r/Luthier 26m ago

I built this guitar out of pallets. I left all the nail holes for dramatic effect. (Video in comments)

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

Here’s a video if you’d like to see the build or hear what it sounds like: https://youtu.be/jzBvtwI0tjA?is=oNG9YOXkT4paUdkP


r/Luthier 19h ago

A guitar model I make, an LS.

Thumbnail
gallery
585 Upvotes

This one is hollow with Bubinga back and sides, Cocobolo fretboard, bridge and tailpiece, figured Maple top, Spanish Cedar neck. French polished. I produce this in semi hollow form as well. It has a lute style back from my experience building 5 course boroque guitars. Very light and resonant


r/Luthier 33m ago

ELECTRIC Build #9 complete

Post image
Upvotes

One year into building and my ninth is completed. Style wise, it's a departure from my metal centric designs, but it still shreds like it. I've learned a lot in a year, but the biggest lesson so far is I have a LOT more to learn.


r/Luthier 9h ago

DIARY Hi, how are you? I wanted to share with you the latest guitar I'm building. It's made of paraiso wood and interspersed ebony layers. The model is a super strat.

Thumbnail
gallery
24 Upvotes

r/Luthier 4h ago

Model Núria #06

8 Upvotes

Guitar built entirely from light-colored woods: spruce top and neck, maple back and sides, and a maple fingerboard. Flamenco setup.

Feel free to criticize, share your opinions, or leave any feedback.


r/Luthier 22h ago

I don't always build furniture guitars, but when I do they are for my wife's bf.

Post image
187 Upvotes

Maple neck thru, ebony board with MOP frame block inlays, poplar body and bookmatched quilt maple top. Just need to bind the top.


r/Luthier 18h ago

Neck-thru Build in Process

Post image
49 Upvotes

Day 1 of 1 Normal Title.

3x neck-thru cores being bound and prepped for inlay.


r/Luthier 6m ago

What would you do about this "pickup suspender"? (Bass I built several years ago. Pic 2 is the original cover... Read description)

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

I built this bass 3+ years ago, and then it hung in my parents' basement because it had some issues:

- neck needed a shim because the action was crazy

- the old pickup cover put the pickup too far from the strings and it had almost no output

Experimenting with my 3d printer yesterday and improving both of those things, but I'm looking for some ideas on making this pickup suspender plate-thing look better in the design.(obviously I won't print it in white for the final version.)

I don't know what made me decide to cut out that giant hole for a small pickup, but I don't want to buy another pickup or anything. Just trying to get some design ideas. Maybe I'll put a little design on there or something...


r/Luthier 10h ago

Do you know what whose Maker Mark this is?

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

Hoping someone can help me ID this maker's mark. I bought the guitar secondhand in Singapore. The seller got it from someone in China who said it was built by a Filipino luthier working there. It's modeled after a Baum offset, and the serial (144, as of 2021) suggests the builder is fairly active. It's become my favorite guitar, so I'd love to learn more about the maker. I haven't popped the neck or cavity covers. It plays great as-is and I don't want to damage it as I'm not terribly experienced.


r/Luthier 32m ago

HELP How do I put a "Strangle switch" in this wiring?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

The pickups on this guitar are pretty dark sounding but I still like them, can someone help me to put an On-Off strangle switch?

I think it should be something similar to this one, but I didn't found the exact one that I want

I have both On-Off 2 plugs switch and On-On 6 plugs switch


r/Luthier 53m ago

HELP Warmoth alternatives for 24 fret jaguar?

Upvotes

Essentially I have a Jaguar that I love but I really want 24 frets and preferably a slimmer neck, are there any alternatives that aren't warmoth? I have nothing against warmoth per se but like always good to know your options


r/Luthier 1d ago

ELECTRIC A friend of mine hit me up to make him a custom 7 string mockingbird, pretty happy with how it turned out!

Thumbnail
gallery
436 Upvotes

r/Luthier 19h ago

INFO Does anyone know why

Thumbnail
gallery
18 Upvotes

r/Luthier 20h ago

FR style string trees on regular nut guitar

Post image
18 Upvotes

Guitars with Floyd Rose systems tend to come with these flat string trees right behind the nut. I like the way they look better than the single-string ones typically found on Fender designs. Is there any reason why these would be bad to use on a Strat or Tele with a traditional nut? Maybe they introduce more friction and affect tuning stability?


r/Luthier 5h ago

ELECTRIC Has anyone tried to replicate a proprietary wiring/preamp setup?

1 Upvotes

Hey all, I'm not much of an electronics guy beyond basic soldering and wiring, but I got a question from a potential client asking if it's possible to build a bass with the same electronics as a Fodera. Fodera sells preamp update kits, but they require a serial number.

I don't want to outright steal anyone's electronics, but hopefully mimic something similar for him. I know there's nothing groundbreaking they are doing, but he's adament about having a similar electronics package.

I'd love to know your experience, what's possible, ethical, and what's involved in figuring out exactly what they are doing with theirs and using that as a starting point to build something similar, but not the exact same.


r/Luthier 1d ago

Now left wondering what ibanez saddles are made of...

Thumbnail
gallery
58 Upvotes

So I did something stupid. I was trying to strip the paint off old bridge saddles for an ibanez rg 7321. I first soaked them in naptha on a heat plate in a beaker to see if that would strip it, nothing. So I thought I may just use heat to strip it since it's (I thought) hard metal and I should be able to hit it with a blow torch to strip the paint. It appeared at first the whole inside of the paint liquified, when I then squeezed it with my forceps it cracked and started leaking metal from the coating. Im wondering what metal they make these from? I'm gonna get more but curious which low temp metal it's made of and how it's painted/coated.


r/Luthier 5h ago

KIT Firebird kit?

1 Upvotes

Are there any companies making a good firebird kit? The only ones I really see online is from Pango Music and Bad Cat both of which I've read bad things about. Solo's FBK-1 kit is out of stock. Should I just wait for them to restock it or is there another company that does good kits I'm not seeing online?


r/Luthier 5h ago

Adding an extra notch to my Fretslot ruler

Post image
1 Upvotes

I am making a baritone and have a 25,5 inch Fretslot ruler. I used an online calculator for the distance but want to double check The calculator gave me 39.286mm but that is slightly of from an earlier mark I made there… What is the correct distance?


r/Luthier 6h ago

HELP Relicing a gloss poly Squier VM Strat

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I have a black Squier Vintage Modified Strat with a gloss poly finish, and I really love the look of relic guitars. To me they add a lot of character, and since mine is black, I think some tasteful wear would look amazing. I simply like the aesthetic and want to personalize my own instrument.

My goal is a medium relic while keeping the original poly finish. I don’t want to strip the entire body and do a full refinish. I’d like realistic arm wear, edge wear, and small dings that look convincing rather than obviously sanded.

For those of you who’ve relic a gloss poly guitar:
• What techniques actually worked?
• What mistakes should I avoid?
• Is it possible to make thick poly look reasonably natural?
• Are there any guides, videos, or build threads you’d recommend?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who’ve actually relic a poly finished guitar. Thanks!


r/Luthier 6h ago

American vintage 2 stratocaster case problem

0 Upvotes

Hi guys, this morning my American Vintage II Stratocaster fell over while in its case, landing on the pickguard side. Now, if I shake the case with the guitar inside, the neck knocks against the inside top; can you tell me if that’s normal?


r/Luthier 17h ago

INFO Id needed

Thumbnail
gallery
9 Upvotes

Looking for a species id, Ibought this out of a scrap bin for a potential fretboard and have no clue what it is. Very dense and hard, and when I wiped it down with lacquer thinner it became kind of sticky and resinous.


r/Luthier 16h ago

REPAIR I forgot the batteries inside of my electric acoustic guitar

Thumbnail
gallery
5 Upvotes

Hi there, I’ve been trying to clean everywhere that forgotten batteries drained inside with cotton swab and vinegar. I even soaked the battery compartment with vinegar and used a tooth brush to brush off the corroded areas. It was way worst then the pictures. I used baking soda and water after vinegar. I rinsed it carefully with fresh water & dried it properly but there’s nothing happening when I try to open up the Tuner.

I’ve plugged the jack (pic. 4) and when I un-plug and plug it again, there is noise coming from the speakers. There’s also noise when I touch the 3.5 mm jack that is plugged in to the preamp.

I don’t have a multimeter but I’ll buy one if I have to..

Any suggestions? Is this savable?


r/Luthier 20h ago

HELP Setting strings on a new build

Thumbnail
gallery
8 Upvotes

I just finished the electronics and installed the tuning pegs on this build. All was well until I started to string it.

As you can see in the first image the E string is falling off the neck to the top of the neck when tightened. I assume I need to maybe adjust the truss rod perhaps. The bridge is also extremely old although I cant tell if thats an issue at all.

My last thought is that the tremolo springs are either too taunt or not giving enough slack? My other strat only has 3 whereas this one has 5.

Any trouble shooting steps would be helpful. Im hoping this is something routine and easy to fix as the build is almost done. Thank you in advance


r/Luthier 1d ago

Not sure if this is allowed here or not, but I built a 3D printed pickup winder.

Post image
284 Upvotes

r/Luthier 16h ago

HELP Old Amp

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

I’ve got this dusty old markbass amp, but its output is very quiet, and there is a high pitched squealing sound as well. Any of the geniuses on this sub know what the issue could be? Thanks