BYO Guitar Strat Instruction Manual

Strat Guitar Kit
Assembly
Instructions
WWW.byoguitar.com

Strat Guitar Instructions
- 1 -
California requires the following notice:
WARNING
Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding,
drilling, and other construction activities contains
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some
e amples of these chemicals are:
•Lead from lead-based paints.
•Crystalline silica from bricks, cement, and other
masonry products.
•Arsenic and chromium from chemically treated
lumber.
Your risk from these e posures varies, depending on how
often you do this type of work. To reduce your e posure
to these chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and
work with approved safety equipment, such as those
dust masks that are specially designed to filter out
microscopic particles.

Strat Guitar Instructions
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Warning
Always wear safety glasses or goggles when operating equipment. Everyday
glasses or reading glasses are not safety glasses. Be certain the safety glasses you
wear meet the appropriate standards of the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI). Because there are various ways to cut and join wood, you can
make substitutions for the methods stated in this manual. We try to suggest the
easiest methods possible. However, only you know your skills with each piece of
machinery. Never compromise your safety by using a cutting method with which
you are not comfortable. Instead, find an alternative approach that will yield the
same result.
Warning
These instructions assume that you are familiar with the safe operation and use of
woodworking machinery and woodworking tools, and understand the techniques
used to assemble this project. If you do not qualify for both of these criteria, STOP
building this project for your own safety. Read and understand the owner’s
manual for the machinery you intend to use, take a woodworking class or visit
your local library for more information. Woodworking machinery and tools are
inherently dangerous because they use sharp edges that can and will cause
serious personal injury including amputation and death. Do not underestimate
the ability of these tools and machinery to cause injury. Never operate any tool
without all guards in place and always wear approved safety glasses. For your
own safety, please heed this warning.

Strat Guitar Instructions
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Contents
Contents .................................................................................................................................................... - 3 -
1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... - 4 -
1.1 Material Check List .................................................................................................................... - 6 -
1.2 Additional tools/materials required: ........................................................................................ - 8 -
2 Mockup and Fit Check ..................................................................................................................... - 10 -
2.1 Check Guitar Body & Neck mounting holes ............................................................................ - 10 -
2.1.1 Drilling the Mounting Holes in the Guitar Body .............................................................. - 10 -
2.2 Checking the Mounting Holes in the Neck .............................................................................. - 10 -
2.2.1 Drilling Mounting Holes in the Neck ............................................................................... - 10 -
2.2.2 Mount the Neck on the Body .......................................................................................... - 11 -
2.3 Checking the Bridge ................................................................................................................ - 11 -
2.3.1 Locating the Bridge (item 2 on the material list) ............................................................ - 11 -
2.4 Fit check & Alignment of the Pick Guard (with controls mounted) and Bridge (items 2 & 4 on
materials list)....................................................................................................................................... - 12 -
2.5 Re-check the Neck to the Body Fit .......................................................................................... - 12 -
2.6 Check Tremolo Claw Alignment and Fit Check (item #5 on material list) ............................... - 13 -
2.7 Fit check of the Tremolo cavity Cover (Fig 2.7) ....................................................................... - 13 -
2.8 Output Jack ............................................................................................................................. - 13 -
2.9 Check Strap Pins ...................................................................................................................... - 13 -
2.10 Check Tuner Alignment ........................................................................................................... - 14 -
2.11 String Tee Position .................................................................................................................. - 14 -
2.12 Mockup and Fit Check complete! ........................................................................................... - 14 -
3 Finish ............................................................................................................................................... - 15 -
3.1 The Body ................................................................................................................................. - 15 -
3.2 Solid Color Finish ..................................................................................................................... - 15 -
3.3 The Neck.................................................................................................................................. - 15 -
4 Assembly ......................................................................................................................................... - 16 -
4.1 Assemble Pick Guard, Bridge and Neck to Body ..................................................................... - 16 -
4.1.1 Bridge Installation ........................................................................................................... - 16 -

Strat Guitar Instructions
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4.1.2 Pick Guard & Controls Installation .................................................................................. - 16 -
4.1.3 Neck Installation ............................................................................................................. - 17 -
4.1.4 Finishing Bridge and Pick Guard Installation ................................................................... - 17 -
4.1.5 Tremolo Claw, spring and ground installation ................................................................ - 18 -
4.1.6 Output Jack wiring & installation .................................................................................... - 18 -
4.2 Installing the Nut ..................................................................................................................... - 18 -
4.3 Installing the tuners ................................................................................................................ - 19 -
4.4 Install the Strings..................................................................................................................... - 19 -
4.5 Tremolo Claw Adjustment ...................................................................................................... - 20 -
4.6 Installing the Strap Pins ........................................................................................................... - 20 -
4.7 Installing the String Retainer................................................................................................... - 20 -
5 Setup ............................................................................................................................................... - 21 -
5.1 Adjust the Guitar Neck: Truss Rod .......................................................................................... - 21 -
5.2 String Lubrication .................................................................................................................... - 22 -
5.3 Adjusting the Action ................................................................................................................ - 22 -
5.4 Bridge Saddle Adjustment ...................................................................................................... - 23 -
5.5 Pickup Height .......................................................................................................................... - 23 -
5.6 Intonation ............................................................................................................................... - 23 -
5.7 …Other Hints ........................................................................................................................... - 24 -
1Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a BYOGuitar.com guitar kit. This kit includes everything you need to build a
complete custom guitar. In addition to the construction of your guitar, you will need to consider the
finish – natural, solid color and possibly a design that will make your guitar unique. We suggest you do
some research to determine your finish preferences. Procuring the required finishing materials,
especially if they have to be ordered, will allow e pedite your guitar project.
We carry a full line of finishing products to give you the beautiful finish you are looking for, whether a
clear natural finish or a bold, colorful finish. We also carry an instructional DVD made by Behlen that will
give you step by step instructions to help you achieve the look you want for your custom guitar.
TIP: Get some finishing ideas by visiting BYOGuitar.com and BYO Guitar on Facebook
(http://www.byoguitar.com/gallery/index.html)

Strat Guitar Instructions
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Fig 1 Major Components in Your Strat Guitar Kit
These instructions assume you are familiar with the anatomy of a guitar. Refer to Figure
1 for many of the terms used in the assembly of your guitar.

Strat Guitar Instructions
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1.1 Material Check List
In preparation for the building of your guitar, all required material should be checked both for type and
quantity. Use the following check list to ensure all piece parts are included. If you customized your
order (e . different tuners), ensure that these parts are accounted for. Please contact BYOGuitar if there
are any discrepancies.
Strat Material List
Item Component Quantity Description
1



1 Strat Body


 1 Strat Neck


 Miscellaneous
materials (see
below)
BYO Strat
Guitar Kit
2


 1
Strat
Pickguard with
pickups
3


 20 screws
3/8”
+ spare
Mounting
screws for
Pickguard,
Audio Jack &
Back Plate
TIP: use small interior packing
box to inventory and organize piece parts

Strat Guitar Instructions
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4


 1


 6 mounting
screws, 1”
Tremolo
5


 Tremlo Claw


 Springs, 3


 Screws, 2
Tremelo parts
6


 Arm Tremolo arm
7


 1 Plate


 1 plastic base


 4 screws, 1
3/4
”
Neck
Plate/mounting
materials
8


 6 Tuning
Pegs


 6 Washers


 6 Nuts


 6 screws, 3/8”
Tuning Pegs


 Jack
Output Jack

Strat Guitar Instructions
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10


 2 Holders


 2 plastic
washers


 2 screws, 1”
Strap Pins
11


 1 String
“Nut”/guide


 2 Tees


 2 sleeves


 2 screws, ½”


 1 pick
String Tees
and Nut
12


 6 strings Strings
13


 Output Cable


 2 Allen
wrenches
Other
1.2 Additional tools/materials required:
Drill & drill bits #1 & #2 Phillips
screwdriver
Soldering iron/solder
Masking/painters tape Finishing/painting
material
Sand paper 220 &
320 grit
Guitar strap Soap or candle Feeler gauge
ruler

Strat Guitar Instructions
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The remainder of the assembly instructions is divided into four sections:
Section 2 – Mockup & Fit check: in this section, all components will be checked for proper
alignment and ensure that all holes have been drilled.
Section 3 – Finishing the Body and Neck: after fit check, the components are removed from the
neck & body to allow the selected finish to be applied. This will allow you to customize your guitars’
color(s). As the finishing will likely require several coats with sanding between each coat, ensure that
the finish is completely dry.
Section 4 – Construction: the final assembly is the ne t step - once the finish has been applied
and completely dried. In this section, all of the components are installed, internal wiring connected and
strings attached – your guitar will ready to go!
Section 5 – Setup: in this section, adjustments are made to your guitar such as the height of the
pickups.
Again, we thank you for your purchase of a BYO Guitar and we look forward to seeing pictures of your
unique guitar! We also look forward to providing you with the guitar for your ne t project from our
Custom Shop where you can select the wood for the body and neck as well as customizing all of the
other components.
Let us know if your music, school, church or scouting organization would like to undertake a group
project – BYO Guitar can supply multiple kits or custom guitars.
Some Ideas for Finishing Your Guitar and Examples of Our Custom Shop Produ ts