Introduction

There are many ways to build a guitar, and we will describe a simple method in this article. To learn more cool stuff, visit how to build a guitar . Tools must be procured well in advance. Note that some tools are very specific to guitar building. A step-by-step method that anyone can follow is given in the sections below.

The Top

1. Select good wood from a good species for the top. It should be free of defects (avoid wood that comes from small trees, which may have many minute defects).
2. Join pieces for top.
3. Fix the joined halves of the top.
4. Design and drill the registration holes, including a 3/8 inches hole for the soundhole cutter.
5. Set up the drill press for cutting the rosette, and then cut the rosette at the top. Now fix the soundhole rosette bits.
6. The top is sanded to a final dimension.
7. Excise a soundhole.
8. File the edges of soundhole with router and jig.
9. Cut the bracing stock for top braces.
10. This is an important task; cut a notch in the X-brace. The angle of the X is important, and it determines the characteristic sound of the instrument.
11. Rough out the tops of the braces.
12. Mark placement of braces on top on the wood, and clamp the braces to the top.
13. Shape and carve the X-brace; usually a thin tall brace is preferred.
14. Shape the bridge plate, and clamp it tightly between the legs of the X-brace.
15. The remaining top braces have to be shaped and sand.
16. Now make soundhole braces and secure them.
17. Trim the brace ends to length and thickness. Check the final sand inside the top and make it as smooth as the outside.

The Back

With the exception of the soundhole and the bracing pattern, making the back of the guitar is very much like making the guitar top. Join the halves and glue them together, and cut a slot for the center strip. Fix the center strip. File the back and sides to length and thickness. Fix the center cross grain strip, and shape and center it. Now, cut slots in this for braces and rough-cut the stock for back braces. Shape the bottom arch on the braces and the top. File all surfaces of the braces, and fit them to notches in the center cross grain strip. Now fix the back braces.

The Sides

The sides are also prepared in the same way, first, by selecting wood to match the back. The thickness can be 0.09 to 0.095 of an inch. Soak the side pieces in water and bend the sides. Trim the rib ends to length. Fix the ribs into mold and then secure. Make a neck block; fix the neck blocks to ribs. Remove the ribs from mold and sand their interiors. Then cut a recess like a simple taper, and also cut a dovetail recess to give structural stability to the neck and the body joint.

Kerfed Linings

These are small triangular strips on the inside of the guitar at the junction of sides and back and top. They impart rigidity to the box. Join the back to the ribs.

Mark the location of X-brace ends and fingerboard braces on ribs.

Notch linings/ribs to secure the braces. Carefully trim remaining braces to fall just short of the linings, and dry-fit to ensure correct centering and location. Place the top on the ribs, and position face down on a work board designed for a wedge shape. Secure the top to the ribs until dry.

Binding the Body

Cut a purfling ledge, and then a binding ledge, for the back. The binding ledge should be deeper to accommodate the side purfling. Cut the top purfling ledge and also the top-binding ledge (the top-binding ledge should be deeper to accommodate the side purfling). Prebend the side purfling. Make miter joints for the side purfling at the butt wedge (either top or back). Fix the miter joint of the side purfling at the end wedge. Prepare the back (or top) purfling for installation. Precut a masking tape> for application of binding. Fix the binding for top and back in place. Drill a pinhole at the end. Put a hook, and also a soundhole cup, for finishing. Also fix a dovetail handle.

The Neck

The neck is also prepared in the same way as the top, back, and sides. Lay out two neck blanks with templates (as desired for 12-fret or a 14-fret models).

Band-saw the two neck blanks, and cut the truss rod slot on the shaper. Fix peghead ears if necessary. Level the peghead face flat to correct location. Locate and drill gear holes. Prepare the truss rod. Cut an anchor pocket for the truss rod. Prepare the truss rod filler. Glue in the truss rod filler. Cut a pocket for the truss rod nut. Tension the truss rod. Flatten the fingerboard surface of the neck.

The Fingerboard

Wood selection for the fingerboard is the same as for the top, back, sides, and neckpieces.

Join the neck surface of the fingerboard. Locate and drill jig holes. Cut a 14-inch-radius shape for the playing surface. Cut fret shots. Drill the locating holes on the underside of the fingerboard. Dress and polish the frets as well as the fingerboard. Verify and adjust the width of the nut for each instrument. Fit the nut and saddle blanks into their respective slots, and induct the tuning machine. Prepare and install inlay as necessary. Drill holes and install side dot markers.

Install frets and assemble the neck. Now string the guitar and perform the final setup. Your dream guitar is ready.

There are different methods in playing a guitar, check out how to play a guitar left handed.

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