Self-made guitar builders pull a few strings

A pile of discarded wood, salvaged electronics and magnets all came together in sophomore Samuel Lepe and junior Armand Marquez’s boldest creation yet. From repurposing a microwave’s circuitry to putting on last-minute adjustments, their handcrafted guitar turns trash into lively tunes. 

Lepe and Marquez have always been passionate about making music and playing instruments. So, when Ms. De La Cruz-Wilds assigned their Spanish 3 Honors class a project to create an infographic promoting environmental awareness, the two started building their Recycled Guitar. Their goal was to demonstrate how their guitar would help alleviate the problem of improper electronic waste disposal. 

“Given that this was my first project, I enjoyed building the guitar in my front yard and spent about a week working late into the night,” Lepe said. “Along the way, I had to make adjustments, like drilling a hole in the cavity, but ultimately I was proud of how it turned out.” 

To begin their project, Marquez did online research on electric guitars, scrolling through various diagrams to better understand how they could construct one. Lepe also based the shape and headstock of their project by replicating the guitars he had at home, doing everything as simple as possible. He opted for a single coil for the pickup, a device that transforms strings’ vibration into electricity. 

“My stepdad works in construction so I have a few basic woodworking skills,” Marquez said. “For the most part, [Samuel] guided me through the process, as he actually plays the guitar. He also understands electrical circuits because of his background in physics, which helped a lot in the process.” 

Since the Spanish project encouraged recycling, specific constraints required that the materials be reused from items Lepe and Marquez already owned. They fulfilled this requirement by using plywood that Lepe’s father had planned to throw out and guitar strings Samuel already had on hand. 

“Building a guitar from scratch with random pieces scattered around your house teaches you how much detail goes into every part,” Lepe said. “One small mistake can throw everything off, but fixing those mistakes is part of the process.” 

Another constraint was being unable to use conventional turning pegs, forcing Lepe and Marquez to come up with a design that would not only hold the strings in place but also bring them up to tension and keep them in tune. Nonetheless, Lepe designed a system in which a nut was embedded in the wood and used an old window lock’s screws that would turn to tighten the string. This prevented the strings from loosening and ensured that the screw would be locked in place. 

“This process has been incredibly fulfilling and I have learned so much already in terms of design,” Lepe said. “The feeling of taking raw materials and transforming them into something that can make music is very rewarding and I want to continue experimenting with different shapes and wood types.”

To complement the guitar, Marquez attempted to make a flute using plastic bottles, researching the physics behind its sound production. Despite multiple tries, Marquez could not create the proportional tone holes necessary for it to function. Marquez also contributed to the guitar’s sanding, lacquering and painting.

“There was not enough time before our Spanish project was due, so we were unable to complete the [flute],” Marquez said. “Moving forward, Samuel wants to keep improving the [Recycled Guitar], especially its tuning system. As [for myself], I would like to finish making a possibly simpler pan flute so that we could make more music together.” 

Through creating the guitar, Lepe and Samuel learned the importance of communication in planning and executing a task to produce quality work. They hope to apply their time management and planning lessons to improve future musical projects. 

“You do not realize how much work goes into a guitar until you build one yourself,” Lepe said. “From shaping the neck to wiring the electronics, every step takes patience.”