how to build a custom explorer (james hetfield ken lawrence

[5thhokage113]

how much would a white explorer cost plus shipping to australia(thin "U"neck,2 vol 2 tone 3 way switch, neckthru,no pickguard,ebony fretboard)

[killemall1983]

@5thhokage113

Sorry, i wont ship out of the USA.

[camdevh]

do you have to have a truss rod? how do you make a steel reinforced neck? the same way but with a steel rod?

[killemall1983]

@camdevh

Yes, you have to have a truss rod. YOu dont need a steel reinforced neck. That is obsolete these days.

[camdevh]

@killemall1983 thanks. I wasnt sure if i needed the truss rod but ill use one now.

[Mr1Luciano]

I want to buy this toy ; )

Very Lol

[loi22]

does it have a truss rod?

[killemall1983]

@loi22 Of course.

[RICHARDKAHN14]

Where/what website did you buy ur materials from?

[synthesizer301]

the body looks great  the neck i doubt that

[swedishx07]

How much would you charge to make me a custom replica Ken Lawrence explorer?

[killemall1983]

@swedishx07

About 1200$ depending on what you want.

[CoolKabbage]

What tools did you all use?

[MetallicMex]

how much is 300 usd

[killemall1983]

@MetallicMex

? your profile says you are from the united states... C'mon man... USD is united states dollars...

[MetallicMex]

@killemall1983 ohhh srry im not very smart :P

[crystalballer7983]

@killemall1983 LOL awesome!..... Ukranian Standard Dirks?

[killemall1983]

@crystalballer7983

Got the wood locally. Got the parts on ebay.

[MrCourriel]

Can we have some plan, layout ? Pliiiize (I don't know exactly the word, I'm french)

[killemall1983]

@MrCourriel

I dont have any. I use a template made from wood.

[MrCourriel]

@killemall1983 Okay :) Thx.

[Matejriha96]

aound ?

[BPaTsFaN12]

How much does something like this cost?

[killemall1983]

@BPaTsFaN12

to make or to buy?

[BPaTsFaN12]

@killemall1983 to make

[killemall1983]

@BPaTsFaN12

It says in the video.

[colintheawesomeo]

right on.

[computergasm]

how do you go to all the trouble of building a guitar, and then NOT fading out the music at the end. -___-

[killemall1983]

@computergasm

Because i dont have any way to edit it.

[mantases1]

make a vid of you playing plz! :)

[killemall1983]

@mantases1

I sold this guitar almost 4 years ago. I have videos of a TON of guitars ive made on here, that are much better. check those out.

[foxman123456789]

how did you wire in your humbuckers or did you pay someone to do that

[killemall1983]

@foxman123456789

With a soldering iron and a wiring diagram...

[skywyre]

did you use a template or did you just eyeball the cutting for the body?

[killemall1983]

@skywyre

i always use templates for everything.

[OxxDeth]

Wow...

YOU ARE MY HERO...

[daveemccartney]

wow man!, it's amazing... how I wish if I could do something like that!

cheers dude! and keep rockin'

[Golfinnder]

How can you make a Set neck with 2 parts? I mean, did you use glue to join both parts, neck and body, or also do you need something extra? Like more pieces of wood?

[killemall1983]

@Golfinnder

No, just glue the neck directly to the body.

[Tombking2]

@killemall1983 How much do you take to make custom bodies of for example a replica look of a guitar? Not a specific signature guitar? I want a leftie version of an ibanez Dt-350 body, just the carved out wooden body, how much would that cost?

[andykillian]

you are god

[MGSHREDD24]

were do you get the wood??

[killemall1983]

@MGSHREDD24

Local lumberyard.

[LionScottKenedyU3]

No mames xD, hazme una, Soy de MEXICO CITY :D

[WILLSTERROCKSTER]

how much did this all cost you?

[godsuxdicks]

I have always wanted to try and build my own guitar but I would never know where to begin. Looks like you done a great job. How hard was it though to do the neck? I know you can just buy necks, just interested as I would prefer to do a full guitar like you have done properly, think I would appreciate it more.

[lessanik]

and sound? :D

[killemall1983]

@lessanik

And actually look at teh video responses....

[lessanik]

@killemall1983

nice :)

[kendraalexa]

nooo wayyy!....

[TXWarlock]

hmmmm/// where was this video when i was making one....

nice help though for nxt one... i have a couple of problems with mine... and i made pickups too...

check out the sound of the guitar .... i'll upload some of the pics n videos of how i made it possible too...

[Sk8tboard123]

what is a active pickup. ive been playing guitar for over 3 years but now i want to build my own one and i need to learn things about pickups and all the cables.

[killemall1983]

@Sk8tboard123

Active means they run on a 9Volt battery.

[CarnalFearAZ]

@killemall1983 Active means they have a built in preamp that makes the sound sterile and very punchy. great for metal and lots of gain. bad for clean tones.

[killemall1983]

@CarnalFearAZ I know what active means... I explained it that way, because he obviously wouldnt know what that meant if i put it the way you did. And actives are GREAT for cleans... Look at my clean videos.

[CarnalFearAZ]

@killemall1983 im not saying they dont work but you can difinitely tell when its an active clean. ya know? they have a very sterile and cold sound. actives have a universal sound to them. the wood makes less of a difference with actives.

[killemall1983]

@CarnalFearAZ

If you say so man. THats a myth if you ask me. The sounds great clean and compete with many passives... Just listen to any of james live tone... thats all from EMGs. ..

[CarnalFearAZ]

@killemall1983 well true he uses EMG but he also has alot of gear that you or i couldnt possibly imagine lol but ive used EMGs and Blackouts and i just dont get the warm soung i get from passives. but i love actives since i play mostly death metal

[killemall1983]

@CarnalFearAZ

I still think you can get great cleans. Like i said, check out my recent videos of me playing clean stuff.

[CarnalFearAZ]

@killemall1983 eh well you may like the active clean sound but i just havent dug it too much and alot of other players feel that way but ill give it a listen. maybe you got a good pair or somethin each pickup is different in some way

[Kaleb673]

MASTERNOF PUUPETS FTW!!!! _\m/

[xxspinexbusterxx]

Srry but where i can get the dimensions for explorer, i had the futura ones but they are just nasty.

[RockerJack97]

How are the pickups on this?

[shrubbster1]

pretty good job but i reckon it would look better without the pickup covers-chrome hardware doesn't really work on dark wood

[Vandude13]

It's just like the original, great job bro.

[CHGESELL]

i love it........ good job!!!! i wont it..... see my LP if is not made it myself the customization look good ;)

[EarInfectionTV]

what were the dimensions of the wood you used to build the body?

[killemall1983]

@EarInfectionTV

18" wide X 24" long

[bubywashere]

do anyone else think that a explorer is a metal version of the gibson fire bird look at it seriousley

[killemall1983]

@bubywashere

no.

[MYEYESONECONOMY]

@killemall1983 lol

[taterfamine]

@bubywashere i think the firebird is a gay version of the explorer.

[evhguitarstv43608]

@bubywashere yes.

[9soulz]

@bubywashere You're dumb. Fire Bird IS metal. Look at Motley Crue

[MrNarcoleptik]

@9soulz Since when is Motley Crue metal ?

[Theothersound]

@MrNarcoleptik Listen to their song Shout at the devil, also their album Shout at the devil was pretty classic metal.

[9soulz]

@MrNarcoleptik Since they started out. You obviously can't tell the difference between genres. Metallica is thrash as Motley is heavy metal

[jak5gx]

@bubywashere dumbass the firebird is the less metal baby brother of the explorer. explorer was made in th 1950 the firebird was made in 1969.

[smallgiant9]

@jak5gx that's what he was saying man relax.

[jak5gx]

@smallgiant9 i don't mean dumbass in a mean way i mean it in a haha dumbass but i'm meaning he says it like the firebird came first but it didn't its not proper grammar and it's annoying when people disrespect teh explorah ... RESPECT IT!

[pacovl46]

@bubywashere i'd like to agree but when the explorer came out in 58 metal wasn't even conceived yet. ;-)

[bubywashere]

@pacovl46

or so it has been sayd for many years, no one really knows wen metal come about all we know for sure is that it didnt catch in popularity until the mid 60's

[bobjackson7]

@bubywashere the explorer was designed well before the metal of black sabbath even started making a apperance

[theatomizer]

@bubywashere I'm pretty sure the explorer was made before the firebird...

[MARK0TAKER]

@bubywashere do you know that a explorer was created before the firebirds right?

[xxXWingsXInXWarXxx]

@bubywashere The firebird was inspired by the explorer I'm pretty sure.. O.o

[306741lock]

do you clear coat any of your explorers? Or is it exposed wood

[killemall1983]

@306741lock

This one had an oil finish on it, like the real KLs. all my other ones have a clear coat.

[FaronPL]

lol

[davidpaul89]

@killemall1983 what wood can i use to make my guitar body... i've got a piece of maple wood and rosewood to make the neck and finger board... can u help me out... trying to make a guitar of my own that would look like a Les Paul Black Beauty with 3 Humbuckers....

[xGuitarStianx]

Can you make a left handed one for me? How much will it cost? ;) Pleaaaaaase :(

[ht448]

i saw one of you explorer bodys on ebay its awsome but i dont think you going to get $579 for it

[killemall1983]

@ht448

It was 555... NOt 579... and it sold. They always do. Its still cheaper than warmoth, and thats only bolt on stuff.

[jjaakkee011]

where did you get your measurements template, what website

[killemall1983]

@jjaakkee011

Guitarbuildingtemplates

[EdRulez2306]

awesome!!! i want a explorer guitar so bad!

[Mikolajkiciak]

Oh, by the way James 's Ken Lawrence cost $7k ;]

[killemall1983]

@Mikolajkiciak

Yes, i know...

[fretshr3dder]

$300!?!?!?! no way.i looked up how to make guitars and for a really good quality guitar it would have costed me nearly $2k+

[killemall1983]

@fretshr3dder

How is that evne possible? Even the highest quality parts and pickups would only cost 500 at teh most... and maybe 150$ in wood... but 2K? that makes no sense. Unless you are buying tools too.

[fretshr3dder]

@killemall1983 hmmmm...i probably should have mentioned that it included the tools too.....dont i look stupid...

>.<

[evilmurderproduction]

@fretshr3dder that's because you are paying for the time it took to make it. Some people think their time is worth way too much. If this guy says it's cheep to make a good guitar it's because he isn't factoring the man hours it takes to make something of this nature. Everything in the world is cheep...it's the people who inflate the price to compensate the time and effort put into it.

[fretshr3dder]

@evilmurderproduction

well said. i didnt think of that.

[race1717]

Did the whole THING cost 300?

[killemall1983]

@race1717

Yes.

[goergeofthejungle101]

how did you make/ measure the locations for the pickups and bridge or did you free hand route it ?

[killemall1983]

@goergeofthejungle101

I use a ruler to measure... You need to know the scale length of your fretboard, then you measure that to know where you drill the bridge holes. I dont free hadn anything, i use templates.

[goergeofthejungle101]

@killemall1983

did you buy them somewhere or did you make them your self

[killemall1983]

@goergeofthejungle101

Buy what? I made the entire thing from scratch.

[goergeofthejungle101]

@killemall1983

The Templates?

[killemall1983]

@goergeofthejungle101

Oh, did not know what you were talking about. I bought the templates online.

[deathcore1239]

not going to lie, thats a very appealing headstock

[Matejriha96]

nice work

[thejoseylove]

pretty insane that you made that yourself however you can buy one that looks alot more like his.

[killemall1983]

@thejoseylove

NOt really... The new LTDs look nothing like his.. Besdies, this is the first KL i ever tried to make... Look at my other videos, including the Video responses.

[thejoseylove]

@killemall1983 yeah i know im not saying it's bad. it looks freakin badass for smpthn you made at home. props but im just sayin that you can buy the real thng. o yea and you shuld put inlays. itd b beast

[killemall1983]

@thejoseylove

Well you can only buy the real thing if you have 6k$ to spend on it...

[thejoseylove]

@killemall1983 lol yeah i know. but what did you use to make it? like what tools?

[killemall1983]

@thejoseylove

IM not going to sit here and list every single tool needed to make a guitar there are too many.

[Infactz0p]

Nice work :)

[DrShankenstein]

This isn't a "how to" anything. This is just a vid about you building it.

[killemall1983]

@DrShankenstein

Obviously...

[augusrockhouse23]

Beautiful ax but please get BLACK active pickups they'll suit her better.

[heri121]

nice job looks sweet

[trogdor556]

whaaaat the hell, my favorite guitar.... and you made it of scratch.... your awesome. But how the hell does it work? you know is there things you put inside?

[evilguitar9430]

where did you bought the fretwire?

[killemall1983]

@evilguitar9430

Warmoth

[evilguitar9430]

@killemall1983 thanks, very helpful

[Steinless117]

what do you use for the frets metal bars?

[killemall1983]

@Steinless117

frets... they sell frets...

[benisgodly]

jesus i can barely make a fuckin catapult in woodshop but you can make a whole james hetfield exlporer guitar..nice craftsmanship dude

[killemall1983]

@benisgodly

Thanks man, check out my newer videos too, those guitars look way better.

[woodydrn2]

excellent!! nicely created!

[killemall1983]

@woodydrn2

Thanks!

[martindenyce]

wow thats awesome dude...jus a rough estimate...how much 4 a lefty explorer???....

[killemall1983]

@martindenyce

I have made one before... but wont ever do it again. too hard.

[TheVibeBandTV]

brilliant!u re very talented and u clearly know how to use tools :D when u say 300bucks u mean without hardware right?

[killemall1983]

@TheVibeBandTV

no, with parts.... i used cheap parts.

[minoux02]

Do you build to sell?

[killemall1983]

@minoux02

yes

[minoux02]

@killemall1983 How much would this model go for?

[killemall1983]

@minoux02

depends... this one sucks compared to my new ones.

[minoux02]

@killemall1983 How much would a new on go for? these are pretty sweet.

[killemall1983]

@minoux02

depends, but about 1000$

[pmdnslj]

so i could build one of these with a pair of scissors and a mallet?

J/J- you got SERIOUS building skills bro

[Metallica1111beatles]

everything looks cricket on the guitar.

[pmdnslj]

@Metallica1111beatles cricket? I don't want to miss out on any new lingo

[GrunesMannchen]

wow rly nice guitar! 

[thumbvideos123]

what are the pickups and woods?

[killemall1983]

@thumbvideos123

Description.

[MrBallymanus]

hey man awesome work :) i want to build one myself i was just wondering how much the body and the neck are when there bought pre made thanks alot

[Breadfan866]

You took down the quality of the song, so Youtube won't take it down? :p

[killemall1983]

@Breadfan866

? the quality is not "taken down" ... sounds the same as thru my music player. and youbute doesnt take down videos with songs now...

[coltengunstanson]

they are not no 6k!! thats 6 of my drumssets!!

[killemall1983]

@coltengunstanson

Um, yes they are... 

[anthonymathwin]

you're missing the 6th string

[killemall1983]

@anthonymathwin

? no its not... Its missing the 1st string...

[jesusvalles54]

looks like if you built the guitar out of your coffee table haha but still really good

[Whatnameisavailible]

don't listen to them killiemall1983 I thin anybody who can build a really guitar and it ACTUALLY work has some pretty serious skills!

[coltengunstanson]

why don't you just buy one?

[killemall1983]

@coltengunstanson

Uh. maybe because they are 6000$ ? Dumb question... Obviously because i like building them.

[JonnyMonster91]

@killemall1983

Get an epi explorer. They look better, anyways. Gibson is just a name. Same as Fender. You're paying for a name that means nothing. An Epiphone Explorer is only like 300 or 400.

[killemall1983]

I think the epis are TRASH.... Horrible looking, horrible quality and sounding... And i dont want a factory guitar... I like the ones i make better than any factory guitar.l

[redhawk258]

@killemall1983 ey my epiphone 84 explorer is way kickass and i played it next to a gibson and i liked the epiphone better

[killemall1983]

@redhawk258

Well i hate them. big, bulky, thick, and dont play or sound that great.

[redhawk258]

@killemall1983 not my exlorer but alot of epis do sound bad

[Knucklehed4]

@killemall1983 D: how can you say that!? Yeah true some are terrible, but I've played a lot of Epiphones that kick any Gibson's ass. My Les Paul, for example, is the absolute best-playing and one of the best sounding guitar I've ever picked up, and I've spent more than my fair share of hours at Guitar Center. It's a honeyburst finish so it looks brilliant too. If you wanna rag on a make, rag on Schecters. They truly do suck.

[killemall1983]

@Knucklehed4

Dude, i am not knocking the brand. Im saying the Goth explorer sucks... because it does. way to thick, heavy, and dont play well. worst quality on a production guitar possible. And i think schecters are GREAT guitars...

[Knucklehed4]

@killemall1983 Ohh the goth ones...That's a totally different story lol and as for Schecters I guess I just have different tastes

[kmkstu420]

@killemall1983 man epiphone and gibson are exactly the same fucking guitar the only 2 differences are ones made in china and the name but as far as the specs go there exactly the same

[killemall1983]

@kmkstu420

Well, duh... China made guitars are total crap... that IS a BIG difference...

[wienyhutjr]

@JonnyMonster91 not rly, they are made of better EVERYTHING! u are paying for the name of course but without a doubt, if u hear the diff between a gibson and epiphone its a world of diff.

[mcadimefan92]

@JonnyMonster91 id say am ltd ex man cuz thats a good one the necks are awsome and smooth plus they have emgs in em

[Hendrixidol]

About how much was the bulid, and where do u find inputs, and switches?

[MrScooterTutorials]

master of puppets!!!!!! \m/

[IsoToXic28]

James rocks with 5 strings? ^^

Nice work dude!!

[Vincent08]

Dude... can I contact you? I'm interested in gettin' one of these customized guitars, and you seem to be pretty good at this, so I wanna chat with you about this. Any contact?? Cheers n' rock on!

[techiins]

dude can you send me the tempalte for this?

[wyldething19]

Hey man what are the angles of the shapes on the body? need em to finish a template i'm making