MuffinPunch

Ive seen that before. At school I think. The guy who designed it graduated from my school 4-5 years ago and left the original prototype mounted on one of the walls for a while. Ive been looking for his websight forever! Thanks man. I was referring to copywright regulations and similar issues when I mentiond the patents, because I was sure I wasnt the first to think of this.

Thanks. Yeah thats exactly what i had in mind. Initially I was picturing this on a much larger scale, like for distribution in major guitar dealers (in theory), but like I said, I dont know if theres even a market for his kind of guitar or if people would chose to order this as opposed to a standard bolt on or neck thru guitar considering the price wouldnt be that much different if I was doing it all by hand. If it caught on tho, i might find myself in the guitar making business after all! Of course then Id need to start worrying about patents and all that political bs...

I think if they were not in too close proximity and they were relatively weak magnets it wouldnt have any noticeable effect on the pickups, but I dont know for sure. Hopefully youll be seeing that sawdust a lot sooner than you think! Of course ive been saying that about my IM San Dimas for over 2 months now and I havent even shopped for wood yet...

Thanks. Exactly the kind of response I was looking for. I still have to work out the electronics issues. I would really like to be able offer a core with a three pick-up configuration that would still compatible with the standard electronics setup of the bodies. Is there a feasible way of doing that? Maybe all bodies come with dormant female connections for a 3rd pickup which are only employed when the core is equipped with a third pickup and female connector? I may be getting into circuit programming territory here, which im really not interested in. I have a very basic understanding of guitar electronics, but no experience in creating "experimental" configurations. If i cant figure out how to do it, I will just leave that aspect "theoretical" and use standard wiring for the sake of completing the project for school. I really like that idea. Dont know why it didnt cross my mind before. I could rout around the pickups and bridge on the top surface of the core so a scratch plate like element could fit flush to the body mimicking the surface/finish. It would really be that hard to do. I guess I was thinking more about being able to quickly change bodies in between songs during a gig without having to mess around with screws and stuff. It could magnetically attach tho.

Ok, well since this is an ever evolving idea and nothing physical has happened yet, I dont feel too bad throwing another wrench into the mix. The wild idea i had about making a purely "artistic" non-player version of this guitar is being scrapped. The guitar has become more conceptual in nature. Basically, the idea is now to have a guitar "core" which contains all major elements (headstock, tuners, nut,neck/fretboard, pickups, bridge, etc.) which bolts into an interchangable body variant made out of different materials which contains the other essential components (volume/tone controls, pickup selectors, output jack, etc.) The electronics would be connected via quick-connect sockets a la EMG prior to connecting the neck. This would afford the player different body shape, color, chambering, and tone material options for a single instrument, as opposed to gigging with or owning several complete instruments. Ideal for the garage band player w/o tons of money to spend on lots of gear or someone who has limited space for storage. The same concept could be applied to a bass guitar. Ideally, the manufacturer (me) could offer 3-4 core options (material/wood variations, headstock shape, pickup type/placement, and bridge type, number of strings, etc.) that are equally compatible with all 5-10 body designs, providing a model line of 30-40 different guitars. I made these project boards for school: Because the core will be a different finish than the body when used in most combinations, the truss rod cover would be made to match the finish on the body. I intend on building the black and gold variant and the clear one from before as my "deliverables" for school. I might make other bodies for it in the future... I will be making the cores by hand and machining the body blank as was intended originally. I dont know if theres actually a market for something like this but it will be interesting to see the public reaction. The next step is actually making this thing, but there are a few vital points that need to be worked out before I start cutting: What is the minimum body thickness I would need to leave in the cavity for the core to be bolted thru in order to maintain complete rigidity? I wouldn't think it would need to be all that thick given the fact that all the pressure bearing leads would be taken by the core itself. The idea is to bolt the core in from the back of the body using threaded inserts. Let me know if you have any ideas or advice for me. Thanks!

Yeah I have been to busy lately to work on it but I have been thinking of making a carved top like the Ibanez Prestige models, at least I think it is the Prestige, but I cut the binding strips smaller so I will see if those will bend now at some point this week. I think you mean RGA. Prestige is just what Ibanez uses to distinguish their "high end" models from their basic ones. Theres a "Prestige" variant for almost every model they make... Good choice! Its a subtle carve, which I really like.

Oh, ok. That explains why the cut is so clean. Hope its healing nicely for you. I take it its not really affecting you too much anymore as your still building away. Keep it up man!

Things shaping up nicely. I somehow missed this thread and just spent a few minutes browsing through it. Gnarly shoulder wound!!! How did that happen?!?! You may have already stated it somewhere but I guess I missed it. I was thinking about using those single string bridges on one of my projects. Where did you get them? And do you know if they come in Gold?

Hello all, I have begun intensely preparing for a project I will be doing for school this term and Im finding that im in way over my head, or else Ive seriously lost my marbles. Maybe both. I have started a thread in "In Progress..." area with regards to my ideas for this build (see 'Giger 7 string' in my sig), but in a nutshell I need to figure out how to design and build a locking tremolo system or fixed bridge digitally (3d CAD) from the ground up. To put it in context, this is technically an "art piece" and will be applied to a non-working, solid resin guitar (body, neck, tuners, fretboard, hardware, and bridge, etc.) at first, but ultimately taken to a fully working, wood and metal prototype. I know nothing about bridges besides the basics of restringing and setup, but keep in mind, that I will base my design off existing technology (FR, Edge, ZR, Kahler, etc.) I have no desire to reinvent the wheel. Ive searched everywhere I can think of for a good, detailed resource which will help me understand the mechanics of how a bridge is engineered and why certain materials are used on certain parts, etc., but I havent been able to come up with anything satisfactory thus far. Do any of you know of a resource that will provide me with this information? Thanks for your help!

For both of us...

Truthfully, im no metal worker either. Ive got a tiny bit of welding and lathe experience, but nothing to give me the confidence that I could actually do this myself. I suffer from wanting to learn EVERYTHING and not have the time to learn anything... Im attempting to change that tho. Ideally the CAD data I come up with could be taken to a machine shop and the labor could be done by a professional (or a machine) if I do it right. I will be making the plastic parts myself tho. I will SLA (stereo lithograph) the components individually using the digital data, make moulds of each piece, and cast the pieces in resin by hand. I will then have to trim away the "flash" to clean them up, and assemble them as if they were metal. I will use metal screws and bolts wherever necessary. The whole idea is scaring the crap out of me but its really exciting. I really would like to find a resource where I can learn everything there is to know about guitar bridges, so please let me know if you know of one! Thanks in advance!

Really nice work, and I love the woods you used. Dont take this the wrong way, but you really could to take some better pictures and filter thru them before posting. These dont do your work justice at all. Im not saying im a great photographer at all. I need to do the same. But im finding that good process pics can really make the build process beautiful in itself for your audience. I figure you might as well if youre taking the time to share at all. Just one mans opinion. Really nice guitar tho.

I cant believe I somehow missed this build until now. Really nice! I love the idea of combing two relatively similar yet very different guitars. Its kind of like a Liger, "bread for it's powers in magic."

Man, do you sell any of your builds? You must have an entire wing in your house to hold all of the guitars you've built by now! beautiful work as usual Mark!

I'm not sure if that's what it is. The neck is authentic, but the body is something else. I have yet to find any surprises. Yeah, that body doesnt even look like an Ibanez. So what are your plans for this project? Did you check the scale length and all that stuff to make sure the body and neck are even compatible? Ibanez use a 25.5" scale on the RG, but given that the body is a mystery it could possibly have the bridge in the wrong location if the original guitar was much different than an RG. good luck with the build. Could be interesting.

I dont know if it was intentional but thats a great pic! looks like a studio shot with that lighting and everything... I tend to notice those kinds of things, sorry. This should be a cool build. Cant wait to see it come together.

Ok... Wow! Lot of changes already taking shape in this build. I just had this wild idea that I consider to be an epiphany to be honest. Im guessing the rest of you will think im nuts, but fortunately for me, this isnt your project! So I have all but decided that the acrylic will be for decoration only. I know its retarded, but hear me out! The wooden blank will be the player and will receive its deserved attention after I finish the "art piece" for school (keep in mind this IS an art and design school). Essentially the two will be made simultaneously anyway, but I have to focus my efforts on the acrylic one for now since I have exactly 13 weeks to complete it and it will be a LOT more work than I had originally planned on. I will need a lot of advice here so I am hoping you can all attempt to take me seriously when I say that I will now be designing and building all of my own hardware, bridge and tuners included in addition to the pickups. Wait, it gets crazier... I will be making them out of cast clear resin as well. It will likely end up being strung with different gages of fishing line to top it all off. essentially what I will end p is a ridiculously heavy, non-functional, plastic guitar that (IMO) looks awesome! All of the cavities will be to the same spec as the wooden blank I will be building from, so I can very easily sub out the acrylic pieces for metal ones and real pickups later, so dont get too carried away. Oh, and the neck will be acrylic too down to the frets and the nut. Acoustically it will still work to some degree in theory. Im still debating on whether the material I cast it all out of will actually be acrylic, I will get tons of browny points if I can make it out of some other bio-friendly, 'sustainable' resin. Heres where it gets tricky, I dont know anything about bridge construction or design. I know what looks cool, and I know which bridges I like, but I dont really understand the mechanics of how it all goes together. I could theoretically build a bridge that looks identical to a ZR bridge for example, but I dont really know whats actually going on beneath the surface without reverse engineering one. I very well may end up doing just that if it comes down to it, but more likely with an Edge 7 or Floyd 7 if not a tune-o-matic. It would be infinitely cooler, not to mention more educational, if I could figure out how to design and build a double locking bridge myself from the ground up tho. I will be developing all of this in CAD obviously, so if I were to actually come up with a sound design (based off existing technology of course, Im not about to re-invent the wheel) I could machine the parts out of aluminum and/or steel for the player guitar later on! So if anyone can refer me to a resource in which I can learn the ins and outs of guitar bridges and/or trems I would be eternally grateful! Im super excited about all of this and Im sure im in waaaay over my head with all of this, but if time doesnt permit, I can always resort to using standard hardware for the presentation and finish up later. Let me know what you guys think. I will be posting the entire process here for you to follow if you choose, so it might be something interesting to watch if nothing else

We are officially GO for building!!! I ran it past one of my instructors that I was planning to do this build and he got all excited about it and wants to work with me. Its likely the design will change quite a bit and end up more on the 'extreme' side, cuz he will push me really hard to go above and beyond what my current expectations are for myself. A few things are already changing, bridge design not being the least of them. Ive been dong so much research in preparation for this build my head is spinning! I found out the ZR trem was actually introduced back in '03, but was probably not made as comercially available in the states until later on. But if they were having quality control issues until late '07, it will be pure luck to find a used one without potential issues. Even at a fraction of the original cost, thats not really a gamble I want to take, especially with so many other "experimental" aspects being incorporated here, and with a grade on the line. All that being said, Im now leaning toward a tun-o-matic style fixed bridge string-thru. At least that is how I will spec the acrylic model. Ive come to terms with the fact that this will further alienate my build from the original SHRGR1 idea. I will also be reverting back to doing a 7 string with the first HS design I proposed. With some luck I might be able route the proper recesses into the blank for a ZR7 later on if I get my hands one.

I couldnt figure out why I didnt like the graphic headstock... so I finally pulled my head out of my rear and realized the black Jackson graphic and the maple fingerboard just didnt match the overall theme very well. The ebony FB version of the original guitar uses abalone inlay dots, and it matches the mood of the body graphics much better. Still not sure I will actually use "Jackson", but it will definately be an abalone inlay instead of a black graphic. So I have basically decided to changes the roles of the twin builds at this point. The IM tribute version will incorporate the theme of the all white San Dimas and the "clone" will follow that of the maple and black version. I just got back to school this week so I will be buying my supplies to start this and my other builds shortly. My templates are all ready to laser and Ive got my wood plans all figured out. Now my main concern is trying to dig out all of my guitar tools from the 10X10' storage unit we packed our life into when we left for Minnesota!

It wouldn't be the first time that happened. I guess to me it just seems like the 'weathering' to the guitar looks more intentional and controlled than that of the bass.

That wasn't a poke at me was it? Anyway, if you do have access to some kind of photo editing software you can really play a lot with different options before you make any final decisions, and ive found you can better describe what you're talking about when asking for advice on this forum too. Good luck with the build!

Ill be honest... The Strat/tele looks great! I really love the way it looks as is. Personally I think adding a distressed aluminum scratch plate and messing with the hardware will be overkill. The bass on the other hand... I think looked infinitely better as raw copper. I know aesthetics is subjective but it just looks cheap with the vinegar solution added. Just my two cents...

As always, love it! I think I already mentioned it in this thread, but your attention to detail is awe inspiring!!! I love following your builds! I dont know how exact you were wanting this interpretation of a PRS to be, but if you were going for close to exact, I think the carve on the inner horns could use a little work, go a little wider (not deeper), if you know what I mean. Crow's carve is a pretty good example, compare the inner horns of yours and you'll see what Im talking about. But yours looks great either way.

WooHoo! Banana HS!!!! I knew you had it in you! What finish is going on this one?

I do like where this shape is headed, but it seems like the upper horn is too close to the neck. I guess as long as you give yourself plenty of room between the lower horn and the neck you should be ok. I would maybe try to make the guitar a bit wider at the hips too if its not too late. Nice woods.