I have posted a bunch of guitar building threads here. If they shouldn't be just let me know and I won't but people seem to like them.

Some guy at my work has a PRS Singlecut and told me I couldn't copy one.

I'm not a huge PRS fan, but I wanted to build something different. This one will only have a bridge humbucker and more of a Gibson neck profile.

I'm still deciding on the color.

Bought three pieces of maple like this for $35.00 a couple years ago. This one has nice flame (which honestly is not my thing) so it will do.











Sanded and planed and wiped down with mineral spirits - looking like a PRS top:)





I'm building one prototype with a mahogany back and also building a second (once I know it's not screwed up) with Korina.





Now, I know what you're thinking - it needs birdie inlays:

I don't mind the posting. Its nice seeing the build process

love it.
so cool for those of us with absolutely zero skills in this area.

Key-ool!

Very nice...

You're such a trip Noah - tear it up!!!

Looks Schweeeet!!! How'd you carve the top? Hand tools/chisels? Did you rough it out with power tools then tweek by hand? Be sure to show the neck build/shaping as well. Really nice job (btw - those birdie inlays are just crazy!).

The top is easy to carve. What you do is mark out some pencil lines about 1/2" apart on the top then route some steps.

Then using a palm sander make the ramps smooth.

I always enjoy them Noah. The birdie inlays got me chuckling

I would've loved to see some photos of this process, as it went.

Looks great!

Perfect! Exactly what I wanted to know. So you "map" it (like a topographic contour line map)and then cut along the lines... How much of a bite do you take with the router, and what type of bit do you use? Once again, nice work and thanks for letting us pick your brain!

I will post some pics later of another I did.

A while back I used some scrap and showed how to carve a top and do a burst finish using a router, a pencil and $6 of dye from Wal-Mart.

It's really simple.

Hey Noah, It may just be me, but I am looking at this with a G5 Power Mac loaded and all I see for pictures is "Photo bucket" bandwidth exceeded" Do you see the same? I used to see the pictures, but not here....

OK - so the neck is finally ready and I can show what I'm doing on the tenon side of things.

Here is a regular pic to show the tenon and body:



Here is the neck test fitted into the body:



This is important - Like Ed Roman says, you should be able to lift the body without the angle changing - look at where the fretboard meets to body.

This angle is the same in both pics (suspended and lying flat). The neck fits perfectly - this takes more time to do but hopefully it will be worth it.





Still working on the heel/joint, but it's coming along:



Some shots of the top. Almost done sanding, maybe another hour to go. Just wiped with some mineral spirits. Not popped out the grain yet.





This pic shows how much longer the tenon is then a regular PRS - more expensive to do but I don't cut corners.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

Thanks DP!

I am now working on the clear faux "binding" on the side of this build.

I decided to use Minwax brushing lacquer to do this because it was easier then spraying.

Final sanding complete to 2000



This is a major PITA but you want to tape everything super perfect. 20 extra minutes here is well worth it. With any kind of finish work the prep is what matters - no matter if you're painting cars, guitars or your house.



Ready to go:



Drying:

Now things are really getting interesting.

I am now using different shades of stain to really add some shimmer to this guitar. Now the grain looks to be about 6 different shades of blue depending on your viewing angle and really looks like an expensive piece of wood - remember that this started out as a mediocre $10.00 piece of maple!

The back/sides are really getting a glow that I like as well.

I'm not trying to be redundant with the pics - just trying to show how each step in the finishing process gets you closer - it's all about prep/time/detail.

Again - there is no clear on this body/neck as of yet.

A beauty.

Did you make the neck too?

Yhea, really well done. I probably wouldn't opt for the blue(the only blue guitar I've ever owned was a light powder blue which I didn't mind too much) color personally, but other than that it's looking pretty sweet!!! Also, I'm a little surprised to see the volute on the neck/headstock. Did you do this to be faithful to the PRS design or do you prefer the volute for headstock strength?

Thanks!

Yes, I made the neck as well.

I don't care for blue either - but I have seen a bunch of blue PRS so it kind of made sense, plus I wanted to do something different.

After repairing more then a few headstocks over the years I am a fan of the volute!

Wow.. Amazing Noah....

And you made the neck? Serious? Id like to see that process...

Great work..

I didn't bother to take pics of the neck this time but this is the process from a LP Junior I made.

I also made the Broadcaster neck I posted but the bolt on necks are a little different to make.

Also -

DP asked me to show how to carve out a top.

Here it is step by step (sorry I didn't post these sooner!)

1- Use a square and a pencil and mark in about an inch or so



2- Set your router for about 1/8" and route out the part outside your line:



3- Mark about 1/2" in and set your router and route outside that line:



4- Use some course sandpaper and straighten out the ledge. This can be done quickly using an ORBITAL (not back and forth) sander. I use a DeWalt.



5- do the same thing on the lower ledge:



6- Then just go with a fine grade and finish it up. Once it's all done you'll want to sand it down to 2000 to remove any scratches in the wood - which will show up once it's finished.

Very nice Noah.

Also nice shop tools. There are times I could really use a serious band saw and not the cheap bench mount type I have.

I guessing tinted lacquer spray finish for the top?

Thanks Noah- that's awesome!!

Noah,
Thanks again. Great photo's of the step by step process - really removes a lot of the mystery. Nice job!

Thanks Noah...

So how many necks did you have to build before you got it work right.. is there a formula for fret placement?

To be honest, it's not all that hard.

I remember someone telling me how difficult it must be to make a neck, I tried and it came out ok.

What I try to do when I approach something like that is step back and look at it in simple terms.

You have a straight piece of wood with a channel in the middle on center.

First, I joint and plane a piece of wood that is the right size.

Next, on the top I mark a center line. I also use a square and make a line on each side of the blank where the nut goes.

After that, I measure and mark where the truss rod will end (at the heel in this case) on the top so I know where to stop the router.

Then I take a protractor and on the sides I mark where the headstock angle will be.

Next, I clamp down the neck and route a straight line (using a guide for the router - 10.00 @ Sears) for the truss rod.

Next, I use a my bandsaw to rough out the shape of the neck - as I showed in the pics.

After that, it's just sanding and working to feel to get the profile 'right'. If you're a guitar player, this part is awesome because you can really fine tune to get exactly the profile you want.

Next, I take the fretboard and trim it to a close size of the neck. Once that is done I usually sand to get everything perfect.

Then I just fret it like you would any other neck.

I spend a lot of time on the frets and also on the tenon to make sure the details are right.

Also, you just glue the wings on the sides of your headstock. Cut them out on the bandsaw before you glue.

BTW - I use a $100 router table/router combo from Sears and a $130 bandsaw from Sears - so the tools are not very expensive.

I do have some nice stuff - I have the $500 JET spindle sander that was a gift but it's overkill - and I love it lol!

Here is where I am now.

I am trying to decide if I should add a toggle switch and have coil splitting on there or series/parallel of the coils.

This is what that would look like.

Most likely I'll leave as is.

Have a signature guitar that was all hand made. Similar... The guitar maker is Songhurst guitars.
Here is the Ear Witness model

ehhh I saw the JET markings and the spindle sander and the Delta Table saw so I thought you got to have a JET band saw. Very cool that the Sears band saw works (is a portable bench type?)

Question, do you spray finish the top? (tinted lacquer or Nitrous ... can't spell)


Thanks for posting this Noah.

Rich

I didn't spray the top yet because it is dyed.

I did spray the Gretsch and the Broadcaster I did.

Once all the holes are drilled (waiting on the bridge) I'll spray the clear.

I use the compressor that came with my Porter Cable nail gun set and a gun from Lowes.

thanks.

I have some cheap compressor and it just didn't cut it when I attempted spraying a small desk.

It should have. You should be spraying at a very low PSI - 20 or 30.

Sprayed at 30-40. The compressor I have takes forever to recycle. I'll have to check out the Porter Cable (is it the 6 gal pancake one?)

I like the blue. Sorry!

I like the blue on this style as well.

Yes, I have the Porter Cable pancake one. If you go to HD or Lowes I have the one that comes with the nail gun set.

I got a secondary tank for my little compressor to refill as I go. Works like a champ!

Yes you ARE sorry Nick! Don't worry, it's ok...

Finally finished the last one!

The action is not high - the nut is being worked on:

What's up with the "orange peel" finish in the first photo? It doesn't look up to your standards! Otherwise it looks very nice.

That's smudges from the polish - I took these while I was doing the buffing:)

Well alrighty then... How about a photo when she's been all buffed up and purty? Even better, how about a side by side with "the red head" and the "blue beauty"?