I'm making guitar number 7

axisus · July 2023

After a long layoff from making guitars, but with three others 'sort of' on the go, I have decided to put them all aside and make another guitar.

I was inspired by a video I saw of a strat with two P90s. I've been wanting another strat shaped guitar as I only have the one (but 3 Tele's). So as usual I have done a Photoshop mock-up (below).

As usual, it will have an aged look. It's not for everyone, but I just prefer aged guitars. The top will be flat, with an f-hole (just a very slight round-over edge). Colour Surf green.

Pearloid off white scratchplate.

I'm a fan of reversed headstocks, they kind of look beautifully wrong to me. This is a strange one for me though in that I want a bigger 70s style headstock. I have always hated them, but it somehow seems right for this.

MOP dot inlays, 22 frets. Neck stained maple, fretboard Bog oak.

P90s from Alegree, not sure which ones yet.

The bridge I was going to use an aged Wilkinson trem that I have spare, but .... I also have a spare Fishman Powertrem that has been in my parts box for many years. I'm a fan of the piezo sound (not everyone is!) and I don't have a guitar with piezo these days. The downsides are - 1 it looks too new, and 2) it's two point. I think I'm gonna go with it though. (unless anyone has a 6 screw one and wants a swap!)

I was thinking 1 vol 1 tone, but with the piezo I'll probably have just 2 volume knobs. Over the years I have virtually stopped using tone knobs so I can easily live without one.

Well, that's the rough spec, and this is the look

Andyjr1515 · July 2023

Excellent - watching with interest

axisus · July 2023

Andyjr1515 said:

Excellent - watching with interest

I don't make guitars to your standard of course! (but they are good enough for me ...)

HilditchGuitars · July 2023

Sounds like fun. Did you find a plain top solution?
I've only done one fretboard in Bog Oak and it was a royal pain in the arse. Could just be an isolated incident but I've not gone there again since lol.
I can't bring myself to make a beaten up guitar, but I do like the sense of relaxation when working on them, knowing that I don't have to be quite as careful as usual

breakstuff · July 2023

Like the look of that. Look forward to the updates.

axisus · July 2023

@HilditchGuitars You didn't like working with Bog oak? I LOVE it for fretboards, firstly it is dark and I like dark fretboards, also the grain gives it a 'worn in' look, perfect for aged guitars. I had no probs with sanding etc.

Plain top, I'm getting one from one of the suggestions in the thread. Good advice around here!

HilditchGuitars · July 2023

@axisus yeah I saw the thread but had nothing to add that hadn't already been suggested. I had some off cuts that would have been perfect, you could have had them gratis, but I must have used them as I couldn't find them.

I must have had a rubbish piece as it was unstable with the frets. Maybe I'll try again one day then, but I'm working through a pile of Ebony atm. I too, am a fiend for dark boards

Wazmeister · July 2023

I so admire that you can make a geetar... looking forward to watch this thread as it grows

BigMonka · July 2023

That mock-up looks awesome - really unique whilst also having a nice sense of familiarity.

rze99 · July 2023

I built a whole bunch over a number of years and got to 25.... I've kept 20 of them. They are my babies. It's mad. I stopped when my wife said "I didn't mind until they ended up in too many rooms" Fair point. so I'm not making now but really have a couple of cool projects in mind.

axisus · July 2023

OK so first off I made a 70s style headstock as I don't have one.

Being a numpty, I didn't check the MDF thickness, and it didn't match my template! It wasn't as thick, so job no 2 was to make a very rough spacer.

axisus · July 2023

Neck marked out in my office (AKA the very small utility room). I'm not the tidiest of people ...

Next I moved into my high tech workshop (AKA the back yard) and routed the truss rod channel.

axisus · July 2023

It fits! I did bugger up a bit, but it won't affect anything and won't be seen. Building a guitar - the art of recovering from your mistakes ...

Took the thickness of the fretboard down a few mm

axisus · July 2023

Last job for now, routed the basic neck shape

and headstock.

So, officially up and running!

hollywoodrox · July 2023

axisus said:

After a long layoff from making guitars, but with three others 'sort of' on the go, I have decided to put them all aside and make another guitar.

I was inspired by a video I saw of a strat with two P90s. I've been wanting another strat shaped guitar as I only have the one (but 3 Tele's). So as usual I have done a Photoshop mock-up (below).

As usual, it will have an aged look. It's not for everyone, but I just prefer aged guitars. The top will be flat, with an f-hole (just a very slight round-over edge). Colour Surf green.

Pearloid off white scratchplate.

I'm a fan of reversed headstocks, they kind of look beautifully wrong to me. This is a strange one for me though in that I want a bigger 70s style headstock. I have always hated them, but it somehow seems right for this.

MOP dot inlays, 22 frets. Neck stained maple, fretboard Bog oak.

P90s from Alegree, not sure which ones yet.

The bridge I was going to use an aged Wilkinson trem that I have spare, but .... I also have a spare Fishman Powertrem that has been in my parts box for many years. I'm a fan of the piezo sound (not everyone is!) and I don't have a guitar with piezo these days. The downsides are - 1 it looks too new, and 2) it's two point. I think I'm gonna go with it though. (unless anyone has a 6 screw one and wants a swap!)

I was thinking 1 vol 1 tone, but with the piezo I'll probably have just 2 volume knobs. Over the years I have virtually stopped using tone knobs so I can easily live without one.

Well, that's the rough spec, and this is the look

Surf green relic rules

TTony · July 2023

axisus · July 2023

Fretboard marked out

cutting fret slots

edging fretboard

Test fit onto neck

PeteC · July 2023

Looking great. Build threads are the best and this is going to be a good one

the piezo is interesting - i will be watching with interest

axisus · July 2023

Drilling tuner holes with a template I made a few years ago

I'm also making a new tuners template. I can get a better fit with a two-size hole, so it will be a smaller hole from the back.

axisus · July 2023

Gluing the body blanks together.

Fret marker holes drilled

Fret markers installed

axisus · August 2023

Planing the body wood flat. Prior to this I used a surfacing bit in my router to take the overall thickness down.

Body marked out using the centreline

And off to my dad's to trim as I don't have a bandsaw

Finally did the basic work on headstock transition.

PeteC · August 2023

Good progress -
shaping up very well !

richman6100 · August 2023

Following this with real interest @axisus, looks like a great project. Love build threads and I'm in awe of you guys who can build guitars from scratch. Keep the photos coming. :-)

SteveF · August 2023

Looks good. Can't wait to see this one.

I'm interested in how you did the truss access. I'm going to have to drill a hole once I have done the transition and hope I do it in the right place but your way looks much more reliable.

DiscoStu · August 2023

axisus said:

Fuck yeah!

axisus · August 2023

SteveF said:

Looks good. Can't wait to see this one.

I'm interested in how you did the truss access. I'm going to have to drill a hole once I have done the transition and hope I do it in the right place but your way looks much more reliable.

Once I have taken the headstock down to the right depth I just rout the truss rod channel all the way out. This means that I can check the rod is in the right place before glueing the fretboard on.