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Electric guitar plans???

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Forum topic by Bob Burrington posted 62 days ago 441 views 0 times favorited 9 replies Add to Favorites
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Bob Burrington

9 posts in 260 days


62 days ago

I have a student who wishes to build an electric guitar. Can anyone offer any help on where I can get a set of plans? A fellow teacher recalls that Popular Mechanics had a detailed set of plans for a “tele” style in a back issue from September 1990…I know there are kits available, and I will probably buy the neck and the pick ups, I need to find the body and finish techniques….

-- SAWDUST...Source of Fiber......Bob

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Chardt

124 posts in 138 days


62 days ago

I found the ibanez site to be extremely helpful. They have the wiring diagrams for every guitar they make. So just find the pickup/switch/knob configuration you want, and look for it.

As for guitar body construction, there are no hard and fast rules. You’ll want to shape it to be comfortable to play, and I always make sure it balances well on a strap. Otherwise they easily get ‘Neck heavy’ and will tilt down at an uncomfortable playing angle.

Oh, and be VERY careful when mounting the bridge. If you’re off a bit, you won’t be able to intonate it, making it impossible to keep it in tune.

Good luck!

-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.

View DaveH's profile

DaveH

274 posts in 315 days


62 days ago

Try Grizzly.com. They sell pretty much everything to build a guitar.

-- Dave Herron, Boise, ID -- “That which does not crash the browser, makes it stronger”

View spaids's profile

spaids

133 posts in 230 days


62 days ago

Its a little complicated compared to something like a box. If some one had “plans” it probably wouldn’t be enough information. Good sounding guitars (yes even electric) are often a combination of woods. Gibson uses Mahogany and Maple for the tone profile of a Les Paul. Theres a lot to learn when starting from scratch.

This book
will take you through more than you need to know.

-- Total Freakin Newbie

View ChasHutch's profile

ChasHutch

49 posts in 252 days


62 days ago

I just saw this gentleman’s profile on LJ…

He seems to have a pretty good handle on guitar construction. Might me worth asking him. Although the book that spaids mentions above seems full of good info also.

Good luck.

-- Hutch - North Dallas, Tx - Safety First

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cassy

26 posts in 569 days


62 days ago

Bob ,you can try stew mac they have alot of free information and alot of products. Another place is dr-lex.be/guitar/ very interesting.Plans for making the body of a guitar are very hard to find most suggest using your own ideas,almost all are within 14×20 rectangular area. hope this helps.

-- dave montreal

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

8548 posts in 411 days


62 days ago

You can try the Musical Instrument Makers Forum, they have several plans.

-- Maplewood, MN

View Bob Burrington's profile

Bob Burrington

9 posts in 260 days


62 days ago

Thanks for the help. I now have sources to try and find one….and wouldn’t you know it, it needs to be LEFT HANDED…

-- SAWDUST...Source of Fiber......Bob

View Joey's profile

Joey

229 posts in 352 days


61 days ago

go to stewmac.com, they have everything you need.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

View tooldad's profile (online now)

tooldad

193 posts in 251 days


61 days ago

you must have a good group of self motivated kids. I teach HS shop in St Louis area, and there only a few that I would allow to do such a project. My rule of thumb is that I limit projects to ones that I have done in the past or at least have mastered the joinery techniques. As you well know, most of our job is problem solving and the kids want the answer to how to fix it now.

One of my students is that kind of student, very motivated, self learner. His first year was his jr year in shop last year. Now as a senior, he is taking my class 2 hrs during the day and wants to build the NYW garden bench just because of the challenges it provides. His neighbor has one, so he knows what the final outcome SHOULD be. He is also my tech student director for the school plays, (I am the tech theater sponsor at my school and I am in charge of building sets and running lights and sound during plays).

I am going to actually purchase treated pine and allow him to make a prototype first without charging him. I am banking that one of the staff members will cover the $100 cost. I am actually going to do an email auction when he is done, hopefully kind of a mini fundraiser. I am basing this hope from the fact that last year we sold 72 adirondack chairs to staff members, and they are already asking when we are making them again.

We use the ad chairs as an assembly line project. They cost about $40 each using treated pine and stainless steel screws. Last year we sold them for $50 to the teachers and $40 to the students’ parents. This year price goes up $10. A few mistakes were made, so we broke even. Hoping to make $500 -$1000 to cover cost of a foreman pocket hole machine

Try the ad chair project. It has been a big hit at my school. Email me at lumber@tooldad.com for more info. We used the NYW plan which is also same as rockler plan, which came with a video and cardboard templates which I transfered to hardboard.

Have fun.

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