Electric Guitar Building

Finally a book that doesn't assume I'm a first-timer. The tables for router speeds and fret sizes alone are worth the price. I built my first solidbody from scratch and it came out better than I hoped. The templates in the back are a huge bonus—I traced the Strat shape directly onto my body blank. Only reason I'm not giving five stars is I wish there were more photos, but the text is clear enough.

I've built a few kits before, so I thought this would be a breeze. The book is thorough, but I found it a bit overwhelming at times. The setup chapter is great, but I wish it had more on acoustic guitars, since that's what I really wanted to build. That's my fault for not reading the title carefully. Still, the wiring diagrams are easy to follow, and the troubleshooting tables saved me when my bridge pickup was dead.

This is exactly the bench reference I needed. I've been playing for years and finally decided to build my own guitar. The step-by-step procedures with exact measurements gave me the confidence to try things I'd never done before, like routing the neck pocket. The finish schedule worked perfectly—no orange peel, no runs. My guitar plays better than my expensive Fender. I'll be using this book for every future build.

As a luthier with a few builds under my belt, I was skeptical about another guitar building book. But this one is different. It's not a coffee table book; it's a tool. The reference tables are comprehensive, and the troubleshooting chapter is worth its weight in gold. I've already used it to fix a buzzing issue on a customer's guitar. The template pages are a nice touch—I traced the Tele design for my next project.

I bought this thinking it would be a general guide to guitar building, but it's specifically about solidbodies. That's on me for not reading the description fully. The content is good, but I was hoping for more on hollowbody construction. The setup section is solid, though, and I've used the intonation instructions on my existing guitars. If you're building a solidbody, this is a solid choice.

This is the book I wish I had when I started building guitars. It's organized for the bench, so I can flip to the exact table I need without hunting through paragraphs of theory. The step-by-step procedures are precise—no 'adjust as needed' nonsense. I built a whole guitar following the project chapter, and it turned out perfect. The troubleshooting tables are also incredibly helpful. I've already recommended it to two friends.

Good reference for the price. I've used it to build a solidbody from scratch, and the instructions are clear. The setup chapter is particularly helpful—I finally got my action and intonation perfect. I docked a star because the book is a bit heavy on text and light on diagrams. I had to re-read a few sections to visualize the steps. Still, it's a valuable addition to my workshop library.