M/O for assembling a guitar

[MetalManiac]

Sometimes I am motivated by getting a certain great body or neck , usually for Tele or Strats. Many times, if not most times, it begins s with a single pickup in the case of humbuckers, or a set usually for Strats. The pickup being the voice of the instrument, one you know what that voice can be, then you can construct an entire guitar around that, given you have a grasp of few basic tone parameters consistent with what tonewoods could be optimal for the build.

You are always money ahead, given that the parts you begin with, in particular the neck, are suited to your playing style, although its not hard to tank a build money -wise if you aren't careful.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: M/O for assembling a guitar

My few builds and all of my mods start with a combination of pickups I want to hear on a certain platform. I couldn't possibly agree with you more concerning the all important neck.

I have decided to really hone in on it to build a specification for exactly what I want, and I believe Tommy at USAGC can exceed my expectations in the build. What I've noticed in the last few guitars I've bought is that the fretboard width at the nut is critical for me as I have small hands and still play some open chords. Fender's 9-1/2" MIM radius fits me like a glove as far as that parameter is concerned. And I just bought a nice digital caliper so I can take measurements for the other critical dimensions ... nut width included.

For the pure pleasure of playing what is there besides tone and feel? The neck is extrememly important.

So is Ketel One.

 

[Aku Tonklips]

Re: M/O for assembling a guitar

I started a build with a donor guitar, a blacked out basswood Squire Bullet with an H/H 3 way. I changed almost nothing except a body and neck shape and a few pieces of electronics. This is the result: 5-way making cool but strange sounds (bridge humbucker and the rest all single coil) , 1 meg pot as tone pot to make the guitar sound like any guitar pickup configuration (it was a volume but I messed it up recently), jack in the second tone position allowing a brass cover to hide a battery for some onboard lights, and a black painted fretboard with no inlays that had paint put in them. Not particulary caring on what happens to the body paint because I wish to relic it. I did do some tremolo work so that 5 springs would hold the bridge to make it a hybrid hardtail. A few close ups.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: M/O for assembling a guitar

The previous post explains everything.

 

[Guitaraxz]

Re: M/O for assembling a guitar

Well it depends, if it is for me I'll hear the sound in my head and the feel in my hands and work from there. I always do the neck first, IMO it is esencial, it must be comfortable, VERY comfortable. The frets must be perfectly leveled and crowned. Then I'll use the woods and pups acording to the sound I have in my head.

But if it's for someone else I have to listen to what they want and do it, even if I don't like the idea. But I may change some details, for instance this guy asked for a birds eye maple top and korina body. I thought there wasn't enough contrast and added a page of dark veneer between the two woods. You can see it in the pic.