I've had a beautiful piece of mahogony about 6 foot long and been wondering for ages about joining and making my own .you've just proved that it can be done :) many thanks .going to start my project soon.cant afford a real gibson so gna make my own
Go for it Daniel - Believe it or not joining the wood and getting it flat is half the battle. It is a lot more 'doo-able' than most people think...if you get stuck check out the site (www.guitarmaking.co.uk) cheers!
Wow! Thanks for this. I'm fed up using other people's blanks and want to try making my own. Also, pine bodies are hard to source. I know that it will take practice, but your step by step demo is a Godsend. Best wishes.
Great video! Thanks for the razor blade tip. That looks like it works very well! Those stripes in the grain will look good when the guitar is finished!👍😎🎸🎶
I'd have never thouight of leaving a slight dip in the middle. I've struggled with this for the 3 I have done so far (chasing my tail using planes) so thanks for this. It's a great help.
Yeah I'll be checking out some more of your stuff! Just ordering some Korina blanks from ebay and found out what those clamps you're using there are (Sash clamps apparently, £9 a pop from Screwfix if anyone wants a cheap source of guitar-width ones).
Also, do the 2 pieces need to be like 1000% straight or can you just get a half decent join and plane the top afterwards? Because I literally spent like 2 days planing this crap and could NOT get it 100% flat (although it was pretty flat). But yeah I've just lost my patience and glued it, and figured I'll plane it afterwards, probably badly. Ugh.
Hi Sonic - sorry for the slow response...just back from a trip to Barcelona..yes I missed my chisels :P After joining there is always a (hopefully) small step which needs to be removed by planing, scraping or sanding. Don't beat yourself up about it - all you can do is your best - I always say there is no such thing as 100% ...you can ruin a good piece by over cooking it... Show me any guitar and I bet I could pick a fault with it, however tiny :) I'm trying to make it as easy as possible for folks which is why I supply ready to work blanks on my site...maybe I should add that to the description...
Ah it's cool, did a video on it actually - there's a lot of swearing and a REALLY bad gouge I took out of the wood when I adjusted my plane wrong but got it flat and smooth in the end. Just need to get some templates made now and make sure that neck pocket is right!
H! You don't need extra strength if you're using a good glue like Titebond. I've glued 3 body blanks so far and they look pretty solid. Never seen any guitar builder on YT adding dowels or biscuits. It can help you to line up everything, though.
I clamp the two planks together booked matched face to face and flatten both edges at the same time. That way they always fit perfectly even if there is a slight angle as you sand.
Cheers for the tip Beemer! - Yes - why not...works great for thinner pieces like bookmatched caps - but you might be making more work for yourself on thicker boards. I would still recommend for a beginner to do each piece separately.
You also had to learn how to sharpen your plane - that is the hardest part...In the end every builder finds his own way through the maze...as long as you enjoy it, work safely and get the right results it's all good. My way is also very cheap - a good plane is very expensive... Thanks for the comment!
You certainly could use a scraper if you have one yes! ..but I prefer the smaller blade for this job and you are right they are a lot cheaper. I am all about showing folk how it can be done without spending a fortune. Cheers!
I was wondering how do you make machine heads from scratch?? I wanna make a fully scratch guitar (something about buying parts feels like cheating) is there an easy way to make them?
Vertical Grain is best but not essential - it is called Quartersawn - thanks for the Q!
7 лет назад
Dear, fantastic video! If you don't mind, I have a question: can I use pipe clamps for this? Will the pipe clamps be the same result of the clamps used in video? Thanks a lot
If you can find a piece large enough then 1 piece is fine..but wood is always getting rarer and more expensive. 2 piece has an advantage - if it is going to warp it moves half as much!
hello, great video. Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to do a tongue and groove joint as appose to the bookmatch joint? wouldn't there be a better chance of tone quality and the risk of it coming apart
Guitar makers pride themselves on our joints (at least I do). I can join a body blank in just a few minutes perfectly with virtually invisible glue line. Done correctly the butt joint is plenty strong enough - Try it! You'll never break it....tongue and groove is for floors and walls!
Biscuit joints would work but they are unnecessary - the Butt joint is plenty strong enough for this purpose. What is more important is to get both surfaces as flat as possible so the glue join is hard or nearly impossible to see.
Ah Yes - that is Spalted Maple - the pattern is made by a fungus that eats through the wood. Can be spectacular but you have to wear a mask as the dust contains spores.
No problem! The finish on that one is cellulose matt laquer - here is a link with more info - cheers! shop.baileyguitars.co.uk/66-exotica-electric-guitar
YES - spot on! Much easier and quicker if you can buy ready to work blanks...here is the link if you get stuck : guitarmaking.co.uk/product/guitar-body-blanks/
Forgive me but surely a couple of clamps each end on the glue line stops any twisting, keeps the glue line step as small as possible and saves setup time. that's what I do anyway. :o)
I can't believe it's done with just glue and pressure, are you sure this is a good lasting method? I would've sweared you'd need some sort of mechanical joint, I mean little pieces of wood glued in a cavity on both sides...
Guitar makers pride themselves on our joints (at least I do). I can join a body blank in just a few minutes perfectly with virtually invisible glue line. Done correctly the butt joint is plenty strong enough - Try it! You'll never break it....You're talking about 'biscuits' - they are nasty....we don't use them - they are for builders.
YES! A one piece body is easier and quicker to make but unfortunately it is very hard to find wide enough planks - also 2 piece is more stable, cheaper and easy to get.
Hey David - If you can find a piece large enough then go for it! - but please don't mock us who are less fortunate...and bear in mind that there are disadvantages of having a 1 piece body
Guitar Making I’ve never heard of disadvantages of having a one piece body. The two piece body has an effect on time and staying in a negative way. And how hard can I single piece of would be to find? You can’t be that disadvantaged. What is not that difficult to find. I’m sorry it’s just a poor way to build a guitar.
Yes - One piece bodies tend to be rarer, more expensive, and more prone to warping. A two piece body is a perfectly acceptable way to build a guitar - possibly even better than 1 piece...consider that every acoustic guitar has a 2 piece bookmatched soundboard and back...
We arent making an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar is totally different and 2 piece can warp just as easily as a one piece. Thats why when a REAL luthier makes an electric guitar, he/she will cut the wood, slightly larger than dimension and let the wood rest for a few days so it will move and do whats going to do. When its done moving the wood is cut to final shape and chances of warping are extremely rare unless the guitar is being abused. Solid body's are not rarer and not generally more expensive either. Your "facts" are all scewed.
Yes David - but the 2 piece will move half as much. Not sure what you mean by a 'REAL' luthier but here's an inside joke 'in the trade' you should probably know: A luthier is just a guitar maker with his finger up his ass...David - I said 'one piece bodies' not 'solid bodies'...please read my comments again before responding and refrain with the combative language...you can go to other channels for that sort of thing (look right)
Am i the only one who thinks he really looks like kurt cobain
Thanks Huub - Now I feel stupid (and contagious)
Mark Bailey please swear that you don’t have gun
No, I don't have a gun... but my friends say I have a very distinct aroma...
Mark Bailey so you are Kurt Cobain
Huub Borsboom no
Still the best guitar building channel on RUclips
I've had a beautiful piece of mahogony about 6 foot long and been wondering for ages about joining and making my own .you've just proved that it can be done :) many thanks .going to start my project soon.cant afford a real gibson so gna make my own
Go for it Daniel - Believe it or not joining the wood and getting it flat is half the battle. It is a lot more 'doo-able' than most people think...if you get stuck check out the site (www.guitarmaking.co.uk) cheers!
The lighting in your videos is phenomenal.. as well as the presentation and explanation. Great work!
Thanks!!! Been looking everywhere for how to do this with these tools, as I do not have a planer and do not know how to use it.
Awesome razor blade scraper! Subscribed.
Great video mate
Well made video, very informative also... keep on the great work
Wow! Thanks for this.
I'm fed up using other people's blanks and want to try making my own. Also, pine bodies are hard to source. I know that it will take practice, but your step by step demo is a Godsend. Best wishes.
Glad to be of service - cheers Pyro - good luck! :)
Thanks Bro!
Very useful snd user friendly, to the point advice. Really appreciate it!
Cheers - glad you liked it :)
Great video! Thanks for the razor blade tip. That looks like it works very well! Those stripes in the grain will look good when the guitar is finished!👍😎🎸🎶
Cheers - give it a go - it works!
Guitar Making sure will! Cheers to you too! 😀
Awesome video! I was thinking I would need a biscuit joiner to perform this task. The glue must really hold well!
I'd have never thouight of leaving a slight dip in the middle. I've struggled with this for the 3 I have done so far (chasing my tail using planes) so thanks for this. It's a great help.
This it the best and fastest way I had this explained. Subbed my friend...
awesome, subscribing to your channel as your videos are spot on, straight to the point.
Thanks Sonic - glad you liked it :)
Yeah I'll be checking out some more of your stuff! Just ordering some Korina blanks from ebay and found out what those clamps you're using there are (Sash clamps apparently, £9 a pop from Screwfix if anyone wants a cheap source of guitar-width ones).
Also, do the 2 pieces need to be like 1000% straight or can you just get a half decent join and plane the top afterwards? Because I literally spent like 2 days planing this crap and could NOT get it 100% flat (although it was pretty flat). But yeah I've just lost my patience and glued it, and figured I'll plane it afterwards, probably badly. Ugh.
Hi Sonic - sorry for the slow response...just back from a trip to Barcelona..yes I missed my chisels :P
After joining there is always a (hopefully) small step which needs to be removed by planing, scraping or sanding.
Don't beat yourself up about it - all you can do is your best - I always say there is no such thing as 100% ...you can ruin a good piece by over cooking it...
Show me any guitar and I bet I could pick a fault with it, however tiny :)
I'm trying to make it as easy as possible for folks which is why I supply ready to work blanks on my site...maybe I should add that to the description...
Ah it's cool, did a video on it actually - there's a lot of swearing and a REALLY bad gouge I took out of the wood when I adjusted my plane wrong but got it flat and smooth in the end. Just need to get some templates made now and make sure that neck pocket is right!
Very well explained. Thank you
practical and very well explained and so relaxing to view. keep on!
Cheers :)
Very good demonstration
Big Thanks Master. ^^
Thanks for this. Love your calmness. Is it a bad idea to use biscuits or dowels for extra strength?
H! You don't need extra strength if you're using a good glue like Titebond. I've glued 3 body blanks so far and they look pretty solid. Never seen any guitar builder on YT adding dowels or biscuits. It can help you to line up everything, though.
Wow. Thank you, Great tips and tricks! No, fantastic. Subscribed
Just 3 seconds subscribing your Chanel!
Good solution! I've got tools, but not a jointer, and I don't trust my tablesaw to cut perfect edges for joining.
I clamp the two planks together booked matched face to face and flatten both edges at the same time. That way they always fit perfectly even if there is a slight angle as you sand.
Cheers for the tip Beemer! - Yes - why not...works great for thinner pieces like bookmatched caps - but you might be making more work for yourself on thicker boards. I would still recommend for a beginner to do each piece separately.
Good point. I am very skilled with a plane but that skill took time. Your way of doing it is certainly a safe way to do it.
You also had to learn how to sharpen your plane - that is the hardest part...In the end every builder finds his own way through the maze...as long as you enjoy it, work safely and get the right results it's all good. My way is also very cheap - a good plane is very expensive... Thanks for the comment!
Do you ever use a cabinet scraper instead of the razor blade? Is one better or is the razor blade just easier to acquire?
You certainly could use a scraper if you have one yes! ..but I prefer the smaller blade for this job and you are right they are a lot cheaper. I am all about showing folk how it can be done without spending a fortune. Cheers!
Do you check for light in between the boards? How close is an acceptable error?
Fantastic intuitive videos. thanks, 👍☠️🎸☠️👍
Glad you like it Jono - Thanks!
I was wondering how do you make machine heads from scratch?? I wanna make a fully scratch guitar (something about buying parts feels like cheating) is there an easy way to make them?
Which grain orientation works best to prevent the wood from possibly warping?
Vertical Grain is best but not essential - it is called Quartersawn - thanks for the Q!
Dear, fantastic video! If you don't mind, I have a question: can I use pipe clamps for this?
Will the pipe clamps be the same result of the clamps used in video?
Thanks a lot
Yes, pipe clamps would be just fine - good luck!
This is meant as a compliment by the way, but you sound like the Bob Ross of guitar making.
Thanks Charles - I'll take that - Bob Ross is a dude!
This is better than therapy.. lol
Thank you. Very useful video.
I want to ask you: is it possible to make a body from one whole part, or is it better to glue a body from two parts?
If you can find a piece large enough then 1 piece is fine..but wood is always getting rarer and more expensive. 2 piece has an advantage - if it is going to warp it moves half as much!
Thank you!
hello, great video. Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to do a tongue and groove joint as appose to the bookmatch joint? wouldn't there be a better chance of tone quality and the risk of it coming apart
Guitar makers pride themselves on our joints (at least I do). I can join a body blank in just a few minutes perfectly with virtually invisible glue line. Done correctly the butt joint is plenty strong enough - Try it! You'll never break it....tongue and groove is for floors and walls!
Would biscuit joints make it stronger, or a waster of time using them?
Biscuit joints would work but they are unnecessary - the Butt joint is plenty strong enough for this purpose. What is more important is to get both surfaces as flat as possible so the glue join is hard or nearly impossible to see.
@@GuitarMaking Nice one. Thank you very much for your reply :)
Yellow glue is used for raw to raw grain. White glue is used for laminate surface to raw grain.
hello man! very nice video. could you tell me what wood is the guitar to your left made of? thanks
Ah Yes - that is Spalted Maple - the pattern is made by a fungus that eats through the wood. Can be spectacular but you have to wear a mask as the dust contains spores.
Mark Bailey oh! Sorry to bother again but i forgot to ask what finish you applied to it
No problem! The finish on that one is cellulose matt laquer - here is a link with more info - cheers! shop.baileyguitars.co.uk/66-exotica-electric-guitar
Bailey Guitars pretty fucking cool. Thanks!
Glad you like it - cheers! I found a video of me making it: ruclips.net/video/1EpULXHQNNE/видео.html
What kind of wood are those planks?
Thanks Ninja...I'm surprised nobody has asked this before! - it's Mahogany.
Yeah, can't avoid the twist. Always need a little sanding to flatten the blank.
Who makes that vice? Never seen one like that before.
Its a 'clamp on' style vice - ideal if you don't have a dedicated workshop...something like this: amzn.to/2O4faGs
I want to buy a body blank wood ready cut and planed is good option?
YES - spot on! Much easier and quicker if you can buy ready to work blanks...here is the link if you get stuck : guitarmaking.co.uk/product/guitar-body-blanks/
@@GuitarMaking Thank so much!! Master Luthier, I will check the website to options of body blanks wood
Forgive me but surely a couple of clamps each end on the glue line stops any twisting, keeps the glue line step as small as possible and saves setup time. that's what I do anyway. :o)
I forgive you Antonia! :)
woodprix scripts includes most of woodworking plans you can find
Was that tite bond glue
Oh yes Gavin - Titebond - The King of Glue! I could tell you a story to prove it but that is for another video...
I can't believe it's done with just glue and pressure, are you sure this is a good lasting method? I would've sweared you'd need some sort of mechanical joint, I mean little pieces of wood glued in a cavity on both sides...
Guitar makers pride themselves on our joints (at least I do). I can join a body blank in just a few minutes perfectly with virtually invisible glue line. Done correctly the butt joint is plenty strong enough - Try it! You'll never break it....You're talking about 'biscuits' - they are nasty....we don't use them - they are for builders.
Thanks, man. Good to know. I'll proceed just like you show in the video.
Good luck! Hope it works out OK - Let me know how it goes?
Why do we need 2 planks for the body? Cant it be a single wood piece?
YES! A one piece body is easier and quicker to make but unfortunately it is very hard to find wide enough planks - also 2 piece is more stable, cheaper and easy to get.
I have a mahogany LP with 4 planks. How about that compared with 1, 2, 3 or more planks ? Really appreciate for the answer. Thanks
Here's me thinking they'd be dowelled together - I'm pleasantly surprised!
Couldn't the body break in half?
Liam - the glue joint is actually stronger than the wood...if you did manage to break it, it would not break at the glue line!
Mark Bailey thank you I was making a guitar and was told that it would break so I asked an expirienced guitar builder
Spelled that wrong sorry
No problem - glad to help - Good luck with your build!
I never see anybody ever use a biscuit joiner
Biscuit joiners are not used in guitar making - we use pure skill! :)
What accent is that?
Midlands?
Or just get one solid piece of wood because 2 piece is a joke anyway.
Hey David - If you can find a piece large enough then go for it! - but please don't mock us who are less fortunate...and bear in mind that there are disadvantages of having a 1 piece body
Guitar Making I’ve never heard of disadvantages of having a one piece body. The two piece body has an effect on time and staying in a negative way. And how hard can I single piece of would be to find? You can’t be that disadvantaged. What is not that difficult to find. I’m sorry it’s just a poor way to build a guitar.
Yes - One piece bodies tend to be rarer, more expensive, and more prone to warping. A two piece body is a perfectly acceptable way to build a guitar - possibly even better than 1 piece...consider that every acoustic guitar has a 2 piece bookmatched soundboard and back...
We arent making an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar is totally different and 2 piece can warp just as easily as a one piece. Thats why when a REAL luthier makes an electric guitar, he/she will cut the wood, slightly larger than dimension and let the wood rest for a few days so it will move and do whats going to do. When its done moving the wood is cut to final shape and chances of warping are extremely rare unless the guitar is being abused. Solid body's are not rarer and not generally more expensive either. Your "facts" are all scewed.
Yes David - but the 2 piece will move half as much. Not sure what you mean by a 'REAL' luthier but here's an inside joke 'in the trade' you should probably know: A luthier is just a guitar maker with his finger up his ass...David - I said 'one piece bodies' not 'solid bodies'...please read my comments again before responding and refrain with the combative language...you can go to other channels for that sort of thing (look right)
A jointer would true up the glue faces quickly and accurately