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In this article you'll find information about the options in product pages when building a guitar body for your needs
1. Body type;
The first and foremost choose the body type, scale length (in inches, this must match your neck scale or you will not be able to intonate your guitar) and pickup configuration which meets your needs. Note that some of the models are modernized versions of old T-type and S-type classic models which in our models have a more modern optimized body which makes them more comfortable to hold and reach upper part of the neck. All models are MKS designed and manufactured, excluding a few classic S-type and T-type bodies.
Note! All MKS guitar bodies are slightly asymmetric by default excluding MLP body. However you can choose from the options a symmetric body in most of the models. The difference between symmetric and asymmetric bodies are explained in this article below.
MKS electric guitar bodies, all available right and left handed.
Red line represents an asymmetric body and black line a symmetric body. As you can see the body cusrves a little differently at the point where the arm rests. Otherwise they are equal.
2. Body material (wood);
Even though body material affects the sound a little, it is more prominent acoustically and unamplified, but instead far more important factor is the weight of a guitar (body) especially in case you have back problems and/or stand up longer times.
Alder is probably the most used classic body material which is medium heavy. It has no prominent grain nor pattern.
Swamp ash is a classic choice for lightweight bodies although not all swamp ash bodies are light. Usually the lighter the more expensive is swamp ash. This is also one of the most expensive choices for a guitar body. It has a prominent grain.
Ash looks equal to swamp ash but it usually weights more and therefore is a cheaper option, this is in medium heavy to heavy territory in weight.
Basswood is a lightweight wood without any significant grain pattern which is opposite to ash which has prominent pattern. Basswood is easily available which makes it also fairly cheap in price. Basswood is a good option if you prefer a light guitar. Don't be fooled to think that basswood isn't a good material to build a guitar, some expensive guitars are made of basswood.
Beechwood looks quite a lot like alder but is heavier, MKS guitar bodies made of beechwood are all made of vaporized beechwood which makes it stable, untreated beexhwood may cause some splits and twists otherwise.
Mahogany is a classic material used in LP type of guitar. Mahogany is a medium heavy to heavy wood. There are many types of mahogany and they vary in price significantly.
Okume is an African wood which looks a lot like mahogany although it is usually lighter in color. If you're looking for a lightweight version of mahogany body, okume is a good substitute and is cheaper in price.
Pine is a lightweight soft wood which was used in some earlier models and is getting more popular again. It is a cost-effective choice and the body is usually painted over or finished as a "barncaster". Nevertheless you can build a good light guitar with pine body.
Paulownia is a soft and very lightweight wood. It is the cheapest of all timbre we have available. It is easy to work with but dents also easily so it requires a little more tender hand to finish and use. Due to is lightness this is one of the options for a lightweight guitar.
Poplar is a medium heavy wood, it has more grain than for example basswood but yet very moderate. It is a cheap wood due to it's abundance but you will get equally good guitar from poplar.
Samba is a very light wood with light yellowish hue. It is also fairly cheap, also very soft which you have to take into consideration if you handle your guitars with a "heavy hand". Having said that it is an option if you're looking to build a lightweight guitar.
If you don't find an option that you need, please contact us and we'll try do our best to find a solution for you!
3. Body depth;
Choose 45 or 40 mm from Options. Note that even if you choose a drop top this measurement is still final depth of the body. Notice also that if you're installing a Floyd Rose or similar type of tremolo you usually need to go for 45 mm in order to get tremolo block fitted in at the back of the guitar or you may need a shorter tremolo block.
4. Drop top;
Choose None if you don't want any.
Choose Maple if you want a 2-piece maple top without any specific pattern, the thickness is approx. 10 mm.
Choose Flame maple if you want a figured 2-piece bookmatched flame maple top. Thickness approx. 10 mm.
Please note that the total body depth is either 40 or 45 mm with the top included! The top will not add depth to chosen body dimension.
5. Veneer top 0.5mm (note that this is thin veneer and although you can sand it a little bit it must be a very light sanding)
Choose None if you don't want any.
Choose Flame Maple or Flame ash
Flame maple
Flame ash
6. Cavity holes for a bridge;
Choose None if you have a top load type bridge (strings go though from the back of the plate and no body holes are needed) or do not want any of the options available. If you have some other type of bridge that is not included in the options, please contact us and we'll do our best to find a solution for you!
Top loader bridge (no need for any cavities or through body holes to the body) notice 6 holes at the back of the bridge, there are versions that are both top loader and through body but are more uncommon.
T-type traditional 6 strings through body is the classic and most used bridge for a T-type guitar.
T-type modern 6 strings through body is a more recent version of t´similar bridge. Please note that due to a different measurements the 6 holes through body are in different places and therefore you cannot replace old bridge with a new one.
Modern short 6 strings through body is like a "cut version" of a modern T-Type 6 strings through body but no bridge pickup attached to bridge plate.
T-type Modern 6 strings though body for a humbucker pickup instead of tilted single pickup. Notice that you need to have a pickup routing for a humbucker.
S-type 6-screw tremolo is the one you find on almost all S-type guitars.
Floyd Rose, Gotoh GE1996 and S-type 2-pivot tremolo systems all need their individual cavities and holes and specific to these models. In case you have a similar type of tremolo system you can choose a S-type 2-pivot option and we will contact you automatically to ask for a specific model or you can contact us before making an order if in doubt!
LP-type Tune-O-Matic bridge consist of two parts and is found on majority of Gibson LP type of guitars. If you choose this option we recommend you choose "16mm angled" from Neck depth options. Otherwise you may not be able to lower the strings at bridge to get a low action on your guitar.
Wraparound bridge is a more modern version of the previous and unlike Tune-O-Matic it consists only one part. There are some different models of this bridge but we recommend a bridge with adjustable saddles.
Evertune bridges, you're always in tune with these bridges, different models available. for S type, T-type, Gibson and S-type 7 string guitars. 8 string bridges on order.
7. Neck pocket width;
Choose according to your neck dimension to avoid problems installing the neck to the body. the most common size for a six string guitar is 56 mm but 57 mm is not uncommon. There's also 55mm option for some shorter scale guitars.
8. Neck pocket depth;
Choose 16mm for most common S-type and T-type action.
Choose 16mm angled (2-3 degrees depending on the scale lenght) if you use a wraparound or LP type TOM bridges, this helps you to set the action lower if preferred.
Choose 18mm if you want to have a more modern action, strings closer to the body of a guitar.
9. Neck pocket routing;
Choose S-type (more rounded neck joint) or T-type (straight joint)
10. Pickup cavity depth;
Choose either 16 mm or 19 mm according to your needs. Many modern pickups have shorter mounting legs which don't need deeper pocket cavity or they are mounted directly to the body unlike pickups with pickup rings. Older pickups had longer mounting legs which need more depth in pickup pocket cavity. If you don't know what kind of pickups and how to install them yet, it is better to choose 19mm option.
11. Arm rest;
Choose No if you don't want any or Yes if you want one.
12. Belly (tummy) cut;
Choose Yes if you want one or No if you don't.
Belly cut (also called tummy cut) is at the back side of the upper part of the guitar body. Contour is slightly different in different models.
13. Contoured heel
Choose No if you don't want it or choose Yes if you want one. Contoured heel is recommended if you play a lot close to body-neck joint. Contour is slightly different in different models.
14. Holes for bolt-on neck
Neck can be installed with an asymmetric neck plate or neck ferrules (both sold separately). If you choose ferrules the pocket will be done to embed them for an easy fit. Ferrule size: 14 mm width, 5 mm depth (sold separately in different colors).
15. Reversed pickup cavities (option for some left handed guitars only)
Reversed single coil pickup cavities allows you to use right handed single coil pickups with staggered pole pieces. If you can't find your favourite pickups left-handed this is your option in case you have chosen a guitar body without a pickguard.
16. Controls
NOTE! Not all the options are available for every model.
Choose a combination suitable for you, ín case none of them suits you, please contact us before ordering and we'll find a solution for you. Note also that LP type of 3-way switch situated near the neck requires a drop top in order to rout a cable path unless it's a pickguard model which will hide it as in TLX. Also MLP body has a drop top by default.
Contact us if you need more help in the preferred setup.
Note! T-type vol, tone, 3-way switch with a front plate fits into the backside cavity of ST and TL models which do not require a pickguard, more info here and there is also a dedicated body model TEL, for a T-type option with a pickguard.
Choose None if you don't want any of the options.
There are options for IBZ type vol, tone and 5-way switch, SG/LP style 2 vol, 2 tone and 3.way switch which all are located in within the boundaries of control back cavity. MKS STD is our own 2 vol, 2 tone and 3.way switch option where the volume pot is situated closer to bridge pickup for easier access. S-type is a classic 3 pot and switch combination, Please notice the location of 5-way switch in S-type and IBZ type setup, the switch is slightly further away compared to original S-type setup (Note: STR and TLP bodies with a pickguard have the same positions as in the S-type guitar)
-In some selected T-type models you can choose "T-type vol, tone, 3-way switch with a plate" if you want a T-type control cavity hole (note that there will still be a back cavity as in pictures). Choose T-type vol, tone, 3-way switch without a plate if you want just holes to install 2 pots and a switch without a front plate. Note! there is also a dedicated body model TEL, for a T-type option with a pickguard (TEL has all cavities in the front of the body).
Please note that potentiometer holes are very easy to make by yourself in case there are no suitable option for you, the only issue is 5-way switch which may be difficult to make without proper tools.
Examples below
Information about pickguard can be found here...
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