Want some maple for a neck?

Good job on that body mate. Looking very sexy.

I'm starting to think we have a unaknowledged genius here.

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No no and no

genius? Hardly!

I actually found a source very close by that has curly maple turning blanks. Although I've yet to decide on wether to do a set or bolt on neck. Much less what it will be made from (I'm thinking mahogany with an ebony board).

Next up is shaping the arch top, may well start that today.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

N'kay. Found time today to start the arched top contouring. First I marked out the topography of the arch:


Next step is to route each level of the arch starting on the outside edge with at 3/8" deep. Raising the router bit 1/8" sith each new tier.



After thats done, I get to spend some quality time with the sander!

4 Bud Lights and a whole sheet of sandpaper later this is what came out:






Next up is routing for controls and then a trip to the scales to check weight.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Remarkable work. Did you use a template/jig for the router or was that freehand?

I'm sticking by the genus remark and seeing if i can get to sippi on a false passport.

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No no and no

Great job all-thumbs! It's getting exciting!!

Thanks man!

I used a compass (That red contraption at the bottum of the last pic) to draw out the topography. Did the routing freehanded.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Freehand, remarkable, utterly remarkable.

I've spent the day drawing designs for neck jigs, working out headstock thickness and how to curve down from the fretboard to the headstock face. Long labourious work with nothing to show at the moment.

What do we get next? Neck through? Go on you know you can do it.

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No no and no

Seriously, I spent 2 days measuring this hunk of wood and comparing specs between the 2 designs from which it draws its inspiration. I just didnt take pictures that part.

The routing wasnt a huge deal. Since it had to be so heavily sanded dead straight lines were hardly needed.


I'm kind of still on the fence with the neck. I am still absorbing the process needed for set necks. But, I'm also tempted to use a slightly modified Wolfgang neck, which means bolt on. Either way, I'm not routing for that until I have a neck in hand.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

I have decided to go with a bolt on neck. Not just for ease, but because the shape of the top of the body has alot to do with the angle of a set neck. And since I didnt take that into account when shaping the body its likely to be more effort than its worth to get those angles back in line.


I did do some sanding and buffing today. I was curious to see how the wood color and grain would buff out so I could decide wether to order some quilted maple laminate or not. I'll wait and decide after I hear some opinions.











It doesnt have that polished marble look I was going for, but it was kind of a rush job. By no means the finished product.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

You couldnt pay me to put anymore than maybe a stain and light clearcoat on that mate.

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No no and no

Looks great bro. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

That's a damn fine job you have done with that hunk o wood. Is this your first shot at creating a guitar from scratch? If so that curved top is a mighty nice additional feature that you decided on for the first guitar. And an amazing job on her thus far! Most people would not even consider a curved top for a first project. Kudos!

I must say, I'm all in on this thread. Can't wait to see the progress as the guitar slowly starts to emerge from that piece of wood.

Are you using "Electric Guitar Construction" by Tom Hirst as a reference for this project? I just picked it up today and it's got my juices flowing. Now I'm thinking about a new project from scrap. I had plans for a partscaster, but after reading some of the book I am leaning more and more towards trying to do the body and neck myself. Your thread looks like it will keep me inspired!

Keep up the amazing work! I look forward to seeing each step of the process.

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2009 Fender Strat MIM
2002 Squire 20th Aniv. Strat
30 year old Les Paul copy which is currently in the process of being rebuilt.

ok, where is this thread? Or what is it titled so I can find it?

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2009 Fender Strat MIM
2002 Squire 20th Aniv. Strat
30 year old Les Paul copy which is currently in the process of being rebuilt.

I think the thread is this one:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=17948

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

That looks to be the one.

Thanks Bud!

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2009 Fender Strat MIM
2002 Squire 20th Aniv. Strat
30 year old Les Paul copy which is currently in the process of being rebuilt.