Using a Guitar Template to Build Your First Guitar

By Steve Scott

Good kits make great guitars and offer plenty of woodworking

An article by Steve Scott in Fine Woodworking Magazine
September/October 2011 edition

guitar-build-image I wanted to build an acoustic guitar for the longest time, but was intimidated by the prospect. Although I’ve done plenty of woodworking, the idea of creating the forms for a guitar body and mastering the many different things it took to make a guitar play well intimidated me. I also wanted to learn to play the guitar, but never really found the motivation to do so.

In 2006 I stumbled across the idea of a guitar template. Since then, I’ve built a number of kit guitars. I’ve found that kits are a great entry point into guitar making. They simplify the process, but leave enough woodworking to be done to make me feel like I “voiced” the guitar.

I recently joined forces with the folks at Fine Woodworking Magazine. They were interested in doing an article about building a guitar from a kit, and I was happy to help out. You can check out the article here, and learn more about guitar kits.

By the way, completing my own guitar also became the catalyst for learning to play. I am now, admittedly, a guitar addict. If I don’t play a little every day, I feel like something is missing. But it wasn’t until the instrument I made myself was in my hands that this connection developed. A very cool side affect of making a guitar.

Click here to download the full article.

woodworking gift ideas download

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

Make a comment:
characters remaining

28 Responses to “Using a Guitar Template to Build Your First Guitar”

  1. Luis Arango

    I will like to make a guitar

  2. William Boggs

    Hi, I know I'm a few years late on this article, but is there an actual kit that a person could purchase? I would like to buy 2 a do a father / daughter project as she has taken an interest in two of my hobbies and that being woodworking and playing guitar. So, the kits would make it much easier. Please let me know thank you.

  3. Lindsay Caffin

    Iam interested in making a guitar

  4. James Johnson

    Would like to make one for my son-in-law.

  5. David.McCormack

    Does anyone have recommendations for a good acoustic guitar kit for someone about to attempt it for the first time?

  6. Terry Scott

    I do artistic expoxy coating, from affixing 2167 corks in a bar to coating home's and restaurants , long term saving are amazing ,

  7. Jerry Arseneau

    I would love to build an acoustic 12 string guitar !

  8. Prasert Buranatum

    Would like to make one for myself.

  9. Bob Helmholdt

    Please send me the guitar download

  10. Kent

    Ash has long been a popular wood for solid-body guitars, like the Fender Telecaster. Unfortunately, Ash is now scarce due to Ash Borer infestation. I'd appreciate a video on processing & aging raw Ash from "Tree-to-Telecaster."