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A couple of months ago I dove into making a Stratocaster-type guitar. And I've learned a lot since then. Here's a few pics of the progress:
I took a 1/4" body template that I bought, made a 3/4" template and cut a body our from 8/4 figured sapele.
I then took a to-scale drawing of a '62 style neck and made a 1/4" template out of that. I also made templates for the back of neck shape at the 1st and 12th frets.
I made sure the neck template fit the pocket in the template.
After taking a piece of pine construction lumber and shaping a trial neck, I decided to use figured cherry to make the real neck. I had already made up a template with a piece of 4/4 QS maple.
I made a jig to take a fret template for cutting the fret slots. I used a blade specifically designed for cutting the slots.
After attempting to sand the radius into the fretboard, I decided to make a jig/sled to route the 12" radius. As long as you take small bites and take your time, it works great.
Next was to drill for the fret dots. I found I had purchased 5/16" diameter dots when I thought I had bought 1/4" dia. They won't work.
Rather than spend $125 on a fret bender, I made one. It does the job. The bottom rollers are from a screen door.
You get absolutely nothing when buying most guitar parts. So you have to wait until they arrive and figure it out yourself. These are Schaller tuners and require a stepped bit. Problem is they also require reaming the large hole to fully seat. (see above) You can't get the reamer all the way into the large hole because the smaller hole stops it. I had to scrape the inside of the hole to get the tuner to fully seat.
Right now I'm working on finishing the body. I made a "rotisserie" from some 2x6 lumber and a conduit bender handle. That way I can get all around the guitar without having to set it down.
Today I'll be again working on the finish and getting the body ready for lacquer. I have to finish assembling a neck (I decided on a curly maple neck instead) and then shape it. The head and foot of the neck will be gloss lacquer. The back of the neck will be satin lacquer. And the fretboard (either ebony or cocobolo) will have a coating of fretboard finishing oil on it.
Still lots to do! :smile:

I took a 1/4" body template that I bought, made a 3/4" template and cut a body our from 8/4 figured sapele.

I then took a to-scale drawing of a '62 style neck and made a 1/4" template out of that. I also made templates for the back of neck shape at the 1st and 12th frets.

I made sure the neck template fit the pocket in the template.

After taking a piece of pine construction lumber and shaping a trial neck, I decided to use figured cherry to make the real neck. I had already made up a template with a piece of 4/4 QS maple.

I made a jig to take a fret template for cutting the fret slots. I used a blade specifically designed for cutting the slots.

After attempting to sand the radius into the fretboard, I decided to make a jig/sled to route the 12" radius. As long as you take small bites and take your time, it works great.

Next was to drill for the fret dots. I found I had purchased 5/16" diameter dots when I thought I had bought 1/4" dia. They won't work.

Rather than spend $125 on a fret bender, I made one. It does the job. The bottom rollers are from a screen door.

You get absolutely nothing when buying most guitar parts. So you have to wait until they arrive and figure it out yourself. These are Schaller tuners and require a stepped bit. Problem is they also require reaming the large hole to fully seat. (see above) You can't get the reamer all the way into the large hole because the smaller hole stops it. I had to scrape the inside of the hole to get the tuner to fully seat.

Right now I'm working on finishing the body. I made a "rotisserie" from some 2x6 lumber and a conduit bender handle. That way I can get all around the guitar without having to set it down.
Today I'll be again working on the finish and getting the body ready for lacquer. I have to finish assembling a neck (I decided on a curly maple neck instead) and then shape it. The head and foot of the neck will be gloss lacquer. The back of the neck will be satin lacquer. And the fretboard (either ebony or cocobolo) will have a coating of fretboard finishing oil on it.
Still lots to do! :smile: