Topic: Luthiers?

[Nine Toes]

I know there are a lot of musicians/people who play a musical instrument here, but I was wondering if any of you have experience in building instruments, namely guitars.

I brought home a bunch of really nice white maple from my workplace, and I was thinking of trying my hand at building a guitar or two with some of it. I even managed to sneak out some wenge veneer for the fretboards (shhh... don't tell my boss...)

Anyway, the only wood that I don't have, that I can't get from work, is some bubinga. The guitar design I have in mind is a neck-through construction, so I plan on using some bubinga to reinforce the neck.

I've looked around the web at quite a bit to find a company that sells it, but most of the sites I've found only sell:
1. rough cut, or
2. mass quantities.

I'm trying not to be picky, but I'd prefer it if the wood is planed at the very least (because I don't own a planer). I'd also like the dimensions to be roughly around 3' 6"H x 3 1/4"W x 1"T (~1067mmL x 83mmW x 26mmT).

I was referred to one site, Lagae, but I don't speak that language.

So, anyway, are there any luthiers here who wouldn't mind sharing the secrets of where they get their wood?

[voh]

Lagae's site is in Dutch, so I can help if you really need them. They're located in Belgium, so I doubt it'd help you much, you know, from Wisconsin

[Gregjazz]

Honestly, you're probably best off using a pre-made neck. Getting the right radius and whatnot can get really frustrating. It's one of those things you need plenty of experience in, and don't figure on getting it perfect the first time, at least.

Other than that, the body should be easier. Just make sure that any mass in the neck is equalled out by the weight of the body for good balance.

[Evil]

I've tried my hand at being a luthier before. Some good results, some bad. But the one thing I learned is that you need to start simple and you'll need the tools. You WILL screw up the first time, so using a nice wood is pointless. Free wood is great. I even went to my local hardware store and bought a big'ol board of some sort for a couple dollars.

Through necks are very difficult, and I agree it's best to use a premade neck. Maybe buy a cheapo from a pawn shop or a musical trade store. There are a lot of tips out there, but the best tip I can give you is start and learn as you go, because the first guitar will suck. Or maybe try building something smaller. I've built a uke and a few other boxed style bodies.

Also, an awesome (but expensive) place for parts is www.stewmac.com

[Tuomas]

It's not exactly how you'd put it, hard, and the first one might not suck, as far as I've gone, but you must be cautios. I't s surprising how much different the bending on the neck once it dries is compared to a normal rectangle board. You see, it's all the shape you give the neck, Les Paul, Strat, whatever, it always differs. That's basically they provide you with readymade templates. Couldn't find any, but still, every block of wood is original, and you should consider it. I don't know if it's common sense or what, but at least to me, (I've worked with wood quite a bit) it is a bit clear how the wood will bend. That's why I love my guitar, Even if it's a Squier, it's the best one I've ever played, and it's really well made, accidentally or not

[Nine Toes]

I've known about Stew Mac for a little while (and you're right, their parts are expensive! ).  I know they sell all kinds of necks, and they also sell a pre-made through-neck.  I had considered going that route, but something turned me off about the whole thing in doing that.  I can't quite explain it.

For this last while, I've had this... JONES... to build stuff out of wood.  I've built a shelf, and a workbench, and I just had the bright idea one day to move on to something way more complicated and time consuming.  (I must have gotten the idea from here)

Plus, I figure; why spend $5,000.00 on a flying v, when I could probably build one for way cheaper?

As far as good wood goes, I'm not too worried about it.  My workplace gives away scrap wood, because they can't use a board that's bowed, or has a rough cut patch on the side.

Most of the maple I've brought home is perfectly good wood.  The majority of the boards I've acquired don't even have anything wrong with them... (I just said they did.  )

[Phemar]

My dad likes to build guitars in his spare time.


The electric is the first guitar he built. (pic quality isn't great).


This neck-through he just finished. It hasn't got knobs yet, but  it's pretty darn awesome.

just thought I'd share

[Nine Toes]

Beautiful, especially the one on the bottom. Your dad must have a thing for Ibanez.

EDIT:
Found this.  It appears to be in Chinese, and I can't understand what they're saying, but it's still kind of fun and educational to watch.

[Gregjazz]

Found this.  It appears to be in Chinese, and I can't understand what they're saying, but it's still kind of fun and educational to watch.

Cool information, thanks for posting this!

P.S. Japanese, not Chinese.

[Nine Toes]

P.S. Japanese, not Chinese.

My bad.