How guitars are made. (See, I can write about non-cars, too.)| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/14/14 12:58 p.m.

First time in probably 20 years I have had something published that wasn't about cars.

http://guitarkadia.com/emon/guest-post/birth-of-a-prs-guitar/

N Sperlo MegaDork
1/14/14 12:59 p.m.

This sounds familiar. Ok, I'll read it now...

N Sperlo MegaDork
1/14/14 1:06 p.m.

Very cool article. Although I read it all in the voice of the "how it's made guy". The small segments along with big pictures make it easier for me to read.

Very cool and interesting. Much props. waits for fist bump

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/14/14 1:06 p.m.

fist bump

Ransom UberDork
1/14/14 2:16 p.m.

Cool article!

That's a lot of very pretty wood...

JoeyM Mod Squad
1/14/14 2:23 p.m.

This is only semi-related, but I'm really wanting to try building an acoustic....bending the sides and everything.

1988RedT2 PowerDork
1/14/14 2:51 p.m.

Dude! I'm 50! I can't get interested in guitars.

Marjorie Suddard General Manager
1/14/14 3:02 p.m.

That was cool.

Margie

Powar SuperDork
1/14/14 3:17 p.m.

Rockin'. Very interesting, even to someone like me who doesn't play.

EastCoastMojo Mod Squad
1/14/14 3:36 p.m.

Very cool.

Curmudgeon MegaDork
1/14/14 3:56 p.m.

Cool.

Tim Baxter PowerDork
1/15/14 8:43 a.m.

Somewhere I have a Gretsch factory tour. Very similar, while very different. Building big hollow bodies is a different kettle of fish.

JoeyM, a guy on my site built a homemade wood-bending thing with some pipe. Works well, too: http://gretschpages.com/forum/other-guitars/bending-wood/68076/page1/

Ian F UltimaDork
1/15/14 9:05 a.m.

Nice article. Occasionally I miss the PRS I once had (an early bolt-on CE model). For some reason, that guitar had a 'dead' G-note. A fretted G played on any string had essentially no sustain. Wierd. I never really warmed to the 25" scale either (Carvins bug me as well), although I can switch from a Les Paul to a Strat easily...

But damn PRS makes a pretty guitar...

JoeyM Mod Squad
1/15/14 10:30 a.m.

<== likes to make things

Tim Baxter wrote: JoeyM, a guy on my site built a homemade wood-bending thing with some pipe. Works well, too: http://gretschpages.com/forum/other-guitars/bending-wood/68076/page1/

Wow, that looks great!

I smell another project coming on.

Tim Baxter PowerDork
1/15/14 10:45 a.m.

Found the Gretsch factory tour video. Lot more handwork going on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUB6QICAS5I

Somewhere I have a Martin factory tour, too.

Anti-stance UltraDork
1/15/14 11:14 a.m.

A friend of mine has gotten into building guitars out of his garage. Eric Rose guitars. I am thinking about buying one from him.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/archive/index.php/t-1286635.html

Swank Force One MegaDork
1/15/14 11:17 a.m.

Hot damn.

This is one of the most beautiful guitars i've ever seen!

T.J. PowerDork
1/15/14 11:40 a.m.

Nice article - I enjoyed reading it.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/15/14 1:34 p.m.

PRS builds acoustic guitars in the same building--upstairs, next to the amp department. I have shot a few photos up there, but not enough to chronicle the entire process. Maybe I'll do that area next.

My instructor wants me to build my own guitar. I think I'm starting to zero in on what exactly I'd build.

Ian F UltimaDork
1/15/14 2:50 p.m.

David S. Wallens wrote: My instructor wants me to build my own guitar. I think I'm starting to zero in on what exactly I'd build.

Really? My instructors were always complaining I changed guitars too often. I was getting a different one every month (or seemed like it) there for awhile...

Right now, I'm dreaming of a Santos (find them on FB) Telecaster with Duncan P-Rails pick ups with Tele Custom (re: Les Paul) style controls. But I have to rebuild one of the Les Pauls and the ESP first.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/15/14 7:10 p.m.

Eventually I'd like a Tele--just not sure whether to go traditional or with humbuckers.

BoxheadTim PowerDork
1/15/14 7:45 p.m.

Try the G&L ASAT. I've owned a Squier Tele, played on a Fender Tele fairly regularly, but I like my hollow body G&L much better than the "originals".

Ian F UltimaDork
1/15/14 7:54 p.m.

Oddly enough, what I "want" is a Strat with Les Paul controls and while the switch will technically fit in the LP location on a Strat body, it just doesn't look right. So the plan is a Tele that has the bevels of a Strat. If it works, it'll look like a Tele, but feel like a Strat, if that makes any sense...

Although upon further reflection and research, Ernie Ball places the switch there on the John Petrucci models and it doesn't look bad... so maybe I'll change my mind... would be a lot easier to put a switch there on a Strat than to bevel the hell out of Tele...

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/15/14 8:14 p.m.

BoxheadTim wrote: Try the G&L ASAT. I've owned a Squier Tele, played on a Fender Tele fairly regularly, but I like my hollow body G&L much better than the "originals".

G&Ls are intriguing. (For what it's worth, my Jazz bass lives in a G&L bag.) This weekend we're going to the big guitar show in Orlando--you know, just to look around.

BoxheadTim PowerDork
1/15/14 9:29 p.m.

Just looking around? So you're taking a minivan instead of a U-Haul truck, right?