I’ve been playing guitar for about the last 20 years or so and I’ve always been interested in building my own guitar. So I finally decided to get started on it. I’ll be posting my progress here. Feel free to ask questions and make suggestions in the comments.
I started researching the various types of wood that are commonly used for guitar building. I found several useful sites describing the various qualities of specific species of wood. They were quite useful in making my decision about which wood to use for my guitar.
Ultimate Guitar Guide to Tone Wood
Sound Unlimited: Tone Wood Guide
I ultimately selected poplar for several reasons. Poplar is readily available in the northeast, is quite reasonably priced and is not too heavy. I was able to buy a 2″ x 18″ x 10′ milled board for $40 from a local lumber yard called The Woodery. Buying locally meant no shipping charges and I was able to select the board I wanted in person. They cut the board in half for me so I could fit it in my car. I should be able to get 2 guitars, possibly a 3rd small body if I use the ends of the board. I used the freshly cut ends of each piece to cut 2 pieces for my first guitar body. The guy at the lumber yard recommended using the center of the board for the best quality. The ends of the wood are less desirable due to the end grain being more susceptible to damage due to changes in temperature and humidity.
2" x 8" x 10' poplar cut in half.
My first guitar will be about 16.5 inches in length from top or neck end to bridge or tail end. The finished size will be 16 inches so I rough cut each piece to 16.5 to give myself some extra room. After cutting the board and cleaning the ends to make sure there is no dust or extra wood particles, I glued them together using Titebond and some 18 inch wood clamps I found at the hardware store.
In my next post I’ll review some of my choices of hardware and electronic components I am considering for my guitar.