Mike Clifford, a creative designer and builder, has unveiled an extraordinary musical instrument: a guitar crafted from LEGO bricks and epoxy resin. Inspired by the iconic Les Paul, Clifford playfully dubs his creation the “LEGOcaster,” a testament to the fun and innovative nature of this project.
This Lego Guitar is more than just a visual novelty; it’s a functional instrument born from experimentation. Clifford admits the project began with uncertainty about how LEGO bricks would bond with epoxy resin. The stunning result, showcased in both photographs and a detailed video (available on YouTube), speaks volumes about the project’s success. For those eager to witness the entire build process, the video offers an engaging and insightful look: Learn More About This Project.
The guitar’s design journey began in Fusion 360, where Clifford digitally sculpted the instrument’s body. Starting with a Les Paul vector file as a reference, he reimagined the classic shape, employing spline tools to achieve a slimmer, more contemporary curvature. This digital blueprint was then translated into a physical MDF template using an X-Carve CNC machine, setting the stage for the LEGO brick construction.
The most intricate phase of the LEGOcaster build involved creating a robust guitar blank from LEGO bricks and epoxy. Clifford’s technique involved placing LEGO bricks in a pixelated elliptical pattern on a backplate. These bricks were then carefully positioned face down into a layer of partially cured epoxy resin. More epoxy was poured to partially submerge the LEGOs, and after this layer hardened, the backplate was removed. The process continued with additional epoxy to fully encase the backs of the bricks. While the epoxy remained fluid, a second layer of LEGOs was added, culminating in a final pour of resin to completely solidify the guitar’s form.
Once the epoxy LEGO guitar blank was cured, Clifford transitioned to traditional guitar building methods to refine the shape and contours of the instrument. This stage involved woodworking techniques to carve and shape the LEGO-epoxy composite into a playable guitar body.
Adding personalized LEGO touches, Clifford incorporated a truss rod cover fashioned from a LEGO baseplate. He also cleverly replaced standard guitar tuner knobs with LEGO pieces, further emphasizing the playful and inventive spirit of the LEGOcaster.
The LEGOcaster stands as a testament to creative ingenuity, blending the worlds of toy construction and musical instrument craftsmanship into a truly unique and eye-catching guitar.
