custom building guitars. need help

[Dave Kerr]

An alternative is to buy a used guitar in need of work. I bought a used mid 90's Japanese Squier for short money so I could take a stab at refretting a maple fingerboard. It took a good number of hours, and a few bucks for decent specialty tools, but the job came out pretty good for a first time. You can go part by part with a project like that, toying around with different pickup winds, pots, caps, etc and not feel you're out a ton of money if you screw something up.

[Djinn Guitars]

Check out the MIMF and buy "Making Your Own Electric Guitar" by Melvin Hiscock.

[Brock Little]

If you think that... wait a bit... $243.25US for a ready made through neck from Stewart Macdonald is hugely expensive, then you're in for a $hock. If you're not already an experienced woodworker with a fully set up workshop, then the tools you're going to need could end up costing ...(insert arbitrary $$ figure here). My 1/2" router alone cost more than that Stew Mac neck. Just reading about that neck... 24frets, ebony fretboard, carbon fibre reinforcing, 2 way trussrod - all installed... I wish they had these when I first started tinkering with guitars.

As far as tutorials go, you'll find plenty of guys on Youtube alone that do little videos. Learn to use Google, and within minutes you'll have an unlimited amount of useful information on building. After a day you should have a fair idea of what you are capable of, and what should work for you.

Don't be too discouraged from building an instrument from scratch. Study up on building techniques, materials, hardware etc, and give it a go. You can save a lot of money on tools and gear by picking up ready made truss rods, pre-slotted fretboards and routing templates from Stewart MacDonald, and still get the great feeling from doing the work yourself. The more work you do yourself, the more satisfaction you'll get out of the final product.

[Chadheckler1]

Books...

Check out the MIMF and buy "Making Your Own Electric Guitar" by Melvin Hiscock.

I also used the info from this book to make my first electric gutiar a few years back...

I went from zero wood working experience to a fully functioning and great sounding electric guitar in about 3 months...the first one wasn't much to look at though!

If you are trying to get out cheap, building it from scratch will NOT be the way. However, after 15-20k in woodworking equipment / specialty tools and a couple years of trial and error, it is possible to build a guitar better than what you can buy in any store...and way more unique. If money is a concern, then stay away...because you might get addicted...if you have some extra cash and are good with your hands then there is nothing more rewarding!

I would estimate the cost (Assuming you have free woodworking tools avail) using good hardware, pickups, and wood to be around $800-$1000...plus your time.

Have you thought about putting the finish on it yourself...if so then you really need to start practicing...for me this was the hardest step to perfect.

Good luck...it can be done.