About

A couple years before the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to order a replica of Brian May's guitar from his company, Brian May Guitars , only to discover there was a waiting list for the BMG Super — and it was closed.

A few months after the pandemic walloped the world, I wrote to BMG and asked about the waiting list. The good news was that the list was now open and I'd been added. The bad news was that production was shuttered due to the pandemic, and I should expect to wait several more years.

So I decided to build my own guitar.

I've always been handy with tools, and enjoy making things. In about 2004 I built a guitar from parts. Picures of the Tele partscaster — my first build — can be found in the Gallery section of this site.

The first steps in making a guitar were to learn how to make a guitar, to acquire the specialized tools and materials to make a guitar, and to learn how to use the specialized tools and work with the materials. I bought a copy of Melvyn Hiscock's Make Your Own Electric Guitar, and watched dozens of videos.

Then there's the question of making this particular guitar. I bought a copy of the Red Special book, and some guitar plans from the Internet, only to find the plans didn't match the book.

So I decided to make my own plans.

I pored over the Red Special book, noting every feature, and extrapolating measurements from the photographs and x-rays. I scoured the Internet, and joined Facebook groups with people who know all about the Red Special. I got tons of help and made some great friends.

From my notes, I made drawings. From the drawings, I made router templates. I made rigs and jigs to hold my work. I built a contraption so I could make my own blockboard . I practised making guitar bodies from plywood, and necks from 2x4 lumber. I learned to veneer, stain, clear coat, and polish.

Then I got to work building these special guitars.

Along the way, I met Woody Thomas and Ron Smith of RSConversions and The Cyber Shop. They make plastics and hardware for Red Special style guitars — which I use in my builds — and produce kits to convert BMG Special guitars to look and play like the BMG Super.

After I converted a couple of my own BMG Special guitars — with their parts and Woody's guidance — Woody and Ron enlisted me to perform BMG/Burns Special and BMG Super conversions in Canada.

Please follow us on social media and see our blog for a Workshop Tour plus photographs of Kendall Guitar Works builds in progress , and more.