The electric guitar manufacturing process is quite complicated, as several factors must be considered to create a top-quality product.
How a guitar is made influences its sound and its performance as well as its appearance, so it is crucial to find a supplier that can manage wood properly and create a perfect instrument.
Let’s discuss the topic in the following article.
The steps of the electric guitar manufacturing process
The electric guitar manufacturing process consists of many different phases, and each one is necessary for a state-of-the-art result.
Let’s analyse them.
Selection of the raw materials
What is the best wood for an electric guitar body and its neck? The type of wood has a great effect on the tone of the guitar, while its density and stiffness influence the way the neck translates string vibrations to the body with a great effect on sound.
The woods used to create electric guitars are called tonewoods, as they are selected depending on their tonal properties.
The most common wood essences used to create these musical instruments are maple, mahogany, rosewood, alder, ebony, ash, and basswood, but the choice depends on a player’s requirements and needs in terms of aesthetics and sound.
Read our article about the best wood for electric guitar bodies to discover more!
Choosing high-quality wooden blanks
Electric guitar body blanks are those wooden pieces from which after an extended manufacturing process the final electric guitar body is created. They can be made of different types of wood, and their quality determines the excellence of the final product.
Strict quality controls are therefore necessary to ensure the blank:
- doesn’t hide defects that are invisible at first sight
- doesn’t have nodes that represent a weak point in the log
- is flawless
The most technologically advanced manufacturers use laser technology to decide which part of the blank can be used to produce the electric guitar while avoiding those parts that present some defects.
If the blank is perfect, the final product will be too.
The creation of samples
It is important that your supplier allows you to see and touch physical samples of the final product to let you evaluate if it corresponds to your customers’ needs and make any necessary modifications.
Having a precise idea of how the final product will look is essential to avoid problems, unexpected costs, and delays.
Production
For many people, an electric guitar is not just an instrument to play. It is an object that represents their personality and style. Therefore, players must feel comfortable while using it.
The wood manufacturer must be able to customize the electric guitar according to the owner’s physical and aesthetic requirements and even create complicated shapes and designs if necessary. Your clients will also expect to be able to customize their electric guitar with a wide range of finishing options, paintings, and varnishes.
A reliable wood manufacturing company should guarantee:
- accuracy and precision
- cost-effectiveness
- high production capacity
- short lead time
How to choose the best electric guitar manufacturer
As said, the electric guitar manufacturing process is complicated, so the choice of the wood maker is fundamental. The manufacturer must know the raw material very well and have the right technologies and tools to manage it correctly.
If it can set up dedicated production lines for electric guitars bodies and necks, you can be sure they will be perfectly made, durable, and resistant.
Choosing a supplier located in your own country can make the difference for many reasons.
- Relying on a European or U.S. manufacturer lets you avoid problems linked to supply chain shortages that many companies are having after the pandemic emergency and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
- Some manufacturers can also provide customizable private stocking solutions, meaning that products can be manufactured in advance and stored in warehouses so that customers can order them with virtually instantaneous delivery.
- Communication is also easier and faster if your supplier is in your own country, as you don’t have to deal with the time difference.
- Then, a U.S. or European wood maker can rely on collaboration with the world’s leading producers of wood finishing materials to offer a wide range of finish options so that your clients can customize their objects as they desire.
Therefore, products made by an EU or U.S. manufacturer will be top quality, more cost-effective, and arrive on time to allow selling them as planned.
Since 1937, Minelli S.p.A. has ensured perfection in the quality and design of each product manufactured and features experienced employees, the most innovative tools, and an extremely accurate electric guitar manufacturing process.
If you are looking for top-quality wooden electric guitars or have a project in mind, contact us right now!
