Episode 123 The Modern Way To Design A Guitar

[@MarcinOfTheNuclearVillage]

I'm watching this video only 4 years from the time you made it Chris... Just recently decided to digitize my guitar designs and your help is really making the difference man. Thank you for your hard work and patience to teach cool stuff!

[@yoheff988]

2 thumbs up !!! There is no way on earth that a human can do any precise work better then a computer period. We have to flow with the opportunity that this amazing technology provides.

[@ccchicken8889]

I'm not in the CN market yet, but I'm going to look into 3d modeling. Highlighting this platform even for just creativity's sake is much appreciated Chris!

[@palfrayguitars2916]

Great explanation Chris. Like you i took the plunge last year and was lucky enough to go down the Fusion 360 route. It really is a great program mainly because it incorporates the CAM side of things which i didnt have a clue about but now i love it.... Great channel. Ray

[@mathiaslindgren9544]

Nice cut from the program to your conclusion, smoothly done and good direction. Also really informative video!

[@ZL1LoVeR]

4 years count? 😂 Merry Christmas and happy holidays

[@brianpetersen3429]

Excellent video.

[@ConstrutorMusical]

Thanks for sharing your ideas!

[@truetech4158]

I've yet to cnc or print more than models of guitars, though its on the list of things to do. Thanx for sharing the points involved with your process. Getting that neck scale proper is everything. #KeepOnRollingAndRocking

[@benfrancemusic]

Thanks Chris, this is a GREAT video! I'm at the very front end of my luthier journey, but CNC is definitely something that I am interested in getting into.

[@subd3]

Chris, can Rhino dimension lines and sketches like Fusion3D? I've been making video game for about 7 years. However I've used AutoCAD in the past. I'm looking at those comfort cut on the guitar. would you do a video showing how to get those kind of details into a guitar? Maybe even around the perimeter?

[@agdtec]

I don't own my own CNC but I have access to a friends CNC. I have made templates and guitar bodies from plywood and MDF to test designs and quick cheap prototyping. In this process, I never worry I will ruin an expensive exotic wood blank.

[@chrisyoung8062]

What I'd really like to see is your process for modeling the neck and body. That's a video that would get a like and a subscribe from me.

[@GRSTGuitars]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f33RpHaCbr6brKs

[@chrisyoung8062]

@@GRSTGuitars Excellent tutorial! That's what I was looking for.

[@AntonioCavicchioni]

I suppose that with this 3D technique also allows a client to have a clear idea when ordering a custom made guitar, with no surprises at the end. I also liked a lot the carbon fiber "fix" and I would use it as a standard feature. Very cool video!

[@GosselinCreative]

Thanks for posting, Chris. As I begin to revive my guitar building hobby, I have been pondering learning CNC rather than continuing to do things the old way. I have been asking myself: If these tools were available when Leo Fender and Ted McCarty were starting out, wouldn't they use them? The answer that always comes back to me is yes. So thank you for sharing how you do it.

[@applebutter4036]

I was just reading about how Jim Olson started using cnc many years ago. From the sounds of it, he really didn't have a choice and it hasn't hurt his reputation as an outstanding luthier.

[@jamesmitchell3357]

Very nice. I have been using Rhino CAD since version 1. Back when I did Design and R&D for Composite Acoustics Guitars. I export to Bob CAM for the NC tool path.

[@tom0ocadoo]

your videos are great thanks

[@MikeCindyWhite]

Great video bro! Thank you much 👍

[@Stratamania]

Hi Chris, I just watched all of the earlier CNC videos and this one again. Are you now doing everything in Rhino 3D or using Illustrator first? Really informative set of videos.... thanks...

[@HighlineGuitars]

I use Illustrator first.

[@UrquidiGuitars]

So, I'm not alone here, fellow Graphic Designer, I did lots labels (Flexography) and packaging... how cool!

[@HighlineGuitars]

I remember doing flexography lables and how I had to make the most of my limited number of colors. I would come up with a great looking design but then I'd have to dumb it down for flexo. The bosses be like, "I thought this was going to look pretty!" I be like, "spend more money so we can use more than 3 colors."

[@UrquidiGuitars]

@@HighlineGuitars Did you ever tried a duotone? That was my big hit, green black and yellow for a pine cleaner label...

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@UrquidiGuitars Yeah, I used them often. You never really knew what you were going to end up with until they started to come off the press.

[@dalgguitars]

Chris, did you model those bridges or did you get the models from the web somewhere? Thanks in advance. I've just bought Rhino and am working through the tutorials.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Sometimes I model them myself, but I also search grabcad to save time.

[@dalgguitars]

@@HighlineGuitars Thanks for the help.

[@jatna77]

Thanks for this. Does Rhinoceros 3d have built in rulers and measurement tools? Did you make the bridge models yourself? Can you share them? A vid on setting up the routing paths would be neat.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Yes, yes, no, no.

[@markgrimm3564]

hi chris thanks so much for your time in sharing can you share the links of where you purchased the softwere

[@gbftats07]

Hi Chris, is there a place so source the bridge, and tuner models?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Try grabcad.com/library That's where I get a lot of models. Not just the parts you need, but whole guitars that may have the parts you want for your project.

[@dalgguitars]

You say you use Illustrator for 2d and then Rhino for 3d. Can I skip the learning curve of Illustrator or Inkscape and do everything in Rhino? Or is it better to design in a 2d software and then finish up in 3d software? I'm thinking of going digital and would like to learn the fewest programs. Thank you so, so, very much for all your videos!

[@HighlineGuitars]

Yes, you can work entirely in Rhino to create full-scale 3D models. I use Illustrator only because I am familiar with the program and can generate 2D designs very quickly and import them into Rhino to be extruded into 3D.

[@davidsteinart]

If you wanted to take the time to model more classic type guitars accurately, you would probably double your sales at eguitar plans. Obviously the unique designs are awesome, but if I could pay $10 bucks for a set of drawings for some bread and butter models from someone who I trust to produce quality plans, it would be a no brainer.

[@HighlineGuitars]

There are legal issues to contend with.

[@LCRLive687]

hey buddy thanks for the video. can you please tell me where to get templates for things like binding and the plastic elements going into a guitar?

[@Jesse-sz6fp]

I’m surprised you make the neck first then make a body around it. Do you find you have trouble making the heel joint ergonomic when you go about it this way? Also have you ever tried fusion 360?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I draw the body and neck at the same time in Adobe Illustrator and use the vectors to create my 3D models in Rhinoceros. Since I have good visualization skills, I can "see" my neck to body transition before I sculpt it. I tried Fusion 360 for a while, but I hated it.

[@Jesse-sz6fp]

Man I’m really not liking fusion that much either. I originally learned on solidworks. Do you feel it’s easier/quicker to model and assemble in Rhino? Enough to justify the cost?

[@Shadowrunner340]

Quick question about the router: Does the guitar come out ready for color, or do you still have to do sanding and fine shaping?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I can go to a surface ready for color, but I take it to a point where I can finish with 220 grit. It's faster that way.

[@orangepapya]

how on earth are you making that belly cut bevel chamfer whatever it is thing? on the spot where your right arm would rest?

[@DreidMusicalX]

I was wondering do different set bridges to tremolo systems require different lengths from the nut to the bridge? Or are they all basically the same?

[@HighlineGuitars]

You always measure from the nut to the bridge saddle, not the baseplate. Bridge saddles will always be in the same place for a given scale no matter what kind of bridge you use. However, the baseplates differ in design so they will end up in slightly different locations relative to the nut.

[@DreidMusicalX]

Ok, very helpful, thank you!

[@danmccall3616]

What program would you recommend for a PC?

[@HighlineGuitars]

All of the programs out there have demo versions and I recommend you try them all to see which one works the best for how you learn and work. My recommendation is the one I use Rhino 3D. It's available for the PC as well.

[@danmccall3616]

Highline Guitars Thanks for your reply

[@guitarvirtuoduder]

Can I pay you to make a model of my design? I can never do this. I dont even have a computer that would stay on if i tried

[@HighlineGuitars]

Unfortunately, you'll still need a computer and the software to do anything with the model I make for you.

[@guitarvirtuoduder]

@@HighlineGuitars I emailed you as well, didnt realize you checked the comments lol. I work at whats called a "Maker Space" where all the equipment is readily available to use, including a computer controlled cnc.

[@maxwatt9119]

Hello from New Zealand!! Hi Chris, I've been watching your videos for over a year and going through the same process in modernising the way I build guitars and CNC is only a couple month away for me. I really appreciate your openness to share information and thank you so much for doing so, it's a great help for others in a similar position. When I eventually come to the States to make some connections or if you're ever over this part of the world I'll be sure to visit and shout you a beer! Keep up the good work and feel free to check out what I'm up to over here! www.wattguitars.co.nz

[@stevehinton5300]

He DOESN'T accept visitors...!

[@petrzarian4033]

Like number 190

[@xpost92]

Autodesk Inventor is WAY better than Rhino.....

[@HighlineGuitars]

And WAY more expensive.

[@xpost92]

Highline Guitars certainly but well worth it. I’m designing a guitar myself, used rhino for years modelling buildings. I actually don’t use it anymore....I used a number of 3D/2d CAD software packages and it makes life significantly easier for product design. Just a thought