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Hi everyone this is my first post.
I am wanting to start building my first electric guitar, I have bought my body blank and that is as far as I have gotten so far
my question is where do I start. I am a complete amateur in guitar building and indeed woodwork minus a few DIY projects but I love playing the guitar and challenging myself with new ventures I plan to make the whole guitar myself so no buying anything ready made (or at least that is the plan so far) I may even in the future try and make my own pick ups's (that one is not set in stone)
What I need to know is.

-What tools I need and price I should look at paying for them?
-how to start my build
-how to make a template
-how to work out measurements
-useful tips
-anything else i have missed

Any help from someone far wiser than me would be most appreciated

Not to send you packing, but I had my start here.

http://www.tdpri.com/forums/tele-home-depot.46/

thanks for the link i will check them out as well

Welcome Adam. Should be a good build to start on.

These are pretty much generic suggestions.

The first thing you need is a set of plans. LMI has a couple of nice ones. After you get them you can use as is, or modify to your hearts desire.

After you have a final set of plans I would start gathering the various parts, wood, tuners, fret wire, neck attachment hardware, bridge, pickups, fingerboard (pre-slotted might be the way for you to go), truss rod, etc.

Once you have that you can start planning how to start and what tools you need to accomplish that phase of the plan. I would start on the neck. (a table saw and band saw would be a real plus)

In the interest of true confessions I have only just recently been involved with helping a friend with his first guitar build (and my first electric bass).

Good Luck

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

@Joe Beaver
Thank you for the tips i will look into an acrylic template may try and make one myself have not decided yet.

Hi Adam. Do you happen to have a community workshop or woodworking class to help get you comfortable and safe using some tools?

@James Orr
Not as far as i know James although I am fairly confident I can use the tools safely although the guidance could be useful I will look into it but if there is such a thing it certainly won't be free or cheap

Neither are mistakes, and trust me, we all make plenty

To cut your body blank you'll want a coping saw at the very least, and a lot of spare blades as they tend to bind and break easily. My favorite is my Knew Concepts saw, but there are many out there. David Barron (in Southhampton) distributes them and can probably tell you which one would be the best fit for cutting through a thick body blank.

You can clean up your cuts with a hard block of maple and some 2" PVC pipe with self-adhesive sandpaper, but it will be more enjoyable with a belt and spindle sander.

You'll want a router to cut your cavities. This is where on-scene guidance will help you. The first time I tried routing a cavity, I tried taking way too deep of a cut. A common mistake is to try to cut too much at a time. When I made that first cut, the bit grabbed the guide bushing and threw the router out of the work, thankfully without damaging anything or hurting me.

You'll want routing templates for your cavities and neck pocket. The neck pocket is critical and I'd recommend buying a template for it. You can get away with making your own for the control and pickup cavities, as those aren't critical.

Some rasps or a spokeshave for carving that neck. Use the search function here to look for "Lioger." You'll find a few threads on some good rasps. I don't remember the specifics of the two I have off the top of my head, but they'll be in those threads. A spokeshave is really nice to have, but the rasps are enough.

A drill, some bits, and a way to drill holes at 90 degrees. Something like this is sufficient.

More than anything, I wish you success!

May I suggest that if you are not a woodworker that you start with a "Parts-caster"? That is an electric guitar assembled from pre-made parts. You can buy already shaped bodies and necks from a number of sources. Add to that the electronics and hardware of your choice. Complete the project by applying a finish.

In doing so you will learn what components go into a guitar and how it's assembled. You can also begin to learn how to apply a finish to wood. Although it may not seem it, applying an attractive finish is one of the more challenging and time consuming aspects of lutherie.

If after your first parts-caster you want to try your hand at more challenges you can start building a body from rough lumber, or carving a neck. By working "out" from pre-made parts you can teach yourself to build without trying to bite off too much at the start.


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@James Orr Thank you for your tips and instructions I will keep them in mind thank you also for the recommended place to look for the tools you recommended

@rlrhett Thank you for the advice but I have a grasp of what the components of the guitar are and where things go and I would rather start from scratch and make a product I actually want than buy a kit and end up with something that takes up space, I have plenty of time to do this project so I should have no issue rushing into things giving me chance to really understand anything i need to understand before going ahead. Thank you again for the suggestion however as i have a younger cousin who would definitely be interested.

A template will be required for milling the body, but a set of plans is also a very good idea. It will answer many questions for you as you move along in the build.

I never leave home without a plan.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Solid bodies are easy, I made one 30 years ago with a couple of clamps, a jig saw and a router, file and sandpaper. Mind you I used a Yamaha neck that I got for $15. Wish I would have known you could make an acoustic. No idea where I would be now. Oh yeah, and a hand drill. The neck is the tricky part. After that the distance to the bridge saddles is 2X the 12th fret location. Line up the two outer strings down the neck, position the pickups, most everything else falls in place.

Get a hold of this book, it is great for a first electric. How to Make your Own Electric Guitar by Melvyn Hiscock ISBN 0 9531049 0 7

I found a copy on ebay for £15 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Make-Your-Own ... SwB09YDPHv

Great reference if you have never done anything like this before.

Cheers, Bob