• Guitars
  • Bass
  • Keyboard
  • Recording
  • Computer Audio
  • Live Sound
  • Drums
  • DJ
  • Accessories

zZounds

  • Gear
    • Features
    • News
    • Gear History
  • Guide
    • Guitar Workbench
    • Studio Solutions
    • Beat Connection
    • Behind The Kit
    • On The Decks
    • The Oscillator
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Legends
    • Gear Demos
    • Live Streams
    • Perfect Pairings
    • Iconic Rigs
  • Interview
    • Artist Interviews
    • Meet the Makers
  • Music
    • The Musical Almanac
    • Music Features
  • Walking The Floor

Building a Guitar, Part 1: Choosing Hardware

Welcome to Part 1 of how to build a parts guitar! Over this series of posts, I will be doing a general walkthrough on how to choose parts, with several guides on how to do basic DIY guitar work at home. I certainly know when assembling your own custom guitar, or simply modifying a guitar you own, choosing the right pieces to make it all happen can seem a bit daunting.

This post will focus on hardware, and how to choose the right components for your needs. After all, this is a crucial step in assembling the body and neck of your guitar. When it comes down to it though, there are a few key considerations to be aware of that will make the decision much easier.

Note: this is a general guide for someone who has a pre-routed body or has already routed the body themselves.

Black hardware for my Tele-style build

Aesthetics

While this might seem like a strange place to start, I’m of the opinion that if you don’t like how your hardware looks in the first place, chances are it will influence your opinion of your guitar itself. Bottom line: if you don’t like the look of gold hardware, for instance, don’t buy gold hardware, no matter if you are getting a steal price or the hardware you wanted only comes in that color. Chances are you can find something else that will get you the look you will be happy with.

Weight

Hardware can come in a wide range of sizes and densities, each with their own pros and cons. For instance, I am currently assembling a chambered semi-hollow Telecaster-style guitar, so it is very very light. Because of this, I chose a Gotoh Modern Tele Bridge because of its higher density. This will make certain that my guitar will have enough mass in the body and retain lateral balance after I install the neck. The same can be said of your other choices for hardware like control plates, strap locks (which are usually much heavier than standard strap buttons), input jacks, and any knob types you’d like. Be sure to check the weight of your choice of tuners, as this also can affect the lateral balance of your guitar in the other direction toward the neck.

Be careful if you are pairing lighter wood necks with dense tuners — such as locking tuners — which will add considerable mass. As a general rule, just be sure to check the weight of each piece individually before purchase, and do some quick math if necessary to see how much it will contribute to your guitar’s weight. That being said, heavy components may be preferable if you simply like the feel of a heavier guitar and don’t have any strong opinions on how parts may affect the tone. Which brings us to our next consideration:

Tone

Brass saddles

This has got to be one of the most hotly debated topics in guitar forums, but it does have merit. Different aspects of hardware can and do affect tone, albeit sometimes in negligible ways. Hardware like knobs and input jacks bring largely no change whatsoever in tone because of their function, but components such as bridges and tuners can change the way your guitar reacts to various degrees. Bridges and saddles made from materials like steel, brass, chrome-plated steel, and aluminum all will bring their own character to your guitar.

Try to find a guitar you like the sound of and investigate which material its bridge is made of to get a good idea of your preferences. I am quite partial to brass for its richness of sound and bell-like quality to the lows. Different bridges can sound different when placed on bodies made of different woods, so the possibilities are nearly endless. Experiment and see what you prefer!

Functionality

Gotoh Modern 6-saddle bridge for better intonation

The last real consideration should be how the piece functions. For my Tele build, I chose to go with a control plate that was oriented backwards, with the guitar’s volume knob now being closest to my right hand. This, in my opinion, is a more intuitive layout, allowing me to do volume swells while playing, opening up some classic country pedal-steel effects.

Another option is to choose a more modern-style guitar bridge, like a six-saddle Telecaster bridge that will allow much more accurate intonation compared to a 3-saddle vintage style Tele bridge. As mentioned earlier, choosing locking tuners can be a good choice for adding more mass and can save you a ton of time in string changes and allow smoother on-the-fly operation versus standard tuners. Be sure to really assess what you need your guitar to do at this early stage of assembly. The choice of hardware will become much clearer as a result.

While this is a generalized tutorial on choosing hardware, it should arm you with enough knowledge to make an informed decision. Keep a look out for future posts in this series, where we will delve into more topics to consider when constructing or modifying your guitars. Here’s a sneak preview of the custom Warmoth body I will be working with throughout the build:

Extra light pre-routed body from Warmoth

Apr 7, 2017Justin
6 years ago 2 Comments Guitar Workbench
Justin

Recovering music theory junkie. Local guitarist and guitar teacher currently on an endless quest of guitar mastery and self-discovery. Give me groove, or give me death.

Ernie Ball Paradigm Strings: Roundtable ReviewEpisode 80 - Imelda May
Comments: 2
  1. RANDY L. JAMESON
    6 years ago

    YO GUITAR BRO; HERE I SIT WITH MY BEST BUD. 1 1/2YOLD MALE NORWEIGEN KITTY,(I HAVE THE SIS ALSO. I OWN A 69 SG SPECIAL (WINE) W/TREM BAR I BOUG NEW AT 8th ST. MUSIC IN PHIAL., IN 69 DA, NATURALLY. I STARTED AT 12 MY FIRST GUITAR WAS A FRAMUS SOLD,2YRS LATER FOR THE GIBSON AT 14 ,AND A FRAMUS FUZZ TONE I STILL HAVE . BOUGHT A VOX BERKLEY FROM JIM LITTMAN FRIEND,(HOOTERS) BEST AMP TO THIS DAY. ANY WAYS A FEW YEARS AGO I TOOK MY SG APART AND IT IS STILL APART. I WOULD DIG TAKEN THAT COURSE. JUST ME AND MY 2 CATS, FROM NORWAY LIVE HERE NOW, I HAVE AN FENDER ’70 CAPRICORN w/ 3/ JBL’s. I BOUGHT A ORANGE MICRO DARD AND HOOKED IT UP TO THE 3 JBL’s ROCKIN. my first band at 15 my lots of money

    ReplyCancel
  2. Steve
    6 years ago

    OUTPUT jack, not input.

    ReplyCancel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

 Latest Tweets 
  • Perfect for the studio and stage, the @Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb will deliver authentic vintage Fender to… https://t.co/6CL9fVDkLg
  • Save on @ikmultimedia gear through April 30, including iRig interfaces and UNO synthesizers! Shop now at zZounds!… https://t.co/XShepcrbe9
 Social Networks 
 About zZounds 
Since 1996, zZounds has been making it easy for musicians to get the gear they need. With our easy monthly payment plans, you can get the music gear you need today -- and split the cost into monthly installments on your existing credit card. zZounds ships from multiple warehouses across the continental United States, so we can cover most of our customers within a day or two. Our customer service team is staffed with real musicians. They don't get paid on commission -- they get paid to help you! Looking for the best prices? Don't miss our Big Deals weekly specials, Used Gear on Clearance, and The Drop for monthly promos, sales, and special offers.
 Contact Us 
Have questions or comments on our blog? Email blog@zzounds.com

zZounds Gear Experts are available seven days a week to answer any of your questions on gear, shipping, returns, and more. Give us a call and get help from a fellow musician today!
800-ZZOUNDS (800-996-8637)
2023 © zZounds Music | Cookie Settings | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share | Notice at Collection | Copyright | Terms of Use
For great deals on gear, shop at zZounds