Step-by-Step Guitar Making by Alex Willis

Making an acoustic guitar is much easier than most people suppose and with basic woodworking skills, a modest work space and only a few specialist tools, you too can make an instrument fit for the concert platform. All stages fully illustrated with colour photographs, clear drawings and detailed plans for each part of the instrument. The book helps with choosing materials, tuning the soundboard, placing the frets and adjusting the action.

To read more about my book and for ordering information see the Step-by-Step Guitar Making page >

Nine part series in "The Woodworker Magazine"

This guitar is a model WGSS01/CM. Its construction was featured in a nine part series in "The Woodworker Magazine" starting in January 2004 and concluding with the September 2004 issue.

The back and ribs are made from Cocobolo. The neck was made from Flamed Maple, fret board Ebony and the sound board AAA grade Sitka Spruce. Scale length is the WG standard length of 650mm.

When completed the guitar was donated to "The Devon Air Ambulance Trust"for one of their fund raising events.

The guitar was on display at the Axminster Power Tool exhibition at the Wessex center in Exeter during the 11th to the 13th of November 2004. Soundhole and body outline decoration is abalony with sycamore and black-died veneers.

WGSS01/OM/TL

WGSS01/OM/TL made for Terry Lees (guitarist of the year 2000).

• Back and ribs Brazilian Rosewood
• Neck Brazilian Mahogany
• Soundboard Western Red Cedar
• Fret board Ebony
• Scale length 650mm
• Head Inlay abalone inlayed in Ebony
• Tuners gold Waverlys

Abalone inlay

Abalone inlay on the head of a WGSS01 guitar.

The abalone is set into select Ebony and the whole head is bound with Maple and Abalone. Custom inlay design cutting is available.

Maple neck with Cocobolo head veneer

Side view of maple neck and head with Cocobolo head veneer. The tuners are mini Schaller, other tuners are available.

The picture shows the transition from the neck to head. This area on the neck of any guitar is very important to the ease of playing the guitar.

Bass guitar

This bass guitar, model WGSSBASS/V was designed for professional musician Chris Emo. Chris wanted a genuine Violin Bass guitar to replace his Hofner.Scale length is 860mm.

• Front plate is select Sitka Spruce with the back and Ribs made from Maple
• Fret board and head veneer is Ebony
• The construction of this guitar follows the traditional methods employed in violin construction
• All fittings are custom gold plated.

Jamming

Terry Lees and Dave Arthur jamming at Michelham Priory August 2005. Dave is playing his Moon guitar while Terry is playing a brand new Willis guitar model WGSS01/Bar.

The scale length on this Baratone guitar is 700mm. Back and sides is made from select Cocobolo and the top plate is Western Red Cedar.Neck is Brazilian Mahogany fitted with an Ebony fretboard.