DIY Guitar Case
Posted on August 17th, 2006
Update 1
Ok well I needed a guitar case so in true DIY style decided to build my own from scratch. Not the cheapest or easiest option but I’m going to enjoy doing it.
I’d seen and used various styles of guitar cases, and own a Gator bass case, which is very good except it’s rather large, chunky and rather heavy (I’m sure the case weights more than the actual guitar). I was looking in a magazine and saw a nice close-fitting shaped guitar case made by studio logic, which would be great if I owned a strat (as they only make strat cases in this style), however im a tele fan and this is the only type of guitar I own.
So I came up with my own specs:
- close fitting
- light weight
- as small as I can possibly make it
I began buy thinking of moulding a larger fibre glass shell of a guitar and lining the inside with polystyrene. However after talking to various people I decided to use wood, a thick wood base and flexi-ply sides, line the insides with polystyrene and cover in fur.
So far all I have is small test pieces but within the next month or two (when i can find the time) I should get on with the build.
Sketches of the design (shows a section of one half)
Fixtures and fittings for the guitar case
A test section of shaped polystyrene lined with fake dalmation fur, show from above
A test section of shaped polystyrene lined with fake dalmation fur, show from the side
Shows how the guitar will fit into the case once complete
Update 2
The case is well under away! I now actually have time to get this case built, it’s been left in planning stages for a few weeks but now I finally actually got started today.
So far all I have is the base and lid cut out of light weight plywood and spent the day making sure they are the same size. I began marking out the polystyrene shell ready for cutting. a hint to anyone cutting polystyrene a sharp cutting knife or bread knife works well, placing masking tape along the surfaces that are to be cut should prevent the polystyrene from flaking. A hot wire would work brilliantly, I am using a ban saw which should cut smoothly.
The initial design and notes next to one of the guitars ill use the case for.
Second designs and cutting template.
Cutting template and a partially marked sheet of polystyrene ready for cutting.
A makeshift ban saw just after cutting (notice the white dust im covered in it)
Polystyrene shell layed on template
A guitar inside poly shell
Update 3
This is the final post, I realised I didn’t actually put any finished photos up so here you go.
The finished case closed
The finished case closed
