peterbrown Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Hi, I've been working on this build for a while and thought I'd share some pics. Specs so far: Body: chambered blackwood with bookmatched fiddleback blackwood top Neck: laminated blackwood and rock maple Fretboard: striped ebony with gold MOP inlay 25inch scale length The chambered body The body with the top glued on Gluing the binding on The neck blank and slotted fretboard Cheers, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 looks nice! where'd you get your wood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbrown Posted April 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Thanks Cam, I got the body and neck timber from anagotte timbers in Marrickville (Sydney) the top I got from Australian tonewoods (WA). The fretboard I got from Gillet guitars in Botany (Sydney). Some pics of the fretboard inlay progress. The fretboard markers are all different profiles of a wedge-tailed eagle in flight Cheers, peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psw Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Sorry couldn't find a wedgie for you...nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six String Theory Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 That's b-e-a-u-tiful wood you got there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbrown Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 Thanks fellas, some more pics of the inlays with details engraved on the pearl. All engraving is done by hand. Before After Cheers, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted April 12, 2009 Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 looks much better with the engraving! btw, that body shape is tasty can't wait to see more Kenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted April 12, 2009 Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 Looking good! That top looks gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops1983 Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Hey pete top job! Do oz tonewoods have a website i can check out and what size router bit do you use for your inlaying? Im suspecting some sort of dremel bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops1983 Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Never mind about the link i found them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbrown Posted April 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 Thanks for the comments fellas. Chops, the inlay is done with a combination of different diameter downcutting dremmel bits from Stewmac. Depends on how fine the rout needs to be as to the diameter of the bit that is chosen. Time for more pics I think. Shaping the neck. Cheers, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayvo Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 That looks sweet Love the inlays Look forward to seeing it all done What finish are you going to use? dayvo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 this is coming along nicely! Hows the body weight? Do you think you could way it for me? I'm doing a build with the exact same timbers as you except for the maple in the neck and I am wondering about the weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbrown Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Davo, I am planning on finishing this one with colortone water based laquer. i have used it before and it works a treat! Cam, Blackwood is pretty good wieght wise. Sorry. I don't have a scale suitable to weigh it. This is quite light with it chambered. Will be a very comfortable to play. Even without chambering blackwood makes for a moderatly weighted guitar. More pics. Pictured below shaping the back with a thumb plane, and the fitted control cavity cover. Cheers, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 (edited) that looks very nice, how did you get the cavity cover to get the same grain pattern? Oh and, how much did that top set you back? Edited April 23, 2009 by Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbrown Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Cam, Getting the grain to line up is just a matter of trial and error. i find a piece of offcut that I think is a good match, then cut it out with a generous overhang so i can see where the grain matches up at the edges of the cover. Once I am happy I then stick the template on, and rout with my fingers crossed. i generally spend more time lining everything up than I do actually cutting and routing. A little effort that goes a long way I think. It also helps if you use a pick cut from the same piece as the body. PM me if you still want the price. Cheers, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 its good to see people go that extra bit to make everything look nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbrown Posted April 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Thanks cam. Carving the top. The first pic is the rough shape done with an angle grinder and detailed with a thumb plane. The second pic is with it rough sanded out and a lick of diluted blond shelac. Cheers, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops1983 Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Looks hot Peter!I really Dig the shape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 another reason to make me feel bad about starting my new guitar. I wanna build one sooo much but I'm looking for the correct wood etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbrown Posted April 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Thanks fellas, Cam, what do you have planned for your build? Design and timbers etc? Where are you looking for your timbers etc? Cheers, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 im going to do a cheapish but good quality first build just to build up my skills a bit, although I can use all of the tools But for my good one i'm planning, i wanted a Tasmanian Blackwood body & Neck, with a Master Grade tassie blackwood top from Aus Tonewoods and a rosewood fretboard. I've just been looking at australian timber websites since i don't have a lumber yard or anything around me. (for the cheaper first build its going to have a maple neck for ease of carving and just getting used to carving a neck) Sorry if i hijacked your thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 beautiful carve! really compliments the body shape cant wait to see this one progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbrown Posted April 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 Thanks again for the positive feedback Kenny and Chops. Cam, that sounds like a great idea for a build. I can say from past experience that blackwood is a top coice for timbers in terms of sound and weight. If you are looking for a cheap alternative for timber, then consider New Guineau Rosewood works very well. Works nicely and looks good too. Here is a neck and fingerboard I am working on (another build) made from new guinea rosewood. The timber for the neck and fretboard worked out at $20Au. And a body only costs around $60Au Cheers, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 yeah i was tempted to get a new guinea rosewood neck blank off ebay for like $10. It looked nice too, but i missed it. That neck looks really nice too. Where are you getting your wood from? I can get wood that cheap over the internet in Australia but then you have to add on all the shipping costs etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.