First Guitar Project - That's some nice Ash you got there!

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:23 pm

Since, putting together my first guitar from parts, I have been wanting to get into guitar building. I want to start with a slab and take it all the way to the end including paint. I plan to purchase a neck not build it from scratch. I want to get good at the body work before trying a neck.

I contacted my brother-in-law who owns a lumber mill in Mississippi and asked him if he had some scrap wood I could use for guitar bodies. He told me one of his biggest products is guitar stock, which is made of Northern Ash and that he would send me some. How cool is that? So I am not sure how much he is sending me but I will post it later.

My first task is to pick what guitar to build. Since I am an inexperience guitar building virgin, I want to stick with something simple. My first inclinations are to try either a Mustang or Telecaster. Both have simple designs and no contours (unless I wish to add them). Both guitars would sound good with Ash Bodies. If I go Mustang, I will probably do a 1965 RI Mustang. If I go Tele, I am thinking a Baja Telecaster direction.

Any good resources for guitar Templates/plans? I am not sure where to get a good Mustang template.

I found this website: http://www.guitarbuildingtemplates.com/ ... plates.htm

They have a 3 template for $99 special and I could get a Strat, Tele, and Jazzmaster templates. The Jazz template could help me finish my broken Jagmaster project.

I would rather make my own templates if I could get traces from somewhere.

I plan to get some cheap wood to practice on before trying to use the Ash wood. Any resources or help would be much appreciated.

Zack · Post by **Zack** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:51 pm

http://www.hotrodandcustoms.com/webpics ... dyver2.pdf

ala this osg thread

by the way, that jm pdf i found was also from osg. There are a bunch of pdf and dwg files here.

good luck.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:59 pm

Goots. wrote:http://www.hotrodandcustoms.com/webpics ... dyver2.pdf

ala this osg thread

by the way, that jm pdf i found was also from osg. There are a bunch of pdf and dwg files here.

good luck.

Can I just take this to a print shop and have them print it out for me? Do I print at actual size and then transfer to a body or trace?

Zack · Post by **Zack** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:15 pm

yeah, it looks to be drawn as actual size. I'd say a print shop would take care of it no sweat. I've done fedex office before and as long as it's set to that scale, then it should print correctly. I printed a bunch of transparencies for a photo final and had them all set for 8x10, then I tried printing out a decal and it printed whole page. I just asked the guy to print out another, half size of that and it worked great. Payed for both and was pleased, 8.5x11 transparencies only come up to about 80 cents or so in chicago, so you should be able to get a good price on something that measures 19.733" x 15.53" (thats the printout dimensions, not the guitar's).

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:26 pm

My hope is to transfer the images to some kind of trace or fiberboard. Then prototype on cheap wood to practice and learn. Then give it a go on the nice stock. Thanks for the templates. That gives me a good starting spot to work from.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:23 pm

Does anyone have a trace or schematic for the Squier Supersonic? I would love to try and build one with different pickups and custom competition paint jobs.

It would be cool if Shortscale could gather together all our schematics for a cool online resource.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:28 pm

taylornutt wrote:It would be cool if Shortscale could gather together all our schematics for a cool online resource.

there already is one.

http://www.shortscale.org/wiki/index.ph ... g_Diagrams

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:31 pm

That's cool. I actually meant body template. I should not have used the word "Schematic" which implies wiring.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:04 pm

What tools will I need to purchase? I know I will need a router and sander for sure.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 5:25 pm

I wouldn't use Northern Ash, it's gonna break your back it's so heavy. It's really hard to machine, you need some experience before you skip to Northern Ash. I'd start with poplar or basswood... $15 - $20 at the mill.

When wood comes from the mill it needs to be tooled before you can make a blank. It needs to be run thru a planer to get it to final thickness & get all the kinks & curls out. The edge of the board from the mill are not straight. They have to be run thru a jointer so when you glue the boards together there isn't a 1" gap on the other end of the board.

Your probally better off buying a blank then making your own from the mill. If you know people with the tools then you should be alright.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:25 pm

Joey wrote:I wouldn't use Northern Ash, it's gonna break your back it's so heavy. It's really hard to machine, you need some experience before you skip to Northern Ash. I'd start with poplar or basswood... $15 - $20 at the mill.

When wood comes from the mill it needs to be tooled before you can make a blank. It needs to be run thru a planer to get it to final thickness & get all the kinks & curls out. The edge of the board from the mill are not straight. They have to be run thru a jointer so when you glue the boards together there isn't a 1" gap on the other end of the board.

Your probally better off buying a blank then making your own from the mill. If you know people with the tools then you should be alright.

I rechecked the email and the wood is actually Southern Green Ash. He says it's pretty light weight. Wonder if that's similar to Swamp Ash?

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:02 am

Super Sonic on ebay yesterday $1, should still be there

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:55 pm

I am going to go get some Fender schematics printed out. (Mustang, Jazzmaster, Telecaster)

I was starting to look at getting a control plate and a Mustang pickguard to beginning laying out my Mustang/Duo Sonic project. What is the difference between American and Japanese Mustang Pickguards and control plates? I need to know which one I should get.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:14 pm

Here's you a Telecaster PDF: http://terrydownsmusic.com/Archive/tele ... g_revD.pdf

i'll keep an eye out for a mustang template as well but so far no luck

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:17 pm

I actually already have the templates for the Tele, Jazzmaster, and Mustang already. Thanks Haze.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:23 pm

Hot dang you'll have to share! Is it a PDF or a physical template?

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:43 pm

Goots. wrote:http://www.hotrodandcustoms.com/webpics ... dyver2.pdf

ala this osg thread

by the way, that jm pdf i found was also from osg. There are a bunch of pdf and dwg files here.

good luck.

Here it is:

http://www.hotrodandcustoms.com/webpics ... dyver2.pdf

Here is the thread:
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... g+template

I am trying to reread the thread to make sure the template is accurate.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:07 am

I have been home sick for three days so I decided to get my project underway. I went to the hardware store and picked up some 1/2" MDF for the making body traces.

I took my internet schematics over to FedEx Office (formerly Fedex Kinkos) and they printed me out life size schematics

► Show Spoiler

I laid my Jagmaster body on top of the Jazzmaster schematic and it was a perfect fit. I laid my Squier Duo-Sonic on the Mustang Schematic just to make sure it was the right scale. The Squier Duo Sonic and a Mustang look similar, but the Duo Sonic doesn't have an offset waist like the Mustang, so the bottom half curves don't line up. It was close enough for me to verify the Mustang schematics are the right size. The JM plans will help me convert my broken post Jagmaster to a full Jazzmaster. I still can't decide if I want to build a Mustang or Telecaster first. Depends on how much wood I get. An Ash Mustang would sound nice. If I go Tele, definitely going to make a Baja Telecaster.

If anyone wants copies of the schematics, I put the pdfs on my file share here: http://public.me.com/newmanrocks/
Then look under Shortscale/Guitar_Plans.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:25 am

The wood from my brother-in-laws lumber mill should up today. I was in shock how much he sent me for free from Mississippi! He sent me 2 slabs of Southern Green Ash. Each board measures 14.25" W x 48" L x 2 " H. I could make at least 4 separate Ash guitar bodies! What a way to get started. Check out the pics. I am stoked about how this is starting to come together.

► Show Spoiler

The grain on the Southern Ash is quite noticeable even in a raw form. I am starting to pick up hardware for the guitars like control plates, pickguards, etc. I got a Baja Telecaster White Pickguard off eBay and to follow it up soon with a mustang pickguard and control plate.

I am still thinking I will probably make my own Baja Telecaster and Mustang.

Is the Control plate on a Baja Telecaster different than a Standard Tele Control plate? I didn't know if the 4 way switch needed an altered plate.

What is the difference in a US Mustang Pickguard/Control plate and a Japanese Reissue Mustang Pickguard/Control Plate?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:12 am

taylornutt wrote:What is the difference in a US Mustang Pickguard/Control plate and a Japanese Reissue Mustang Pickguard/Control Plate?

they're just... different. i'm not sure about the control plates but the guards aren't interchangeable without a bit of mucking about. however- i'd say that'll only be a problem if you were trying to retrofit a jap guard to a vintage body or something (it can be done, obviously, you'd just need to fuck about with it). but if you're making the body from scratch i don't see it being that much of a big deal. obviously buying a japanese guard and plate will be cheaper than sourcing vintage ones.

even US guards aren't all the same, i replaced the warped POS on my compstang with a '66 and had to do a bit of filing where it meets the the neck. you have to watch out for shrinkage, etc.