Learning how to build an electric guitar - Page 10

Griff · 01-06-2019, 08:00 PM

Not to get off track, but holy shit what a game!

Gravdigr · 01-06-2019, 08:44 PM

Really though!

My Bears lost, but damn that was a great game.

lumberjim · 01-06-2019, 08:50 PM

Double Doink!

After that great win, I went back out to the shop.

I glued the template to the body and set the router up with a 1/2" bit.

I couldn't reach about half of the pockets with the drill press, so I had to go slow on those.

This is the first pass with the short bit.

I progressed to 3/4 and 1" bits until I had 35mm depth including the 14mm template.

Took forever. Like 45 minutes.

But I am rewarded at the end of the day with this sight :

It took a bit of filing in the neck pocket corner and the heel of the neck, but it's snug as a bug

xoxoxoBruce · 01-06-2019, 10:58 PM

It's a milestone, looking like a guitar now.

Griff · 01-07-2019, 06:03 AM

Heh, he said body cavities.

Dang it is a guitar, we had our doubts.

lumberjim · 01-07-2019, 09:36 AM

i should have held off on that bridge pocket. Just realized. I went with the template, so it's probably ok, but I should have measured to see if the nut is 25.5" from the front edge. The variable is where I glued the fret board to the neck. The saddles adjust back and forth, and hopefully that is enough to correct the distance if I was high or low with that when I glued it on.....

lumberjim · 01-10-2019, 01:06 AM

I did some shaping of the body today. I cut to within 1/16 to1/4" around the perimeter of the body with the band saw. Then I set the drill press up as an oscillating spindle sander. That's the feature that made that the one I asked Santa for.

At 44 seconds, I show you a sand paper de-clogger. It's just a huge eraser, but it works a treat.

Next job was routing out the back cavity. That's where I'll mount a claw that gets hooked to 3 springs. The springs attach to the bottom of the tremolo block. This provides tension on the strings, as the strings go up through the block and over the bridge via the saddles then on to the tuning pegs. The idea is to balance the tension to where the back of the bridge plate floats 1/8" or so above the face of the guitar, so you can pull on the tremolo bar and bend the note upwards.

I've been resisting drilling holes in my template and guitar body, preferring the super glue trick. So to get the back lined up to match the front, I had to shape the body first so the template was easier to mount.

This pocket is 3/4" deep. The ones I did on the front are too. That's 1 1/2". The body is 1 3/4" thick, and they overlap, so you can't go too deep.

The right side has that elongated section. That's where I have to cut all the way through the body so the bridge can fit through.

lumberjim · 01-10-2019, 01:15 AM

To be able to rout a straight line on the left, I need to make a little jig. I used a piece of the left over plywood I made my bench out of because it's 3/4" thick. First I need a template to transfer the shape.

I cut the paper out with an exacto. Then tape that and trace on the plywood. Cut that out with the band saw.

Took me 2 tries. But with that in the large area and taped down, I routed the remaining 1/4" through to the front.

And we're through!

lumberjim · 01-10-2019, 01:23 AM

The bridge arrived

I'm about 3/8" long on the scale. This may be a problem.

I'm going to do a bit more research. I can probably come another 1/8-1/4" into the body with the neck, and shorten the heel the rest....

I will adapt and overcome. Or I'll do another neck and use this one for the next guitar. We shall see.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-10-2019, 07:18 PM

That drum sander attachment is pretty cool, I've never seen one.

lumberjim · 01-10-2019, 09:02 PM

I like it.

I talked to a couple guitar people and watched a couple more videos on bridge placement in my down time today, and I do need to fix that distance issue. There are a couple ways to correct it.

I could get longer screws for the saddles so they reach out farther. I could cut further into the body where the neck fits in. I could shorten the neck under the finger board.

The latter is what I'm planning to do. I looked at a few pics of guitars, and the fret board over hang is longer than what I have by a good 1/4", so it shouldn't even look weird. The high E needs to be 25.5" from nut to the break over point on the saddle with that saddle 1/8" from locked down in order to give the best intonation. I may have to be a bit further out with the saddle, but it should serve. Friday evening when I return from visiting Spencer, I'll get to it.

Then I think I need to poke holes in the head stock for the tuners. I need them installed in order to center the bridge before I drill holes in the body to mount the posts. Next Sunday, I'm going to visit Pete and get a fret install lesson.

Weeeeeee!

xoxoxoBruce · 01-10-2019, 10:32 PM

You mean you're putting visiting your boy ahead of keeping us entertained? Good for you, you've got your priorities straight.

Gravdigr · 01-11-2019, 10:50 AM

WTF?

It's like you people have lives, or something.

lumberjim · 01-11-2019, 05:21 PM

I think I fixed it.
I routed another 1/8" from the pocket

Then sanded an 1/8" from the heel with the drum sander set to let the finger board under while I reduced the heel.

The line is the end of the truss rod inside, so I wanted to make sure I didn't tear through.

The 3rd 1/8" I'll account for by extending the saddle screws.

lumberjim · 01-13-2019, 01:53 PM

Did some body sculpting this morning

I love this rasp

This is called the belly cut :

It's to keep the edge from digging into your belly.

Contour lines drawn on the face

01-06-2019, 08:00 PM	#136
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Not to get off track, but holy shit what a game! __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

01-06-2019, 08:44 PM	#137
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Really though! My Bears lost, but damn that was a great game. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

01-06-2019, 08:50 PM	#138
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	Double Doink! After that great win, I went back out to the shop. I glued the template to the body and set the router up with a 1/2" bit. I couldn't reach about half of the pockets with the drill press, so I had to go slow on those. This is the first pass with the short bit. I progressed to 3/4 and 1" bits until I had 35mm depth including the 14mm template. Took forever. Like 45 minutes. But I am rewarded at the end of the day with this sight : It took a bit of filing in the neck pocket corner and the heel of the neck, but it's snug as a bug __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan Last edited by lumberjim; 01-06-2019 at 09:58 PM.

01-06-2019, 10:58 PM	#139
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	It's a milestone, looking like a guitar now. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-07-2019, 06:03 AM	#140
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Heh, he said body cavities. Dang it is a guitar, we had our doubts. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

01-07-2019, 09:36 AM	#141
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	i should have held off on that bridge pocket. Just realized. I went with the template, so it's probably ok, but I should have measured to see if the nut is 25.5" from the front edge. The variable is where I glued the fret board to the neck. The saddles adjust back and forth, and hopefully that is enough to correct the distance if I was high or low with that when I glued it on..... __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

01-10-2019, 01:06 AM	#142
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I did some shaping of the body today. I cut to within 1/16 to1/4" around the perimeter of the body with the band saw. Then I set the drill press up as an oscillating spindle sander. That's the feature that made that the one I asked Santa for. At 44 seconds, I show you a sand paper de-clogger. It's just a huge eraser, but it works a treat. Next job was routing out the back cavity. That's where I'll mount a claw that gets hooked to 3 springs. The springs attach to the bottom of the tremolo block. This provides tension on the strings, as the strings go up through the block and over the bridge via the saddles then on to the tuning pegs. The idea is to balance the tension to where the back of the bridge plate floats 1/8" or so above the face of the guitar, so you can pull on the tremolo bar and bend the note upwards. I've been resisting drilling holes in my template and guitar body, preferring the super glue trick. So to get the back lined up to match the front, I had to shape the body first so the template was easier to mount. This pocket is 3/4" deep. The ones I did on the front are too. That's 1 1/2". The body is 1 3/4" thick, and they overlap, so you can't go too deep. The right side has that elongated section. That's where I have to cut all the way through the body so the bridge can fit through. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

01-10-2019, 01:15 AM	#143
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	To be able to rout a straight line on the left, I need to make a little jig. I used a piece of the left over plywood I made my bench out of because it's 3/4" thick. First I need a template to transfer the shape. I cut the paper out with an exacto. Then tape that and trace on the plywood. Cut that out with the band saw. Took me 2 tries. But with that in the large area and taped down, I routed the remaining 1/4" through to the front. And we're through! __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

01-10-2019, 01:23 AM	#144
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	The bridge arrived I'm about 3/8" long on the scale. This may be a problem. I'm going to do a bit more research. I can probably come another 1/8-1/4" into the body with the neck, and shorten the heel the rest.... I will adapt and overcome. Or I'll do another neck and use this one for the next guitar. We shall see. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan Last edited by lumberjim; 01-10-2019 at 01:36 AM.

01-10-2019, 07:18 PM	#145
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	That drum sander attachment is pretty cool, I've never seen one. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-10-2019, 09:02 PM	#146
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I like it. I talked to a couple guitar people and watched a couple more videos on bridge placement in my down time today, and I do need to fix that distance issue. There are a couple ways to correct it. I could get longer screws for the saddles so they reach out farther. I could cut further into the body where the neck fits in. I could shorten the neck under the finger board. The latter is what I'm planning to do. I looked at a few pics of guitars, and the fret board over hang is longer than what I have by a good 1/4", so it shouldn't even look weird. The high E needs to be 25.5" from nut to the break over point on the saddle with that saddle 1/8" from locked down in order to give the best intonation. I may have to be a bit further out with the saddle, but it should serve. Friday evening when I return from visiting Spencer, I'll get to it. Then I think I need to poke holes in the head stock for the tuners. I need them installed in order to center the bridge before I drill holes in the body to mount the posts. Next Sunday, I'm going to visit Pete and get a fret install lesson. Weeeeeee! __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

01-10-2019, 10:32 PM	#147
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	You mean you're putting visiting your boy ahead of keeping us entertained? Good for you, you've got your priorities straight. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-11-2019, 10:50 AM	#148
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	WTF? It's like you people have lives, or something. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

01-11-2019, 05:21 PM	#149
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I think I fixed it. I routed another 1/8" from the pocket Then sanded an 1/8" from the heel with the drum sander set to let the finger board under while I reduced the heel. The line is the end of the truss rod inside, so I wanted to make sure I didn't tear through. The 3rd 1/8" I'll account for by extending the saddle screws. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

01-13-2019, 01:53 PM	#150
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	Did some body sculpting this morning I love this rasp This is called the belly cut : It's to keep the edge from digging into your belly. Contour lines drawn on the face __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)