How to Make a Guitar at Home

Building your own guitar is a great hobby for any guitar player or guitar enthusiast to take on. Nothing can beat the sense of satisfaction you will have knowing that the instrument you enjoy playing was built with your own two hands! One of the best ways to make a guitar at home is to purchase a guitar kit that comes with all the necessary parts and the wood for the body already designed and cut out. This is great for those who are brand new to building their own guitars and would like to get some understanding of how a guitar is put together.

Things You'll Need

• Guitar Kit Screwdriver Sandpaper Paint Soldering Iron Primer Masking Tape Lacquer

Instructions

1. Purchase your guitar kit and gather your tools. Guitar kits come in a variety of styles and designs, so you can choose one you really like. You will also need an assortment of tools to help you put your guitar kit together. You will need a screwdriver, sandpaper, soldering iron, paint, primer, and a knife.

2. 

   Take the neck of the guitar and cover the fretboard with masking tape. Lay the fretboard down on a flat surface and spray a coat of wood finish lacquer on the headstock. After it dries, turn the neck over and apply a coat of lacquer to the back of the neck and headstock as well. Remove the masking tape from the fretboard.

3. 

   Take a piece of sandpaper and lightly sand the body of the guitar to make sure it is completely smooth. Take a soft cloth and wipe away the dust from the body of the guitar.

4. Prime the body of the guitar on both sides. Coat all of the body of the guitar, starting at the outside edges and making your way toward the center of the guitar. Allow the primer to dry for a while, and then take sandpaper and sand down any runs or rough spots left on the body by the primer dripping or drying.

5. Take your favorite color of paint and spray both sides of the body until all of the guitar's body is evenly covered. Make sure that you get into the cutaway sections of the body as well. You should apply two coats of color to the body. You only need basic spray paint as the lacquer, and a good polishing will supply the glossy look. Apply a coat the guitar body and allow it to dry for a few days before applying a second coat to protect the finish. Because you are using spray paint and lacquer you will not need any brushes to paint your guitar.

6. Attach the neck of the guitar to the body of the guitar. Using your Philips screwdriver, mount the neck to the body and secure the four large screws into the back of the neck where the body and neck connect to each other.

7. Fasten the tuners to the top of the headstock. Turn the guitar over and fit each of the tuners into the headstock and secure them in place with screws.

8. Wire the control plate. The control plate is the section of your guitar that has the volume, tone and toggle switch on it. Simply take your soldering iron and solder a wire from the middle contact to the volume contact. Solder one end of a wire to the volume control and the other end to the input jack included in your kit.

9. 

   Screw the plastic pick guard in place on the body of the guitar. Take a look at the picture to get an idea of what the pick guard looks like.

10. Fit the pickups into the appropriate spots in the body and pick guard of the guitar. Solder the wires on the back of your guitar pickups to the volume pot on the control plate. Make sure that you solder the white wires to the correct spots on the three-way toggle switch and the black wires to the volume pot. Screw the pickups in place and secure the control plate in place (located under the pickups close to the edge of the guitar) as well, making sure to attach the jack socket.

11. Attach the control plate knobs and string up the guitar. After you have snapped the knobs onto the volume, tone and toggle switches, you can then screw the bridge in place. String up your guitar, tune it and try it out.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure when you are applying the lacquer, primer, and paint to do this in a well ventilated area where there is nothing flammable nearby. You may also want to wear an apron and some goggles to prevent paint from getting in your eyes.

Resources

• U.S. Guitar Kits
• Martin Guitar Kits
• Martin Guitar Kit Construction