Uploaded May 2017 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Find me on facebook: facebook.com/DariusWave
Here's a little demo of my very first DIY electric guitar. "Almost" because 15 years ago it was a Hohner Birmingham, but there was so much woodwork done, that it was almost like working with a blank piece of wood.
What I have changed is:
1. Neck to body angle - straight from angled
2. Bridge system - strat hardtail instead of one piece "prs sort of" tune-o-matic bridge
3. New body shaping - not just the "weird cutaway" but overall profile
4. Headstock - 3x3 layout instead of 6 in line
5. All paint job redone - neck is natural high gloss, while headstock and body are painted black...also high gloss. Before it was just a satin finished neck and black body
6. Covered toggle switch cavity and made a slow for a "slide" 5-way switch
7. Moved the knobs out of playing range
8. Installed locking tuners
9. Replaced old two humbucking pickups, for Seymour Duncan SH-4 and Ultrasonic (my target is Seymour STK-S4n, ultrasonic is there temporary i guess)
10. Made a custom pickguard
11. Full, copper tape shielding
12. Installed graph-tech black tusq nut
I felt like almost doing a guitar from a scratch but let's be real -it's not. The fact is that both pieces of wood - neck maple and body's alder turned to be quite descent tonally and "sustainally" so I think it was worth the work.
Find me on facebook: facebook.com/DariusWave
Here's a little demo of my very first DIY electric guitar. "Almost" because 15 years ago it was a Hohner Birmingham, but there was so much woodwork done, that it was almost like working with a blank piece of wood.
What I have changed is:
1. Neck to body angle - straight from angled
2. Bridge system - strat hardtail instead of one piece "prs sort of" tune-o-matic bridge
3. New body shaping - not just the "weird cutaway" but overall profile
4. Headstock - 3x3 layout instead of 6 in line
5. All paint job redone - neck is natural high gloss, while headstock and body are painted black...also high gloss. Before it was just a satin finished neck and black body
6. Covered toggle switch cavity and made a slow for a "slide" 5-way switch
7. Moved the knobs out of playing range
8. Installed locking tuners
9. Replaced old two humbucking pickups, for Seymour Duncan SH-4 and Ultrasonic (my target is Seymour STK-S4n, ultrasonic is there temporary i guess)
10. Made a custom pickguard
11. Full, copper tape shielding
12. Installed graph-tech black tusq nut
I felt like almost doing a guitar from a scratch but let's be real -it's not. The fact is that both pieces of wood - neck maple and body's alder turned to be quite descent tonally and "sustainally" so I think it was worth the work.
