The MISC builds a guitar

[bodyarmorbently]

How many hours of work would you estimate you put into one on average?

Very impressive stuff

[gtrzrus]

How many hours of work would you estimate you put into one on average?

Very impressive stuff

Thanks Brah! I can build a guitar a month just working on it when I feel like it. A lot of the time is tied to waiting on glue or finishes to cure too.

I would say of actual work time maybe 80 hours from start to finish.

If I have a body black already made and I’m not doing a top in it, I can have the body done in 4 hours easy.

The neck is actually much harder process, you have to be part carpenter, artist, engineer, and jeweler. I can usually build a neck in a week of spare time. If I was going full bore maybe 3 or four days.

At one point I was working 40+ hours doing both my regular job and the guitars. I could do 3 or 4 guitars finished in a month, but it is exhausting.

[gtrzrus]

I appreciate all of the praise and repped.

I need to add that it took me about 10 guitars before I could build anything close to high end store quality.

I actually have a wall of shame where I throw the body parts that do not work out. Most can be saved, but by the time I repair them, I have already built another piece to replace it.

Most of my early guitars were similar to something you would get for $500 to $700 from your local Guitar Center.

For those of you that have said that you want a custom guitar built one day, be very careful. There are big name builders that charge big money for guitars that buy the necks already completed from a middle man. Anyone can buy these necks so you are not getting anything besides a custom body and a setup.

[Retoaded]

I've been playing my entire life. Very impressive stuff.

The first guitar in your picture post is freaking awesome.

Have you ever done a burst pattern? I had a Les Paul that I bought instantly in a store just after seeing the AAA flame desert burst being the most impressive top I'd ever seen.

[gtrzrus]

I've been playing my entire life. Very impressive stuff.

The first guitar in your picture post is freaking awesome.

Have you ever done a burst pattern? I had a Les Paul that I bought instantly in a store just after seeing the AAA flame desert burst being the most impressive top I'd ever seen.

Yes, I’ve done a few sunburst. I love Les Pauls too. To me, they are the best sounding guitar made.

[gtrzrus]

Today was dye day. Yesterday, I put a deep thick coat of blue dye on the body and let it soak in over night.



This morning, I sanded all of the dye off. What is left are lower wood fibers that still hold the dye. This allows the next application to become deeper.

This afternoon, I started applying the sunburst finish. A sunburst is a fade from dark to light. Most people spray it, but if you are careful and take your time, you can do it by rubbing which is the way that I usually do it. I have a large compressor and quality spray guns, but I like the rubbed in approach better.

So after about an hour, this is the results:



After seeing this, I think I’m going to make some cream colored P90s. I’m still thinking about the hardwar color. It’s down to black or chrome. I’ll do some mock ups and decide later. I need to spray the body now, but I will do it this weekend.

On to the neck for now...

[ctgblue]

Looking good

I've been making my own for a while, hate strat trems so I hotrod and sculpt teles

[RICHSTRONG]

THis is absolutely magical. Srs. I wish i could play a guitar. Repped for some srs talent OP. Definitely mirin

[anonymous]

THis is absolutely magical. Srs. I wish i could play a guitar. Repped for some srs talent OP. Definitely mirin

Same.

Will show this thread to my father next time I see him since he loves guitars and plays regularly. Especially loves custom ones.

[aceroa]

Here are a few:

This guitar is freakin awesome man, you built this? How did you learn how to build guitars like this? I definitely didn't expect this kind of quality when I first opened this thread. Hipshot fixed bridge with Fishman Fluence pickups, looks like my kind of guitar. Reminds me of somethings I'd see from Kiesel or Ibanez's newer RG models.

[gtrzrus]

This guitar is freakin awesome man, you built this? How did you learn how to build guitars like this? I definitely didn't expect this kind of quality when I first opened this thread. Hipshot fixed bridge with Fishman Fluence pickups, looks like my kind of guitar. Reminds me of somethings I'd see from Kiesel or Ibanez's newer RG models.

I appreciate it brah. I’m a huge Ibanez fan. I still have 4 on my wall including a 1989 RG 550. They feel like home to me.

[gtrzrus]

THis is absolutely magical. Srs. I wish i could play a guitar. Repped for some srs talent OP. Definitely mirin

Appreciate it Brah, it an honor that a MISC legend has posted in my thread.

[gtrzrus]

Same.

Will show this thread to my father next time I see him since he loves guitars and plays regularly. Especially loves custom ones.

Thanks Brah!

[orangetide]

sooo if you do build again for others, where is the waitlist? id be very interested

[gtrzrus]

I feel like I lost a member of my family today with Eddie’s passing. To say he had and influence on me is an understatement. Not only did I learn more Van Halen songs than I can remember, but Ed’s constant tinkering with guitars got me started into modifying them myself.

This is my music room just so you get an idea:

[gtrzrus]

sooo if you do build again for others, where is the waitlist? id be very interested

I did have a wait list, but when I decided to tone it down, I let them know that I was folding up shop for consumers.

I am toying with an idea of build a MISC guitar to auction off for charity.

[gtrzrus]

I had build this body a year ago using the same wormy maple top, but on mahogany. I didn’t feel much like working on the in-law neck so I did a dye job on it while blasting some Van Halen.

The body is my own design. It’s a lot like an RG shape, but there is a shuttle offset on the backend. It’s also not a wide as an RG body. It’s about an inch more narrow. Yes, I’m a manlet! I filled the worm holes with a dark blue plus I created some additional scaring to fill with the epoxy.


Before Dye:



After Dye:




It’s still a little wet. I need to wait for it dry to clean up the lines and get rid of a Few little splotches.

[latverian41]

Yes, I’ve done a few sunburst. I love Les Pauls too. To me, they are the best sounding guitar made.

That all depends on the particular sound you love and are going for..

To me a tradational tele through a fender twin amp. Is pure love that cant be touch.

Telecasters are hands down the best over all electric guitar and for so many reasons

[gtrzrus]

Looking good

I've been making my own for a while, hate strat trems so I hotrod and sculpt teles

Nice work Brah. I really dig the triple HB one in the middle!

[gtrzrus]

That all depends on the particular sound you love and are going for..

To me a tradational tele through a fender twin amp. Is pure love that cant be touch.

Telecasters are hands down the best over all electric guitar and for so many reasons

I can agree. It just depends on the what you are going for. Tele through and old Twin with that spank and reverb are heavenly too! It just depends on the mood of the day.

[MBisonSon]

OP whatever you do for occupation figure out how to quit srs.

Those things look like works of art, especially the one with the different colored edge.

If you keep building them and expanding on what you're doing artistically I could see you making big money.

[pengh]

We should all chip in $5 bucks and build a MISC guitar...... And then we give it away to a lucky winner. ❤ maybe the headstock can have a bertstare on it... or something 🤔

[gtrzrus]

OP whatever you do for occupation figure out how to quit srs.

Those things look like works of art, especially the one with the different colored edge.

If you keep building them and expanding on what you're doing artistically I could see you making big money.

I appreciate it Brah. I’ve had people tell me that I need to go all in, but I do have a good job outside of this (IT Database Admin). I have two kids in in college etc. I’m hoping I can retire early from the IT job, but I can’t risk it now.

[gtrzrus]

We should all chip in $5 bucks and build a MISC guitar...... And then we give it away to a lucky winner. ❤ maybe the headstock can have a bertstare on it... or something 🤔

Word! No funds needed, but we can brainstorm and come up with something cool and MISC like for sure. I definitely like the Bert idea though.

Feel free to share suggestions.

[pengh]

OP have you made a bass guitar?

[orangetide]

1. how did you learn? books, videos, luthiers, etc.

2. where do you get truss rods from?

3. what is the trick to making necks?

[gtrzrus]

OP have you made a bass guitar?

No, I’ve been planning too make one for myself, but I never got around to it. It’s on the list though.

[gtrzrus]

1. how did you learn? books, videos, luthiers, etc.

2. where do you get truss rods from?

3. what is the trick to making necks?

I bought a book years ago, but never built one from it.

I pretty much learned from message boards and just doing the work. My first was playable, but it wasn’t even a good guitar. Each one got much better until around my 10th. Once I hit that point, they have been something that I was really proud of. I did have some woodworking experience from my father who was always building things.

For necks, it’s all about practice. They are harder just because you have to learn so much. You have to learn to fret leveling, crowning, polishing, etc. There is also a lot of hand carving. I’ve wasted a lot wood and time. For necks it’s just a lot of practice and sweat. There are also a ton of resources on building necks and body’s for that matter. Check out TDPRI.com and Projectguitar.com. There are many builds that are shown in much more detail than I go through on the this thread.

You learn the basics and then you change things that make sense to you. Everyone is a little different I. How they go about the builds, but they are similar in a lot of ways.

[MBisonSon]

I appreciate it Brah. I’ve had people tell me that I need to go all in, but I do have a good job outside of this (IT Database Admin). I have two kids in in college etc. I’m hoping I can retire early from the IT job, but I can’t risk it now.

I'm not saying quit right this second.

What I am saying though is you have potential to eventually be making more money making guitars than your current job.

Just keep coming up with new ideas for guitars, maybe even work with a few artists (as in drawing/painting type people) for ideas.

Different color schemes, different things with the wood work etc, sky's the limit if you get the right eyes on them.

[gtrzrus]

I'm not saying quit right this second.

What I am saying though is you have potential to eventually be making more money making guitars than your current job.

Just keep coming up with new ideas for guitars, maybe even work with a few artists (as in drawing/painting type people) for ideas.

Different color schemes, different things with the wood work etc, sky's the limit if you get the right eyes on them.

Oh I hear you. It’s a lot more fun too! It’s a goal one day for sure.