First and for all, when I'm bored ànd have a screwdriver in my hands, I can't help it, but I MUST open things!

So that's what I did to my guitar, everything with a posibilty to open, went open.

It was a wise lesson, the backplate (see pictures below) of my guitar went open, and the neck fell off

Here are the pictures

Dean VMNTX:




This one got a little bit abused while putting it in I guess...


A clearer picture, this wasn't done by me FYI
As long as it plays, I'm okay with that.

The back, nicely put if you'd ask me.
Put the smell is terrible! Guess it's a good proof that the back covers it up nicely




This is the plate I screwed open and that the neck came loose...
The moment the neck came down, I've stopped breathing for a sec, I really that I broke it and it was unrepairable
So kids, don't do stupid stuff with your guitars... Unless you have a couple and you don't mind losing one due to your curiosity!

That's where the V-plate is, looks nicely done.

And the back of the V-plate (STILL A BLOODY BLACK ONE!)

Got a question about this: these scratches were made while putting on new strings, what would be a good way to cover it up, and by covering it up, I mean, not making it worse


I'm sorry if I wasted your internet for these pictures John!

I'm thinking a good book on guitar building/repair would be a good thing for you to look into If ya like doing it, why not learn to do it well and make some money at it

Haha, yeah, probably

Might buy such a "built-it-yourself-kit", as basic as possible (and cheap as well).
Me and my mighty screwdriver will have lots 'n' lots of fun xD

About those books, do you know any decent books on that?
'Cause I have a couple of guitarbooks here, but they don't go into detail about how to make a guitar, just how to maintain them, and into detail (putting a glass of water next to it, so the heat won't dry it out, stuff like that)

Um..................... didn't the neck come off coz it's a bolt-on? Or is that just way too obvious?

Ya he took the bolt's out

About the neck:

I though all necks were glued on, so I wanted to know what was behind that plate...

yeah i thought the same thing and did the same thing to my warlock lol so i know where ur commin from lol

Haha
Happy to know I'm not alone

Ow well, it's a great lesson I've learned, and I can't wait to make my own guitar!

wish I had my books here to refer to Renz, I have a great one that would be perfect for you but I forget the title I would recomend going on amazon or something and looking at the reviews to find a good book about it. I just put a guitar together from a kit and needed no directions aside from a wiring diagram. Its not really that hard. I'll start a thread to show it off.

Awesome!

I was thinking, what if I just bought some decent wood, a certain height (3 cm) and another of say... 2cm?, and just cut it out myself with a figure saw...?
I won't be making a strat that way, but I think a V or something alike would work out.

The neck will be another difficult thing to make myself, any ideas on how I could do that?

Thanks

Hmm... Maybe Im wrong but it doesn't sound like you're too experienced with this sort of work. So I wouldn't recommend building your own from scratch. Start with a kit, then maybe make your own body ( you need to think about tuning/intonation/action etc, you can't just assume it will sound good, cos it probably won't hehe sorry ), but as far as the neck goes I would say don't even bother unless you have several years of experience doing woodwork...

Maybe a bit negative here, but hey, it's just my opinion....

My real suggestion would be to get a ( second ) job, instead of spending lots of hours trying to build a guitar. That way you can buy another DBZ instead ;)

Where did I say I wanted to make a fine guitar?

Hehe..

Well good luck anywayz. Let us know :)

I think you could probably make an OK guitar from scratch, providing you do a few things, as I was looking at doing the same thing a while back, it didn't end up happening, but I did end up doing quite a bit of research into it.

1. Definately read as much as you can, perhaps find a book that comes with some high praise, there are various methods to calculate measurements for correct intonation and making it sound good and play good, but as someone said this is an area that can go very wrong, and is probably one of those things that can only be mastered with experience.

2. Try and find someone who has a great deal of experience in woodwork, I had a friend who makes really nice furniture and has worked with fine woods for all of his life as a passion, which was quite a while

3. Do a practice run with cheap materials, Ie MDF or some cheap wood scraps to get a feel for the room for error you need to allow for, and the construction process. This is where someone with experience comes in handy to show you correct and most accurate/best methods for putting whats in your mind into practice.

4. Again read and research as much as possible, email luthiers in your area perhaps go to a work experience/workshop with them if this is possible, if this is looking like it is becoming a passion pursue it

5. Buy moderate quality materials for the real guitar, obviously take care with each section and follow instructions.

6. Finish it off and see how it goes, obviously it could exceed your own expectations, or be a complete failure.

7. Most of all enjoy the process.

I am by no means an expert on the topic but I think if you took enough time planning and getting well informed you could end up making an ok guitar, and after all the first one is a learning process.

Besides you and your screwdriver could have a ball....

I think you definitely have the spirit!

Yeah, that was my plan for later on, when things would get better.

My step-bro does "wood" on school, and he is really passionate 'bout it, so that's nice
Also, I've heard the local guitarshopowner say something about a luthier making guitars, gonna ask his adress and "interview" the man

Thing is, I also need a lot of equipment (apart from my trusty screwdriver), so I might just do it the John-way(ne)!
Found this awesome Les-Paul (a bit like John's) for a relative low price.

And I still got some white paint in my erm... (the attic beneath the house >.<), but that was for first layers on Warhammer figurines (little guys like this, made out of plastic), would that work? Or do I really need wood/car paint?