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Step 2Layout and Design
Initally, I wanted to do a semi-custom design, but I chickened out and decided a Les Paul would be safer. I was concerned that I would size it up wrong, and designing for ergonomics is difficult.
I quite simply got some large brown paper and traced my production Les Paul on it, and cut it out.
I encourage you to design your own body shape, but keep in mind that the more complexity you add the more work its going to be to make. Sharp, deep cuts inward will be quite difficult and time consuming to make, since they'll have to be partly done by hand. Also, make sure your design fits on the wood you have!
My oak stair was only 11" wide and over 36" long, so I cut it in half and glued the segments together to give me a 22" by 18" piece. Because of this, the wood grain is running perpendicular to the guitar length. If possible, have the grain run along the length of the guitar, so that it doesn't break in half. My guitar ended up being strong enough to handle the forces of the strings, but it's likely it will break easier if dropped.
I quite simply got some large brown paper and traced my production Les Paul on it, and cut it out.
I encourage you to design your own body shape, but keep in mind that the more complexity you add the more work its going to be to make. Sharp, deep cuts inward will be quite difficult and time consuming to make, since they'll have to be partly done by hand. Also, make sure your design fits on the wood you have!
My oak stair was only 11" wide and over 36" long, so I cut it in half and glued the segments together to give me a 22" by 18" piece. Because of this, the wood grain is running perpendicular to the guitar length. If possible, have the grain run along the length of the guitar, so that it doesn't break in half. My guitar ended up being strong enough to handle the forces of the strings, but it's likely it will break easier if dropped.
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