Music lovers have always been fascinated with the way legendary guitarists weave music that can capture emotions without the use of words. After several years of constant practice, those guitarists have earned their skills and reputations due to their hard work. You can become just like them if you have your own guitar. The best part is that you can build a guitar that perfectly suits your posture and playing style.

Guitars at the store can be quite pricey since guitar-makers use high quality materials and superior engineering to create them. In your case, you may not have all the expensive equipment to create those types of guitars, but through careful preparation, you can create a guitar that is almost as good as those found in music stores. Who knows, you might sell your own line of guitars in the near future if you get the hang of creating your own guitar.

Some people consider the creation of a guitar as an art in itself. You will need a good eye for details and some carpentry skills to actually create one. The shape and width of the wood to be used should be constant since a slight alteration to any of those properties can change the sound of the instrument. Remember that precision is the key to this do-it-yourself project.

Materials Used:

• mahogany board – 2 meters
• handsaw
• band saw
• chisel
• hammer
• mechanical drill
• wood glue
• tape measure
• file
• sandpaper
• varnish
• paper
• pencil
• guitar strings
• 1 bag of nuts and bolts
• plastic tuners

Mahogany is Your Best Choice

To create your own guitar, your logical first step is to select the right materials. If you frequent music stores, you will notice that acoustic guitars are made from various materials. Some top quality guitars have hardwood bodies that make them sound a bit different from other guitars. In your case, mahogany is your best choice since you do not have the standard set of equipment that a guitar-maker has. Mahogany guitars sound almost as good as their hardwood counterparts and they are a whole lot easier to work with. Besides, it is also much cheaper than any hardwood.

Guitar-Making Tools

Go to a lumber shop and order a two-meter mahogany board. Handpick the smoothest board among the bunch then make your way into a hardware center to gather the necessary tools that are not found in your home’s toolbox. Once done, grab a can of varnish and wood glue then go to a music store to purchase the guitar strings and tuners.

The Guitar Guide

Before you start creating the guitar, sketch the design of your guitar on a sheet of paper so that you have a guide. You can go for the standard guitar if you are a traditional guitar player, the lefty guitar if you are left-handed or a different-shaped guitar if you are an unconventional guitar player. Do not forget to indicate the dimensions of each section of the guitar in the sheet of paper to make things easier.

From Board to Guitar

When you have settled on a design for your guitar, outline its shape on the mahogany board with a pencil. You can refer to your guide from time to time so that your measurements will be accurate. Once done, use a handsaw to cut out the neck and a band saw for the guitar’s body. Continue this process until you have all the wooden pieces needed to assemble your guitar.

The Guitar Neck

Get the neck of your guitar and make the nineteen equidistant frets on its surface. Use your hammer and chisel to etch out the borders of each fret. Do this carefully since a slight error can alter the sound and the tuning of your guitar. When you are done with the guitar frets, you can drill the guitar’s head stock and affix the tuners with your mechanical drill. Lock all six tuners with nuts and bolts to finish the neck of your guitar.

The Guitar Jigsaw Puzzle

At this point, think of your guitar as a jigsaw puzzle that you will connect with wood glue. Assemble the wooden pieces according to the shape and dimensions that you sketched in your guide. Apply just enough wood glue so that the sound of your guitar will not be adversely altered. When you are done, the only remaining step is the guitar finish.

The Guitar Finish

Use a wood file and a sheet of sandpaper to smoothen the surface of the guitar. When your guitar is smooth, apply varnish to the guitar’s body and neck so that your guitar will have a beautiful glossy finish. Your guitar will be ready for your melodies and symphonies once the varnish dries.

Now, you can hear how your self-made guitar responds to all your Steve Vai impressions and your Joe Satriani moments. With enough practice and determination, your name might actually stand alongside those two. Go and play your guitar.

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