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Mateyboy
(@mateyboy)
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Hello all, I'm fairly new to this community.

I've attempted to build a few guitars over the last couple of years and made many mistakes and this means they are usually unplayable! So I'm a pretty useless guitar builder!!! Generally just making it up as I go along. :-/

So I've watched all of the design/electric build courses and I'm going to document how I get on, just started making the jigs, patterns and cauls. I'll find a nice place online and get building/documenting.


   
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mark bailey
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Cheers @mateyboy - It would be great if you could start a build thread here too !

 

 

Measure twice, cut once...


   
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Mateyboy
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@markbailey

I am happy to post the entire 'blog' here and not to the wider Internet? I find that when I write stuff down it makes me do things better... weird but that's what I am like! 🙂


   
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Mateyboy
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I've had a go at making guitars in the past, but they generally turn out bad. In fact bad is giving them too much praise. I've made so many mistakes there isn't enough disk space on all the servers on the Internet to list them. None of the guitars I have made have been playable. When it comes to making guitars I am pretty rubbish!

But, guess what? I enjoy doing it so I'm not giving up. I've decided to start another build. This time I'm not going to rush it, I'm gong to take my time and I'm going to do it right (I hope)!

I've watched all the videos and I've recognised at least 40 mistakes I've made in the past... what could go wrong?

I've also watched the 'Design Your Own Guitar' course. So here it is...

Design

It's going to be slow going; I am currently finishing my Masters Degree in Advanced IP Networking, I have 6 months left. Once that is complete I'll have a bit more time.

Every step of the way I will be watching the course videos. there will be mistakes but I'm determined to have a complete guitar by the end of it!


   
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Mateyboy
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Yesterday I made the neck heel angle jig.

Heel Angle Jig

I've never made one of these before and angling the heel of a guitar neck is one of the top mistakes I've made in the past. The next jig will be the headstock angle jig.


   
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mark bailey
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Great start - Thanks for sharing - wonderful to see!

Measure twice, cut once...


   
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Mateyboy
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Made the headstock angle jig today. I figured that I am only using it to clamp the neck and route the headstock angle so I made it a little bit shorter.

Headstock Angle Jig

Fretboard caul next.


   
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cardiffborn
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Hi and welcome from the Shed in the rain.

I found that the making of all the necessary bits stoped me from jumping in at the deep end with both feet. I finished my first acoustic build recently and couldn't have done it without the Videos and support from everyone. Taking it slowly is a good idea. I followed Mark's instructions to the letter (and made a few mistakes on the way) and I have a guitar that plays well, sounds good and has all the appropriate notes in the right place.

Actually, going wrong is part of the course, I think.

good luck


   
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Mateyboy
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@jonathan-auckland

Thanks for the advice. In the past I've made it up as I've went along so I'm hoping by planning things out and following the videos I will be a bit more successful. I don't mind making mistakes, that's how I learn.

 

Should of said, the bit I dread the most is carving the neck! ?

This post was modified 4 years ago by Mateyboy

   
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Mateyboy
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Quickly made a neck caul. I used cork for the strips, hopefully this should work nicely.

Neck Caul

I'm going to make the patterns next: Body, headstock, humbucker cavity and control cavity.

This post was modified 4 years ago by Mateyboy

   
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Mateyboy
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Humbucker, body, control cavity, neck taper and headstock patterns.

Hum and Headstock Patterns
Control Cavity Pattern
Body Pattern
Neck Taper Pattern

Almost ready to do some real making! Woot!

 

Update: 22/10/19 - finished making the patterns, jigs and cauls. Need to purchase all the gear next. 🙂

This post was modified 4 years ago 4 times by Mateyboy

   
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Mateyboy
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Ordered the kit from this site. I have an exam tomorrow (digital forensics) and then I can start thinking about a plan for building. Can't say I'm going to miss working with MDF - horrible stuff!!!


   
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Mateyboy
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Made the router baseplate, patted myself on the back then realised there's no hole for the router cutter! Doh! Easily fixed but still funny! 😀

Router

   
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Mateyboy
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I made a slow start today (don't want to rush the job and make a mess). I routed the truss rod channel and surface routed the neck angle. 🙂

TrussRodRout
Truss Channel
NeckReadyForCut

Will cut the neck out tomorrow.

This post was modified 4 years ago by Mateyboy

   
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Bill Flude
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Keep going - I’m probably a week behind you.......

Measure once........
Measure again.........
Sod it - make tea!


   
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Bill Flude
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But I have already got a hole in my router base!

Measure once........
Measure again.........
Sod it - make tea!


   
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Mateyboy
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@frocesterbill

Haha, yeah I have one now, and it came in really useful! ?


   
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Mateyboy
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Cut the neck on the bandsaw and glued some ears on this evening.

837F26EF 4695 4FC2 A206 84D5726533DF

   
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Bill Flude
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Looking good!

Measure once........
Measure again.........
Sod it - make tea!


   
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mark bailey
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You are doing Great! Thanks for sharing the pics - hope the exam went well!

Measure twice, cut once...


   
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