I find old broken guitars at yardsales and fleamarkets for very cheap prices. Sometimes a broken guitar will go for $10. You can harvest a surprising amount of hardware from a demolished guitar. Tuning pegs alone go for $50 or more if you have to buy them new.
Making guitars involves design, woodworking, and music, which are my three favorite hobbies all rolled into one. Here are some guitars I've made.
I call this one "The Shovel" because of it's shape. The back was pieced together with 6 ribs. I couldn't find a bridge or tailpiece which would look right with this shape, so I found some walnut and carved this one.

This one was ergonomically carved to be more comfortable to hold. It fits my belly better. A lot of times, guitars have frets way up near the sound hole, and then there's a body in the way so it's extremely difficult get to them. I put a deep scallop in this one so the frets are very easy to reach.
Keith, have you ever used any of these instruments on any of your recordings?
ReplyDeleteThanks! i do use them in some recordings. usually i grab whichever one is the closest arm-reach away. I don't like playing that stick-shaped one too much. it just sits where it sits.
ReplyDeleteI want my own Scarab Model - aka the "shit bug."
ReplyDeleteThat's actually my favorite of them all. It's very small and portable, and fairly loud, which is surprising due to it's thin body. Thanks Mykal
ReplyDeletehow the hell did i miss this post!? wtf? unbelievable the talent you have. these are fantastic! my favorite is the shovel, so cool
ReplyDeleteBrad thanks !
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