I started out with a #CAD model of the entire instrument. At the same time, I gathered all of the hardware parts and wood blanks (and modified the model accordingly). One important thing I learned at YouTube University: Have your parts ready when designing the instrument. It definitely helped a lot and probably avoided countless mistakes.

I was using #FLOSS software exclusively (save for the operating system) - #Dune3D for modelling, #FreeCAD for CAM, #OpenBuilds and #FluidNC for machine control.

So, how do you draw the shape of an instrument from scratch? Turns out it's really complicated to come up with something aesthethically pleasing. My first attempts didn't look very promising, so I decided to go with something tried-and-true and just settled for a #Jazzmaster (which earned the project the nickname "Jazz Apprentice").

I ended up taking this to my guitar tech, who fixed the nut in about 20 seconds with a nut file (it was indeed badly cut).

I played it for a bit but decided I didn't quite "get" it - it wasn't clicking for me.

And then, I tuned it to drop C and tried some old Deftones tunes.

OK, *now* I get what this guitar is about.

#fender #jazzmaster #JimRoot