pan_kara Posted November 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 I didn't try the flame test, but weld-on didn't seem to work. Maybe I messed up the surface preparation on that instance. Anyway ths superlglue is still holding and meanwhile I finshed the plexi version. Not sure I like it, I think I'll revert to the black one. I like the "exposed wires" look and the fact that more of the swirl is visible, but I think the black picguard somehow balanced the design better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 How about going half way by gently sanding the back of the clear pickguard to make it semi-transparent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted November 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 well to me it's not the transparency that is the problem, that I quite like actually. But I think the large uniform black area (with a white edge) somehow offset the complexty of everything else going on with this guitar. So I think I'll go back to the black simply, saving the plexi as an option for whenever I feel like changing. I just need to level and buff the lacquer before the re-assembly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 I like the transparency too, but don't care for the exposed routes and wires as much. You could paint the edge of the plexy black or white to break up the pattern showing through and kind of identify the fact that you have a pickguard. And it's easy enough to remove the edge paint if you don't like it. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 Good idea Scott. I'd go with that also. Doesn't hurt to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted November 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2017 I might try that at some stage, the white outline could save it a bit - but for now I think I'll just go back to the black pickguard. Hopefully soon. Wetsanding and buffing has started. For the record: I finished fixing photo references, this thread has all the pictures back, where possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted November 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2017 All right, this time the clearcoat polished up fine. I didn't fully level it with wetsanding except a few places, didn't want to push my luck (and I didn't put a whole lot on), instead I reduced orange peel a bit just by buffing, the end result is pretty good. I even managed to get the insides of the cutaways nearly perfect after a session with the micromesh sanding pads. I've put all the hardware on so now it's just the remaining bit of setup work. I think I'll need to file the bridge saddles down a little, my neck angle (and fb thickness) ended up a little on the low side and I can't get the action as low as it should be on the treble side. Actually everything is low profile, the pickups are sitting almost flush with the pickguard.. I need to watch this more carefully in the future. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted November 27, 2017 Report Share Posted November 27, 2017 When I think of what this thing looked like when you started... What a journey. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted December 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 aaand the journey is now complete. Mirroring the GOTM entry, here's a collection of "finished" photographs. Well actually more, since I have no 8-photo limit here Front shot: The back, featuring the swirl to no-swirl seamless body-to-neck transition Back of the neck with the maple-purpleheart accent insert Some more closeups and assorted shots: I still have to learn the guitar, there's plenty of fantastic tones to be pulled from this switching system, plus I need to teach my fingers to play with an extra high A string, which messes with my muscle memory all the time. So it forces a more concious playing, which if good in the end. When I spend some more time with her and have a quiet moment I'll do a thorough walk-through video, meanwhile here's a quickie just for you guys: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted February 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 Well this took a while. The full demo of this guitar is now up: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDH Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 (edited) Nice build! Your swirl video is the best one I've seen! Edited February 3, 2018 by CDH 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 Wow, surprisingly versatile and a great range of usable tones! When I progress through the PG build arc and end up at the Firebird Red Special (cat, bag, out, spoiler) the Bohemian Rhapsody solo tone is a recognisable combination to tick off. I wonder how the radically-different build styles will contrast, especially since I will (hopefully) have a Helix for my Vox patches by that point..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted February 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 that's gonna be interesting to hear, true. Can't wait for the whole build actually concerning Bohemian - I plan to do another video focusing just on that, and how different elements play a role. Clearly I'm omitting some (the tri-sonic pickups, the coin-as-a pick etc) but even with that I think I can get very very close. What I want to do now (before I shoot that video) is to add a switch to my main every day guitar (a superstrat with a HSH pickup configuration), that puts the middle pickup in the circuit in series. I wonder how close can you get by just modding a HSH guitar. The middle pickup will be weaker than the humbuckers so the phase cancellations will be slighly less pronounced (but I can always coil-tap the HB, that's sonething I already added to that guitar), the positions of the pickups are different so the harmonic pattern will be a tiny bit different ... But I still think it will be very close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 It would be interesting to test an independent volume control for the humbuckers as balance against a phase-cancelling single. I'm unsure of the implications of this in terms of impedance around the rest of the circuit, however that would be fun to observe. So many ideas, so little time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted February 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 I have a guitar where the middle pickup is added into the circuit via a blend pot - nothing in the middle position, and in/out of phase depending on which way you turn. But that's in parallel. For the humbuckers the question is of course in the other direction (turning them down, not the middle pup - as you said). I think that coil tapping the humbucker will be enough though. I can always play with the pickup height. But yea - now to find the time for this ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 6, 2018 Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 Fabulous stuff. Great concept, great skills on show and great, great result The scarfe joint is, alone, a work of art, let alone the rest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted February 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 Thanks Andy I wish I could say that the scarf was planned out to be like this, but unfortunately I can't I should save the dimensions though (headstock thickness I guess), I'd keep this design element for future builds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted March 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2018 well here's the Bohemian Rhapsody video. Was supposed to be ready a week ago but you know how it is... probably too long but whatever. hope you like it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 10, 2018 Report Share Posted March 10, 2018 Frontpaged. http://www.projectguitar.com/articles/youtube_53/crafting-brian-mays-bohemian-rhapsody-solo-tone-r45/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted March 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2018 yay \o/ thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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