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The very long, quick project - Hard Rocker

Quick let's throw together a Les Paul styled guitar, it will be simple, we have most of the parts and the wood, says my imagination. Sigh... 10 months later, several minor plan changes and lots of work to go. Ok, someday I will get this guitar done.

Someone swiped my output boards in Marshall AVT 150 head

The thief broke into my house and .... no not really. Ok, so it was not mine at the time... I bought a Marshall AVT 150 head that "needs work" off Facebook Market place a few months back for a great price. Hey, I repair amps and things, this should be easy. I get the amp home start testing. Yup preamp works great, but nothing out of the main outputs. Ok, seems like a standard case of blowen TDA7293 on the output. I pull the amp apart and I see why... there are no output boards. Now I know why they wanted to make the transaction quickly.

TOP 5 TOOLS NEEDED TO START BUILDING GUITARS ON THE CHEAP PART 4

What do you need to build a guitar? Here is a basic list of the tools you will need. Tools that made this list are tools that I use on every build OR tools that I have used in the past until I replace them with more expensive tools. Today we look at a combo...

TOP 5 TOOLS NEEDED TO START BUILDING GUITARS ON THE CHEAP PART 3 - Shaping and smoothing

What do you need to build a guitar? Here is a basic list of the tools you will need. Tools that made this list are tools that I use on every build OR tools that I have used in the past until I replace them with more expensive tools. Today we look at Shaping and smoothing tools. As I write this, I realize that a really enjoy working with most of the tools in this category. Taking a rough cut out of a plank of wood and turning it into a guitar body or neck is a massive transformation. These tools are most hand-ons tool that you will use through this process.

TOP 5 TOOLS NEEDED TO START BUILDING GUITARS ON THE CHEAP PART 2: Cutting Curves

hat do you need to build a guitar? Here is a basic list of the tools you will need. Tools that made this list are tools that I use on every build OR tools that I have used in the past until I replace them with more expensive tools. In Part 1 we looked at things to cut straight. Now we look at cutting curves. There are several tools that are good at cutting curves. Top among them is the band saw. Though a pricy tool, I find many seasoned woodworkers call bandsaws the most valuable tool in the shop and often the one they could not live without. If you are going to break the bank on a tool, I would recommend it be the bandsaw. I do not personally own a band saw, but it is on my wish list.

Top 5 tools needed to start building guitars on the cheap Part 1: Cut Straight

What do you need to build a guitar? Here is a basic list of the tools you will need. Tools that made this list are tools that I use on every build OR tool that I have used in the past until I replace them with more expensive tools. I use far more than 5 tools, but we can break them down into 5 categories. I'm sure we could find a youtube video of Ben Crowe from Crimson Guitars doing a 36-hour build using only a 1-inch gouge. The exact combination of tools will be highly influenced by budget and preference. Some have a preference for handtools, others prefer CNC machines, others prefer power tools, while yet others prefer only bladed tools. You even bump into those wacky people that will take a random orbit sander with 40 grit paper to a log.

I made a mistake - Project BrownBird

I made a mistake. A big mistake. About a 150-hour mistake. Well, OK… let’s call it a learning experience. It all started simply enough. Hey, this dye works on fabric, I can get it at walmart, it’s cheap. Win-Win. I’m sure it will work on wood. Sure enough, it did. It looked fantastic. Then it all went bad. Really bad.

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