Building a kit guitar

[Psykel]

I've wanted a Les Paul Special DC for ages and found this one when browsing a page linked in another build thread a bit ago: http://buy.precisionguitarkits.com/product/junior-double-cut
Afaik, Precision Guitar Kits are pretty high quality and the price looks quite good. But I know nothing about building guitars. I've installed electronics and such, but I've never glued anything guitar based and my experience with paint end at about water color. What's important to think about? What tools do I need?
If anyone can give me some info or point me towards a detailed build thread or site, that would be swell. I want to figure out if it's worth it or not before I try anything.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Visit some luthier materials suppliers' websites. You will need the right clamps, glues, grain filler, abrasives and finishing materials.

One advantage of the kit is that all of the critical drilling has been done for you. No need for special jigs.

If you do not have suitable paint spraying facilities, consider a hand-applied finish such as gun stock oil. There are various ways of introducing colour(s) to the eventual finish.

 

[CTN]

Re: Building a kit guitar

I'd strongly advise you to get some books on the subject instead of just reading threads.

This is a good one that covers a range of different things:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0953104907

Also gluing isn't that difficult, but it's easy to screw up if you don't do it right. Woodworking skills, technique, and tools are very important in guitar building.

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: Building a kit guitar

TDPRI.com
go to the Home Depot section of their forum
Learn

Also check out the '59 les paul build by a dude named Preeb (Gil Yarron)
you will learn a lot!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Building a kit guitar

I did a SG Jr from them a couple years ago. There's a thread in this forum documenting the whole thing.

 

[chadd]

Re: Building a kit guitar

There is a lot of good information about finishing at re-ranch.
http://www.reranch.com/basics.htm

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Good luck if you are a beginner but don't get discouraged, use a ton of patience and you'll get the job done!

 

[Psykel]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Visit some luthier materials suppliers' websites. You will need the right clamps, glues, grain filler, abrasives and finishing materials.

One advantage of the kit is that all of the critical drilling has been done for you. No need for special jigs.

If you do not have suitable paint spraying facilities, consider a hand-applied finish such as gun stock oil. There are various ways of introducing colour(s) to the eventual finish.

Well, the finish I'd like the most is white, possibly the non-clear coated kind I got on my SG Special 60s Tribute. To get some good lookin' wear. Would that be hand-appliable or would I need to spray it?
Also, what would be considered "suitable paint spraying facilities"?

 

[chadd]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Well, the finish I'd like the most is white, possibly the non-clear coated kind I got on my SG Special 60s Tribute. To get some good lookin' wear. Would that be hand-appliable or would I need to spray it?
Also, what would be considered "suitable paint spraying facilities"?

I did a strat in sonic blue and never got around to applying the clear coat. I got the sonic blue nitro in spray cans from Reranch. The only "facilities" you need is somewhere with good ventilation, I did my guitar outside.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Well, the finish I'd like the most is white, possibly the non-clear coated kind I got on my SG Special 60s Tribute. To get some good lookin' wear. Would that be hand-appliable or would I need to spray it?
Also, what would be considered "suitable paint spraying facilities"?

I did exactly that kind of finish on my SG Jr. No filler, but I did use sanding sealer first to at least seal the wood and get it nice and smooth. I sprayed it in my garage using Oxford White car paint from Pep Boys. It actually turned out really good.

 

[Psykel]

Re: Building a kit guitar

I did exactly that kind of finish on my SG Jr. No filler, but I did you sanding sealer first to at least seal the wood and get it nice and smooth. I sprayed it in my garage using Oxford White car paint from Pep Boys. It actually turned out really good.

That sounds good! The site says the kits are all pre-sanded for paint, but I guess a little extra won't hurt. I could possibly paint in my parent's basement, in the room with a door that leads outside. Should be kind of garage-y.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Go to the re-ranch site and order the oil based grain filler, a can of nitro sand & sealer, and a can of white nitro. White doesn't need a clear coat.

Put on grain filler as instructed. Do it twice or three times over three days. Sand it smooth each time with 400- dry.

Then put on a coat of sand and sealer. Carefully wet sand with 600 or 800.

Put on just enough color coats to cover.

Carefully, wet sand with 1500, then 2000. Don't even touch the edges.

Polish by hand with polishing compound (I recently used Meguiars Ulitimate Compund with very good results) and microfiber towl. You can use a machine buffer on low speed if your really careful

 

[Psykel]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Go to the re-ranch site and order the oil based grain filler, a can of nitro sand & sealer, and a can of white nitro. White doesn't need a clear coat.

Put on grain filler as instructed. Do it twice or three times over three days. Sand it smooth each time with 400- dry.

Then put on a coat of sand and sealer. Carefully wet sand with 600 or 800.

Put on just enough color coats to cover.

Carefully, wet sand with 1500, then 2000. Don't even touch the edges.

Polish by hand with polishing compound (I recently used Meguiars Ulitimate Compund with very good results) and microfiber towl. You can use a machine buffer on low speed if your really careful

Cool. That does at least not sound too complicated. I could probably get some help from my pop too, he's sort of experienced with stuff like this, compared to me.

 

[SAMUELMMRYAN]

Re: Building a kit guitar

I've built several guitars from scratch and looking at that kit you shouldn't need any special tools. Luthier-specific tools can be a great help but are often extremely over priced. To put this together I'd get some trigger or c-clamps, a nice hand-drill, as good of a soldering iron as you can find, a rubber mallet, and some titebond ultra III wood glue. Read as much as you can, finish it however you like.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Its not very complicated. When you put in the grain filler though, if you havn't done it before, rub it in to the wood with your fingers. Wait about ten minutes and rub the guitar wood fairly smooth with a rag soaked in turpintine or minereal spirits. It drys as hard as a stone, so any excess will make sanding it smooth the next day a bugger.

If you let the sand and sealer dry over night, you might want to rough it it up with 400 rather than 600 to make sure the color coats stick. You do the color coats and clear coats one after another as soon they flash over. (fix any runs before going on however) No more than three coats per day though. Remember, however, a thick finish is a tone sucker.

 

[Psykel]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Its not very complicated. When you put in the grain filler though, if you havn't done it before, rub it in to the wood with your fingers. Wait about ten minutes and rub the guitar wood fairly smooth with a rag soaked in turpintine or minereal spirits. It drys as hard as a stone, so any excess will make sanding it smooth the next day a bugger.

If you let the sand and sealer dry over night, you might want to rough it it up with 400 rather than 600 to make sure the color coats stick. You do the color coats and clear coats one after another as soon they flash over. (fix any runs before going on however) No more than three coats per day though. Remember, however, a thick finish is a tone sucker.

Well, I'll probably won't go with a clear coat. I got a Gibson SG Special that's not clear coated and it's worn really nice on the neck and parts of the body in the ~2 years I've owned it, so I'll go with something like that if I make a kit guitar.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Building a kit guitar

Right, you don't need a clear coat with white.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Building a kit guitar

I've built several guitars from scratch and looking at that kit you shouldn't need any special tools. Luthier-specific tools can be a great help but are often extremely over priced. To put this together I'd get some trigger or c-clamps, a nice hand-drill, as good of a soldering iron as you can find, a rubber mallet, and some titebond original wood glue. Read as much as you can, finish it however you like.

I fixed that up ^^^^^ for you.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Building a kit guitar

If you let the sand and sealer dry over night, you might want to rough it it up with 400 rather than 600 to make sure the color coats stick.

If you're using lacquer, you don't need to worry about "rough(ing) it up...to make sure the color coats stick". Lacquer on lacquer is a chemical bond not mechanical.

You definitely DON'T want to use 400 grit paper, unless you want lots of deep sanding marks/scratches in your finish. 800 grit, 1000, 1500, 2000 grit, etc.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Building a kit guitar

And you can do grain fill or sanding sealer....there's no need to do both.