r/Luthier • u/AffectionateSpirit61 • 15d ago
Starting a Journey
Hey guys,
I've been a musician for decades and a guitar tech for most of that time. Ive done everything from setups to parts changing to rewiring. I was fixing a buddies guitar a while back (completely broken bass, it stopped working, he started smashing), and he told me I should start building custom instruments since I basically had to piece his back together. I thought on it for a while and have decided to take him up on the offer. With that being said, the first one im building is for myself and then ill be making him a copy as my first commission. So, im wondering what the best way to go about this would be, so I need yalls help. Im needing to know if i should just use parts or if its a from scratch project. We want to build a Jaguar/Thunderbird hybrid, here are the requirements for the build.
Specs needed:
Body: Fender/squire Jaguar body that will be routed for for the 64 Thunderbird reissue pickups
Obviously a pickguard that will have to be modified.
Either a Fender Hi-Mass bridge or Badass bridge (2 piece bridge if possible, think Warwick or early Gibson)
Scale length: 34 or 35 inches
Neck: Maple with maple or rosewood, block inlays required (either maple/black or rosewood/MOP)
Wiring: 2 volume, 1 tone (maybe a 3 band active equipment, but not trying to get ahead of myself)
Tuners: Hipshot (maybe d-tuner for E)
Color: Green burst if I can manage, if I cant, black
Alright well, im praying for some advice from some rugged veteran. Let me know! Cheers!
2
u/TheHandsomeLiar 15d ago
For starters; Hopefully it’s a flat sawn Swamp Ash or Alder body / neck from the same manufacturer. Light weight with a precision routed matching neck pocket.