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Build #2 - The Osprey


ZekeB

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Learned a lot from my first build.  Feel like that's an understatement.  Altered my workflow plan based and I've started to procure some parts for my next build.  This guy is going to be a laminate neck through.  Whats going to be unique other than the body design is the pick guard.  going to make it out of Macassar Ebony, and Zebrawood and then put an inlay in there.    The body will have a matte black symmetrically rounded over top.  I want the binding & purfling, pickguard, and fretboard to be really accented.  Not sure on a fretboard wood yet.  I'm thinking something with some good looking figure.  Any ideas? 

image.thumb.png.d1cea4b4275e00403e414313ac6d46e8.png

 

Osprey.png

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I like that design :)

I'm probably not the best person to put a view on fretboard colour.  Is this for selling or keeping?  If I was selling, I would stick with how you have it above.  If I was keeping, I would put a much lighter board on.

See what I mean - I'm probably not the best person to put a view on fretboard colour!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Looks slick!

I think you could get away with the lack of neck/headstock binding with an inlaid fretboard.... or get away without fretboard inlays if there were binding carried through the neck/headstock. But I do agree with those who have said it looks a little bare with neither. 

Looking forward to seeing this one. :)

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  • 2 weeks later...
10 hours ago, ZekeB said:

I love the contrast.  How does a wenge body sound?  Is it pretty heavy?  

It sounds great, but how much of that is down to the wood is arguable/subjective. The main takeaway from this one is just how damn good the neck feels, I wouldn't hesitate to make a wenge neck again.

Wenge generally is quite heavy, this body is quite heavily chambered and it weighs 9lb with finish and hardware. But I think in hindsight, I could have chambered it more that I did, I took about 20mm out of the entire upper bout, round to the behind the bridge, I didn't go any deeper because I was originally going to carve the back. If I was to do another one, I'd make it a semi hollow which should get it < 8lb 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Cut the body model and adjusted the size a little bigger to compensate the back side.  Added about 1/2" to the body scale.  Its surprising how much of a difference t makes.  

I'm going to do some more inlays with this one.  Inlays are something I'm a lot more comfortable with and I'm excited about putting some color to accent it. Here's my design. Its going to a matte black so I'm going to run with the red and gold inlays.  I'll add some fret markers on the boarder of the fretboard if it doesnt overcrowd the effect.  Haven't decided yet.  

image.thumb.png.9f6b12a29d1a9bd8fae6b0fbc6af5e65.pngimage.thumb.png.3f6bdea67d99451d996e0ee5c8e33d3e.png

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  • 3 weeks later...

I'm going to go with a dome carved top on the Osprey.  Its going to have some gold MOP purfling.  Trying to find out a good binding to use.  Would maple with black fiber then the MOP compliment against the black? 

I guess the question is does the maple have a gold color to it?  I"m open to suggestions of material or sources.  I want it to be gold binding ->black fiber 0.10" ->gold MOP ->black fiber .10" -> gold purfling (same thickness as binding).  Maybe .20" on the black fiber if its not enough separation.  

Here's the effect I want to achieve with the top.  Mayble a little more slight curve so the pick guard protrudes a little more.  I'll make my covers out of the macassar ebony with the curve on the backside.

 

Image result for dome carved top electric guitarimage.thumb.png.ec52b39226f0c477b15a6087c8aa4c52.png

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aerodyne... I don't know how that series was discontinued.  so beautiful.  I believe they are a 38" radius.  I can't imagine the work that would go into doing this by carving... but I wouldn't be surprised... will def look fwd to seeing how you do that.

maple can have a gold color to it... I guess it just depends what you put on it.  sounds like it would look great.

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7 hours ago, mistermikev said:

aerodyne... I don't know how that series was discontinued.  so beautiful.  I believe they are a 38" radius.  I can't imagine the work that would go into doing this by carving... but I wouldn't be surprised... will def look fwd to seeing how you do that.

maple can have a gold color to it... I guess it just depends what you put on it.  sounds like it would look great.

you could do a carve like that with a small hand plane, like a no3/4. Route a rebate round the body for the outer depth first, then just plane from the centre out to the edge, if you keep pressing down all the way through the stroke, then it will create a slope, thats how I do the most shallow parts of the carve (behind the bridge) on my carved tops anyway. Then finish it off with a random orbital.

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10 minutes ago, ADFinlayson said:

you could do a carve like that with a small hand plane, like a no3/4. Route a rebate round the body for the outer depth first, then just plane from the centre out to the edge, if you keep pressing down all the way through the stroke, then it will create a slope, thats how I do the most shallow parts of the carve (behind the bridge) on my carved tops anyway. Then finish it off with a random orbital.

no your wrong, I couldn't.  I could see how someone who has hand plane skills could tho (hehe).

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

I've been going back and forth on this.  To do gold MOP purfling or just do the regular binding.  Less is more or more is better.  Its going to have gold mop in the pickguard and the fretboard.  Does that seem overwhelming on inlays to you guys?  I have the material just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

 

image.png.09e6ad206c5e9dc5f98d550b5a725c06.png

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Less is less and more is more but which how much is too much?

Gold on black looks always good but what colour is the actual binding going to be? If it's cream like it seems to be on the bass, then no gold purfling for me, thank you. A dark binding matching the top with a gold purfling sounds yummy. But of course this is just my opinion.

Ivory/cream and gold can be a good combination as well as can be seen in some luxurious estates featuring golden faucets on a marble sink, marble tiles on the walls and floor, golden mirror etc... But there's no black in those I've seen.

Edited by Bizman62
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Exploring the black binding idea with the gold mother of pearl.  This is scaled to the material i have on hand as well.  3.17mm wide.  

image.thumb.png.8ab343c2fd937ce04bbe4b88174ddec9.png

And then there's the ivory binding alone:

image.thumb.png.98b9c29bd9d5c81dc1618ed28ca3a469.png

And finally the ivory and the MOP:

image.thumb.png.ad5518a6b983a47fb560be0d330b3177.pngThey all have some striking features to me. 

The black binding with MOP is simple but striking.  I think it still plays the the simplicity of the basic shapes kind of like the pick guard with an art deco feel.  It feels pretty unique.  Really cool idea Bizman

The second to me is what you might expect from a black gold guitar which isn't a bad thing.  Its got a good balance and its definitely a safe approach.  

And finally the ivory and gold is the super elegant feel to me.  Really hits on the gold hard which works with all of the other gold hardware.  

 

What you guys think? 

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You sure have the right tools to view your ideas in beforehand!

In the limited size of the images it's still difficult to determine which one looks the best and I really can't tell ivory from gold there. Further, is that just an outline dividing the two in the lowest image instead of a thin black stripe?

Each of those looks like the headstock would benefit from the same sort of binding.

For food for thought, think about where the instrument will be played. If you're going to wear black and have a dark background on the stage, a wide light coloured binding will better show where the guitar is. Vice versa against white clothes in a well lit stage the black outlines would better emphasize the instrument. It's all about contrast. Don't know if you've heard the history behind the TV white/TV yellow colour, anyhow according to one story it was invented to show the guitar as white on a black and white TV instead of an overexposed lump of pure white.

Edited by Bizman62
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I think any one of the three would look amazing.  Your design skills are outstanding.  as said... I can't tell the dif between mop and creme at this size, but if I had to choose the first one stands out to me.  More importantly, I think we all get into situations where we look at something too long and start doubting our initial ideas (guilty here).  I am coming around to the idea that in those circumstances it's best to not second guess yourself.

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