Make Your Own Electric Guitar & Bass

Make Your Own

Electric Guitar BNSn

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Dennis Waring and David Raymond with an i n t r o d u c t i o n to p l a y i n g by

Thomas R a n d a l l

Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

New York

Introduction 4 Guitars Tlirough the Ages

Electronics Compartment Cover Strings and Setup 48

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C o n s tru c tin g a S ix -S trin g G u ita r Tools and M a te ria ls 9 Explanation o l Tools 9 Jigs, Templates, and the Router 72 Wood Lore and Selection 72 Design C o n s id e ra tio n s and P re p a ra tio n Body Shape 13 Parts of the Guitar 14 Headstock Design 15 Neck Considerations 17 Neck/Body Connection Options 19 Neck/Body Angle 19 Bridge Types 20 Creating a Full-Size Pattern 22

73

The G uitar Body 24 Preparing Wood Stock 24 Making the Pickup/Neck Pocket Master Template 26 Routing Process for Pickups and Neck Pocket 27 Cutting and Shaping the Body 28 Routing the Flectronlcs Compartment 29 Bridge Placement 30 Net k Screw, Ferrule Holes, and Truss Rod Nut Channel 32 Carving the Body Contours 32 Neck Pickup W iring Holes 33 Nuck and H eadstock Wood Preparation 34 The Neck 35 The Headstock 37

34

The Fingerboard 39 Preparation 39 Cutting Fret Slots 40 Fingerboard Inlays 40 Gluing Fingerboard to Neck Fingerboard Arching 42 Installing Frets 43 Finishing Frets 44 Fingerboard Side Dots 45

F in is h in g 48 Sanding 49 Staining 49 Scaling Woods 50 Grain Filler 50 Topcoats 50 Rubbing Out and Polishing Finishing the Fingerboard Wax 57

47

51 51

C o n s tru c tin g a Bass G u ita r 52 The Neck 53 Truss Rod and Headstock 54 Fingerboard and Inlays 56 Installing Frets 57 The Body 57 Assembling the Body and Routing for Electronics Pickup Cavities 59 Body Roundover and Body Contours 59 Fretting 59 Prefinishing 60 Preassembly 60 Setup 60

58

A ppendix 67 Master Drawings for Guitar and Bass 61 Guitar Patterns 62 Bass Patterns 64 Playing the Electric Guitar and Bass 66 Electronics 77 W ood and Tone 89 Finishing Options 92 Tool Sharpening 93

41 Index

96

Assemblage 45 Fitting Neck to Body 45 Tuning Mechanisms 46 The Nut 46 Installing Pickups 46

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The guitar ts probably the most popular musical instrument In the world This remarkable device with its many variant forms, has crossed all geographical boundaries and Is now played In an enormous variety of cultural contexts. From African beats to heavy metal. Aslan pop to East Indian classical. Its ongoing adaptability seems limitless. In recent decades, the electrification of the guitar, especially In its solid-body form, and the dominance of American popular culture, have transformed musical sensibilities globally Offering nearly unlimited tonal variety, the electric guitar has become one of the most prominent instruments In jazz. pop. lock. and world music today. Although much has been written about the electric guitar and its construction, there remains a limited amount of practical material within reach o l the amateur woodworker This book emphasizes accessibility: a clear, methodical step-by-step process resulting in attractive, functional Instruments By using common woodworking tools, easy to order materials, and available resources lor finding electronic components and other hardware, this volume provides all die necessary Information lor the aspiring Instrument maker and those seeking a better understanding of the Instrument In addition lo instructions for building a standard 6-strtng solid body model guitar, there are directions for making an electric bass guitar. The guitar section contains detailed discussions ol major procedures common lo both guitar and bass. Options and references for further development and enhancement are found in the Appendix ol this book Electric guitars and basses .ire excellent vehicles lor creativity In both building and playing. Every aspect of their design Irom the shape to the electronics to the material they are made from, is open to tinkering, customization, or all-out revolution Solid-body electric Instruments represent a unique amalgamation, combining the oldest elements of musical Instrument making knowledge, a ‘ best-of selection from the history of electronics, stunning visual design and a capacity to incorporate new ideas. Throughout their short history, these instruments have benefited from the efforts of Innovators representing many diverse backgrounds ElecUtcal engineers, aerospace technicians, line woodworkers, artists and even those seeking cheaper means of mass-production have contributed enormously to the advancement of the electric guitar and bass The result is a unique opportunity for the builder's personal expression on many levels. One reason for the constant advancement of electric stringed Instrument design is the accessibility of the construction process While technology has made It more difficult lor the average person to tune their car or fix household appliances, not to mention build better versions of these items, electric guitars and basses of the highest quality continue to be built by Individuals In home workshops. These Instruments use relatively simple, traditional, and often old-fashioned technologies to generate sounds that continuously challenge and excite both players and listeners. People seeking lo enler this field today have access to resources that were undreamed ol a decade ago. A large variety of tools, hardware, electronics, and wood Is available Irom a number ol specialty suppliers, and the internet has brought a revolution In access to Information, Ideas, and experiences of instrument makers

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ali over the world. This unique combination ol new and old makes these Instruments among the most rewarding pursuits cH the creative technically-inclined individual. This book outlines the process of building an electric guitar and bass The Instruments are designed to illustrate the fundamentals ol etecirlr guitar and bass construction. Step-by-step procedures produce Instmments that are straightforward but o l high quality. While many ol the steps require {tauntingly precise operations, they are facilitated by the use of Jigs, patterns, and templates diat allow the patient, persistent beginner to produce professional results Our Instructions serve as an Introduction to the kinds of shop procedures and problem solving skills used by modem instrument makers. Tire two Instruments outlined in this book utilize a combination ol traditional and modem design features. They are capable o f a wide range ot musical styles, with versatile yet accessible electronics and construction details tlia t have been chosen to enhance tone and playability, However, the possibilities for designing your own guitar or bass are almost endless, and Ihe reader should teel tree to explore as many options as possible to build an instrument that tits personal needs. Tills book Includes advice on available woods, hardware, electronics, and possible design variations. Learning how these factors come together to produce a unique instrument is a fascinating process. You can enrich your own Instrument making experience in the following ways: 1. Read other books and periodicals about Instrument making, Goto your library Send away for lurther information Search televant web sites and chat rooms on the Internet 2. Play as many dltferent instruments as possible to familiarize yourself with their designs and leatures. Seek out the knowledge and opinions of players, salespeople, repairers, and builders whenever possible There is a great deal of knowledge available and you will find that people are happy to help when they heat that you are building your own instrument 3 Research the availability of building materials (wood, tuners, strings etc.}. Begin gathering materials early Collect relevant catalogues and send away lor hard-to-tind Items. Collecting materials may take some time and effort, but you will discover some good sources and make valuable connections in the process 4. Gather tools as you require them. There is no need to buy a set of chisels when you may use only one or two of them Be selective when buying some of the specialty gi/mos since they may be uselul only lo the produclion builder. When feasible make or improvise your own tools, jigs, and templates. 5 Alter studying the instructions and thinking through the options build patiently and consistently, one step at a time. 6 E-xpert to make some mistakes. They are part of Ihe creative process and otten lead to new and better methods.

Coupling a stretched suing to a volume of enclosed a ir-Ih e principle ol attaching a siring to a resonator-undoubtedly dates to prehistory. Over time, musk al bows, lyres, harps zilhers> and lutes o f all shapes and sizes formed a family tree of chordophones Members of the lute family of instruments which Includes guitars, feature a neck, body relationship: strings run from the body of the Instrument over a bridge, to the end of the neck Makers o l these early guilaMlke instruments utilized gourds trees, animal skins, plant fibers, and oilier natviral resources. Many ancient civilizations record lute Instrument types. From these wellsprings come the Creek bouzouki. Turkish saz Chinese p't pa Indian sitar. Russian balalaika. Hawaiian ukulele. African ngoni. American banjo, and hundreds o l other variant forms. Lore has It that the guitai w ith its familiar hourglass, figure-eight, walsted shape, was introduced to Spain by the Arabs. By the 14th