How to copy a guitar body

How to copy a guitar body

This article explains how to copy a guitar body. There are many different ways to make a guitar, but one of the most common is to build it from scratch. In order to build a guitar from scratch, you need wood, strings, and hardware. This can be difficult for someone without experience. That’s why this guide will help you with how to copy a guitar body step-by-step. Along the way, we’ll provide tips on what tools you’ll need and how best to use them. With these instructions and your own creativity, you’ll be able to create your very own acoustic or electric guitar.

Related Article: How to Lighten A Guitar Body

Tools You’ll Need

Tools you’ll need while building a guitar:

-Ruler

-Pencil

-Sandpaper

-Electric drill and bits

-Block of wood to use as a work surface

Preparing the Body

There are many woods to choose from, but the most popular is alder. If you’re not looking for something too heavy or durable, poplar or spruce can be a good choice. You can also use old guitar bodies or any other wood available if you want to create a custom-made guitar body.

Before you start assembling the body, you need to cut your wood. This will depend on how thick it is and the design of the guitar you’re creating. For this guide we’ll cover cutting 1/8″ thick material as an example.

Cutting the Necks

The first thing you should do is cut the necks. The wood you use should be pine, and should be about 1 1/2″ wide and as long as your guitar body is wide. You should then cut a 45-degree angle on one end of each neck. Next, you need to cut the headstock off of the neck–this will be the part that attaches to the tuning pegs at the end of your guitar. Then, drill a hole for each tuning peg with a 5/8″ drill bit.

 Finally, sand down any rough edges with 220 grit sandpaper.

Drilling Holes in the Body

The first thing you’ll need to do is drill the holes in the body. For this, you’ll need your jig saw and a drill bit that will fit into it.

1) Take your wooden body and trace the outline of a guitar on it.

2) Cut out the shape with a jigsaw.

3) Lay the guitar’s outline on a piece of plywood that has been cut to size for a back. Trace around it, then cut out the shape with a jigsaw.

4) Drill 3 holes in each end of both pieces of wood, one at ¼” from edge, one at 1″ from edge, and one at 1¾” from edge. These will be where you attach strings to your guitar later on.

See also  Do Speakers get Hot

The Neck Joint

The neck joint is an important step in building your guitar. To attach the neck, you’ll need to drill a hole into the side of your body. The thickness of this hole should be about 1/2 an inch. After you drill the hole, use a chisel and a hammer to cut away any excess space from inside the hole. You can then put an insert in there to reinforce it so that it doesn’t crack or break from being under a lot of pressure.

Finishing Touches and Adding Hardware

When you finish building your guitar body, it’s time to add the hardware. Hardware refers to all of the metal components that allow your guitar to function. These include the bridge pins, nuts, machine heads, strap buttons, and tuners. After adding hardware, it’s time for the finishing touches! These are steps you can take after you finish building your body that will give your guitar a personal touch. You can add decorative inlay work or custom paint jobs. You might also want to consider adding a pick guard or other small details to make your guitar unique.

Cutting the Parts

The cutting of the parts is an essential step in the process. Don’t worry, it isn’t too complicated. The first thing you need to do is cut the two sides, two long pieces for the back and four shorter pieces for the sides. Make sure to measure your guitar before you cut anything! This will ensure that everything will fit nicely together. You can use a handsaw or a table saw for this step.

Cut the two sides of the guitar body

The first step is to cut the two sides of the guitar body. This is done by cutting a six inch wide, 20 inch long piece of wood in half with a table saw. One side will have five inches on one side and twenty inches on the other, while the other side will have five inches on both sides. These are called the “sides” of the guitar body because they are what holds up the rest of the guitar.

Cut the neck

The first thing to do is cut the neck. Lay the board on a worktable and use a compass to draw an arc that will be your guitar neck. Now use a jigsaw to cut around this shape, making sure not to go past the line. You should now have a rough guitar neck that has been cut out of the board. Use sandpaper and a belt sander to smooth out the edges of your guitar neck if needed.

See also  How to wire a guitar blend pot

Cut the head stock

To start, we need to cut the headstock. The headstock can be tricky because there are so many little pieces that go into it. We recommend cutting two boards for this step and then using a jig saw to cut them down to size. A jig saw is a great tool to use when cutting tight corners and making very precise cuts.

Once you’ve cut your boards, apply glue to one of the boards and set it aside. This will be the top board of the head stock, so make sure it doesn’t get glued to anything else! Next, apply glue to the second board and attach it flush with the first board. Make sure you line up the edges as well as possible before applying any pressure or clamps!  Then you can set your clamps down and allow time for your glue to dry.

Gluing and Assembling

The first step is to glue and assemble the guitar body.

Here are the tools you’ll need: a clamp, a ruler, a pencil, a utility knife, a coping saw, a drill, a 3/8-inch bit, clamps or weights.

Start by using your pencil to mark out all of the pieces on the wood that is 2x4x36 inches in size. Next use your coping saw to cut them out. Then drill two holes at one end of every piece as shown in the diagram below. These will be used as support for the neck later on.

Finally, we’ll need to know how much wood glue we’ll need to cover all of these surfaces once we join them together with clamps or weights. To do this we’ll lay everything down and measure with our ruler and pencil how many square inches each piece will cover and then multiply that number by .5 (since there are two sides of each board), which gives us an estimate of how many ounces of wood glue we will need to buy at your local hardware store.

Apply glue to join

Start by applying glue to the joints. First, apply it on the inside of the guitar’s top edge. Make sure to use a lot of glue so you have a good seal. Then, apply it on the outside of the guitar’s top edge. It is important to use enough so that there are no gaps where water or dust can seep in and damage your work. Once you cover both sides with glue, set them together and hold them tightly for about 30 seconds. Next, apply some glue on one of the long surfaces of your guitar (the front). Apply some on the other side as well (the back) before attaching them together. You should now have a basic outline for your guitar body.

See also  6 Best Speakers for Bass Guitar(2022 edition)

Finishing Touches and Strings

Now that the guitar body is complete, it’s time to take care of some finishing touches. Sand down the rough edges with sandpaper. This also helps smooth down any bumps or marks on the surface. You can also create a natural finish with shellac and buff it for an extra shine.

The final step is stringing your new guitar. For this you will need to measure out how long each string needs to be and cut them accordingly. After cutting the strings, thread them through the holes in the tuning pegs and tie a knot at both ends. Viola! Your very own guitar!

How to copy a guitar body FAQS

What tools do you need to copy a guitar body?

A: You’ll need the following tools:
Planer
Router table or hand router
Drill press
Jigsaw
Coping saw
Clamps
Saw horses for cutting wood
Sandpaper, 80 and 150 grits
File

What tools will I need to make a guitar body?

All you need is a saw, a screwdriver, and a drill.

How long does it take to make a guitar body?

It entirely depends on your skill level. If you’re inexperienced with woodworking, it could take as much as 12 hours. If you have some experience under your belt, you could finish in as little as 8 hours.

Conclusion

Remember to file down the edges of the wood before painting. This will help the paint adhere better to the surface and give your design a smoother look. After you’re finished painting, let your guitar dry for at least 24 hours before applying the strings. Lastly, just like with any other instrument, you’ll need to tune it before you can start playing. You can use a digital tuner, an electronic tuner, or an app on your phone to do this.

The best part? The sky is the limit when it comes to what you can create. Now that you know the basics, go ahead and put your own unique touch on your guitar.