Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi everyone,

Glad I came across this forum. I'm a woodworker and I'm planning to try my first ever guitar build. I plan to do an electric.

My question is - what tools do I need to buy? I want to get an idea of what this might cost before I start looking at wood and hardware.

I have a woodshop already with all the esential tools (jointer, planer, tablesaw, drum sander, router table, etc). The tools I need would be specific to guitar building. Does anyone know of a "beginner kit" that would include some of the basic luthier tools? Or should I just do it piece meal?

The tools I can think of so far are:
Fret-slotting saw (miter box too?)
Radius guide for sanding the fingerboard
Rasps/Files for shaping the neck
Fret bender
Fret nippers/tang nippers
Files for shaping fret ends
Fret press (or can I just use a mallet?)


Any suggestion would be great. I'm excited by doing this but a little intimidated as well.

Thanks,
Andrew

If you have a work shop you will have most of the tools already. Although there are tools that make the work a little faster or easier, most jobs can be done with common hand tools.
Fret slotting can be done with a dovetail saw with the proper kerf. You can make radius guides out of stiff card stock. Files and rasps don't have to be of specialized design - common woodworking types will work. Fret bending can be done by hand by pulling the fret wire along a small notch as you apply some downward force. I still do it this way after 4 decades of instrument building. Fret nippers can be made from end cutters that have the face ground flush. They work O.K. without doing that, but it does make them cut a little closer. Tangs can be ground or filed off. For shaping frets many "Pros" still use a small triangular file with the points ground safe. A claw hammer with a smooth face can be used to set frets, but a small dead blow hammer might be a slightly better choice.
Don't be intimidated by all the specialist tools offered by the lutherie vendors. Most of them are not necessary. Some of them are nice to have and some are pretty worthless depending on your methods of work.

If you already have a reasonable shop, I would suggest getting your wood and starting. You will find that making an instrument is a series of steps. You will find what tools you need for each step. That way, you don't buy a bunch of tools, in advance, only to discover that you really didn't need them. Pals, Vic.

Welcome to the forum. After reading what you have written I don't think you'll have any problems. I think what's been said so far is sufficient. Get some wood and have a go. Good luck and keep us advised please. Lonnie


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lots of clamps.
Nut slotting files are really nice to have.
An accurate straight edge is essential for setting up fretboard and frets.

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Welcome to the OLF Andrew. I suggest you give it a good thinking over before you buy the the pricey luthier tools and try to make your own if possible.
From The movie George Washington slept here: "It's a great hobby, but it keeps me broke."

Welcome to your new adventure, (and to the our forum). You can check out the homemade jigs as well, such as a fret slot jig. Easy to make and save some bucks. Also lots of videos out there on YouTube and on this forum to help you out. When I started I spent countless hours watching, reading and learning. Most of all have patience, ask lots of questions, and enjoy!

I agree, get the wood and get started. You will figure out what you need along the way, and some you can make instead of buying. The only thing I think is really indispensable is an accurate straightedge, as Dan mentioned.

Thanks, guys!

I do have an accurate Lee valley straight edge - it's 72" long, but it's straight. I may buy a smaller one at some point.

The one tool I was thinking I'll definitely need (maybe I'm wrong) is a guide for radiusing the fingerboard. How do you get the proper angle without one?

As for slotting the frets, I have an issue (as mentioned in another thread) in that I have a sawstop which can't run a 6" blade. So I'll either get a proper kerfef handsaw or simply buy a pre-slotted fingerboard.


I'm sure I'll be posting more along the way! Thanks.
Thanks!