Needed measurements for guitar body

StratFreak

StratFreak

New member
As a final project in shop class we have a choice on a piece, so with all the machines and supplies, i obviously jumped to the idea of a guitar body. It'll probably be a month until then but I really wanna start planning for fun!

I was thinking of either a LP or Tele style guitar, but im open to other ideas!

Now most importantly, does anyone have a PDF or image of entire measurements of an electric guitar body ? Send any body type :)

Tips, tooling, machining, ideas, etc are welcome :)
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

Grab a template. If you've not built a body before I recommend a Tele over an LP. You can grab a Ron Kirn Tele template of eBay pretty cheap.

PM me your email. I have a few sets of plans for various build I can dig up.
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

I was thinking of either a LP or Tele style guitar, but im open to other ideas!
Click to expand...
TDPRI has just such a thread here.

That said, you have some decisions to make for the body.
Bolt or set neck?
If bolt neck, Tele or Strat route?

What kind of bridge?
Tele(single, humbucker, P90) top-loader or string-thru, TOM with stopbar, TOM with string-thru, Strat hardtail, wraparound or tremolo?
If tremolo, FR, Bigsby, Strat 6-screw or Strat 2-pole?

Some bridge styles will require either an angled neck pocket or a recessed bridge.

What scale?
This will determine the location of your bridge.

Number of pickups.
Multiple pickups and type will help determine location as will the number of frets/length of fretboard.

Controls?
Control route on the top or on the back?
Strat or Tele style top route?
Output jack on the top or on the side?
Number of controls. This will be determined by the number of pickups.
I'd recommend something simple to begin with.

Those are the necessary basics.
The body shape is an esthetic/comfort thing.

The only other important decision is wood selection and whether it's going to have a top or not.
Warmoth has good info on wood selection as does this article by Frank Falbo.

The Warmoth guitar body builder is a good place to start playing around.

To make things simple, I'd suggest a bolt neck using a Mighty Mite neck.
This would make it a 25.5" scale build.
You can get these on eBay for under $100 new at any time.

I've got a book that demonstrates a simple starter build like this and includes full plans that can be used to make a copy of that guitar.
It's called Build Your Own Electric Guitar.
Pretty straight forward. lol
 
Last edited:
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

jacksontrader said:
MojoMonster is the teacher, maybe????? LOL, If not he should be.
Click to expand...
:)
Nah, just recall doing this not long ago.
Spreading the love.

I wish I'd have had the wherewithal to make a guitar in my high school shop class.
That woulda been awesome.
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

This is actually an extraordinarily good illustration of how the growth of the internet has affected the youth of today.


In my high school shop class, we all made a stool or an end table or something. Same tools you'd use to build a guitar, but we had no idea you could find plans for a guitar, and if you could find them, they'd probably be expensive.

These days you can google "guitar blueprints" and boom, D size PDFs, ready to print.
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

MojoMonster said:
TDPRI has just such a thread here.

That said, you have some decisions to make for the body.
Bolt or set neck?
If bolt neck, Tele or Strat route?

What kind of bridge?
Tele(single, humbucker, P90) top-loader or string-thru, TOM with stopbar, TOM with string-thru, Strat hardtail, wraparound or tremolo?
If tremolo, FR, Bigsby, Strat 6-screw or Strat 2-pole?

Some bridge styles will require either an angled neck pocket or a recessed bridge.

What scale?
This will determine the location of your bridge.

Number of pickups.
Multiple pickups and type will help determine location as will the number of frets/length of fretboard.

Controls?
Control route on the top or on the back?
Strat or Tele style top route?
Output jack on the top or on the side?
Number of controls. This will be determined by the number of pickups.
I'd recommend something simple to begin with.

Those are the necessary basics.
The body shape is an esthetic/comfort thing.

The only other important decision is wood selection and whether it's going to have a top or not.
Warmoth has good info on wood selection as does this article by Frank Falbo.

The Warmoth guitar body builder is a good place to start playing around.

To make things simple, I'd suggest a bolt neck using a Mighty Mite neck.
This would make it a 25.5" scale build.
You can get these on eBay for under $100 new at any time.

I've got a book that demonstrates a simple starter build like this and includes full plans that can be used to make a copy of that guitar.
It's called Build Your Own Electric Guitar.
Pretty straight forward. lol
Click to expand...
Thanks a hell of a lot, man!

I was thinking: bolt on, 25.5 inch scale, single bridge wood mounted bucker, single volume, hardtail strat bridge, back routed, side input jack.
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

i sent again, it says message sent, but then my sent message folder is at 0. :/
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

StratFreak said:
Thanks a hell of a lot, man!
Click to expand...
Not a problem. :)

I was thinking: bolt on, 25.5 inch scale, single bridge wood mounted bucker, single volume, hardtail strat bridge, back routed, side input jack.
Click to expand...
Nice.
You should start reading up on as much of the process as you can, now, before you start.
Live by the adage "measure twice, cut once".
In fact, "measure 20 times, cut once" is probably a better adage when it comes to luthiering. lol

Things to be aware of.
Learn to use a router properly.
Learn about "routing downhill" to avoid tearout.
Power sanders can remove more wood than you think before you can think.
Patience.

Parts come in two measurement types, metric and US.
Pick one and stick with it.

There's a reason that most guitars are made from the same woods over and over.
Be aware that if you pick some kind of exotic wood, you may run into issues with construction, weight and/or finish.
Do your research.
While you can have fun with the shape, since this is your first build, be dull and conservative when it comes to the important stuff.

Look around a bit, but GFS (Guitar Fetish) has inexpensive, useable hardware and pickups.

More than anything, read, read and read some more.
Oh, and practice, practice, practice.
You don't wanna be a complete noob with power tools when you start your project.

And lastly, don't be afraid to ask questions.
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

MojoMonster said:
Not a problem. :)


Nice.
You should start reading up on as much of the process as you can, now, before you start.
Live by the adage "measure twice, cut once".
In fact, "measure 20 times, cut once" is probably a better adage when it comes to luthiering. lol

Things to be aware of.
Learn to use a router properly.
Learn about "routing downhill" to avoid tearout.
Power sanders can remove more wood than you think before you can think.
Patience.

Parts come in two measurement types, metric and US.
Pick one and stick with it.

There's a reason that most guitars are made from the same woods over and over.
Be aware that if you pick some kind of exotic wood, you may run into issues with construction, weight and/or finish.
Do your research.
While you can have fun with the shape, since this is your first build, be dull and conservative when it comes to the important stuff.

Look around a bit, but GFS (Guitar Fetish) has inexpensive, useable hardware and pickups.

More than anything, read, read and read some more.
Oh, and practice, practice, practice.
You don't wanna be a complete noob with power tools when you start your project.

And lastly, don't be afraid to ask questions.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info !! I still have a lot of time to learn all this, so i'll start reading slowly!
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

For a first guitar keep it simple . I vote tele. If you really want to do a LP do a Jr. Have Fun, and enjoy it dont rush. :) be patient and you will see the results. If in doubt ask questions even if they seem very silly.
 
Re: Needed measurements for guitar body

Jocelyn said:
For a first guitar keep it simple . I vote tele. If you really want to do a LP do a Jr. Have Fun, and enjoy it dont rush. :) be patient and you will see the results. If in doubt ask questions even if they seem very silly.
Click to expand...

Sounds good :D
 
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