How To Create A 3D Guitar Body Part 1

[@rtroiani]

Wow, that opening tip on proportionator was perfect! I always struggle with the bestway to scale accurately. Thanks!

This was super helpful. Several nice techniques here. The fretboard generator is particularly useful to me since I'm trying to design a multiscale guitar, which makes various aspects a bit less straightforward.

[@martindebiase25]

Hi from Temperley Argentina - you are great great teacher

[@Andluth]

Thanks for this video! After 30 years making guitars I am committed to moving into the present with CAD/CAM and just ordered a laptop to learn fusion 360 and maybe Adobe Ill. now. Looking forward to the rest of this series

[@sc0or]

A dedicated web site to divide two numbers is an outstanding human achievement =) By the way, necks have a standard width of about 2.20". This allows to purchase a finished neck separately.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Standards in the guitar industry? HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@phillzook956]

The number 12 in the calculation method refers to the 12 tones in the equal temperament scale .

[@DavidRavenMoon]

Another tip; use the Align tool to get your control holes straight and evenly distributed. And when you want a round hole click on the link icon so you only have to enter the dimension once.

[@JamesKruseArtist]

Thank you so much for doing these videos ,Chris, this element of CNC is definitely the trickiest in my opinion! I could be the tool paths!… :-)

[@jrandallmoore]

Hey Chris. Do you have to use adobe to create the guitar or can it be done with rhino?

[@Metalbass10000]

This is pretty cool. I've used seven different CAM software packages, like MasterCam, Camworks, EZ Cam (the most ironic name in the industry), etc., as well as numerous conversational formats. For CAD software, however, I've only used, and thoroughly enjoyed, Solidworks. I would be very interested in seeing the process of creating the instrument geometry, "from scratch," to create a completely original design.

[@ksgjlg]

Excellent. I'm in the process of finishing a 5x9' cnc to help me with acoustic guitars. I use illustrator already and this is just what I needed.

[@GosselinCreative]

Thank you, for sharing Chris! I hope to eventually move to CNC luthrie from traditional and this is super helpful.

[@RORGuitars]

Fantastic video Chris, you're making guitar design easy!! Thanks for sharing.

[@juanjobravo4476]

Excelent video tutorial. I was waiting for this for Long time. please continue the series with neck and if is possible in the future, continue with tutorials with the basics that how prepare the models to CAM to mechanics these in your cnc. thanks Chris for share your knowledge. Regards

[@wadetomczyk8765]

Great stuff again unfortunately illustrator sucks for me doesn't act how you're doing it. I'll figure something out love the tutorials.

[@Ludus4H1]

great vid dude, I like it, keep works like this on

[@danresciniti]

Great video. Thank you for taking the time to make this. While it is an interest of mine, I don't build guitars but I learned so much from the video. Look forward to the follow up. Keep up the great work.

[@angelrodriguez8368]

Great video! Super informative. How would you scale the top view reference image if it is supposed to have a break neck angle?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I don't use reference images as they are usually way off.

[@LavinGuitars]

Hey Chris, do you still use Rhino 3D? I'm looking for something to get and wondering if that one is still a good choice.

[@dalgguitars]

Thank you so much!!! Fantastic video.

[@davesabella2069]

I can't even tell you how helpful and awesome this is. My CNC machine will arrive in a month or so and I want to be ready to use it. I too am a graphic designer (I own an ad agency) so I work with Illustrator every day. I literally got an image of a RG and followed along step by step as you built this file. Can't wait for the Rhino part where we build it to 3D, THAT's the part I'm just learning, I have Rhino and I've worked in 3D modeling and architecture software but never building guitars, mostly just walls and doorways...So looking forward to your next episode, please take the time to do it like you did the Illustrator one, that was perfect! You're my favorite online guitar guy, I learned to do my first scarf joint from your tutorials and a ton of other stuff. I bought your CNC plans and I'm going to buy the string winder plans. Keep up the great work!

[@ericbutler7310]

So, what I'm getting from this is, If I want to create an original shaped body based on an S or T bolt on neck, I could start with a drawing of that type of guitar, adjust the size to match the scale, and then instead of using the traditional shape, draw an original shape for the body outline...and end up with a ready to bolt on body.

[@gordonsteeves9950]

Thank Chris, I am just starting with Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator

[@tiiagocorreiia]

I'm trying to follow your tutorial, but my Rhino don't show extrude box to insert a value. And how to hide the curve points on the body?

[@dalgguitars]

Do you ever use a Wacom tablet and pen and if so how much? Thank you so much for all your videos. You really inspire me to progress in my hobby as a luthier.

[@HighlineGuitars]

I don't own one and really never felt I needed to use one. But who knows, maybe I'll take the plunge!

[@pixiedust8625]

thank you so much but what about the width of the guitar

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@pixiedust8625 What about it?

[@OldSilkRoad]

Hello Chris! I had a specific question for you: When dimensioning the neck pocket in a solid model, should I use exactly the same dimensions as the end of the neck that is supposed to fit in there (as I do with my 2D drawings), or should the neck pocket dimensions be a tad bigger to allow for the fit? If so, how much gap should there be? 0.1mm, 0.01mm? It seems this will be a consideration for CNC carving. Thanks!

[@HighlineGuitars]

I make the neck pocket the same dimensions as the neck heel and the fit for me is nice and snug.

[@OldSilkRoad]

@@HighlineGuitars Awesome! That is what I was hoping the right approach would be 😀! Thank you so much for your help as always!

[@Malabarii]

HI Chris. I am using Rhino as well and I am curious ...why would you not do all of this drawing in Rhino rather than Illustrator? It has all the tools you are using here. GREAT video as usual and looking forward to the next installment.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Because I use the Illustrator files for other purposes so I kill two birds with one software stone.

[@harleywood9588]

Nice model planes

[@darioduarte319]

It’s become a routine of mine to watch every Friday morning as I’m waking up. Thanks for all these great videos. I hope you make this series all the way to the Goode. I’m a fusion user and found that I can do all you just did easier, however, as it does work fine most of the times, I’m a Mac user and feel it’s not very apple friendly. I’ve been looking for a more apple friendly software from modeling to the finish product. Maybe this is it???

[@eb7426]

Hi, love your videos!! Just a question, if I select the scale lenght and I add another fret to indicate the end of the fretboard doesn't the software re-divide the scale lenght for the new number of frets?

[@christophermacier]

Do you find this better than creating it in a 3D software like Fusion 360? Or is this just the workflow you're used to? And thank you for the great videos. I just recently purchased your plans to build the CNC router. I was just going to buy a CNC but couldn't find one that was in my price point with the work area I needed. Your design will be perfect and will save me a lot of money.

[@HighlineGuitars]

When I developed my workflow, I tested a lot of software and settled on Adobe Illustrator/Rhinoceros 3D/MeshCAM because of their ease of use and my familiarity with how they work. I tried Fusion 360, but like so many others, I found it to be a PITA to use.

[@christophermacier]

Highline Guitars PITA creating the CAM processes or even modeling? I have been using 360 for a few years and love it but I’m new to creating CAM processes.

[@noahlynaugh]

So I plan on using a warmouth telecaster neck and the neck pocket for that is 3x2 and 3/16. Basing my body shape off of a telecaster ultra. When I go to make the neck Pocket, the width of the neck pocket is about a 32nd longer than the image when I use the warmouth dimensions. I know the neck pocket is on of the biggest things in making a guitar play better so I’d like to do the best I can. I’m wondering if I should base it off the warmouth dimensions or the image of the telecaster. The strings on the image look as though they line up with the template i am using from fret finder 2d. However, the fretboard on the image looks just a hair wider (on the low e string side of the fretboard) than the fretboard template.

[@noahlynaugh]

I think I got it actually, I found a neck blueprint on a warmouth forum and used it to make the pocket. The pocket is pretty much even on both sides of the neck template now.

[@DavidRavenMoon]

This is pretty much how I do it. You know you can set the image as a template, which dims the image. I stick each part on a new layer.

[@cwboxguitars]

Do you use Rhino? If so, how does it compare to Fusion 360?

[@DavidRavenMoon]

@@cwboxguitars I use Adobe Illustrator for 2D drawings. I’m learning Fusion 360.

[@UrquidiGuitars]

10:15 I'm curious, don't I need to take in consideration the moving saddle? Say, take a middle point between the further out and in of the piece, and align that to my intonation line? By the way, I am really grateful for this videos, this is as we say in Spanish "oro molido" (Ground Gold) Thank you very much for the information.

[@HighlineGuitars]

No, that's incorrect. If you do it that way, you're not going to have enough rearward saddle travel for the E, A, and D strings to intonate. Move your high e saddle all the way forward and then move it back about 1/32". That's where the intonation line should be.

[@UrquidiGuitars]

@@HighlineGuitars Thank you!

[@laertefrancisco7949]

you would be able to make the vector file available?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Sorry, but I can't share it. Only the information on how I created it.

[@benweiss897]

Chris - great video! Are you concerned that the fret slots from FretFind2D do not match the frets in the images as you move towards the higher frets?

[@HighlineGuitars]

No.

[@benweiss897]

@@HighlineGuitars Why do you think there's a discrepancy? Is it the perspective of the photo? I'm assuming you always use the FretFind2D slots instead of tracing over the frets in the photo - correct?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@benweiss897 The photo is not accurate. FretFind 2D is.

[@daltonbennett2994]

Hey I was wondering if I could pay you to make a cnc file for me?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Sorry, but no. You have to make your own files because they are dependent on the specific machine, bits and materials you plan to use.

[@amitsapir2]

can you also use Solidworks to get the same results?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I honestly don't know.

[@noahlynaugh5025]

When making the neck pocket in illustrator, I try to make a line going perpendicular to the body and I won’t connect to the body. What am I doing wrong?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Do a screen capture video of what you’re trying to do and post it on KZbin. If I can see it, I may be able to help.

[@noahlynaugh5025]

@@HighlineGuitars I don’t have that option since I’m working on a school computer. I’ll have to fiddle around with it. Thank you.

[@noahlynaugh]

If anyone else has this problem, be sure to turn up the stroke of your line to 1

[@cooldude-kw2gw]

can you do one on bass guitar

[@HighlineGuitars]

The process is exactly the same.

[@cooldude-kw2gw]

@@HighlineGuitars thank you

[@ChinaPicksOfficial]

the FretFind2D cannot download PDF

[@TAWTAW-hf3xw]

Rhino!

[@venko3211]

please make tutorial for violin neck scroll

[@HighlineGuitars]

I don't make violins.

[@venko3211]

@@HighlineGuitars please make acoustic guitar neck tutorial sir

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@venko3211 The next time I make an acoustic guitar, I will make a video. But it won't be anytime soon. Sorry.

[@venko3211]

@@HighlineGuitars Thanks for reply. I am waiting for your tutorial sir

[@venko3211]

How to stop single coil pickup huming sound sir

[@fixedguitar47]

What ACTUALLY happens is he takes that apparatus that “reads thoughts” from Back to the Future and puts it on his head, then simply plugs it into his computer.