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Kemp Guitars - 2016 Build thread


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20 hours ago, curtisa said:

Yes, this has/is already been discussed over at the Off Topics area:

 

Thanks curtisa.

I saw the article on Reverb that's linked to in that thread. I already knew about Bubinga but didn't see the full list until last month. Thankfully, the only build I'm working on at the moment using Rosewood is a stock build so I can keep that one in the UK. All my current custom work is unaffected... Phew!

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I was hoping to start a full-on build progress thread for a new custom build (KM-I carve-top) I started yesterday, but I decided against it and will continue posting all new updates in this one thread...

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15mm bookmatched Wenge top on 28mm Sapele body, five-piece Maple/Purpleheart neck and Ebony fretboard.

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Will have to be put aside for a couple of days now but I'm looking forward to this one :)

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Our next stock build (KM-II #2) is getting there... Neck carve tomorrow and then it'll be time to prep for an oil finish. As with the first KM-I build, the (TonePros) Tune-O-Matic bridge has been recessed to avoid the need for a neck angle.

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KM-II #2 neck carve completed today, followed by hours of sanding in prep for the Tung Oil finish. Should have this one finished before the end of the week.

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Juggarnauts!!!

Frets dressed/polished and pickups in (Bare Knuckle Pickups Juggarnaut set with Black Battleworn covers)... We should have this one finished tomorrow and photographed for the website gallery on Friday - I'll post some here too. I'm also waiting for the oil finish to dry overnight on the 7-string KM-II #2 build, so we should have both guitars complete before the weekend :)

PS. Yes, the fleece blanket with lions all over it... If it's good enough for a baby's skin, it's good enough for protecting a brand new guitar finish!

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1 hour ago, charisjapan said:

Love the recessed TOM and ring-less pickups :thumb: 

But you seem to have an extra string ... ;)

 

Thanks charisjapan.

As for that extra string, I'm not sure where it came from!? :P I'm not a 7-string player myself but the market for 7-strings is getting bigger so I thought I'd do a couple. I've got an 8-string custom to get done as well!

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19 minutes ago, KempGuitars said:

Thanks charisjapan.

As for that extra string, I'm not sure where it came from!? :P I'm not a 7-string player myself but the market for 7-strings is getting bigger so I thought I'd do a couple. I've got an 8-string custom to get done as well!

Haha!

Yeah, I have noticed that trend.  I'm immune, as I can't even manage 6 strings ...  :blush

But I certainly understand giving the people what they want ...  8, 9, whatever.  I have a luthier buddy in nearby Tokyo whose goal is to build a theorbo ... apparently he played one professionally as a young man.  Now THAT is a "stringed instrument!" :blink:

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1 hour ago, charisjapan said:

Haha!

Yeah, I have noticed that trend.  I'm immune, as I can't even manage 6 strings ...  :blush

But I certainly understand giving the people what they want ...  8, 9, whatever.  I have a luthier buddy in nearby Tokyo whose goal is to build a theorbo ... apparently he played one professionally as a young man.  Now THAT is a "stringed instrument!" :blink:

No need to be so modest :thumb: 

Sadly, a Theorbo would be a little out of my league as I have no experience whatsoever with them, nor have I ever seen one in person, but respect to your friend and others who make them.

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41 minutes ago, KempGuitars said:

No need to be so modest :thumb: 

Sadly, a Theorbo would be a little out of my league as I have no experience whatsoever with them, nor have I ever seen one in person, but respect to your friend and others who make them.

Absolutely no modesty at all ... I really am that bad.  I started playing 30 years too late, but still happy to just noodle around on the 6-string and play simple bass. 

:peace

 

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Busy weekend! Two builds complete and over 200 photos shot for the website... And here's a couple of the KM-II #2 build (more on the website soon along with the Black Walnut Custom KM-II photos)…

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And to end this marathon, a couple of the Black Walnut 7-string Custom KM-II build. Additional pics will be loaded to the website gallery soon... I have to go and code them all in now!

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Following the recent completion of KM-II #2 and Black Walnut 7-string Custom KM-II, it's back to the bench for a batch of new builds. These include a Wenge Carve-top Custom KM-I with Maple/Purpleheart neck...
 
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... Another Black Walnut Custom KM-II (6-string this time), Custom 8-string V with multiscale fretboard and this; the last KM-I build in our latest stock batch - wouldn't a set of zebra coils look good in it?
 
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  • 2 weeks later...

Been a bit quiet on the "social media" front the past week or so, but I've been getting started on a couple of new builds. Photographed today, three stages of neck construction (left to right); Maple/Black Walnut neck and quartersawn Cocobolo fretboard blanks, Maple/Black Walnut neck w/ Makore fretboard (now glued on) and Maple/Purpleheart neck w/ Ebony fretboard...

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Update on the final build to come out of my lastest stock batch; Wenge KM-I body, 5-piece Maple/Black Walnut neck with Makore fretboard and Wenge-veneered inline headstock...

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Still got the neck and tummy carves to do, otherwise almost there now.

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On the bench this week... Both six-string, one KM-I and one KM-II, one Floyd Rose equipped - the other fixed bridge, one (messy looking) carve-top (which'll look fantastic once I've finished with it) and one chamfer-edged...

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First post tonight;

UK builders finding it difficult to source threaded inserts and bolts for bolt-on neck construction - get in touch and I'll point you in the right direction. They're not difficult to find if you search in the right place, but don't fall for the expensive set of bolt-on hardware being sold exclusively for this purpose (sold on one particular auction site). For the cost of one of those sets, you can buy enough parts to put together multiple guitars. Same with smaller versions for direct mounted pickups - these were harder to source - I can also help you out with those.

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Secondly; probably the next build I'll be finishing - this KM-II custom build comprising Black Walnut body, Maple/Black Walnut neck, Cocobolo (quartersawn) fretboard, Gotoh Tune-O-Matic bridge, Gotoh 510 Series locking tuners and Bare Knuckle Pickups "Nailbomb" covered set...

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Back from the spray shop today, this 8-string multiscale custom V (RR-style) will now be the next build out of the workshop. Full spec includes Hipshot Grip-lock, ABM Single String Bridges, Lundgren M8 custom-made (angled) and matte black PU finish...

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