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Kemp Guitars 2017-18 Build Thread


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All glued up; KR3 with it's Swamp Ash (body) wings and Buckeye Burl top. I will be filling those couple of bark pockets/voids in the Buckeye next - sadly, no way of avoiding them...

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And that SD - not quite finished but I it's coming together. Just waiting for a case to arrive before I install machine heads and string up, etc...

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Finished... Our 1980s San Dimas Super-strat inspired "DS", left-handed version with archtop body. Fantastic harmonics and balanced tone! Alder body, Maple/Wenge neck, Indian Rosewood fretboard (24 frets), Gotoh hardware and Super Distortion pup...

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1 hour ago, Prostheta said:

How long have you been playing this game now? I mean, your work is exemplary and proves how much you can manage with a modest setup.

Thanks Prostheta. I started building from scratch in 2009 - before that were various Partscasters and years of rebuilds and repair work. I don't think I'd like a workshop bigger than what I have now. I have no plans for mass production, CNC, etc, and the "cosy" setup I have is adequate for me at the moment.

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26 minutes ago, Prostheta said:

It's an excellent plane to occupy. You don't have massive overheads and the space works for you. Absolutely ideal. You'll keep the love for what you do that way as well!

Definitely... And after years of doing this, when most businesses find they need to "expand" premises, etc to progress, I'm actually making some of my best (favourite) work now without having to go through (or think about) all that so it can't be too bad. I'm happy and so are those who own my guitars :) 

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Prototype DC-III ready for assembly - still not sure whether I like it or not. Fantastic upper fret access and lightweight for a Sapele body (archtop). Neck is Maple and Wenge 3-piece with Makore fretboard. Gotoh TOM bridge/381 tuners and Kent Armstrong Super Distortion (bridge)/STH-1 (neck) pickups. Will be finishing this one up and testing it out over the next couple of days.

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2 hours ago, KempGuitars said:

Prototype DC-III ready for assembly - still not sure whether I like it or not. Fantastic upper fret access and lightweight for a Sapele body (archtop). Neck is Maple and Wenge 3-piece with Makore fretboard. Gotoh TOM bridge/381 tuners and Kent Armstrong Super Distortion (bridge)/STH-1 (neck) pickups. Will be finishing this one up and testing it out over the next couple of days.

dc3051017.jpg

 

I'd be interested in what your eye doesn't like about this. The Makore board is unexpected.

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12 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Man after my own heart where the patio slabs become an integral part of the build process :thumb:

Great work :)

Yeah... We recently moved and now lack space and backdrops to photograph. Will have to start doing location shoots :D

12 hours ago, Prostheta said:

 

I'd be interested in what your eye doesn't like about this. The Makore board is unexpected.

I really don't know :( 

10 hours ago, ScottR said:

....and goes very nicely with the sapele body.

SR

I love the Makore and something about the all Sapele/Makore look. I did a similar spec build earlier this year and wanted to do another. There's also a guy somewhere in Europe (that narrows it down) who has an all-Sapele model - including fretboard. I think Sapele is too soft for a fretboard and the Makore is the perfect alternative. Black hardware to follow and it'll look the bee's-knees... Even better if it was a different body :rolleyes:

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23 hours ago, KempGuitars said:

Prototype DC-III ready for assembly - still not sure whether I like it or not.

dc3051017.jpg

What's not to like?

Looks good to me.  Modern superstrat-ish but with enough curves and carves to pull it into totally different territory....

My very first bash (about 6 years ago) at a body build was sapele.  I built it for myself.  Ugly as sin with a very oddly proportioned body but quite the niceset guitar to play of anything I've built or bought before or since:

_MG_3264.thumb.JPG.0cc55aa2580f0f592727b4ae307b3341.JPG

 

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17 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

What's not to like?

Looks good to me.  Modern superstrat-ish but with enough curves and carves to pull it into totally different territory....

My very first bash (about 6 years ago) at a body build was sapele.  I built it for myself.  Ugly as sin with a very oddly proportioned body but quite the niceset guitar to play of anything I've built or bought before or since:

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Christ, you can't complain at that for a first build... not bad at all - love the smaller body. I've almost finished putting together the DC3 - it has four strings as I ran out of ferrules and the single coil cover is being adapted to take my 2mm allen bolts/screw inserts. However, picking it up and playing it, it feels so much lighter and more playable than, for example, my DC. All because of the difference in the lower cutaway/horn and overall size - similar to how, I imagine, it is to play your guitar there. Fret access is completely unobstructed and it is starting to grow on me now. I will make another as soon as I have the funds and give it a wild colour... Perhaps a bright yellow... Or go the opposite and give it a full metal makeover (black finish, etc). The DC3 isn't yet deemed for the scrapheap... And my "prototype" will be sold shortly as soon as I've had my wicked way with it :)

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Prototype DC-III finished and setup. Plays (shreds) seamlessly with excellent upper fret access and superb high gain tone from those Kent Armstrongs... And that's if I do say so myself :) It's starting to grow on me now but I'll still be making another and finishing in colour asap. Keeping this one back for a week now to settle but it is available as stock...

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On 9/28/2017 at 5:32 PM, KempGuitars said:

All glued up; KR3 with it's Swamp Ash (body) wings and Buckeye Burl top. I will be filling those couple of bark pockets/voids in the Buckeye next - sadly, no way of avoiding them...

pea280917.jpg

And that SD - not quite finished but I it's coming together. Just waiting for a case to arrive before I install machine heads and string up, etc...

sd280917.jpg

now there is something you dont see everyday -a buckeye burl V. wow. 

Hey- the 80's called- they said they wished that had that freaking outrageous blue. holy cow man. That is sick!!

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On 10/11/2017 at 7:37 PM, Mr Natural said:

now there is something you dont see everyday -a buckeye burl V. wow. 

Hey- the 80's called- they said they wished that had that freaking outrageous blue. holy cow man. That is sick!!

Is a little unusual... Figured out why that might be whilst hunting down a Buckeye Burl top big enough :D 

Blue...?

[...IMAGE REMOVED...]

;) ...

Watch this space!

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Latest on that custom KR3 (V)... Ready for hardware mounts and routs... Just waiting for pickup (custom 16 degree angled BKP Painkiller) and ABM 3210's...

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4 hours ago, ScottR said:

Please tell me that one is not going to get painted!:blink:

SR

The V? No, I am still partial to a natural finish... Besides, the client probably wouldn't be too keen if I decided to give it a dayglow-orange finish ;) Seriously though, I'll be spraying this one with matte clear - neck finish TBC.

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On 10/11/2017 at 8:04 PM, KempGuitars said:

Is a little unusual... Figured out why that might be whilst hunting down a Buckeye Burl top big enough :D 

Blue...?

[...IMAGE REMOVED...]

;) ...

Watch this space!

Recognise this...

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 Yep, no longer blue, I refinished the SD leftie and given it a neck pup.  

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  • 2 weeks later...

Whilst waiting to get that Buckeye V finished, here's a quick round of "name that wood". A small selection of fretboard blanks just delivered for my next batch of builds (customs and a stock)...

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