While thinking about 3D printing may lead to immediate thoughts on innovations in the medical, construction, and feline fields, it also holds a special place in the world of music and art. 3D printing is its own form of artistic expression, bringing designs into the physical realm, including musical instruments.
One might think that guitars pose a challenge to 3D print because they can possess a solid or hollow body, have long necks, strings, and even electronics. But of course, the makerverse would not be deterred from the challenge.
In this article, you’ll see some awesome 3D printed guitars, all of which are playable! More impressively, the files for all of them are free, so definitely give them a try if you’re up for the challenge. Be forewarned, however, it’s safe to assume that all these prints will be difficult due to their size and the post-processing steps involved to make them playable. And you’ll also find a few accessories that will complement your musical setup and will make playing “Sweet Home Alabama” easier.
If you see something that you’d like to print but don’t have the means to do it on your own, try Craftcloud by All3DP. You can simply upload your model, pick a material and finish, and view your quote within a few clicks.
Without further ado, let’s rock and roll onto these projects!
Stratocasters
Our first category is dedicated to the timeless electric guitar body type, the Fender Stratocaster or “Strat” for short. Not only does it have a distinctive contour and great sound, but it has been used by some of the greatest guitarists of all time. Due to its significance, many 3D printed guitars on this list are heavily inspired by the Strat design but with their own interesting twists.
Prusacaster
The Prusacaster is a one-of-a-kind guitar that stands out in the world of 3D printed guitars. It was designed by Mikolas Zuza, a computer graphics engineer at Prusa, and has received a ton of positive feedback from the 3D printing community. According to most, this guitar is an excellent combination of being simple, affordable, and visually appealing.
It’s easy to 3D print the hexagon body of this guitar using a standard desktop printer. However, the original Prusacaster was printed using the Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ with a build plate of 250 x 210 x 210 mm, so if you’ve got a smaller machine, you may need to do a bit more legwork.
The creator took inspiration from the Fender Telecaster guitar for the internal structure and recommends using a T-Style kit for the neck and electronics. There are unofficial replica kits available for under $100, significantly lowering the overall cost compared to buying individual components, and depending on the specific kit you need, some superglue and JST connectors may be additional purchases.
Opting for materials with greater temperature resistance, like carbon fiber-infused ones, is suggested if you reside in a place with a hot climate or plan to be outside when playing. That said, for the majority of users, regular PLA should be adequate.
And if you’re still on the fence about whether this is the project for you, the Prusacaster has exceptional documentation, offering a wealth of information for anyone undertaking the 3D printing and assembly process. The design boasts a detailed backstory, comprehensive print instructions, and thorough assembly guidelines.
- Who designed it? MikolasZuza
- How printable/popular is it? This design has over 73,000 views, more than 10,000 downloads, and around 3,500 likes. So far, 142 users have posted their prints of this design, while 44 have shared their remixes.
- Where to find it? Printables
H.R. Giger Tribute
As the name suggests, this guitar is a tribute to the late H.R. Giger, a Swiss artist most known for his science fiction drawings with “biomechanical” themes. In fact, he’s responsible for leading the visual design for Ridley Scott’s film Alien. One of his fans, Francesco Orrù, sculpted and printed this guitar, which contains several references to Alien.
According to Orrù, the humbuckers were printed at 40% infill for extra strength, and the detailed parts have 20% infill. Depending on the printer you have, this whole design will take at least 30 hours to print. Multiple users have printed this model on a variety of printers and materials, including ABS, PLA, and PETG.
- Who designed it? 4theswarm
- How printable/popular is it? This design has over 3,300 downloads and 50,500 views. Several users have posted their prints of this design.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Multicolor Honeycomb
This fun multicolored version of the Stratocaster was printed in separate parts. Gary Donahue, a guitar and 3D printing enthusiast, wanted to combine both his passions. He designed this guitar and documented his full build process on his blog. He printed the guitar on an UltiMaker S5 in PLA.
Initially, Donahue started with a miniature model for fit testing and experimenting with different colors. After finalizing the model, the five parts were then printed, sanded, and glued together, creating a seamless look from color to color. After a year of use, he noted that the PLA hasn’t warped or cracked.
- Who designed it? LordGAD
- How printable/popular is it? The design has 6 makes, 2 remixes, and 537 likes. Those who have made the guitar printed it either in a single color or using five different ones.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Voronoi
This Strat body was modified in Fusion 360 using the Voronoi Sketch Generator, an add-in that creates Voronoi tessellation patterns. This sketch was subsequently cut through the model to create a unique yet organic appearance. To accommodate most desktop 3D printers, the body consists of six parts, which are joined together with dowels (also included in the files).
After experimenting with different print settings, the designer found that a 0.3-mm layer height and a 50% infill with supports were optimal settings to give this guitar a solid feel while playing.
- Who designed it? Lapwing_3D_Prints
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 10 makes, 4 remixes, and nearly 1,400 likes. One user even used this model to create a left-handed guitar!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
The Polycaster
The Polycaster was designed in Blender and modeled after a 1960s Stratocaster with accurate dimensions. The main body consists of six pieces that are bonded with epoxy. Due to its comparable size to the original model, any Fender Stratocaster neck or any third-party Fender replacement neck will fit this design.
- Who designed it? AndyDoesGuitar
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 2 makes and 224 likes, and the individual files have been downloaded over 1,800 times.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Telecasters
The Fender Telecaster is another classic guitar body design known for its versatility. It’s loved by many guitarists, whether hobbyists or professionals, who enjoy its unique sound and simplistic design. As arguably the second most popular Fender guitar behind the Stratocaster, these next projects succeed in setting themselves apart.
Geartar
The Geartar features moving gears (from BensHacks’ design) within the body for an interactive, mechanical aesthetic. The designer printed this model on a Creality CR-10 printer with two large spools of PLA.
Although this guitar consists of multiple parts that need to be glued together, all the parts can be printed without supports. The designer found that a 30% infill for both the guitar body and gear train worked best, while the gear holders were printed at 70% infill for strength.
- Who designed it? hugoriveros
- How printable/popular is it? To date, the design has over 15,000 views, 588 downloads, and 104 likes.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
The Plasticaster
What makes this guitar unique is that the designer, Arnee Henson, modeled it using Tekla Structures, a BIM (building information modeling) software normally used in structural engineering. Although this unconventional application for the software was challenging, Henson was able to execute his design.
The Plasticaster was designed to be printed on a print bed with an area of at least 225 mm x 225 mm. In total, the print is comprised of nine parts printed with five perimeters. The outer body pieces are printed with 10% infill and the neck holder with 30% infill.
- Who designed it? ahen_son
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 12 makes and 132 likes. Many have printed it in PLA with different colors.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Playing Cards
The Playing Card guitar from the company 3D Printing Solutions is a printed Telecaster customized with playing card motifs. It was printed in four parts on an Up Box 3D printer using PolyMax PLA.
After printing, the guitar body received both a coating of plastic and high-build primers. To further smooth the surface, the body was lightly sanded before a base coat of blue metallic paint and a clear coat of lacquer were applied.
In total, it took the team six days to complete the build. Due to the amount of post-processing done on this print, most people wouldn’t think this guitar was 3D printed.
- Who designed it? Michael Tyson
- How printable/popular is it? The demonstration video has over 20,000 views, and the design has been featured in multiple industry articles.
- Where to find it? 3D Printing Solutions
Unconventional Designs
The guitars you’ll see next are considered unconventional because they don’t resemble any specific body type. Their unique shapes or features might increase the complexity of the print, but they nonetheless demonstrate the capabilities and potential of 3D printing.
Electric Guitar Warlock
Whether you’re a heavy metal fan or are drawn to the bold design of the B.C. Rich Warlock guitar, the Electric Guitar Warlock provides an exciting opportunity to craft a distinctive instrument that will captivate its players’ eyes and ears. With two pattern options available, solid and honeycomb, the maker allows players to choose between a more traditional or distinctive appearance.
Regarding assembly, additional components such as a neck and electronics are required to complete the instrument. Upon 3D printing the guitar body, the creator used a 5-minute, 2-part epoxy for gluing. Once the glue dries, any excess material can be carefully chipped off using a chisel or razor. The creator advises sanding, priming, and painting to achieve a polished and refined look.
To assist aspiring builders, the creator of the Electric Guitar Warlock has thoughtfully included a comprehensive overview of the required parts, which can be obtained for under $200 depending on availability. A detailed assembly guide, complete with instructions for setting up the electronics, also ensures a smooth and successful construction process.
- Who designed it? EG3Dprinting
- How printable/popular is it? So far, this design has over 3,700 views, 550 downloads, and more than 170 likes. There are two published makes and one remix available for this design.
- Where to find it? Printables
Adapto Modular
One of the iconic aspects of 3D printing is adaptability. The Adapto Modular Guitar Pro (AMGP) features a modular guitar system that allows the main body of the guitar to be swapped for multiple styles. The designer and other makers have printed several parts on various printers in PLA before bonding them together.
- Who designed it? RoyToreHofstad
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 3 makes, 6 remixes, and 1,725 likes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
The Black Widow
This 3D printable guitar body design consists of six different pieces that are bonded together. Jessie Sasser designed the model in 3ds Max and MeshLab, then printed it on the Robo 3D R1. Depending on the part, he printed the parts with 60% to 100% infill.
When it comes to supports, many users have successfully printed this design on a variety of printers without them, and the creator himself suggests that they may be unnecessary if the machine can deal with bridging.
- Who designed it? TechSupportGo
- How printable/popular it? The design page has over 50,000 downloads and 24 makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Lovecraft
This guitar was designed in tribute to science fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft and features references to his characters across the body.
According to the designer, Francesco Orrù, the model was sculpted in ZBrush, then refined in Rhino in order to cut it successfully into eight parts. Orrù used a delta WASP printer and MakerBot Replicator 2 to print his guitar, which took approximately 100 hours to complete.
- Who designed it? 4theswarm
- How printable/popular is it? The design has around 37,000 views and over 2,600 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Assassin's Creed
For guitar players and fans of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, this design appeals to both! The guitar body is a hybrid between a Gibson Flying V and the Assassin’s Creed logo.
The designer used his Prusa i3 MK3S to print all 19 parts in PLA. After printing, he joined them together with epoxy and screwed the pickguard onto the body.
- Who designed it? AndyDoesGuitar
- How printable/popular is it? The design has 71 likes, and an impressive make has been shared.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Ergonomic
This guitar design by Etxaniz is highly ergonomic and well-suited for playing the guitar while seated. It may also be one of the lightest guitars on the list due to the absence of a pickguard, showing off the honeycomb pattern that’s cut through most of the body.
Consisting of 10 different parts, the guitar was designed to fit the print bed of a Prusa i3 MK2S. Rather than the body being glued together, all parts on this guitar are joined at the neck with screws.
- Who designed it? Etxaniz
- How printable/popular is it? The design has 11 makes in various colors and 934 likes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Acoustic Guitars
We couldn’t leave out acoustic guitars, which rely on their strings and hollow body to create sound. Electronics need not apply.
Steel String
This acoustic guitar not only sounds great but also displays an internal leaf-like pattern when printed in a transparent filament. Unlike 3D printed electric guitars that require a neck from a donor guitar, this one includes files for the neck as well!
The design consists of 15 printed parts. The body and neck (printed separately) are joined together with screws and sealed with superglue. Multiple users have printed this model in PLA without supports.
- Who designed it? LoboCNC
- How printable/popular is it? The build has 5 makes, 3 remixes, and over 1,400 likes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Compact
This is another great example of a mostly 3D printed and playable guitar. This guitar is a 3/4 scale of a normal acoustic guitar, making it compact and still playable, a perfect travel companion.
The whole guitar – body, neck, and head – consists of six parts. You’ll need superglue and strings for assembly, as well as tuning machinery to start playing. Many users have printed it in PLA on a wide variety of FDM printers and without supports.
- Who designed it? Solstie
- How printable/popular is it? The design has 38 makes and over 3,600 likes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Model M
Inspired by a semi-3D printed guitar called the Bodysnatcher by Devin Montes, the Model M guitar was created to test the feasibility of 3D printing an entire acoustic guitar without supports. The arm was printed in PLA and the body in PETG, taking over 100 hours to print all 11 parts.
There was also a lot of post-processing involved. After the body was joined with epoxy and fully cured, the full body was sanded down for a smooth and even surface. Lastly, the body was given a coating of primer, paint, and varnish. Once dried, the strings were installed and the guitar was ready to be played. It’s fully replicable but will make quite a project if you want to try it yourself!
- Who designed it? mcorreadesign
- How printable/popular is it? The guide has over 4,400 views and 26 likes.
- Where to find it? Instructables
Accessories
Once you’ve decided which guitar you’ll be printing, you might want to consider a few items to make your life easier.
Phone Holder
This guitar phone holder is a convenient accessory for any guitarist who wants to keep their tunes and tech close at hand. With this practical model, you can jam out to your favorite songs and keep your phone within reach for quick access to chords, lyrics, and more. The holder can securely hold the phone in both portrait and landscape orientations, allowing easy access to music apps, tabs, and tutorials.
Although it can hold almost any smartphone, even with soft covers on, it may be necessary for larger (above 7 inches) or thicker phones to have the cover removed for a better fit.
The design consists of two well-placed ridges that ensure your phone remains firmly in place, even during vigorous playing. Plus, the holder doesn’t interfere with guitar playing or cause any hindrance, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your performance.
Not only is the phone holder practical but it’s also designed with ease of printing in mind. It doesn’t require any additional supports or raft for printing, making it a hassle-free accessory to create. Whether you’re recording sessions or practicing, this holder is a worthy companion that enhances your guitar-playing experience.
Thumb Pick
Whether you’re a seasoned guitarist or just starting your musical journey, this guitar thumb pick can be a valuable addition. This sleek and functional accessory is by Mikolas Zuza, the same creator of the popular Prusacaster. With over 700 downloads and 120 likes, this remixed design has captured the attention of musicians seeking a better fit and improved comfort.
Mikolas suggests experimenting with different scales when printing the thumb pick to accommodate various preferences. This allows musicians to find the perfect fit for their thumb and unique playing style. The thumb pick also comes with built-in supports, and with proper bed adhesion, a brim shouldn’t be necessary.
The model has received mostly positive feedback for its high level of comfort and user-friendliness. However, a few users suggest sanding the edges to further enhance the playing experience and ensure maximum comfort during extended practice or performances.
- Who designed it? MikolasZuza
- How printable/popular is it? So far, this design has over 2,500 views, more than 700 downloads, and 121 likes. There are 12 shared makes for this design.
- Where to find it? Printables
Tuners
Looking for new tuning pegs for your guitar? How about using 3D printing to create them? These are easy-to-use tuning pegs that can be used as replacement parts or as an upgrade for your guitar. They’re specially designed to enhance tuning accuracy and can be easily incorporated into acoustic or classical guitars.
The creator of these guitar tuners has dedicated time and effort to refining his design, resulting in the latest version that boasts notable improvements. By making the tuners smaller as well as optimizing the assembly process, they’re compact and ensure a more efficient user experience. Additionally, the angles of the tuners have been carefully calibrated for enhanced accuracy during tuning sessions.
The creator recommends applying maintenance grease to lubricate the tuners for optimal functionality, ensuring smooth and precise tuning adjustments. It’s also advisable to use tough materials such as strong PLA, which can withstand the demands of regular tuning. A high infill percentage of 95% was used to ensure durability and longevity.
The assembly process is straightforward, with separate files for the right and left tuners designed to align with the corresponding positions on guitars. What more can you ask for?
- Who designed it? noamtsvi
- How printable/popular is it? So far, this design has only around 500 views, 60 downloads, 50 likes, and 1 published make. However, the published make, as well as the print made by the creator, looks good, and the creator also provided a video about it.
- Where to find it? Printables
License: The text of "3D Printed Guitar: Top Models to 3D Print" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.