3D Printed LP Vinyl Electric Guitar

This project describes an electric guitar built with Telecaster-style parts and a custom body. The main body of the guitar is 3D printed, which allows for a precise and solid construction. The front and back of the body are covered with real LP vinyl records, giving the guitar a classic and authentic look.

The guitar uses standard Telecaster hardware such as single-coil pickups, a Tele bridge, tuning machines, and basic control electronics. The vinyl records are mainly used for appearance, while the 3D printed body provides strength and support for all components.

These instructions explain how to build the guitar step by step. The goal is to create a fully working electric guitar that combines modern production methods with a vintage-inspired design.

Tools Required

1. Hand drill
2. Drill bit 1 mm
3. Drill bit 4 mm
4. Electric screwdriver with cross (Phillips) tip
5. Pliers
6. Soldering tool
7. Utility knife (optional)
8. Sandpaper (optional)
9. 3D printer
10. Allen key set

Materials Needed

1. PLA (CF) filament for 3D printing
2. More than +/- 20 small screws
3. 5 hex head bolts, size M4, length 18–30 mm
4. Electric guitar telecaster - I used a Harley Benton TE 20MN CA(cheaper than a DIY kit)

1. Remove the guitar strings completely.
2. Unscrew the pickguard and carefully remove it together with the neck (upper) pickup.
3. Unscrew the bridge (lower) pickup and the switch plate.
4. Unscrew and remove the jack plug from the body.
5. Keep all screws in a safe place for later use.
6. Take pictures or make notes of the wiring on the switch component.
7. After documenting the wiring, use a soldering iron to loosen the wires from the switch.
8. Remove the neck by unscrewing the four neck screws and the metal neck plate.
9. Keep the neck screws and the metal plate, as they will be needed in a later stage.
10. The original Telecaster body is no longer needed and can be sold online.

1. Download the STL files from: ⚡ Vinyl LP electric guitar・ STL File for 3D printing・Cults
2. Load the STL files into your slicing software.
3. Print all body parts using PLA CF or regular PLA. PLA CF is recommended for extra stiffness and strength.
4. Use 5–7 wall layers for the main body parts.
5. The frame parts that hold the switch and the LP vinyls can be printed with 2–3 wall layers.
6. I printed the pickguard in regular PLA in a color.
7. Print the cutting profile in regular PLA, you may cut this part with your slicer.
8. A 0.6 mm nozzle with a draft setting was used for this project.
9. A 0.4 mm nozzle can also be used and will work fine.

1. Gather all the 3D printed parts and the M4 bolts.
2. Align the parts carefully according to the design.
3. Secure the parts together using the M4 bolts and glue.
4. For extra strength, you can also apply a small amount of glue between the parts before tightening the bolts.
5. Make sure everything is aligned properly and tightened securely before moving to the next step.

In the pictures, you may notice that the guitar body has predefined holes. From my experience, it is better to print the body without these holes and drill them during assembly. Parts like the switch, pickups, and other hardware do not always have exactly the same dimensions, and this can vary between brands. The STL files you downloaded do not include these holes, so you can adjust their positions as needed when assembling.

The bolts used to attach the 3D printed body parts are not visible in some pictures, but this feature is included in the most recent STL files. Make sure to use them during assembly to securely join all parts.

Decide how you want to attach the back LP vinyl: glue or screws.

If gluing:

1. Apply glue to the back of the guitar body.
2. Use clamps to hold the LP vinyl in place until the glue dries.

If using screws:

1. Position the LP vinyl on the back of the body.
2. Pre-drill the LP vinyl and 3D printed body using the 1 mm drill to prevent cracking.
3. Install the screws carefully.

Position the neck into the guitar body.

1. Use a rubber hammer gently if needed to fit it securely.

Place the backplate on the guitar.

1. Drill 4 holes with the 4 mm drill through the back LP and guitar body.
2. Do not drill too deep into the wood of the neck.
3. Install the screws firmly to secure the neck and backplate.

First, print the vinyl cutting template in PLA to help mark the cut areas.

Place the template on the top LP vinyl and mark the areas that need to be cut:

1. Space for the neck
2. Space for the two pickups
3. Space for the switch

Cut the vinyl using a knife tip on the soldering iron for the cleanest result.

1. If you don’t have a knife tip, the standard iron tip will also work.

After cutting, gently trim the edges using pliers to smooth out the openings.

1. Place the top LP vinyl on the guitar body before starting the wiring.
2. Pull the wires from the jack and the pickups towards the switch cavity.
3. Use the pictures or notes you made earlier to reconnect the wiring correctly.
4. Solder the wires back onto the switch.
5. After the wiring is complete, position and secure all components: switch, pickups and jack

1. Position the lower pickup in its cavity.
2. Pre-drill four holes using the 1 mm drill.
3. Attach the lower pickup using the original screws you removed earlier.
4. Repeat the same steps for the switch and the jack.
5. Attach the upper pickup to the 3D printed pickguard using the original screws and springs.
6. Position the pickguard on top of the LP vinyl.
7. Pre-drill the mounting holes with the 1 mm drill.
8. Secure the pickguard to the LP vinyl using the screws.

1. Install the guitar strings.
2. Tune the guitar to the desired tuning.
3. Check that all parts are secure and that the electronics work correctly.

Have fun playing your custom LP vinyl electric guitar! 🎸