off the streets (which is my case) - then the build from scratch idea is logical.

A really good compromise is to get the neck pocket and pickup routes done by Warmoth on a blank - then just get a ROSS and shape the sides...

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by Mojotron

To make the first guitar body from scratch you are going to very likely spend a lot more and spend a great deal more time than just buying a body from Warmoth or USACG... and just have them do a custom job on a body for you. Even if you try to control the effort it will likely take the same amount of effort and time as if you had gone the full route of multiple templates and using a router...

IMO - Building from scratch, with some experience, you can save time or money but never both and the costs/time are never small on the first one if you want a good outcome. If you were wanting to make the best guitar out there and wanted to make 100 if that's what it took or wanted to make several, or just wanted a hobby to keep you off the streets (which is my case) - then the build from scratch idea is logical.

A really good compromise is to get the neck pocket and pickup routes done by Warmoth on a blank - then just get a ROSS and shape the sides...

You can also buy pickup and cavity routing templates from Stew Mac. I use them frequently, and they are really inexpensive.

[guitarbuilder]

Jigs, fixtures, and templates are for production of identical parts in industry.

You can make a great guitar by:
A- cutting to the perimeter line and B sanding to the line as has been done by countless of people before pattern bits became available. This forum is heavy on templates but that doesn't mean you can't do it other ways too. I made bodies for years and didn't template rout the perimeter. I found it faster and easier to cut and sand myself hence this long winded comment.

If you've read the build threads...you've seen mistakes and perfection in them. With and without templates. You just need to make up your mind on what you think you need to do to make the best body you can given your available resources and experience.

That looks like northern ash...baseball bat stuff.

This is a good thread for you:
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...pan-model.html

[Fatcat211]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for chiming in. I read and consider everything. Just to be clear, I plan on using template routing for everything but the perimeter. I don't mind it taking a long time. And the cost, with tool purchases, will be about the same if I were to have the body made. I should be able to work on my template more tomorrow.

How is Northern ash for a LP style body?

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by Fatcat211

Hey everyone,

Thanks for chiming in. I read and consider everything. Just to be clear, I plan on using template routing for everything but the perimeter. I don't mind it taking a long time. And the cost, with tool purchases, will be about the same if I were to have the body made. I should be able to work on my template more tomorrow.

How is Northern ash for a LP style body?

I never use a template for routing the perimeter of a non standard guitar. Although, I do make a 1/4" hardboard template so that I can sand all the lines smooth easily. Then trace it on to the wood. Then I cut it close with my bandsaw, and sand the perimeter to the line using a ROSS. I always use templates when routing cavities and pickup routes.

[bullfrogblues]

Routing with templates makes working on bodies so much easier. If you have the tools to make them/buy them, and use them.
On another note, though, you are making a guitar for yourself, so who cares if the shape of the body isn't perfect? As long as the neck/bridge/pickups all align, that's the important thing.
Now if you're building for resale, that's something else entirely.
Just my opinion.