Thanks so much.....I have all the tools, but not the skills yet. I am learning so much from these videos. I know it's a lot of trouble, but please keep them coming !!! T
I know this video is 7 years old, but thank you! I just made a bit of a botch on this operation by not indexing properly and by not using a forstner bit. This is 100% the way I'll be doing it next time.
That's a genius operation, man! Thanks a lot! I don't own a large drill press, only a small one, almost useless for lutherie , but to realise it through your demonstration, I used a guide, a piece of wood with a hole, precisely done. The result is not so accurate but pretty fair. The final drilling to insert the ferrule was much more by feeling. Finaly enough for my own guitar ...
Butt your ruler up against the nut to take your measurement - you measure from the inside face of the nut ( the one facing the bridge) and measure down your scale length (25.5" in your case) and make a mark. Adjust your high E saddle till it is 2/3 of the way forwards (this gives you some room to intonate) - Adjust the position of your bridge so the high E saddle (the string break point) is directly over the line you marked. That is the mounting position for your bridge. Accuracy is important
Tyler, I drill the holes to the same depth as the ferrules so they bottom out when I push them in. Its pretty easily done if you have a depth stop on your drill press. Its not really necessary though if you use ferrules that have a lip around them ( as did the ones in my video ) they will only push in as far as the lip anyway.
Cheers Steve, Glad to hear your building a guitar ! That's why I uploaded these video's, to inspire people to build there own. The song is "Tattooed Millionaire" by Bruce Dickinson
Hi, Yeah I just checked the Guitar Fetish website out, they do in fact recommend a 5/16" hole - get yourself a good sharp 5/16" Forstner bit for a clean cut
Sorry, nothing I can do to fix it. RUclips blocked it in some countries due to the soundtrack I used... That's why the newer video's don't use music ;-)
David, they appear to be 5/16" and have a lip, like a hat brim around the outer edge, meaning the edge that will be seen. I think I got them from Guitar Fetish, which is pretty good for such accessories.
Nice job, man! I have a question, though: I see that behind the body you can insert the ferrules for the strings to pass though, but, what about the front of the body? I mean, if the string are going to emerge on the front and go straight to a Tune O-Matic bridge, for example, do I have to put something in the holes on the front as well?
Depends on what you are building of course but this will give you ballpark figures - Approximate Body blank dimensions: 13-3/4" x 20-1/2" x 1-3/4" Approximate Neck Blank dimensions 13/16" x 4" x 27"
From Stewmac? I am doing an all maple guitar, its my first one and I was going to do a gibson style bridge and tail piece, but I figured this style would be better. I would love to arrange an email conversation if you had the time, and if you don't once again, thanks for the great videos.
We have what is called a ferrule block it is a plate made with the ferrule made into the plate, come in different string spacing, chrome gold and black no problem hand drilling with drill block
Hi David, Just wanted to say your videos have caused me to spend a fortune on tools etc to start building guitars. Ive watched each video easily 10 times over already. Your work is flawless! Thanks mate :) really looking forward to building my first one. Dont know what to build yet though. Also whats the song you used in this vid??
Do you super glue the ferrules or are you drilling the holes to where you have to force them down so they stay put? I have a rare Martin Tele that has a Floyd Rose... never liked whammy bars. Anyway, I'm thinking about plugging the hole with Alder and adding a hardtail bridge. Thanks
I'm buidling my own tele just now, how do you know where to put the bridge? i'm struggling to find a video on where exactly it should go, and where the ferrules should go
Can you show us how you would do this for the 8 strings? I'm getting a hipshot hardware set for my eight and I'm not sure if a standard ferrule would fit the F# string, could you please make an example video?
hi david,I have noticed when you measure the bridge placing point start of the fretboard did you calculate the nut space ?or i have to calculate the nut spacing too.?and secondly the bridge ataching screws on the front of the bridge ,is thats the correct distance from the nut to the bridge? if i place fender deluxe 72 they have only 3 screws at the tail side, in that case how do i should calculate the correct position or distance of the bridge..?your advice really appriciated.
I'm wondering why, if you're going to use the drill bit jig as an alignment for the Forstner bit holes on the back, you would need to drill the two outside string holes completely through and then use the bridge plate as a template on the back to drill the remaining 4 holes completely through.....its an unnecessary and lengthy step I would say, isn't it? Why not just drill the string holes 3/4 of the way through from the front...then use the drill bit registration jig and drill the ferrule holes with the Forstner bit? You'd get the same result without the unnecessary step I think......looks good by the way...nice work!!
+gtbones This video is 4 years old and my processes have changed quiet a bit since I uploaded it. The point you make is valid and in fact its what I do now
Oh actually i have a question actually relating to guitar building! What size does the blank have to be before any cutting for a body and neck? Thanks in advance!!
Great video, thank you for sharing! Can I ask where you bought those ferrules, or do you have their measurements - are they standard Fender ferrules? The ferrules I ordered for my guitar body drop right down into the ferrule holes and even have a little room to wiggle around, rather than the flange staying above the body surface like yours do, so I guess I have to buy new ferrules...
Hello mr. Fletcher, thank you for this interesting video. Do you recommend to do this work before finishing job? If yes, how do you handle with all the small screw holes in the body so that there is no clear coat inside? Thanks
+manu777tube I dont worry about clear getting in the holes. I push the ferrules in using a heated soldering iron , they just slip right in. Not too much heat though, they need to slide in quickly to avoid nay marring of the finish
Something I saw you do, that I don't understand. I know you are very exacting when you build, but when you were drilling through the body, first you started all 6 holes through the bridge, and then pulled the bridge off. I understand that your bit isn't long enough to go all the way through with the bridge in place. Then once the bridge was off, you only finished drilling the two outer holes. Flipped the body over and put the bridge back in place on the back. etc etc. My confusion is why not simply finish all 6 holes from the front? There is much more than a pilot hole already drilled. So there shouldn't be any walking of the bit. And even if there somehow happened to walk a little, by drilling with the larger forstner bit, and having the location pin in the body..... I don't know. It just seems to create additional steps where it doesn't have to be. I know you have your reasons though. Can you explain it please? Thank you for the videos, and Wow you build some insanely beautiful guitars!!! Loved that Strat you made for a customer, that decided he wanted the input jack on the side instead of the Standard S type jack. You finished it all out in birdseye Maple neck, fretboard, headstock etc. You finished it without having a customer lined up for it already, then sold it. I'm betting the original customer was probably kicking himself in the ass after seeing how over the top gorgeous it was!! Bob in Germany
Hi Bob , I haven't used this method in years. Now I drill the 1/8" holes on the top of the body half way thru, flip the body and locate those holes on jig and drill the holes for the ferrules with an 8mm forstner bit. Still on the back of teh body, I then complete the 1/8" holes using the "spur" left from the forstner bit to locate the drill bit. Very easy and works every time.
I was pretty accurate using a hand drill guided by an aluminium block with a perfectly straight hole drilled through it. You could also use a plunge router if you’re careful and can get a bit the right diameter and long enough.
Very clever idea on drilling the ferrule holes. Honestly the best documentary on youtube of building a guitar. I'm dying to see it finished!
Thanks so much.....I have all the tools, but not the skills yet. I am learning so much from these videos. I know it's a lot of trouble, but please keep them coming !!! T
Thanks David, as always you're the best! I love how helpful people in the DIY community are!
Also, watched all of your strat videos, they were amazingly informational. I learned so much from them. Thanks so much for that resource!
I know this video is 7 years old, but thank you! I just made a bit of a botch on this operation by not indexing properly and by not using a forstner bit. This is 100% the way I'll be doing it next time.
That's a genius operation, man! Thanks a lot! I don't own a large drill press, only a small one, almost useless for lutherie , but to realise it through your demonstration, I used a guide, a piece of wood with a hole, precisely done. The result is not so accurate but pretty fair. The final drilling to insert the ferrule was much more by feeling. Finaly enough for my own guitar ...
Butt your ruler up against the nut to take your measurement - you measure from the inside face of the nut ( the one facing the bridge) and measure down your scale length (25.5" in your case) and make a mark.
Adjust your high E saddle till it is 2/3 of the way forwards (this gives you some room to intonate) - Adjust the position of your bridge so the high E saddle (the string break point) is directly over the line you marked. That is the mounting position for your bridge.
Accuracy is important
Tyler, I drill the holes to the same depth as the ferrules so they bottom out when I push them in. Its pretty easily done if you have a depth stop on your drill press. Its not really necessary though if you use ferrules that have a lip around them ( as did the ones in my video ) they will only push in as far as the lip anyway.
I have a project tele on the go right now. Totally going to refer back to this when im ready to install the bridge and ferrules!
Hi there, I have a much more detailed video showing how to drill ferrule holes, check out the other videos on my channel.
Brilliant idea! Thanks
Cheers Steve, Glad to hear your building a guitar ! That's why I uploaded these video's, to inspire people to build there own. The song is "Tattooed Millionaire" by Bruce Dickinson
Great work, David!!
Proper job!
Thanks that is a really clever way to do it!
Brilliant! I should have come up with this idea too but I was not as clever as you LOL! Well done!
Awesome idea!!!
I hope to post the progress as I go. Just waiting on my router and band saw to arrive :)
Ah I knew i recognized Bruce; voice!
Cheers mate
Love your work. And choice of music :D
Hi, Yeah I just checked the Guitar Fetish website out, they do in fact recommend a 5/16" hole - get yourself a good sharp 5/16" Forstner bit for a clean cut
Sorry, nothing I can do to fix it. RUclips blocked it in some countries due to the soundtrack I used... That's why the newer video's don't use music ;-)
David, they appear to be 5/16" and have a lip, like a hat brim around the outer edge, meaning the edge that will be seen. I think I got them from Guitar Fetish, which is pretty good for such accessories.
Hi Louis, Yeah I do sometimes. It all depends on what the customer asks for.
Nice job, man!
I have a question, though: I see that behind the body you can insert the ferrules for the strings to pass though, but, what about the front of the body? I mean, if the string are going to emerge on the front and go straight to a Tune O-Matic bridge, for example, do I have to put something in the holes on the front as well?
Yep, its the Stewmac one. Be careful if you use a Gibson style bridge, you will need to angle your neck pocket to make it playable
Depends on what you are building of course but this will give you ballpark figures -
Approximate Body blank dimensions: 13-3/4" x 20-1/2" x 1-3/4"
Approximate Neck Blank dimensions 13/16" x 4" x 27"
Impressive!!!
I just wish that I knew the proper size of drill press that I need to get. Could I get away with using a 10 inch press?
I don’t get the step where you inserted the drill bit and lined the other drill bit up on it. What was the point of that??
Are you clamping the body down to the drill press table? I find that if my body moves slightly the forstener bit will chew up the hole.
your videos are the best i have found. whats your favorite style to make?
From Stewmac? I am doing an all maple guitar, its my first one and I was going to do a gibson style bridge and tail piece, but I figured this style would be better. I would love to arrange an email conversation if you had the time, and if you don't once again, thanks for the great videos.
Its a forstner bit, leaves a nice clean cut
We have what is called a ferrule block it is a plate made with the ferrule made into the plate, come in different string spacing, chrome gold and black no problem hand drilling with drill block
does it matter how far down you drill on the backside?
Nice.
Hi David,
Just wanted to say your videos have caused me to spend a fortune on tools etc to start building guitars. Ive watched each video easily 10 times over already. Your work is flawless! Thanks mate :) really looking forward to building my first one. Dont know what to build yet though.
Also whats the song you used in this vid??
Do you super glue the ferrules or are you drilling the holes to where you have to force them down so they stay put? I have a rare Martin Tele that has a Floyd Rose... never liked whammy bars. Anyway, I'm thinking about plugging the hole with Alder and adding a hardtail bridge. Thanks
I think I'm going to practice with a two-by-four first and then go for it
Genius!
Thanks !
Hey Fletch.....how are the ferrules held in place ???
Thanks in advance.....Tom
David, your videos are always great; what kind of bit for the bigger rear holes?
I'm buidling my own tele just now, how do you know where to put the bridge? i'm struggling to find a video on where exactly it should go, and where the ferrules should go
Can you show us how you would do this for the 8 strings? I'm getting a hipshot hardware set for my eight and I'm not sure if a standard ferrule would fit the F# string, could you please make an example video?
hi david,I have noticed when you measure the bridge placing point start of the fretboard
did you calculate the nut space ?or i have to calculate the nut spacing too.?and secondly the bridge ataching screws on the front of the bridge ,is thats the correct distance from the nut to the bridge? if i place fender deluxe 72 they have only 3 screws at the tail side, in that case how do i should calculate the correct position or distance of the bridge..?your advice really appriciated.
Thank you!
You need to buy the size to fit the ferrules you are going to use - what ferrules do you have ?
I'm wondering why, if you're going to use the drill bit jig as an alignment for the Forstner bit holes on the back, you would need to drill the two outside string holes completely through and then use the bridge plate as a template on the back to drill the remaining 4 holes completely through.....its an unnecessary and lengthy step I would say, isn't it? Why not just drill the string holes 3/4 of the way through from the front...then use the drill bit registration jig and drill the ferrule holes with the Forstner bit? You'd get the same result without the unnecessary step I think......looks good by the way...nice work!!
+gtbones This video is 4 years old and my processes have changed quiet a bit since I uploaded it. The point you make is valid and in fact its what I do now
Thanks for the reply mate
Thanks; one other thing if you will...what size is the bit?
use a counter sink bit with same diameter pilot
Hey Dave,
Great video and wok as usual ! Was wondering, do you ever recess your ferrule holes ? That's something that took me a while to get down.
Oh actually i have a question actually relating to guitar building! What size does the blank have to be before any cutting for a body and neck?
Thanks in advance!!
Like your videos - gives me some inputs for my own guitar buidling :-)
Great video, thank you for sharing!
Can I ask where you bought those ferrules, or do you have their measurements - are they standard Fender ferrules? The ferrules I ordered for my guitar body drop right down into the ferrule holes and even have a little room to wiggle around, rather than the flange staying above the body surface like yours do, so I guess I have to buy new ferrules...
Hi, you can pick them up from Stewart McDonald.
Hello mr. Fletcher, thank you for this interesting video. Do you recommend to do this work before finishing job? If yes, how do you handle with all the small screw holes in the body so that there is no clear coat inside? Thanks
+manu777tube I dont worry about clear getting in the holes. I push the ferrules in using a heated soldering iron , they just slip right in. Not too much heat though, they need to slide in quickly to avoid nay marring of the finish
Something I saw you do, that I don't understand. I know you are very exacting when you build, but when you were drilling through the body, first you started all 6 holes through the bridge, and then pulled the bridge off. I understand that your bit isn't long enough to go all the way through with the bridge in place. Then once the bridge was off, you only finished drilling the two outer holes. Flipped the body over and put the bridge back in place on the back. etc etc. My confusion is why not simply finish all 6 holes from the front? There is much more than a pilot hole already drilled. So there shouldn't be any walking of the bit. And even if there somehow happened to walk a little, by drilling with the larger forstner bit, and having the location pin in the body..... I don't know. It just seems to create additional steps where it doesn't have to be. I know you have your reasons though. Can you explain it please? Thank you for the videos, and Wow you build some insanely beautiful guitars!!! Loved that Strat you made for a customer, that decided he wanted the input jack on the side instead of the Standard S type jack. You finished it all out in birdseye Maple neck, fretboard, headstock etc. You finished it without having a customer lined up for it already, then sold it. I'm betting the original customer was probably kicking himself in the ass after seeing how over the top gorgeous it was!! Bob in Germany
Hi Bob , I haven't used this method in years. Now I drill the 1/8" holes on the top of the body half way thru, flip the body and locate those holes on jig and drill the holes for the ferrules with an 8mm forstner bit. Still on the back of teh body, I then complete the 1/8" holes using the "spur" left from the forstner bit to locate the drill bit. Very easy and works every time.
What size drill bit did you use for the holes though?
What bridge did you use on that? is it a schaller?
Hi Travis, Its a Gotoh Hardtail Bridge
Many 8 string builders just use a bass ferrule for the low string. The drilling is the same, so I don't see why Fletcher should show it again.
how would i go about doing this to a guitar with a bigsby on it?
I don't have one of those machines can I just do it with a hand drill
I was pretty accurate using a hand drill guided by an aluminium block with a perfectly straight hole drilled through it. You could also use a plunge router if you’re careful and can get a bit the right diameter and long enough.
any trick to drilling these through a finished painted body to prevent chipping?
A sharp forstner bit helps but its still risky
+Fletcher Handcrafted Guitars I will stick to the top loader then. Not a lot of good bridge options with top loading
Yeah... thats what I was thinking.
A plunge router with a drill bit will do the same thing
well I don't have a drill press.. wish me luck!! :)
how could I do this process without a drill press ??
+Emmett Leech You cant really - You cannot use a hand drill as it is not accurate enough.
What is this string style or bridge called
Its a Gotoh hardtail bridge
The real trick is drill press and Brad drill bits
i just free hand it - like the original '51 Nocaster :-)
LOL. nothing wrong with that ! :-)
Stewmac :-)
Tattoed Millionaire Bruce Dickinson! :)
looks impossible - thanks!
too tedious and awful ancient glam rock
Thanks ! BTW, "Tattooed Millionaire" by Bruce Dickinson could hardly be called glam rock
Glam Rock??? It's Bruce Dickinson you nob
Sounds pretty glammish to me. Catchy, though.
@@FletcherHandcraftedGuitars Thanks for telling the name of the song and the sarcasm. It's still a lousy song.
@@DougHinVA And thanks for getting back to me so quickly Doug