DWO GUITARS

where sound meets style

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS


PART 1


Before making your own complete Guitar you need to start with the basics. Do not rush at this. Take your time and ensure that you do not move on before you are satisfied with your work. Remember this, so true: "Rome was not built in a day".

This requires the building of a Kit Guitar or two and includes preparation, finishing, assembly, installing electrics and Hardware and setting up and playing. We will be concentrating on a basic pre wired Telecaster Kit.

Start a Worksheet - a simple jot pad will do or if you can and have a computer start a Word document for this - and make notes as you go. Take pictures as they are great reminders.

This is not a comprehensive list and there are other areas you will need to undertake as you progress your build especially and problem solving.

Before you start it is suggested you will need the following. Power tools are suggested but not necessary as most work can be done by hand. It is not a comprehensive list and other items may be needed as well:

Suggested Workshop Setup

  • Phillips Screwdrivers
  • Flat Head Screwdrivers
  • Chisels
  • Tape measure
  • Metal Ruler
  • Straight Edge
  • Power Drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Router
  • Router Bits
  • Grain Filler
  • Sanding Sealer
  • Sandpaper - Various Grades
  • Wet and Dry paper - Various Grades
  • Sanding Blocks
  • Orbital (Bobbin) Sander - Optional
  • Drill Press - Optional
  • Thicknesser - Optional
  • Drill Bits
  • Rattle Can sprays - if required
  • Stain and Oil - if required
  • Rags

Most Kits will include the following:

  • Guitar Body
  • Guitar Neck
  • Neck Plate
  • Control Plate
  • Pickups
  • Bridge
  • Scratch Plate
  • Tuning Pegs
  • Strings
  • Ferrules
  • Jack Socket
  • Strap Buttons
  • Fixings

To aid completing Notes, it is suggested to have access to:
  • Digital Camera or Smartphone
  • Computer
  • Word or similar word processing software

PREPARATION

1.1 Purchase a basic, pre-wired Kit Guitar.

Do not be too ambitious. Or spend a lot of money. There are some good Kits available at under €100.

1.2 On receipt of your Kit check all contents and that there is no damage. Liaise with the Company you purchased from if any problems.

1.3 Read through the instructions on how to build the Kit carefully and several times.

1.4 Check you have the necessary tools and materials for the job and that your Work Area is sufficient.

Check the Neck fits the Body. Use a straight edge to ensure the neck lines up perfectly with the centre line of the body and the Bridge hardware. If any problems contact your supplier.


BODY & NECK

2.0 It is well worth spending some time on the following as work done here will influence the final finish of your Guitar.

You must decide now what finish you are after solid colour spraying or stain and oil.

We recommend for your first build using stain and oil. We also recommend using the Neck that came with the kit "as is" as they normally are perfect for a simple kit.

The procedure here will refer to a spray finish. Whilst stain and oil is suggested for a novice it is more labour intensive.
Check the Facebook Groups for help or ask your questions.

Loosely fit the neck to the body and place the Hardware in situ to ensure everything fits correctly.

Use your Straight edge and Ruler to determine the centre line of the body and the neck and make sure that all line up correctly on this dry fit. If you are unsure on how to do this the Facebook Groups will help. Any problems resolve with your supplier.

2.1 Sand the Body and the Neck going through various grades of sandpaper until perfectly smooth. Concentrate on the Body.

2.2 To ensure a smooth finish for spraying you may need to fill the grain to create the finish. Check if it needs grain filling and if so undertake this as per the instructions for your Grain Filler.

If using stain and oil you may want to show the grain and so no need to grain fill.


FINISH

3.0 Make sure holes are drilled for the Strap. You do not want to drill through the finish later.

3.1 Sand the body and neck with 220 sandpaper, then 320. If you are spraying a flat finish grain fill the body. Use a natural coloured filler unless you have a body of a darker colour.

3.2 Repeat after an hour and let dry over night.

3.3 Re-sand with 220 sandpaper to a smooth finish. Now apply Sanding Sealer.

3.4 Apply Primer as per manufacturers instructions. Spray two coats. Sand again with 320 sandpaper.

3.5 Spray another coat of Primer and re-sand. If perfectly smooth now ready for finish colour. If still rough apply another coat of primer and sand again with 320 sandpaper.

3.6 Apply solid colour and clear coats as per manufacturers recommendations.

Note: allow plenty of time for this section - possibly many days. Do not rush otherwise you will be starting all over again.

Polish to required shine.

3.7 On Maple neck apply clear finish removing same from frets. If the neck has a Rosewood or Ebony fingerboard tape off the fingerboard before applying the finish.

The above can take a long time depending on the weather, the humidity and the standard of finish that you want.

DO NOT RUSH.


HARDWARE & ELECTRICS

4.0 Ensure your Guitar is perfectly dry and the finish has hardened. Allow several weeks if possible.

4.1 Install the Pickguard Pickup if not already installed.

4.2 Push the Pickguard Pickup wires through the hole from the Pickguard cavity to the Control cavity

4.3 Push the Bridge Pickup wires through the hole between the Bridge cavity and the Control cavity.

4.4 Ensure the Bridge grounding wire from the Control cavity is pushed through the hole between the Control and Bridge cavities.

4.5 Run the ground wire through the hole to the Bridge mounting screw holes and strip approx 1/2' of insulation from the wire.

4.6 Install the Bridge ensuring that the bridge grounding wire is wrapped around a Bridge mounting screw.

4.7 Insert the Output Jack wiring through the hole between the Control cavity and the Jack hole.

4.8 Solder the signal and ground wires to the jack.

4.9 Fix the Jack mounting plate to the body.

IF PICKGUARD COMES WITH CONNECTORS FOR THE WIRING PUSH FIT THE CONNECTORS AS PER MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS. If no connectors proceed as follows:

4.10 Solder the Bridge and Pickguard pickup ground wires to the case of the Volume Control.

4.11 Solder the Bridge Signal wire to the selector switch, pins 1 & 2 (check Manufacturers diagram).

4.12 Solder the Pickguard/pickup Signal wire to the selector switch.

4.13 Install the Control Panel

4.14 Insert tuners into the Neck Headstock. Ensure that the Tuner shafts are perpendicular to the Headstock.

4.15 Fix Strap Buttons.

4.16 Install String Tees if present.

4.17 Install Strings and tune Guitar.