Prototype Guitar Build Started...

[GuitarGoat]

I recently decided to jump in and start this prototype. The design has been in the works for a few years now, I've just been putting building guitars on hold for a while. Might as well jump in and work out any bugs in the design now. I'm still finalizing the templates and methods with how it'll be put together. I can document that a little better if there's any interest...here goes.

I first started with gluing up a maple/mahogany/maple sandwich for a neck blank. After rough cutting the shape of the headstock angle and the back of the neck, I glued the pieces up, then ran over it with a plane to get it roughed in. I'll cut the final shape with either a router or planer in my drill press to get the dimensions correct...haven't decided on that yet.

Next, I want to rough the back of the body blank in to the shape. I used a 1/4" piece of MDF for the template, but will probably transfer to a thicker piece and thin some glue down and spread over the edges to harden the template if I end up making a few of these. The back is a one-piece blank of African Mahogany, 1-1/2" thick (note: I set it on my drill press for the picture, the work was not done with the Forstner bit there!

And then we have the body shape cut out with the template and a pattern-cutting drill bit:

Next, I need to glue the headstock "ears" on and cut the headstock to the final shape after getting the wood to the final thicknesses. Then cutting the truss rod channel and routing the body to glue on the top...

 

[grooveHT]

Thanks for sharing the process, looking forward to seeing how it comes out!

 

[rottingcorpse]

Sexy goat action going on here.

 

[GuitarGoat]

Thanks for sharing the process, looking forward to seeing how it comes out!

Me too! It's the prototype and I'd like to build some more, so I'm curious myself to make sure I'm approaching this one right. We'll see if it goes anywhere

Sexy goat action going on here.

Thanks brother

 

[GuitarGoat]

More progress made tonight. I know I talked about the neck before, but I changed my mind. First up, I used a heavy rasp and lighter file to carve in the belly cut on the back mahogany piece:

Why did I carve the belly cut before gluing up the top? I wanted to make sure when I got the final carve it wouldn't run into what the start of is pictured here:

Yes, that's pictured correctly...basically a full chambered guitar. The only points that will be solid will be the pickup routes, neck pocket, bridge and string-thru locations. This might be seen as sacrilege, but from my experience, it'll really help achieve the tone I'm looking to get for this build and the weight reduction will be awesome for a playability aspect. Stay tuned!

 

[GuitarGoat]

Got some time to work on this over the long weekend here. If there's no interest, I won't waste anyone's time with regular updates, just thought I'd share!

I completed a jig to route for the truss rod. Very simple, really, but that's all I want and need for a repeatable process. With the truss rod inserted:

Also finished up another template to clean up the the hollowing/clambering with a router (roughed it out earlier in the drill press/Forstner bit combo:

Mahogany body/back blank is now super light and almost ready for a maple top.

 

[mooncobra]

cool man, I would love to be able build my own guitar!!

 

[Steinmetzify]

In Jake! Subscribed, always wanted to do this. Someday when I have the space. Looking good so far!

 

[GuitarGoat]

In Jake! Subscribed, always wanted to do this. Someday when I have the space. Looking good so far!

Thanks Scott! Been kicking around this design for a while, finally decided to go for it. Definitely inspired by the PRS Hollowbody that I recently got