When a guitarist needs to modify the internal structure of their instrument—whether for new electronics, expanded pickup options, weight relief, or performance enhancements—body routing becomes an essential service. It’s a specialized form of woodworking that requires precision, experience, and a deep understanding of how the instrument’s structure and tone interact.

At Vera Guitars in Charlotte, NC, we offer high-quality body routing for electric and select acoustic guitars. Whether you’re upgrading pickups, converting your configuration, or customizing for performance needs, our team provides results that look, feel, and perform like factory work.

This article covers everything Charlotte players need to know about body routing, why it’s done, what it can achieve, and why trusting a skilled technician matters more than anything else.

What Is Body Routing?

Body routing is the process of removing specific sections of wood from the guitar body to create new cavities or modify existing ones. Routing may be used to:

• Add pickup cavities

• Change pickup configurations (SSS → HSS, HH → single coil, etc.)

• Expand control cavities

• Add battery compartments for active electronics

• Fit new tremolo or bridge systems

• Make room for switches, wiring, or circuit boards

• Reduce weight in a heavy body

• Improve internal airflow or resonance

Because routing changes the physical structure of the guitar, it must be performed with extreme accuracy to avoid removing too much wood, damaging structural integrity, or altering tone unintentionally.

Why Body Routing Matters for Electric Guitars

Electric guitar players have always been innovators. From modifying Strats in the ’70s to installing active electronics in the ’80s to creating hybrid configurations today, routing has been a core part of electric guitar customization.

A proper body routing job allows for:

• Expanded tonal options

• Pickup upgrades

• Bridge and tremolo conversions

• Modern wiring systems

• Additional switching options

• Active/passive configurations

• Weight reduction on heavy instruments

Guitarists who want to push their creativity or tailor their instrument to a specific style often turn to routing as the most direct way to unlock new potential.

Common Types of Body Routing

At Vera Guitars, we see several categories of routing needs:

⭐ 1. Pickup Routing

Players frequently request new cavities for humbuckers, single coils, P-90s, or specialty options.

⭐ 2. Electronics Cavity Expansion

Modern electronics—active preamps, switching systems, buffers—may require additional space.

⭐ 3. Battery Compartments

Active systems (EMGs, Fishman Fluence, preamps) require clean battery routing for easy access.

⭐ 4. Bridge/Tremolo Routing

This includes tremolo conversions, string-through body modifications, or top-mount bridge adjustments.

⭐ 5. Weight Relief

Thick/heavy bodies can be routed internally to reduce weight without compromising structure.

⭐ 6. Custom Modifications

Unique shapes, access panels, signal routing options—the possibilities are almost endless.

Because every guitar responds differently to routing changes, planning, experience, and structural knowledge are essential.

Why Players in Charlotte, NC Choose Routing Upgrades

Charlotte musicians increasingly explore modern tones, new pickup combinations, and performance-ready versatility. As the city's music scene evolves—rock, metal, blues, praise & worship, funk, pop—players need instruments that adapt to these demands.

Musicians often bring guitars to Vera Guitars for routing when:

• They want to install advanced electronics

• Their tonal needs have expanded

• They’re converting to a humbucker for heavier styles

• They’re upgrading to noiseless systems

• They need custom switching for worship or studio environments

• They want to lighten a heavy instrument

• They’re updating an older guitar for modern performance

Charlotte, Matthews, Gastonia, and Rock Hill players rely on our shop because body routing can be one of the most transformative upgrades a guitar can receive—when done correctly.

Body Routing and Tone: What You Need to Know

Routing does more than change what fits inside your guitar—it can influence how the instrument resonates. While subtle, these changes matter.

Routing may impact:

• Low-end presence (depending on the amount removed)

• Resonance and body vibration

• Sustain

• Airflow within the body cavity

• How pickups interact with the surrounding wood

A skilled technician understands how to remove material without harming tone or structural stability. Poorly done routing, on the other hand, can lead to dead spots, harsh frequencies, or weakened support around critical areas.

Why Josh’s Advanced Routing Work Makes the Difference

Body routing is more than cutting wood—it's an integration of woodworking, structural planning, and musical intuition. At Vera Guitars, Josh approaches every routing job with a level of care that goes far beyond generic modification services. Players choose our shop because they trust the balance of precision, expertise, and respect for the instrument.

✔ Precision Without Sacrificing Structure

Josh evaluates each guitar individually, considering wood density, body thickness, pickup placement, resonance behavior, and stress points. This ensures new cavities blend seamlessly with the guitar’s existing design.

✔ Clean, Factory-Quality Results

Many routing jobs done in shops or garages leave jagged edges, uneven walls, chatter marks, or rough surfaces that look obviously modified. Josh’s work is clean, smooth, well-planned, and cosmetically refined—exactly what musicians expect from a high-end shop.

✔ Tone-First Decision Making

Before any wood is removed, Josh evaluates how the modification will affect resonance and sustain. The goal is to preserve the natural character of the guitar while unlocking new tonal options safely.

✔ Respect for the Player’s Vision

Every routing project begins with a conversation. What pickups are you planning? What tones do you need? What style do you play? Josh ensures that the routing aligns with your goals—not just what’s easiest or fastest.

✔ Trust, Experience, and Confidence

Ultimately, Charlotte players trust Josh because they know the result will be solid, reliable, and professionally executed. This is the kind of work where experience matters—and it shows in every project.

Why DIY Body Routing Fails (And Can Ruin an Instrument)

Many players attempt routing at home to save money, especially after watching online tutorials. Unfortunately, body routing is one of the fastest ways to permanently damage a guitar if done incorrectly.

The most common DIY issues we see:

• Chatter marks from improper tool control

• Over-routing and thinning structural areas

• Cavities cut too wide or off-center

• Rough edges that crack or splinter later

• Electronics that no longer fit cleanly

• Tone problems from removing too much wood

• Finish chipping or tearing

• Bridges and pickups misaligned

These mistakes are irreversible. Body routing requires professional tools, a stable workstation, and years of hands-on experience. Saving money upfront can cost the instrument far more in the long run.

Additional Guitar Services at Vera Guitars

In addition to body routing, Vera Guitars offers:

• Pickup installation

• Custom wiring and electronics design

• Nut and saddle replacement

• Structural crack repair

• Neck resets

• Fret leveling and Plek services

• Full custom modification planning

• Hardware replacement

• Setups and seasonal adjustments

Our shop supports both modern modifications and traditional restoration.

When to Bring Your Guitar In

If you’re planning new pickups, installing active electronics, converting configurations, or customizing your guitar for better performance, bring it to Vera Guitars for a consultation. Josh will evaluate your instrument, discuss your goals, and determine whether body routing is needed—or whether a simpler upgrade will accomplish the same result.

Charlotte musicians trust us with their instruments because we treat every guitar as if it were our own.