The 5 Big Mistakes Guitar Builders Make

If you can avoid these 5 guitar-building mistakes, you'll be more likely to achieve success with your project. If you would like to help support my channel and get something cool in return, please consider the following:

[ChrisNelsn]

Thanks for the video! A couple more to add based on my experience... 1 - don't assume your first scratch-built guitar is going to be a home run — especially if you're self taught. It's okay to make mistakes and it's also okay to spend a couple months on a build that goes nowhere. It's all part of the learning process. Sometimes it's worth finishing a build even though it's not "perfect" and moving on to the next one. 2 - don't assume something is ruined if things go sideways. Take it as an opportunity to learn how to fix it. The best builders know how to fix the eff-ups or imperfections as they go. 3 - don't give yourself a strict timeline. It's easy to get bummed that it's taking too long or you have to redo something. Rushing a build is only going to lead to problems.

[slapitman]

Man, Ive been building since I was 15 and that was a loooong time ago! These steps are pure gold and they make me smile. Totally agree and many I learned the hard way!! I like to make neck throughs mostly these days as basses are my reputation and having a written list is mandatory as you get one shot. Its like a recipe when baking a cake, you stop, think and then do. For me its like a manta, it helps me reduce errors and avoid waste. I also really appreciate the process more. One small tip I'd add...keep your workspace clean as you work. Minimal tools on the work surface, tidy as you go. The amount of time you move that instrument around and it hits a stray chisel, sits on a piece of carve out and gets a dent is often. By stopping to clean and limit your workflow means you re-focus..this for me saves time and builds a much better guitar/lute etc.

[rauschguitars]

I've made peace with the fact that mistakes will happen, sometimes due to lack of planning, sometimes due to lack thinking, sometimes due to lack of skill. Fixing those mistakes are part of the fun!

[ScottMcdonaldMusic]

I wish I’d seen this 3 weeks ago, it would’ve saved me some headaches. Good list. I’m taking notes

[markpowell]

Great video! Reminds me of many of the things I have taught for many years. 1. NEVER practice on your finish project. 2. Always Think-Know -Do in that order. First thing I always here after a mistake is, "I thought". 3. Be where you are. If your mind is some place else, bad things WILL happen. Most of the things you spoke about fall in to the preparation area. Yes, Success is a planned thing. One thing I felt you left out is, especially when crafting something, draw your own plan. So many questions will arise when you draw it out yourself. I also agree with Chris. A great craftsman is not judged by the perfect things, but by how you recover from, or blend in those mistakes. When your project is finished, look in the small corners. Can you do it better next time?

[davidguest]

My father was an expert wood carver and reproduction antique furniture builder. He always taught me the importance of a trial run when crafting. Even then he would say, "one won't see perfection until your 3rd build." Cheers.

[Hateweek]

Really sage I'm in the middle of a jass have some issues! Took notes for next time!

[lazyboyrider]

Thank you very much for these tips. I am assembling the necessary tools, wood and parts for my first guitar build. I have subscribed and will definitely be back.

[RobMods]

Thanks for the video. I know very few luthiers who complete the fretboard first, however your point about making a list of operations is a good one. The biggest mistake I see when I go to guitar shows and see new builders' axes, is simply that they haven't thoroughly gone over well designed and manufactured guitars to really understand the shape and dimensions of a functional, ergonomic and good looking instrument. The other mistake I see a lot is where there's a mix of underworked and overworked finishing. For example, overworked fretboard and headstock edges, but underworked fret ends, and wet sanding/polishing.

[darrylportelli]

I have good woodworking experience and so the woodworking aspect of it came natural - but the ORDER of the process, i spent about 2 weeks on that trying to find the best order - not everyone will have the same order and everytime you shift the order, you improve something and compromise on another, so you really need to find an order that works for you - i got a diary and documented the order and WHY i want that order and how it will benefit me down the line.
With regards to testing, ive cut about 8 fretboard out of cheap hardwood before i went ahead with my richlite board, but by that time the process was so well refined that it went really well. Having a bit of cheap hardwood on hand is great for testing

[johnstorace]

The most important tip is to use effective breathing PPE, especially during the sanding process and especially with hardwoods. It took only one listen to a person with pulmonary fibrosis struggle for his breaths to convince me.

[michaelmenkes]

I agree with fretboards mostly complete before gluing on the neck. In part. My fret jig assumes its a fretboard blank and wouldn't work if already on the neck. It still has complications when referencing the location of the fretboard for scale length and getting it dead center. I'm now moving to adding extra width to the fretboard blank to allow for deeper fret slot cutting and easy binding before it even gets on the neck. But I think radiusing is much easier when the board is on the neck and the neck is clamped down to the table and I have the ability to make sure my angles and height are going to work with the bridge.

Any process is going to be subject to what tools you have and what works best for you. I've certainly made fret board mistakes.

[sgt.grinch]

Thank you Sir. Each of these videos are highly informative and educational.

[asafpelleh]

I was just discussing that with a friend! Thank you :)

[ryanstark]

Pickups are a nightmare because one pickup in one guitar might not sound great but in another guitar it does. I think this is one reason why you'll see people hating on a certain pickup and others loving it. For example, I had Gibson Classic 57s in a Les Paul. I thought I hated them but it was the dark and bassy nature of the guitar that caused the 57s to not sound great. I put them in an SG style guitar and they were perfect. I had Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers in a Heritage guitar. They were OK but in the Gibson they were much better. Classic 57s in the Heritage were also great. Like the SG the Heritage was brighter. This is just with differences in PAF pickups never mind other types.

As for building guitars. I think an important thing is that when you encounter a problem or issue that needs solved, just stop for a while to give yourself time to figure it out. Take things slowly.

[MayorMcCheese]

I really love your take on things, I almost always agree with you and if I disagree its just a matter of preference probably. Always a lot of value to be had in your content, thanks for posting!

[MrFlint]

Re: audio samples. The sound also depends on exactly where between bridge and neck the pickup is positioned.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Regarding pickups… the same pickup in two different guitars will sound different. The strings also matter.

As a busy repair shop I’ve swapped lots of pickups between guitars. The same pickup might sound great on one guitar and bad in the next. I had one client bring in four different guitars to switch the pickups between the guitars. The differences were not subtle!

Regarding control the compartment. Also think about control layout. I like to place the knobs I’m going to use in the position I want them to see how they feel ergonomically.

[spideyfun]

Might you have a video on how you glue a completed fret board to a shaped neck? I'm curious about your process.

[EdBender]

Great video. I'm smiling because I didn't make any of them (yet).
Mistake #6: Underestimating powertools and the dangers thereof.