How To Build A Guitar

| January 6, 2014 | 0 Comments

By: Jack Castillo

If you play guitar (or bass guitar but I play guitar so I’m saying guitar) sooner or later you may get bored with the guitars that are available for purchase or you may or maybe become dissatisfied with the paint jobs you can get on your guitar. There are several ways you can solve this problem, like the manufacturer custom shop or repainting your guitar, but why should you do that instead of building your own guitar? You have the skills, or you can learn them, and then you could tell people you’ve built a guitar (those are some good bragging rights). This article will teach you how to make the sweet, sweet musical instrument for yourself.

Step I:

For the purpose of time (and really common sense) I am not going to tell you how to make your own body, I’m just going to assume that you bought a DIY Guitar Kit (I used a Solo SGK-10 kit (Gibson SG). Anyways step one, get your guitar wet and let it sit for 24 hours, then sand your guitar. To sand you guitar you will want 500, 1,000, and 1,500 grit sand paper. You might also want to get a sanding block. DO NOT USE A ELECTRIC SANDER! It just messes up your guitar. Remember, sand with the grain! Sand the guitar (and the neck (but not the fingerboard) until it’s as smooth as a Santana song (yay, corny jokes).

Step II:

Get some spray on sanding sealer and some primer (you might need your parents for this) and spray two light layers of (Primer then sanding sealer) and one heavy coat. DO NOT LET IT DRIP! If it does then you will need to sand it smooth and do it again (I learned this the hard way). Let your guitar sit for 24 hours.

Step III:

Wet/Dry sand your guitar. Dip your wet/dry sand paper in water (keep the water near you). Don’t push too hard when sanding or you’ll need the sealer again (500, 1,000, and 1,500 grit).

Step IV:

PAINTING TIME! If you’re leaving the guitar natural wood color skip this. If you are staining your guitar use stain instead in paint. If you are painting you can use an airbrush or spray-paint for this (I used spray paint). If you are spray-painting your guitar I recommend Rust-Oleum brand. Paint two coats lightly and one heavy, repeat as much as you want. DO NOT LET IT DRIP…AGAIN! (I learned this the hard way too). Sand and repaint if you do. Wait ten minutes between coats. Heavy coat let dry 24 hours.

Step V:

Repeat Step III.

Step VI:

Get clear spray paint. Again two light, one heavy repeat as necessary. Wait ten minutes between coats. Heavy coat let dry three weeks.DO NOT LET IT DRIP…AGAIN! (I learned this the hard way too)

Step VII:

Lacquer your guitar, but only the parts you painted.

Step VIII:

Repeat Step V.

Step IX:

Attach your hardware and do your electronics. You might need to learn how to solder.

X:

Redo step IX until your instrument works properly.

XI:

Rock out with your bad self!

You have now completed building your guitar. Now go up to someone with your guitar (or bass) and tell them “Hey random person, I built this!”  and hope they they don’t have you taken to an insane asylum!

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