Custom Guitar Build

[PushedCrayon]

Re: Custom Guitar Build

Thanks for the input everyone. Truly, I appreciate every bit of it! Im a college student in engineering looking to work on guitars for a living, and am looking for an easy way to learn exactly how guitars work and how they're put together. But remember, college budget haha.
Option one still stands, gf parts, mess some up but learn from it and move on. Option two says lets take nicer parts, lets say mighty mike or warmouth, and use those to build one up. Or buy a nice cheap at crap strat, and basically piece it apart and upgrade it myself. Ive got this whole summer to mess around, and hopefully end up with a decent guitar im proud to call my own in the end!

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[jimijames]

Re: Custom Guitar Build

I dont mind if the final project comes out to be a fail. I need a guitar I can feel comfortable working on myself even if I mess a few things up. I just need someone to put it together for me haha. Even if it turns out great playing and sounding, awesome! If not, oh well, I have my own custom guitar to work with.

Yes. Will elaborate soon.

at the same time though...biting off more than you can chew is a damn good way to learn first hand how to avoid mistakes in the future... heh. My first ever build was a bit more than I could chew, and I learned a helluva lot, but the guitar was also pretty crappy, all things considered.

I agree with this sentiment, but let me add one thing - Don't be lazy. When you decide what you're going to build, listen to people and don't just try and free-ball it. I quote unquote ruined a perfectly good USACG neck (showcase, or w/e their equivalent is, but still, like $150) by not drilling holes for the neck screws. Just screwed them right in there, thinking "hey, it works why the hell not" - and even though the guitar came out nice I still wake up in the night thinking about how caddywhompous those screws are sticking into the neck.

I still use that neck and guitar, and even though it resonates better than my other guitars (acoustically, likely due to the massive alder body) - if you're going to have those "Oh, that's why they do it like that" moments (like I do pretty much every time I try a DIY project) you should really have it on something that costs you $150 for the whole shebang.

Gfs parts are the perfect vehicle to learn to DIY. Go ahead and make your mistakes on a boxful of cheap parts. Then you'll know where you stand on assembling something a little fancier. Maybe you'll love the finished product. There's only one way to find out.

This. It's not difficult to assemble your own guitar, but IME it does take a lot of time, and you'll realize pretty quickly if it's something you want to spend your time on.

Just FWIW, you're stepping onto quite a precipitous precipice, if you get bit by the guitar building bug there is no turning back.

 

[t1r12003]

Re: Custom Guitar Build

Thanks for the input everyone. Truly, I appreciate every bit of it! Im a college student in engineering looking to work on guitars for a living, and am looking for an easy way to learn exactly how guitars work and how they're put together. But remember, college budget haha.
Option one still stands, gf parts, mess some up but learn from it and move on. Option two says lets take nicer parts, lets say mighty mike or warmouth, and use those to build one up. Or buy a nice cheap at crap strat, and basically piece it apart and upgrade it myself. Ive got this whole summer to mess around, and hopefully end up with a decent guitar im proud to call my own in the end!

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I remember way back when I first started out. I bought Melvyn Hiscock's book "Make Your Own Electric Guitar". As you're in college, I imagine a decent size library would have it too. Another great resource is the Projectguitar.com website. I'd be happy to coach you along in the process.

 

[jimlp]

Re: Custom Guitar Build

I think you're mistaking fun for hard work. All those thing are easily fixed. This dude did it and they look ****ing awesome.https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?274540-Some-Cheap-Parts-Guitar-Projects

Wax fruit looks great to, just don't take a bite.

 

[PushedCrayon]

Re: Custom Guitar Build

Ive contacted my library and I have Melvyn Hiscocks book coming my way! I think for a first shot attempt just to know whats all going on, im going to buy a crappy strat, and just piece it apart and back together

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[t1r12003]

Re: Custom Guitar Build

Ive contacted my library and I have Melvyn Hiscocks book coming my way! I think for a first shot attempt just to know whats all going on, im going to buy a crappy strat, and just piece it apart and back together

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Great idea. That's how I started. You'll make mistakes along the way, that's normal, but ask advice from guys here on the forum and measure 10 times before you cut or drill anything.

Best of luck!