so i'm working on my guitar

[Bad Waffle]

The nut on my guitar finally broke, so i decided to finally start working on it when i was working on the new nut.

Here's the guitar before i started anything. A cheap, but VERY reliable and comfortable guitar. I put a new bridge on it, lowered the action a bit, and it was a wonder, except for the whole "cant reach past the 15th fret without developing carpal tunnel" issue. No way that will cut it for live shows.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_0978.jpg

Here's the new nut i carved from a block of bone. The dang thing cost me 10 bucks. It's stained with sharpie because my dad suggested using sharpie as a mask so i could see how much i had cut. I thought it was a good idea, but i forgot that bone is very, very porous, so it sucked it right up. Right now, the nut is sitting in a little bowl of oxy-clean. Next time i'm gonna use graphite.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_0980.jpg

Here's the body work. I originally planned to just cut out around the neck so i could get to those frets finally, but i decided to get rid of that weakly rounded edge and make it really pronounced. I just didn't want the damn thing to feel like a hunk of wood cut out in the shape of a guitar. So far i'm about 70% done with the basic shaping of it, and then i plan to sand it all down, and bondo-up a few little parts and then lay on a base coat of black paint.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_0987.jpg

This picture shows what i used the carve out the big chunks. It's an airdriven motor like those ones the dentist's use in the office for drilling yer teeth-only this one is far heavier duty. I was surprised with how comfortable air is to use--its not jumpy, and it doesn't leave your hand numb after drilling for a few minutes due to shaking.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/Picture%20005.jpg

Next i'm going to make a psychadelic stencil. Here's what it looks like. I'm really wondering how exactly i'm gonna do such a large intricate decal. I was thinking of using exactoknife, but that would take too long and theres a high risk of fucking up. I'm totally open to suggestions here.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/decal.jpg

Also, i decided to scallop my frets like how steve vai has on his Jem, or Malmsteen on his fender. I did this in a really ghetto way, just used a rounded file and went at it for a while. I only scalloped them over the three high strings, because if i want to use those notes i'd just shift into a position lower on the neck for comfort. I don't do crazy arpeggios, i play hard rock and blues.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_0990.jpg
I put the neck back on only test the feel of it, so everythings very rough.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_0991.jpg

I gotta make the cutout even more pronounced, and i gotta bondo the area by the pickup cover. Here's what i have today. By monday night, i'll have finished the sculpting and sanding of the body, and maybe the bondo. I can't wait :)

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_0992.jpg
http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_0993.jpg

[Bodzilla]

looks interesting. but i could never do that to mine D:

[Bad Waffle]

Yea, i treat this thing like shit. It's cheap, so i dont care :D

[Bodzilla]

this things you babe man, your heart and soul.

:smith:

[Atty]

man dwag i saw dem pix on dat myspace loookin good dawg gotta get that heavey metal flowin get some chill tracks flowin

man i get dem syk lirics if u wanna get me on the mic sometime we can make a track if ya wanna giv me a shout sun

[Atty]

btw mayne dat shi lookz clean keep it fresh young weezy ya heard

[Bad Waffle]

this things you babe man, your heart and soul.

:smith:

And my heart and soul changes just as much as david bowie!


man dwag i saw dem pix on dat myspace loookin good dawg gotta get that heavey metal flowin get some chill tracks flowin

man i get dem syk lirics if u wanna get me on the mic sometime we can make a track if ya wanna giv me a shout sun


GIVE ME DISTORTION OR GIVE ME DEATH. (or a sweet overdrive)

[jngrow]

So like, what does scalloping those high frets really do? It intrigues me.

Cool stuff, btw.

[Bodzilla]

sorry wol all i see is rape :smith:

jingrow it actually makes things like bending easier and you get better tones and what not.
because you can bend down as well as back and forth.
couple of plus's but it's very abstract and weird to get used to at first because people learn to push the strings onto the neck, rather then just the fret bar.

[Huero]

I need to learn guitar :smith:

[Bad Waffle]

sorry wol all i see is rape :smith:

jingrow it actually makes things like bending easier and you get better tones and what not.
because you can bend down as well as back and forth.
couple of plus's but it's very abstract and weird to get used to at first because people learn to push the strings onto the neck, rather then just the fret bar.

Hey dumtard, its not done yet. It'll play perfect and look perfect when i'm done with it


I need to learn guitar :smith:
yes, you do

[n00b1n8R]

I'm feeling more inadequate than normal with guitar.

Confound you tab reading monsters and your guitar jargon http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/emot-argh.gif

[LlamaMaster]

I need to learn guitar :smith:
Because we all know that doing what everybody else does (or wants to do) makes you cool. Learn something that isn't generic as hell.

I'm half serious and half trolling.

Props to you WoL for your brutal body work. I could never do that to anything of mine. :gonk:

[English Mobster]

My guitar... Most I ever did was put a skin on it... I could never do anything like that...

Though changing the fret bars intrigues me.

[Varmint260]

Jeez; both my guitars are cheap and I've never done a thing to them. Well, actually... you could say that the dents and marks on my acoustic make it custom. Plus the fact that I play left-handed, and I flipped the strings around on it but not the nut or the pickguard, so the strings don't quite fit on the nut and the pick guard is now only useful on the up-strokes.

My electric is completely stock, though, and is actually made for a lefty. I thought about changing some things on it, but I like the strat style.

As for what you've done WoL... I like the new look of the guitar. Planning on leaving the finish like that? It'd make a great conversation piece ;)

[Syuusuke]

Because we all know that doing what everybody else does (or wants to do) makes you cool. Learn something that isn't generic as hell.

I'm half serious and half trolling.

Props to you WoL for your brutal body work. I could never do that to anything of mine. :gonk:

Bass! Bass! Bass!

or, Harp! Harp! Harp!

Damn Flag, I can't wait to see the end product, hehe psychedelic craziness.

[Boba]

Man, I wish I had a cheap SG or something I could totally fuck over; I'd paint Page dragons all over it. :-3

[paladin]

I made an actual body for my freshman project. I wouldnt touch my Les Paul or strat.

[Bad Waffle]

I'm feeling more inadequate than normal with guitar.

Confound you tab reading monsters and your guitar jargon http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/emot-argh.gif
Actually, i don't use tabs for anything that i can hear out on my own. Tabs are really for people who wanna learn Dream Theatre :D


I made an actual body for my freshman project. I wouldnt touch my Les Paul or strat.
Oh yea, you don't want to touch perfection. I want a strat SO BAD, i love the way it looks and sounds.

Also, worked a bit more on the body. Cut out the center part, i'll do the last of the sanding, bondo up the many fuckups i made from having too much fun, and cut the pickguards tomorrow. I'll have my new electronics in about a week or two, so that'll give me time to lay down the first layer of paint and set up the action of the new nut.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1009.jpg
http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1010.jpg
http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1011.jpg

I think i'll be done three days after the electronics get here, at least up to a playable state. I probably won't finish paint for a few weeks.


After looking at it for a bit, i dont like the "horn" of the cutout section. I'll have to re-tool that tomorrow.

[supersniper]

My friend Chamila (he's from shri lonka) made a guitar out of Styrofoam. It's pretty cool cuz it's an eletric adn everything but the frame is styrofoam instead of the usual wood.

[Bad Waffle]

As for what you've done WoL... I like the new look of the guitar. Planning on leaving the finish like that? It'd make a great conversation piece ;)

Oh heck no, no way a woodworker's son would leave it like that. I'm going to paint it straight black, and then paint on the decal i posted above in white. It'll end up really high gloss.


My friend Chamila (he's from shri lonka) made a guitar out of Styrofoam. It's pretty cool cuz it's an eletric adn everything but the frame is styrofoam instead of the usual wood.

Wow, i bet he gets like, no sustain. The styrofoam (even if its a hard resin-type, if those exist...) must suck all the vibrations right up. I'm curious as to what this guitar sounds like!


Also, i decided since i'm using a clear pick guard and i routed out a large amount of space, i could fit in some LED lights to make the innards glow. The only colors i have are blue, so thats what it'll be :D

[supersniper]

Actually, I never heard him play it, he brought it in during one of my physics class because he was next door in the Tech class finishing up the neck, then he put it together in our class and strummed it once without it being plugged into the amp. But I'm pretty sure it has a mute tone to it, or at least that's what would make logical sense. I'll let you know when I hear it.

[Saggy]

Oh yea, you don't want to touch perfection. I want a strat SO BAD, i love the way it looks and sounds.I have a Strat replica that isn't half-bad, but I don't think I would rely on it for a live performance (first one coming up this summer) so I'm saving up for an Epiphone Les Paul Standard. Only $832!

Anyways, the new body on your guitar is looking pretty good. Can't wait to see the final outcome once the finish is on it and what not.

[Varmint260]

Oh heck no, no way a woodworker's son would leave it like that.

Yeah, I didn't honestly believe you'd leave it like that. It's looking better and better! I know what my Gramps would say if I left anything made of wood looking like that.

I also have a strat knock-off, but I've played real strats... and to be honest, the only thing that's wrong with mine is that the bridge pickup has crap shielding. Can't play near anything with current flowing through it without buzz. But it's great for simply rockin' out. And annoying neighbours.

[Bad Waffle]

Yeah, I didn't honestly believe you'd leave it like that. It's looking better and better! I know what my Gramps would say if I left anything made of wood looking like that.

I also have a strat knock-off, but I've played real strats... and to be honest, the only thing that's wrong with mine is that the bridge pickup has crap shielding. Can't play near anything with current flowing through it without buzz. But it's great for simply rockin' out. And annoying neighbours.

progress for today:
Finally finished the nut and shaping. Almost finished sanding, gonna bondo tomorrow if its hot enough. It's been so cold i've been worrying about the mixture doing wacky things under low temps.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1027.jpg


Ok, bedtime.
A closeup. Notice the crappy-looking sanding. I don't mind. NO BUZZING. The factory standard buzzed on the low E and A strings. No problem anymore :D

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1029.jpg

A size shot. Shakey, oh well.
http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1036.jpg

A closeup. Notice the really crappy job the factory did on the routing for the original pickups. Notice the chiselled edges that i need to fix :D

I'm going to bondo in a wood block about a centimeter thick or so right between the neck and the cavity to seal the cavity from the carved-out portion. God, i love bondo.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1039.jpg

[Con]

nice haircut

[Bodzilla]

nice haircut
:god post:

[ExAm]

Can you fly with your ears, wol?

[Bad Waffle]

bahaha, wow, i didn't notice how wide they look in that picture. My ears are actually normal sized.

[Varmint260]

My ears are actually normal sized.

Wish I could say the same...

Oh, nice job on the guitar BTW. Can't wait to see it finished!

[SnaFuBAR]

Wave... if you don't fix that nasty wobbly outline I will hurt you...

[Bad Waffle]

Fixed it today. Bondo'd a few things, gonna finish all that jazz when i get electronics. I'm for sure gonna have to expand the little cavity for the hardware, so all will be good by then.

[Bad Waffle]

A little update. I drilled out the cavity and fixed up the edges with bondo--i still gotta sand it down. I kinda fucked up the body plate for the main cavity, so i think im gonna experiment with sliding "rails" for the pickups so i can drag and drop em where i like.

I gotta smooth out the edges to the plate. I'll do that after i'm sure everything fits.
http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1070.jpg
http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1068.jpg

I also didn't rout enough out in the electronics cavity for the 5-way toggle switch, that thing is THICK. Everything else SHOULD fit in. The rest of the hardware should be coming by tomorrow. I'm kinda excited.

EDIT: just noticed the wobbly edge by the cutaway...ima go fix that

[mech]

I have the same meat shears as you, miracle blades fuck yeah!

[Bad Waffle]

Put it all together today, it works. Here's what's left: finish sanding body (i missed chunks in my sleepy stupor) fix neck-shim (i fabricated this to get the neck closer to the strings, but its too tall, gotta shave it down), make a pickguard (the last one shattered when i was cutting it, ffs...), and the uber LED lights. I'm guessing a week more of work until its ready for paint.

http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1093.jpg
http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1096.jpg
http://wol.modacity.net/guitar/IMG_1097.jpg

[Kalub]

Diggin' the scotch tape, make a clear pick guard

[Varmint260]

Looks awesome, now. It's easy to see the improvement over the original design. Can't wait to see the final finish! Maybe post some sound clips, let us hear how it sounds!

[Con]

your bro looks like a fat you

also, what finish are you goin with?

[Bad Waffle]

your bro looks like a fat you

also, what finish are you goin with?

no finish you dumbass, theres bondo marks all over the damn thing

im gonna paint it, scroll up for the design

[Con]

no finish you dumbass
:confused2:
paint is a finish

[DaneO'Roo]

I see smoothing errors WaveWaffle

Loving the shape though.

[RickYng]

Urgh only Single Coils? Where is the love for Humbuckers :(

[Bad Waffle]

:confused2:
paint is a finish

no, this is finish:

http://images.google.com/images?q=wood%20finish&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi