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Kemp Guitars 2017-18 Build Thread


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Coming together nicely, this custom DC thru-neck is now all glued up, including Leopardwood and Ebony laminated top on Alder body wings, and shaped to template...

27541074_1217538048389539_57044974674776

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On ‎2‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 5:28 PM, KempGuitars said:

Coming together nicely, this custom DC thru-neck is now all glued up, including Leopardwood and Ebony laminated top on Alder body wings, and shaped to template...

010218.jpg

Beautiful build. I saved this image for inspiration for my next build. I haven't built a neck through yet. It's so classy. I really like the ebony veneer between the cap. It really sets it off.

 

True story. I listed my 58 Custom Shop Strat on reverb a few weeks ago just to see what I could get for it. I thought I had over priced it to the point that I would only get offers. The next morning, I woke up with the sold email and the funds. The first guitar I thought of purchasing was your Pinky. That guitar really spoke to me as most of your builds do. In fact, I've even 'borrowed' heavily from you on my current build.

Anyway, I kept watching ebay looking for Pinky and my wife found the money from the Strat. Oh well, I did buy a Les Paul eventually to make up for the loss of the Strat, but man your guitars are so good!

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4 hours ago, SOLLYGTRS said:

That’s a great save. Are you going to go with Pink again?

Thanks :) Unfortunately not pink this time. I was thinking solid black to white burst. 

4 hours ago, SOLLYGTRS said:

Beautiful build. I saved this image for inspiration for my next build. I haven't built a neck through yet. It's so classy. I really like the ebony veneer between the cap. It really sets it off.

 

True story. I listed my 58 Custom Shop Strat on reverb a few weeks ago just to see what I could get for it. I thought I had over priced it to the point that I would only get offers. The next morning, I woke up with the sold email and the funds. The first guitar I thought of purchasing was your Pinky. That guitar really spoke to me as most of your builds do. In fact, I've even 'borrowed' heavily from you on my current build.

Anyway, I kept watching ebay looking for Pinky and my wife found the money from the Strat. Oh well, I did buy a Les Paul eventually to make up for the loss of the Strat, but man your guitars are so good!

I'll take that as a compliment(s), thanks dude. Sorry about the Pinky though. Hey, if you got no issues with a 3 and a half piece body instead of 2 piece, I'd be willing to spray it pink for the right, yet reasonable price. PM me but quick as I'd planned to spray the top coat Friday :)

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5 hours ago, KempGuitars said:

Thanks :) Unfortunately not pink this time. I was thinking solid black to white burst. 

I'll take that as a compliment(s), thanks dude. Sorry about the Pinky though. Hey, if you got no issues with a 3 and a half piece body instead of 2 piece, I'd be willing to spray it pink for the right, yet reasonable price. PM me but quick as I'd planned to spray the top coat Friday :)

It’s definitely a compliment! You do badass work brother!

Sorry man, I wish I could, but that Les Paul drained me. Still though, I’ll keep my eye out. I’ve got you followed on eBay so there may come a time.

 

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3 hours ago, SOLLYGTRS said:

It’s definitely a compliment! You do badass work brother!

Sorry man, I wish I could, but that Les Paul drained me. Still though, I’ll keep my eye out. I’ve got you followed on eBay so there may come a time.

 

Thanks again, very much appreciated 👍 

No worries, just thought I'd mention it before I spray alternative colour tomorrow. 

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The resurrection of the Pinky Dinky... Part 4 - Thought about coming away from the "pink" theme completely but I didn't want to use the neon paint again as I wasn't happy with the product or application. Working with what I already had in terms of paint, I thought about a solid black/white burst. Unfortunately, I didn't have as much black as I'd like so I ordered in some Amaranth Red, in keeping with the pink theme a little... Aye?

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Not seen the back of the custom DC Leopardwood yet. Finished the last of the routing today, here it is ready for hand carving (neck, tummy and forearm contours)...

1302184.jpg&key=70d01a6749901e1d32170a58

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2 hours ago, Prostheta said:

Super clean work as always. Hey, is that a bit of chipout in the cavity? Have I spotted you make some non-clean work? Huh? Huh? :lol:

Haha. Actually not sure what that is. It's not tear out because that's on the screw pillar the other side of the cavity :P damn Alder, hate routing that stuff 

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On 13/02/2018 at 4:06 PM, KempGuitars said:

Not seen the back of the custom DC Leopardwood yet. Finished the last of the routing today, here it is ready for hand carving (neck, tummy and forearm contours)...

1302184.jpg

I think that Leopardwood is spectacular!

Oh - and love that Amaranth red.

As usual, top drawer stuff :) 

 

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Nine years building, first time bending a droptop (7mm Flame Maple) over a forearm contour. No cracks :thumb: 

New custom build (1 of 3 just started) which'll be regularly appearing over the coming weeks...

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54 minutes ago, KempGuitars said:

Nine years building, first time bending a droptop (7mm Flame Maple) over a forearm contour. No cracks :thumb: 

New custom build (1 of 3 just started) which'll be regularly appearing over the coming weeks...

150218.jpg

Did you use the iron on wet wood method to bend the maple cap?

I know its a shocker, but here's another clean looking build. Do me a favor and post a pic the next time you have some router tear out so that we know you are human. Haha

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2 hours ago, Prostheta said:

Nicely done. That's a hurdle that a lot of people don't manage to get right.

Just a bit of planning and good prep... And YouTube :)

2 hours ago, SOLLYGTRS said:

Did you use the iron on wet wood method to bend the maple cap?

I know its a shocker, but here's another clean looking build. Do me a favor and post a pic the next time you have some router tear out so that we know you are human. Haha

I didn't use steam for this... Although I might've considered that if it was a bigger contour (such as that on my non-offset body shape). 

The method I used involved routing some narrow channels perpendicular to the bend direction on the underside of the top (as seen done by a few builders on YouTube). Essentially just taking down the thickness of the wood so it bends easier. I did clamp and apply heat alone before gluing but that didn't really achieve anything.

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28 minutes ago, KempGuitars said:

Just a bit of planning and good prep... And YouTube :)

I didn't use steam for this... Although I might've considered that if it was a bigger contour (such as that on my non-offset body shape). 

The method I used involved routing some narrow channels perpendicular to the bend direction on the underside of the top (as seen done by a few builders on YouTube). Essentially just taking down the thickness of the wood so it bends easier. I did clamp and apply heat alone before gluing but that didn't really achieve anything.

Thanks as always. I'll go check it out.

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17 minutes ago, Pariahrob said:

Very nice and that’s a great technique. 

Just out of curiosity, who do you get your timber from? 

Thanks Pariahrob

I get the common timber, eg Sipo, Sapele, Ash and Maple, from a local hardwood specialist. Anything else and it could be Exotic Hardwoods UK, Timberline or eBay (UK and US sellers).

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What's your personal opinions on Sapele vs Khaya? I absolutely adore the latter for its airy lightness and feel when (properly) dry. To me, Sapele is heavier/denser, far more fractious with tearout plus checking and reaction wood is much more common. I used the last of my Sapele up in a Flying V body just to try and use the weight to my advantage. I'll only be buying Khaya from hereonout.

I know fully that there are differences between the two dependent on where they grew.....Ghanaian Sapele is better than others from what I recall. Not that we get much idea of provenance once the wood has been through the first two levels of dealers.

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