How I build guitars WITHOUT spending money on lumber! FREE WOOD!

I built this using all reclaimed lumber from a headboard and bed rails.
It’s a small bodied Les Paul ish guitar with cheap humbuckers and a slotted headstock.

[@tjsogmc]

Wood is simply a raw material. Scrap is abundant and usually free. What's more impressive is the mad woodworking skills to make something beautiful and functional from it.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Yeah but wood is a pretty cool raw material!

[@tjsogmc]

@@dannylewisguitars you'll get no argument from me about that! I sometimes tell people who like to criticize others tha Picasso and Rembrandt used the same paints that everyone else had- how they used them, on the other hand, speaks olumes about vision and talent. The wood is not important, what is done with it is what matters.

[@tomalexiou9573]

Great work Danny and the guitar sounds soulful!

[@calvinbass1839]

Well done! Thank you for sharing. Have a blessed day.

[@rodrigocastro7651]

I build my own guitars , love this videos !!!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! Its the best hobby there is.

[@thomasmartinscott]

This brings back great memories. In 1981 I took a Lutherie Course and built a Mandolin. It was so satisfying and so much fun. That is a BEAUTIFUL Guitar. It has to be a Joy to play.

[@dannylewisguitars]

It is very fun to play!

[@augustpineworkshop]

Just found your channel and I really like your use of reclaimed materials. I think it not only makes the projects feel a lot more approachable in terms of cost but also adds a lot of character to the final product. Great job!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully I'll have lots more in the future!

[@weejim48]

People that don’t work with wood will never know the absolute joy & satisfaction of producing beautiful things. Bravo sir. P.S I also play guitar so appreciate the fact that it has to be playable as well. 🇬🇧👍

[@carlbaumeister3439]

Awesome, especially the slotted headstock and darkwood fret markers.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! I like these fret markers. They’re simple but unique enough to be noticeable!

[@darleneirvin7259]

Outstanding craftsmanship! I’m in awe of your talents.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you!

[@TheRockinDonkey]

Someone slept in the bed that was attached to. Now you can wake them up with some sweet power chords.

[@gerryreynolds8367]

Have thought about trying my hand at it.........but would like to use sound board out of an old piano.....you sometimes find them for free because it would cost too much to restore....

[@dannylewisguitars]

That’s a great idea! I’d like to do that too but don’t want to transport a piano!

[@seanantley1965]

Absolutely beautiful work!!! You’re one talented person, also love how you edited your video!!! Thank You!!!

[@fredware5392]

Great video and editing. Thank you for editing it with precision. Let the video tell the story. Amazing guitar and craftsmanship. Sounds great!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you! I made the whole video on my phone cause I’m too cheap to buy a camera or a video editing program.

[@chrisghiardi117]

Legend was Paul Reed Smith used to source wood from furniture when he started building.

[@dannylewisguitars]

I guess I should go ahead and quit my day job.

[@robertwantland646]

The best yet! Your branding looks sharp and fits perfectly on such a beautiful piece

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you! The branding iron was a christmas gift from my wife. She designed the logo too!

[@robertwantland646]

@@dannylewisguitarsthat's so badass

[@dposs34possinger8]

Has a nice Jimmy Page/Danelectro tone! VERY NICE BUILD! Subscribed!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! That is high praise!

[@dannymathis7275]

Excellent craftsmanship! Sounds and looks great!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! Great name!

[@dannymathis7275]

@@dannylewisguitars 🤘🎸

[@spappy2k6]

For videos like this I wish KZbin had a "hell yeah" button! Thoroughly impressed!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you friend! Maybe you should work for KZbin. Someone needs to be there to make sure they don’t have anymore glaring oversights like the lack of a Hell Yeah button!

[@Chris_the_Dingo]

Love the slotted headstock. Beautiful work...thanks for sharing!

[@PaulieHo]

LOVE the way you did the fretboard dude. guitar sounds great!

[@stevepethel6843]

Wow you are amazing. That is beautiful guitar you built...God's continued blessings

[@aitcheyai]

Wow! Great work, and it sounds fab!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you!

[@m.dulgheru7044]

I'm dying of envy and admiration. A beautiful guitar with a great sound. Well done!

[@fredchatham6680]

Excellent video. Wood prices have gotten even crazier. I get nearly as excited watching others build as I do doing it myself. Yeah, i "like to watch ". I have a borderline fetish thing happening with single cut body styles anyway which makes this video even better.

[@kenmiles4145]

Honey, I'm going to tear up the headboard to make guitar.

[@dannylewisguitars]

That’s right. No furniture is safe.

[@gothridercreations]

Another great build dude, might need to steal that fret marker idea for my next build though 😀

[@dannylewisguitars]

You should! It’s not hard, it’s unique and it covers side markers and face markers in one go!

[@WildBORProductions]

Very nice 👍🏻👍🏻

[@GazAce]

Sounds cool with the twin hummys. Nice job mate, beautiful work! 👌

[@whoguy4231]

That guitar sounds so resonant ... Must be the old wood!!!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Maybe the bed springs!

[@whoguy4231]

@@dannylewisguitars Lmao ... It's seen a lot of action!

[@whaguitars]

Great looking guitar and love your video editing. Nice work.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! This is my favorite so far.

[@whaguitars]

@@dannylewisguitars It's definitely cool!!

[@tomegan7718]

The branded logo is a badass touch, along with the chambered body.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you, my brother. My wife designed the logo and gave me the branding iron for Christmas.

[@MC87-D2T1X4]

Wow. What a masterpiece.

[@paulsimmons5726]

While the body shape is similar to a Les Paul, it reminded me of a Zemitas! Enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! I’ve never heard of Zemitas, cool stuff!

[@fredvanderlinden8908]

Looks a lot like the guitar I built about a year ago. LP style with slotted headstock. Mine has a neck through body. Great job.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! That sounds like a cool build.

[@yellowcat1310]

all my guitars have reclaimed wood. some necks started out as 4 x 4s that were laying around for 20 years. an old crib, a bed... nice guitar you made

[@ktsproductionstudio]

That’s such a cool idea for inlays

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! I did it on my very first guitar because I was lazy and I thought it would be cool to do face markers and side dots at the same time. Now I’ve done it a few times and it’s my favorite way to do it!

[@ktsproductionstudio]

@@dannylewisguitars I like it, seems like you can make it very subtle or very bold👍🏼

[@stevenharrison488]

I'm in Thailand right now watching, and the wood where I am just laying around is a.axing for guitar it's there for the asking have some bits to bring back to start first project was hoping do it here bits bits didn't turn up ☺

[@dannylewisguitars]

Cool! Thailand!

[@scottprather5645]

Very cool!

[@michaelpavone7658]

I just want you to know I'm doing the same EXACT thing your doing. Old furniture or any wood I find people throw away except for treated building lumber( won't use ). Awxome

[@dannylewisguitars]

Cool! It’s a good hobby!

[@CMRWoodworks]

Cool build!

[@FoulOwl2112]

Sounds almost as good as it looks.

[@ubiratanguimaraes6996]

much better than one you buy from a shop

[@dannylewisguitars]

I don’t know if that’s true! But I certainly like it more than one from a store!

[@sophiafake-virus2456]

goes up to 11 notches on the headboard

[@RowanGroen]

Last couple of weeks i am listening to a lot of guitar video's. Especially les paul's. My conclusion is that if there is no real 50's or early 60's PAF in it, it does not matter what you buy. (and the stephens design paf's are almost impossible to get) Everything that is built nowadays is of good building quality. The Vintage les paul's (the brand vintage) do almost sound as good as a gibson les paul. For that almost part, i am not willing to pay 1500-2000 euro more. I rather spend that 1500 euro's on a good amp.

[@adamnash2009]

man, this is both an epic guitar and an epic video.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you!

[@randyhartgraves]

Gotta love making something both beautiful and functional with wood!! Just got a nice slab of walnut, can't wait to start my project.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Yeah! Its addictive. What are you going to make with your walnut slab?

[@randyhartgraves]

@@dannylewisguitars I don't have the dimensions of the slab yet, but it might be big enough for 2 guitar bodies. Would like to do a Fender style, strat or tele, and also a Les Paul or PRS type.

[@dannylewisguitars]

@@randyhartgraves you can’t go wrong with a telecaster!

[@stevesstrings5243]

Another great build! I love seeing the process!

[@jaismohamad1497]

Sounds good! Wish I have your talent.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! Anybody can learn!

[@streety301]

my favorite kinda guitar build video asmr wood shop shit. no looped cheesy background music

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! Maybe don’t watch my first view build videos. They might have some cheesy music. But, my most recent ones sound like they’d be your jam!

[@tommyvalle4476]

Wow it sounds amazing great job

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks!

[@darrellslifka5136]

I REALLY like how you did your frett markers! Fun video.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you! I’m working on a bass right now and I’m planning on using the same fret marker design. Stay tuned!

[@tomalexiou9573]

Great work Danny and the guitar has soul!

[@neivaldoduarte4576]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏... taí um trabalho prazeiroso de fazer... maravilhoso!!! O resultado é muito massa!!

[@klausrusswurm3506]

Cool Guitar, excellente 🎼🎸🎼🎸👍👏🙂

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks!

[@robertpennington1019]

Amazing! You’ve inspired me to try and build my own guitar to start learning the process. Would you post a tool list? It looked like a table saw, router, hand drill, that little plainer, etc. Man a basic tutorial would be epic too. Thanks for the video!

[@dannylewisguitars]

That’s awesome! I got started two years ago by watching other people’s KZbin videos! You can get by without many of the tools I used in this video. If you buy lumber that’s closer to the right size you don’t need the planer or table saw. Router, drill, jig saw, sander and some small hand tools. Files, and soldering iron too. This is a video I made a while back trying to use just some basic tools: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZqZgmOMgM1-q6s This is not me but it’s a great tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJvGnpWjn7Frp68

[@ian00001]

Shades of Brian May - nice job!

[@dannylewisguitars]

If only I could play like him.

[@ian00001]

@@dannylewisguitars Same here

[@PeterKertesz2013]

This video is ridiculous and awesome at the same time.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! Thats the vibe I was aiming for.

[@carloalbertorassaval3275]

My headboard is made of Les Paul bodies. I adore it.

[@dannylewisguitars]

You win the comment competition. Congratulations!

[@Anne-bf2fb]

I'd like to see a jazzmaster shaped looking guitar you build

[@dannylewisguitars]

Sounds fun!

[@michaelpavone7658]

The only difference is I buy and use all high end hardware and electronics

[@commonsensehill372]

Great build. Subbed.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Much appreciated.

[@Anne-bf2fb]

Very nice

[@mstargate12]

Like ya style pal👍

[@robinleebraun7739]

I am always on the lookout for discarded wood. Real wood. Most furniture is no longer real wood. Particleboard crap. Useful for forms and patterns, but won’t hold a screw. Even expensive furniture is made from the stuff and only door frames and moldings are solid.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Yeah, I get my furniture free from Craigslist mostly and I’m pretty picky about what I’ll actually drive to go get!

[@johnbelfiglio562]

Beautiful build. My only thought is, that must have been a pretty solid bed to use for a guitar. What kind of wood was the headboard and frame made from? Whatever it was, still sounds and looks great!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Mahogany and Maple! I use salvaged lumber in all my builds. I find it on craigslist or my wife finds it on facebook marketplace. I have to be pretty picky about what I'll go get because its difficult to tell from photos what furniture is plywood and what is solid. Most of the time I get lucky and come away with free hardwoods!

[@johnbelfiglio562]

@@dannylewisguitars nice. Great job!

[@omarfranciscocorrea7929]

Felicitaciones...

[@georgevillanueva6926]

Wow brotha amazing work

[@georgevillanueva6926]

Good stuff on the fret board

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thank you, my brethren!

[@dannylewisguitars]

@@georgevillanueva6926this ended up being one of my favorite fretboard designs. It’s simple and you’ve got fretmarkers on the face and sides of the board in one go.

[@Vict1ni_]

Hi Danny! How much would you charge for an abstract guitar build? Your work really inspires me but I don't have the tools to do what you do, so if I could maybe commission one that would be awesome!

[@dannylewisguitars]

Depends on how much what you want and how much you want to spend on parts. Send me an email [e-mail] and we can chat!

[@Vict1ni_]

@@dannylewisguitars I've emailed you :)

[@Anne-bf2fb]

I've seen people use nails as frets tangs

[@Joe-mz6dc]

From headboard to head banger. 🤟🏻 😎

[@paraflightjoe1053]

Need to play with no distortion'

[@dannylewisguitars]

Thanks! I did play a clean sound once before adding the overdrive right at the beginning on the playing in the video. I should have added more. Next time!

[@truth-ig2um]

awsome

[@maxwellblakely7952]

But where are all the tone woods man? You didn’t even tap on the wood to see if it would ring out a perfect G note…

[@dannylewisguitars]

You’re right! There’s no Indian Rosewood, or even Koa anywhere near this guitar! It sounds like garbage!

[@lexist7]

I was scared for you in some parts of the video

[@dannylewisguitars]

I know! Guitars are scary!

[@dashdrum-again]

I've tried a couple to times to do the fret markers as you show here, but my workmanship is not quite up to the task. I'll try again in a few months I as (hopefully) improve.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Just go slow!

[@portsideguitar1981]

Cool and all, but not cheap as you’d have thousands of dollars in tooling.

[@dannylewisguitars]

True! Tools cost money!

[@MOVIE_MUSIC_STORE]

I'm a poor man so I can't buy a guitar and make it as good as yours. Then the guitar seems like a dream 🥺🥺🥺

[@elm478]

“Knock me down 9 times, but I get up 10.” - Cardi B

[@jodystarkey6792]

what kind of wood is that motel 6 hip shaker. lmao im just kidding id like to try out a few of your guitars even buy 1.

[@dannylewisguitars]

Some kind of mahogany and maple. You’re welcome to buy one! Let me know!

[@DougHinVA]

All that saved money on a guard over the spinning table-saw blade will disappear when he is in the emergency room and a finger or part of a hand is gone... permanently.

[@dannylewisguitars]

I already cut off all my fingers! I have a mechanical hand like Luke Skywalker!

[@TheSharmd]

Would love to have your work. I'm here in kuala Lumpur Malaysia. I can't afford an expensive godin silent guitar. Can u build one for me for nylon accoustic silent guitar ?

[@dannylewisguitars]

I could but it probably wouldn’t be cheap! I have to charge for my time and materials!

[@vladd001]

Sweet, but the wood is the cheapest part in a guitar

[@dannylewisguitars]

Unless you put cheap hardware and electronics in it like I did on this one! I think the pickups cost $35 for both. I believe I spent less than $70 for the whole build!

[@vladd001]

@@dannylewisguitars 👍👍👍

[@Mr10usdad]

Andy in many cases you are getting aged wood!

[@scarmyguitar]

Bro we need to collab! HMU!

[@dannylewisguitars]

What do you have in mind?

[@kusholhumedeo7851]

I wanna work with you if I am near you.... 😍

[@dannylewisguitars]

Where are you?

[@kusholhumedeo7851]

@@dannylewisguitars me from Nagaland, India. Doing one-man band music channel using my hand made bass guitar. Kindly check out and drop comment to support me 🙏

[@Mario-jn5zq]

I just don't understand the style of classic guitar tuners you used...

[@dannylewisguitars]

I stole the idea of an electric with slotted headstock from a B&G little sister. I have just always liked a slotted headstock on a steel string guitar!

[@johnbipper4601]

All wood used to be a tree...

[@dannylewisguitars]

Good observation!

[@johnbipper4601]

@@dannylewisguitars I was just being a smart a$$ 😁. Nice guitar though, thanks for the vid !!

[@dannylewisguitars]

@@johnbipper4601 I was too! Thanks!

[@johnbipper4601]

@@dannylewisguitars Cool ! 😆

[@Anne-bf2fb]

Your poor hands

[@dannylewisguitars]

What happened to my hands? They still work, last I checked.

[@user-kd2ow7pb1c]

Столько станков, чтобы сделать такую некрасивую гитару. Я на коленке, без электрооборудования, делал гитары красивее

[@user-eu4ts3uc8e]

Ацтой

[@user-eu4ts3uc8e]

А инструменты че в магазах бесплатно раздают? 😂😂🤣