How To Build A Killer Machine
Making an electric guitar is a combination of power tools — assembly line techniques— craftsmanship. Selected aged wood is cut from blank stock into the general shape of necks and bodies, then handsanded to actual shape. Here a workman sands a neck.
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PLAY IT LOUD
by
Guitar Arnie
How To Build A Killer Machine
How They Do It At Fender
1
Making an electric guitar is a combination of power tools — assembly line techniques— craftsmanship. Selected aged wood is cut from blank stock into the general shape of necks and bodies, then handsanded to actual shape. Here a workman sands a neck.
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The final step to prepare the neck is the insertion of the metal fret bars. This is done by hand as a fret not evenly placed can cause buzzing and improper fretting and action.
5
While the neck is being finished, the body of the guitar must go through a similar process. If a color finish is going to be put on the guitar — as opposed to natural finish — it is spray painted in several coating operations. Then power buffers and rubbers are used with a special finishing compound to give the guitar a high gloss and insure that die finish will femain on the guitar through whatever rough handling it may get.
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The pick-up nearest the bridge is installed as a unit with the bridge into the body of the guitar. It is then wired through to connect it with the circuitry of the other pick-up, the controls, and the output jack.
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Power tools and steady hands are again combined for the final step -attaching the neck to the body of the guitar. At this point the guitar is ready to be played. Strings are also attached herq so that tension, actibn, and assembly can be double checked.
2
After the Necks have been cut and sanded into shape and holes have been drilled for the pegs, the truss rod to keep the neck from warping must be inserted. This is a hand operation, starting with aplastic lining and then the truss rod being eased into the hold drilled down the length of the neck.
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Next the neck and head assembly are given a smooth sanding, the gromets are put in for the pegs, the decal put on, and the finger board is sanded smooth by hand.
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The pick-up nearest the neck is part of the pick-guard assembly on most Fender solid bodies. Here the guard is seen from the back with the pick-up and wiring being installed to connect the pick-up to the volume and tone controls.
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Another function of the factory is to design and test new instruments for possible production. Here Fred Tavares, who is manager of guitar design for Fender, looks over an experimental double neck guitar while Carl Wilson and Ricky Fataar of die Beach Boys look on.
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These two gentlemen have the unlikely job of playing all the guitars as they come off the assembly line to make sure they're working properly. They make any minor adjustments needed to make each instrument perfect.
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The finished Fender guitars then go into a stpreroom area where they await packing and shipment. Here Fender marketing director David Gupton checks the inventory. Any free samples, Dave?
