First Scratch build.

Inspirational stuff, Dan. I'm planning a scratch-build for mid next year (custom body shape), and gradually assembling the equipment for it, so I find this very interesting. I have an LP-1 kit to acquire and build first, then on to the scratch. Eventually I should be ready for the Red Special!

looks great Dan, well done and you get so much more satisfaction with a scratch body. I started building pine body scratch builds, just glued 4 pieces of 600 x 90 x 40 mm pine together and only cost about $20 from the big green shed so if you stuffed up was no great loss. Dan is right its not that hard, you just have to get a few basic tools (jigsaw to cut templates), a router with pattern following bit, and slowly route the cavities. I use a bandsaw to cut the basic body shape then lots of orbital sanding and it takes shape.
A coat of stain on the body should look excellent Dan !

Hey woks, I saw you mentioned in another thread somewhere about how you started with pine bodies. I saw that post the nite after I had prepped the blank. Made me think I was on the right track. Got to start somewhere.

I was at the local hardware this morning. I got ahold of some 45mm pine. The 35mm I used for this first body was too thin. But it was good practice.
I told the guy at the hardware what I was doing with the timber and he gave me it free of charge. You wouldn't get that kind of service a bunnings now would you.

I've docked the pine to length and squared up the edges. And it's now in clamps.
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sure sounds good Dan, good work getting the pine from your hardware for free !
here's some pics of one of the pine scratch bodies I built, I got it wrong mine was 45mm thick as well. You can still get some nice grain from $20 worth of wood.
Come on forumites have a crack at a scratch body !
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Here I have just cut the template of my original body shape. First cut was done with a jig saw and then sanded to the final shape.
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Nice shape Dan, it looks really nice! I better start planning my first scratch build too...

love the shape Dan, very original with a bit of musicman shape, should look good. Keep the update pics coming !

Once the glue has had enough time to cure, (I only left it for 10 hours on a hot sunny Qld day. I use titebond and it recommends 24 hours in mild conditions.) I sanded the faces to a flat surface. It's a good idea to use a straight edge to check your progress so you don't end up with any dips and bumps.

Next I've rough cut the shape on the bandsaw. You could use a jigsaw here, but take care to make sure the blade is cutting at 90* square. When cutting thicker depth timber with a jigsaw the blade can tend to start flexing and cut at an off angle. A sharp blade can help this.

It's a bit late to fire up the router so I will do that tomorrow.
Please know that this isn't exactly a how to instructional. It's just how I'm going about it with limited tools.

If you want to see how a pro goes about it, check this thread http://www.pitbullguitars.com/?page_...iewtopic&t=357

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looking good Dan, love how the grain worked out with the joins can now barely be seen

Now on to routing the body shape.

I've attached the template using double stick tape.
First I make a pass from the top with a top bearing router bit, then I flip it over and make a pass with a bottom bearing bit.

If I had a 1/2 inch router I could use a longer bit and do it all in one pass. I would even set it in a router table and make life much easier. One day.
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