I am thinking about trying to building my first cbg ( I have several bought from others). I really don't "build" anything and I know I have no tools to do even a simple build. Wanting to do an electric with a humbucker like my others and wonder what tools would make life easier. Figuring a solder iron, drill bits, some sort of sander and maybe some sort of thing to cut frets or at least mark the location. Any tips on what is needed (or recommended) toolwise are much appreciated. Many Thanks! John
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You are going to get a jillion different answers to your question. Power vs hand tools, fancy vs simple. For starters, do you have a shop or garage or some place to build where you can use power tools? If so, my two tools I use the most are a band saw and a drill press. If you are only building 1 at a time, and taking your time, then the need for power tools is not as great. You can sand by hand and not need an electric sander.
If you don't have room for power tools, a coping saw, a handheld electric drill, and some sandpaper can get you started. You want to start off with an electric with a humbucker, but I think you might want to start off with something a little simpler at first.
Brad point drills - they dont tear the grain and make a neater hole.
A wood rasp and smooth half-round file for shaping the neck.
If you buy the sanding abrasive with fabric backing on a roll its great for finishing the back of the neck (used like a shoeshine boy)
A small back saw or 'Gentlemans' saw is ideal for cutting fret slots after marking the positions using a long steel rule graduated in millimeters.Clamp the rule to the fingerboard and measure each fret position from the nut so you dont compound any errors
-A drill with some bits
-a saw of some sort
-a sanding block ( with sandpaper)
This is all you need for a basic fretless build.
Now to get anything else, the list can grow exponentially.
AFKAM
-A drill with some bits
-a saw of some sort
-a sanding block ( with sandpaper)
This is all you need for a basic fretless build.
Now to get anything else, the list can grow exponentially.
AFKAM
also a square, a pencil (2B-HB) and a meter-/yardstick. They might not be considered "tools", but you'll be screwed without them ;-)
Thanks for all the replies. I do have a few of these things and could round up the rest.
am making a list from all the posts to see what I have and what I need to get.
To Dan Sleep: I do have a place to work with electic but space is a little limited for a band saw or drill press.
The reason for the Humbucker is that I just had two brand new ones removed from an Epiphone dot 335 clone.
Also my other CBGs use these so I assumed I could refer the wiring and design without worrying about the piezo placement and all that, but I could be wrong.
Will get a list and head for Lowes and look online for the other stuff.
Thanks Again for the suggestions to all who replied. John
ps are the clamps referred to above C-clamps or something else??
Whats the deal with clamps?
You only need clamps if you are gluing something.
I can build a fretted instrument and never touch glue or clamps.
AFKAM
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