Ramirez Bass Guitars: Bandsawing a body

And I still got all 9 fingers! wait, what?

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• ramirez
• custom
• bass
• guitars
• body
• cutting

[fnaguitarplayer9]

Have you ever built and guitars like a strat/tele or les paul, or do you just do bass guitars? I'm gettin ready to start doin this, i already build pickups. What's your opinion on using oak as a body?

[willramirez75]

I'm secretly building an archtop guitar ....shhh! don't tell anyone ;) I think oak and any other wood is fine for the body, just make it thin or chambered to counteract the weight.

[fnaguitarplayer9]

sounds good! I really was planning on making it solid body, but you do have a good point there for the weight. Btw, what size bandsaw are you using? I'm thinking about getting a 9" benchtop, but i was afraid it would be to small. I'm using the one at school right now, which is huge. thanks

[willramirez75]

I use 2 bandsaws, a 10" which I use to cut curves and is permanently fitted with a 3/16" blade and a 14" with an 8" resaw capacity which is permanently fitted with a 3/4" resaw blade. 9" is fine for hobby work as long as you cut the halves before gluing them, it's not big enough to cut a full 14" wide body.

[JordanFrerichs]

the staples... does that create problems if they go in areas the will later be routed out? great idea though!

[willramirez75]

well, you place them where you KNOW there won't be any routing. Since them I'm using dowels to align the body sides. A jig to drill the dowel holes centered on each half makes things easier.

[goodyear2602]

ahh, black limba...tasty every time i see it! and a nice body shape, man!

[Buzzedd777]

Will, quit your day job and just do this. Put these manufacturing big boys out of bussiness.

[Orangerad2]

Im starting to make basses too, and what is your preference for wood for the body?

[skoolsucks6996]

i was just wondering,

i just started making a body for a new bass, and i did it with cedar.its real heavy but i think i might try make it thin. I dont have many tools, seeing as im only sixteen, but which ones would you recommend using, to get the holes for the pickups and electrical things?

[fnaguitarplayer9]

well i had this ideo of making solid body electric guitars out of a oak door. ;-| i know it's not a tone wood and i know it's extremely heavy, but i've read about oak guitars, and the only one's i've found commercialy avaible are the brian may guitars.

[gkmaster25]

No Don't use oak! Use Alder, Ash, Walnut,or Cherry. Bass wood and poplar are more exclusive for bass guitar. Maple would be nice but it would be too heavy unless use chamber the body. But Please, No Oak! P.S. Only use oak for doors, floors, moldings and furniture.

[fnaguitarplayer9]

Thats what i was thinking. I was planning on building a lil table on the right side of it and use that, but i don't how well it would work out.