MUSIC
MATERIALS
TOOLS
Guitar (or bass) string
Guitar (or bass)
machine tuner
PVC pipe 4' long
1" dia. for guitar,
or 1½" dia. for bass
PVC end caps ( 2)
To fit pipe
Pine board
1"× 12"× 2' long
Spray paint
For coloring the body
Silicone sealer glue
1" extender cable
(RadioShack #42-
2562)
Piezo element
(RadioShack #273-
073)
Rubber stopper
Rubber feet
Cable ties
1½" hex lag screws ( 6)
Black tape
Jigsaw or band saw
Drill
Sander
¾" wood boring bit
1" twist bit
¼" twist bit
Clamps ( 2)
Thin flat file
Razor knife
Wire stripper
Wire cutter
Adjustable wrench
¼" socket
Soldering iron
and solder
Guitar Parts and Their Functions
24
7
12
5
9
11
1
3
8
9
6
10
1. Tuning machine Pulls the string tight so it will
produce sound.
2. Nut (stopper) Establishes the lowest note when the
string is played open (no fingers).
3. Neck Supports the string and frets.
4. Frets Stop the string at precise lengths to produce
notes.
5. String A metal wound wire that vibrates when
plucked to produce sound.
6. Body Keeps the neck from rotating.
7. Pickup Converts string vibrations into electricity.
8. Input jack Connects pickup to amplifier cable.
9. Strap buttons Stubs to attach shoulder strap to
the body.
10. String anchor Holds the end of the string.
11. Neck cutout Provides hand access to play high notes.
12. Leg cutout Contoured to fit the leg when playing in
the sitting position.
You may notice a black knob sticking out of the PVC
pipe below the pickup. I installed a potentiometer
to adjust the volume, but I don’t recommend it. It
adds noise to the circuit. Instead, adjust the volume
on the amplifier.
Make the Body
Photography by Tom Zimmerman
116 Make: Volume 09
