Tips for a virgin electric builder.

[dougmurray85]

Hi Guys,

I hope with my tax return to start my very first guitar build. I'll be utilising the resources and skills from the very talented woodworking club that operates near me for guidance, as well as this forum.

I have been meticulously designing my axe with CAD software to analyse the dimensions. I have to describe in both inches and millimeters as some parts/tools are from the US



What we have here is an 8 string, 30" scale, 30mm thick very pointy V with a fender-style non-angled headstock and dual trussrods. The bride is 8 individual Hipshot solos, the tuners, 8 Grover mini locking rotomatics and Dunlop 6100 fret wire for shredding. The choice of pickup and nut will be decided later. It will probably be a bolt on, but I may be convinced to do neck through.

There will be a cavity in the bottom wing for the addition of counterweights, to prevent neck dive, and I will also be adding a fibreoptic side dot illumination system to the fretboard, no front dots.

Wingtip distance is 400mm and if the body is to be bolt on the body length from between the wingtips is just shy of 554mm. If you continued the outer angles of the wings they meet at the centre of the 12th fret for a distance of 650mm. Inner wing union is 230mm.

My big question is about woods for this beast. My goal is to use ethically sourced timber and ideally I only want to have an oil finish and price comes way before tone.

For accuracy of fret slotting I'll be investing in a Stewmac fret slotting miter box kit with appropriate fret template.

Lay it on me guys

[dougmurray85]

Forgot to add it will have a 16" radius

[Woodsy23]

My first electric guitar build was a through-neck made from Tasmanian Blackwood. With a through-neck, the timber pieces are smaller and could be obtained from a specialty timber supplier. You can also get nicely figured Blackwood which would suit an oil finish.

Good luck with your build.

[slowlearner]

I've built a few instruments now, all out of aussie timbers. Blackwood is nice.

A few timbers that are easier to find and not so exy... Tassie Oak (Vic ash is the same timber), Silky oak (if you can find it), Qld maple, Kauri pine, Jarrah. Tas oak is good for necks and is often cut on the quarter. Tas oak and Jarrah make great fingerboards.

I'd talk to your local timber yard and see what they stock. Where abouts are you?

[dougmurray85]

I'm in Newcastle NSW

[jeffhigh]

30mm thick is a bit light on for fitting in pickups and electronics and also to have enough to bolt a neck onto.

[DarwinStrings]

Welcome to the forum Doug, don't worry too much cause once you finish that guitar and get it on stage you are bound to lose your virginity, just take your time, be yourself and it will happen.

Jim

[dougmurray85]

the 30mm came from the 1.25" description from some Gibson flying V blueprints.

*Googles a tele blueprint*

A whole 0.5" thicker

[Woodsy23]

A drawing I have of a Flying V shows the body thickness as 35mm. That is also the thickness of a Gibson SG so pickups will fit. You will need to get an L-shaped pickup selector switch to fit within that depth.

[simso]

This is the drawing of the one I last did, it was 31.75mm thick, which is inch and a quarter

[dougmurray85]

Pretty sure I won't need a pickup selector with only a single bridge pickup

[Wayde Christie]

Douggie!

Stoked to see you on here mate

I've been building acoustics for a couple of years now, so I'd love to catch up and talk guitars with you over a beer if you'd like.

Wayde.

[Wayde Christie]

Would you consider an Evertune bridge?

http://www.evertune.com/store/

[dougmurray85]

Beers sound like a plan \m/

The whole point of my choice of bridge is to not have to string it through the body. The solos are almost $300 when shipping is included.

Kahlers, Floyds and Strandbergs are significantly more expensive

Anyone else have suggestions for possible top loading bridges?

[Nick]

Stewmac do a top loading bridge. Cannot comment on the quality of these but I do know the Golden age pickups are of comparable quality to the major manufacturers. They do this one also but the quality of the saddles doesn't look that good to me .
I've also found guitarheads do that original bridge but they are available in black and gold also from them.

[dougmurray85]

Top loading 8 string bridge or individual bridges that can be lined up in a battery

[needsmorecowbel]

If you went down the 6 string path I'd recommend Schaller Roller bridges

Very solid/ sturdy for $80 US, Pretty sure they are German made

http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Par ... ridge.html

[dougmurray85]

This is a definite 8 string build.

[Nick]

Apologies Doug, should have read your initial post properly! Didn't remember it was an eight string build when I posted my links.
I notice Hipshot do the individual saddle/anchor type bridge but along with the Hannes are probably more expensive than the 3 hundy you've already sourced.

[dougmurray85]

Anyone had dealings with this company?

http://www.australiansustainabletimbers ... rCuts.html

[nnickusa]

Haven't had any direct experience with them, but most of the timbers they sell are available from your local timberyard. MOST timber in Australia is selectively felled these days, and therefor, "sustainable" in a certain definition.

I read your desire to make an electric, and I can caution you that the majority of the timbers they list are HEAVY......and, not, to my eye, particularly attractive....Silky Oak(Grevillia robusta) is a nice looker, and not too heavy, ditto for New Guinea Rosewood.....

Simso has nice mahogany on eBay for pretty reasonable prices.


Watching your future progress with interest....

[dougmurray85]

The look of the timber is also relatively secondary to tone to a degree. I prefer consistent colour and grain. Price and suitability for instrument making are the two main factors.

[dougmurray85]

Just in case you cant see the V in the original post

[nnickusa]

Just to throw a hand grenade onto a bon fire, I'll state my opinion that the timber contributes very little -- if anything at all-- to the tone of an electric guitar. Your electronics and the signal path are the determinators of what an electric sounds like.

There! I said it, and I'm not taking it back.....

Seriously, when I build electrics, I pick timber that has the look I want, and don't think they suffer for it....

Still interested to see what you end up with....

[dougmurray85]

I actually agree with you there Nick.

The electronics and amplification are the main determinants of an electric's sound. Woods and construction can assist with sustain though. Unlike an acoustic there is little body resonance in an electric and stiffer timbers will not absorb vibration as easily.

The pickup I have decided upon is the Lace Deathbar 4.0
http://www.lacemusic.com/Deathbar.php

What timbers do you suggest?