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So, I have this strat template, the body has been routed to shape. It's time to cut the internal cavities. First thing, the neck slot was drawn on template, not cut. So I got to take the template off and do that first. Second, I measured a donor strat, and the template holes are the same size at the donor holes. Routing with a bearing is going to leave the new holes smaller. What am I missing?

Should I do edge roundover first? (before cutting neck slot)

Mike

Get a flush cutting pattern router bit and your cavities will be the same size as the template. I recommend
a 1/2" shank bit to do the bulk stock removal and then switch to a 1/4" shank bit if needed to finish up any tight radiuses.

I cut the neck pocket before doing the round over on the edge but I see no reason you couldn't do it the other way.

In case you haven't done so yet, make a working template out of 3/4" plywood from your purchased one and put the purchased one away for safe keeping.

Steve

Check out Ron Kirn's thread on building a strat over on the Tele Forum. http://www.tdpri.com/threads/ok-so-i-promised-here-ya-are.104487/

Thanks. That worked fine.

Ok, that part is done. Now I need to know the round-over radii. There are two. One for most of the body and a smaller one for under the neck. Thanks!

Mike

Body is 7/16" not sure what you mean by under the neck? If you mean around the neck plate just knock the edge of with sandpaper or a file

wrong thread....

My Fender strat plans call for 1/2 inch radius except under the neck pocket, which is 1/8. I don't know how you can build a guitar without a set of plans.

fwiw, going back to your first question (I know its too late now) but I always route the neck pocket and fit the neck so I know its geometry relative to the bridge. With the neck clamped in place I can accurately locate the bridge and pickups. If you get the neck off by even a hair it might mean your bridge center line is off. The nice thing about a screw on neck is you can futz with it to fit the center line if you have to but I'd rather do it the other way. Here is checking a tele

Plans? All I had was the template. And a donor model to make measurements from. Seems ok!

some pics

Guitar looks good. My only thought was that I buy plans for anything that I want to make, then make my own templates from the plan. If I want to do a different pup or bridge or something I make a separate template for that - the tele in the picture got a P90 in the bridge and I'm working on one now with two humbuckers.

A good set of plans gives you so much more information - drill size and radii and exact location of the bridge and, yes, you can get that from a donor. I'll also admit that not all plans are created equal - some actually are pretty wrong, but I like to have them anyway.

Thanks Freeman. Nothing about the bridge is through the body. So, its just a matter of putting it in correct location and screwing it down. I use plans for all of my acoustics. I have found things wrong before. This is the first electric I have ever done. I think I will do one for me!