Cheers Brendan. Doing your own is definitly possible, just take how long you think it will take and double it.
Probably easier to start with a copy of an established design, there has been a lot of problems solving and stuffing around on this one. I did expect that though, hopefully the next one will go a little more smoothly.
Anyway. I'm having one of those days where everything I touch I bugger up, so definitly no drilling holes today.
Instead I spent some time working out bridge placement and sorting out a revised pickguard design. I'm a bit silly for going all out on the metal templates straight up. I've changed things during the build that have made a lot of them redundant. Just another lesson to learn I suppose. Next bunch will be in MDF. And I'll make copies using the router table so if I stuff one up it's not a problem.
Anyway, only took about 5 goes to get it accuratley drawn up in illustrator and a physical printout that fits. Almost wish I'd got some white perloid pickguard material.. but I'll stick with the black 3 ply. With the chrome pickup surrounds it shoudl look pretty cool I think.
Gotta say... looking closer to how I pictured it in the mockup at the start of this diary.
I'm pretty glad about that as I've had my doubts, but with the pickguard mocked up on it, I think it's going to work.
Need to do some more cavity routing as well. Also, with the neck on, it doesn't really feel very heavy. Which was a concern early on, I guess we'll see after hardware goes on.