Electric guitar from a kit

You wanted to build an electric guitar from scratch, yea? Well looks like you did a fantastic job.

-- Soli Deo gloria!

Nice Paul Paul! :) You could have done everything as per your video without purchasing anything other than the soldering iron. Still nice to have specialty tools. Looking forward to seeing your next one.

-- Darrel

Thanks, guys.

Darrel, yeah, you could definitely build it without the specialty tools, but they are not very expensive and help you produce a better quality instrument. The fret hammer is the only one that I was on the fence about, cuz I could probably come up with at least 10 other ways to do that, but that one was only $6. My total investment in specialty tools was around $70, including the soldering gun. Not too bad, and now I’m ready for another one. :)

-- Paul Mayer, http://youtube.com/c/toolmetrix

Thanks, guys.

Darrel, yeah, you could definitely build it without the specialty tools, but they are not very expensive and help you produce a better quality instrument. The fret hammer is the only one that I was on the fence about, cuz I could probably come up with at least 10 other ways to do that, but that one was only $6. My total investment in specialty tools was around $70, including the soldering gun. Not too bad, and now I m ready for another one. :)

- Paul Mayer

For sure. For what it’s worth, I too have plenty of specialty tools acquired over the years. I used to use the radius block for putting a radius on my fretboards prior to fretting. I now do that with a router sled and finish sanding it with the block. I level frets by marking the tops with a sharpie followed by a full size flat, fine file until the top of each pret has been kissed for it’s full length followed by 400 grit glued to an old high quality 2’ level. This allows you to level in line with the taper of the board and is a must if doing compound radius. Triangular file with safe edges or diamond fret file for crowning. I used to hammer frets then progressed to pressing with Stew Macs caul in a drill press and then bought an arbor press for it. Makes installing frets very easy and consistent. Happy building!

-- Darrel

Hi Darrel,

That’s all very helpful. Thank you! Lots more for me to learn here, that’s for sure.

-- Paul Mayer, http://youtube.com/c/toolmetrix

Nice one, I watched your video from start to finish, nice work.
Stew Mac is doing ok this week I see someone post a kit Ukelele a few days ago.
Cheers
Anthony

-- There is no hope for any of us if we keep apologizing for telling the truth.

Thanks, Anthony!

-- Paul Mayer, http://youtube.com/c/toolmetrix

You did a fantastic job dying that curly maple. It just comes out and punches you right in the face.
Very well done!

-- "Fine Woodworking" is the name given to a project that takes 3 times longer than normal to finish because you used hand tools instead of power tools. ----Mike, Waukesha, WI

Gorgeous! Great color too.

-- Alex...builder of wooden wings for vintage sport biplanes...I'm your wingman :)

Sweet, dig it.

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/