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I'm wondering whose router templates folks have liked for Strat neck and body construction. StewMacs seem like they could introduce too much variability due to their design. I've seen several acrylic sets from elsewhere including New Zealand, as well as Europe that seem to be reasonably well thought out and am wondering what folks have used and what they like and don't with what they're using.

Been using my StewMac templates since the 80's.....

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I make mine from 1/2" MDF.
I cut with a scroll saw and spend some time sanding and filing.
I start with a big enough piece of MDF to allow clamping it to the body.
I mark the centerline on the top and inside edges for alignment.
I seal with shellac or lacquer.
The fear of a router bit hitting acrylic frightens me.
Dan

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http://www.guitarbuildingtemplates.com/


I like these. I use them to make thicker wood templates.
If something did go wrong I'd still have the original to make another.

Dave

There is a builder in Florida named Ron Kirn who builds faithful copies of Leo Fenders original designs. His son-in-law sells Mr. Kirn's templates on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/RON-KIRN-STRAT-TEMPLATES/171896474884?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150313114020%26meid%3D2924f311b5c846b693e9572fa7d6f725%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D16%26sd%3D171949192777. No neck template with this one but you do get a book on how to use the templates. He also has a tutorial on his site of a Strat build. http://ronkirn.com/tutorial/index.htm. There is a lot of stuff in the tutorial you won't need but his process is well thought out and worth taking the time to read. You can get full size blueprints at this site https://sites.google.com/site/guitarplanscollection/home.

Steve

The downside to his templates are they don't seem to have a center line and they're great for pick guard traditional Strats, but I may be doing guard less. My problem with the Stew Mac jig is that the neck pocket jig doesn't seem to have enough length with the center line to align it well, and it it seems a little narrow in terms of supporting the router adequately.

I never noticed Ron didn't have a center line marked on his templates. I've got multiple templates from the source Sandywood listed, they cover some of your concerns with the other suppliers. You won't find a guard-less strat template that I'm aware of, you'll have to make your own or mix and match from other templates. A standard Strat pick guard can be used as the basis of a template for a guard-less guitar.

On this guitar other than the obvious Strat template use, I also used a template for an Ibanez RG (control layout) and some that I made myself (rear pick up mounting and cavity covers). Awful pics, you can't even see the flame in the 1/4" top.

I have been satisfied with routing templates that I have bought from Guitar part center. They are laser cut on mdf. They have a nice assortment of other products too including neck pocket templates .
http://guitarpartcenter.com/electricrouting2.html

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