ByronBlack Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Ok, based on my discussion of using 25mm maple for a body, after speccing it out, it seems about do-able, so i'm going to give it a go, and if it fails, I can always add a top to it and rescue it. Anways, here's a sketch of the design, I will be doing a full drawing when I iron this out, any thoughts, comments welcomed. Spec: Gibson 24 3/4 Scale 1 Bridge Humbucker (DiMarzio Super Distortion) Nashville TOM No volume, or tone pots. Mahogany set-neck with rosewood fingerboard Maple body (might use a walnut burr veneer - undecided on that) 25mm thick. Inlays on the body (wavy lines) Fender style non-angled headstock 22 Frets (joining the body at 16) Probably a natural finish with a wipe on poly coat. I should be starting the building of this in a couple of weeks. But thought i'd gauge your opinions on the design. It's inspired by my Westbury Standard, but with a slight Parker and SG influence as well. I'm not sure about the finish on the top, it will have a very deep set mahogany neck, almost a neck-through, I could cover this with a walnut burr veneer or if I need some extra depth, I have some 5mm curly maple, i'll need to think about this more.. Here is the link to the photo-set that I will routinely update throughout the progress. Wafer-Caster Photo Set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 You oughta see about getting a Super Distortion made for the Parker Fly. No mounting ears, you use two of the polepieces to mount the pickup to the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivin Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 I like your design mate, very cool Its hard to make a good judgement from your rough sketch, but I can't help think a 3x3 headstock would be more suited to that body design. Either way, lookin' sharp - Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 I like your design mate, very cool Its hard to make a good judgement from your rough sketch, but I can't help think a 3x3 headstock would be more suited to that body design. Either way, lookin' sharp - Dan ← Thanks, I did toy with the idea of 3x3 but there's something a little different about a 4x2 that I like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 You oughta see about getting a Super Distortion made for the Parker Fly. No mounting ears, you use two of the polepieces to mount the pickup to the body. ← I have a spare DiMarzio pup laying about with not much to do, so I was either going to grind off the ear-pieces myself and mount like you suggested, or in my other thread, it was mentioned about sending the bolts in from the back - need to think more on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Humbuckers are awfully thick...how about kent-armstrong/dano style lipsticks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Humbuckers are awfully thick...how about kent-armstrong/dano style lipsticks? ← Would this give enough output though? I'm wanting to use the guitar as a metal rythm beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodBlessTexas Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Not even a volume pot? I'm interested to see how that turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Not even a volume pot? I'm interested to see how that turns out. ← I have to say that i've very rarely used a vol pot, i've always had a volume pedal within my effects setup and have prefered that, and I quite like the idea of having a very clean looking guitar. I was even considering cutting the fretboard down to the 15th fret as I hardly ever play anything higher than that, but I think it would look a bit silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Humbuckers are awfully thick...how about kent-armstrong/dano style lipsticks? ← Would this give enough output though? I'm wanting to use the guitar as a metal rythm beast. ← Hmm, not what a wimpy looking wafer-caster being doing playing metal? You're better off going the funky Dano --Reverend route... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Humbuckers are awfully thick...how about kent-armstrong/dano style lipsticks? ← Would this give enough output though? I'm wanting to use the guitar as a metal rythm beast. ← Hmm, not what a wimpy looking wafer-caster being doing playing metal? You're better off going the funky Dano --Reverend route... ← Just because it will be thin doesn't mean it will be wimpy! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeiscosRock Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 But I'd think for a Metal rythm you'd want a big fat mahogany billy-badass guitar, not some thin maple... thing. It would be more suited to more punchy genres, regardless of pup choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 But I'd think for a Metal rythm you'd want a big fat mahogany billy-badass guitar, not some thin maple... thing. It would be more suited to more punchy genres, regardless of pup choice. ← It depends, i've played a maple tele with upgraded hot humbuckers and that produce a really nice clear rythm tone, I'm thinking thrash metal (old metallica, slayer, etc..) rather than LP style rythm (GnR, Aerosmith etc). But, I shall build it and see, if it's really not suitable i'll convert it for use as a more pop/indie guitar.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtis P Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 without any vol or tone pots, its going to sound REALLY bright just a tip Curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 without any vol or tone pots, its going to sound REALLY bright just a tip Curtis ← Is there an electical trick I can do to warm the sound without using pots? I know very very little about electrics, something I must read up on. Any suggestion is most welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum5545 Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 I can't think of anything to do that avoids pots altogether, but if you want it to look low profile, have you considered using slide pots instead? Unobtrusive, yet functional. Anyway, just something to think about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Sure you can avoid pots altogether. You could wire a capacitor and resistor in series between the ground and the output. That would give the effect of a tone pot turned down. As far as the values for each, I suppose you'd want no more than 500ohms for the resistor and the capacitor could be one a few common to guitar tone circuits. Another way to go about it would be to pick a capacitor that you like, and install one of those mini pots. I don't know what the real name is, but they're about the size of a nickle and they're meant to be set once and then left alone. You could easily hide that and the capacitor in the cavity where your 1/4" jack would be, or even under your pickups. If you didn't like the way it sounded, it wouldn't really be much of a hastle to swap out a cap or resistor. Another idea I've always considered: mount the tone and volume pots so they come out the side of the guitar, not the top. Drill a hole that's just the diameter of the shaft and use some sort of bracket on the inside to hold the pot. Have the top of the pot's shaft flush with the side of the guitar. There would be a little slot on the top of the shaft that you could use a screwdriver or your nail to turn. It gives you adjustability, but no cosmetic disturbance of the top. You'd think I'd be the last guy to like an idea like that after the "launch pad." hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted September 14, 2005 Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 Any updates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 Any updates? ← Good question, I was just about to post some updates. first of all though, thanks for the ideas on the electric side of things chaps, I like the idea of mouting the pots out the side/back of the guitar I can then cover the hole up with a wooden-cap and remove it if and when I need to make an adjustment - good idea! Ok, my update, things will be a little slow with this as i'm still building my explorer, and building a new workshop aswell as trying to change carears, so its hard finding the time at the moment, but anyways: I received the canadian maple today ready for re-sawing on my new bandsaw (pics coming soon) for those who are interested, I went for the 14" Jet (JWBS-14) instead of the scheppach. Anyway, the chap giving me the wood said it was 53mm and planned, when I received it there was some pretty serious cracks and some major warping, and it only measured 48mm thick, so it's going to be too-thin after re-sawing and the crack is going to be hard to get around. So its going to be cut-up for maple tops on other projects. So, after being a bit bummed out, I checked on my wood-stock which is alarmingly growing exponentially to my needs (damn wood-lust and ebay!). I have some 30mm English Yew and a mahogany off-cut, so i'm going to create a laminte body with the mahogany running down the middle with the Yew either side. After planning and sanding it should be about 28mm or so which should be perfect. I'm going to be gluing up the yew tonight and will finalise the drawing of the shape over the weekend ready for work during the week, the neck is almost ready as i'm building 4 at the same-time as I had to make a new neck for the explorer build. End of update (sorry for rambling). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 Picture of the bandsaw, for those who are interested: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeiscosRock Posted September 14, 2005 Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 . Another way to go about it would be to pick a capacitor that you like, and install one of those mini pots. I don't know what the real name is, but they're about the size of a nickle and they're meant to be set once and then left alone. ← They're called trimpots. Its exactly what I was going to recommend. However I think your last idea would provide much more flexibility, as you would have to crack the guitar open to change the value with the trimpots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 They're called trimpots. Its exactly what I was going to recommend. However I think your last idea would provide much more flexibility, as you would have to crack the guitar open to change the value with the trimpots. ← I'm definitly going to go for the side-mounted pot idea, it allows me to keep the clean lines and have the flexibility if needed. Btw, here's some pics: Bad Maple Stock -Cracks and gouges, and being only 49mm means i can't use it for this project: This is the stock i'll be using instead: (English Yew 31mm Thick) I've also updated the photoset with shots of my cutting the central mahogany strip, jointing the edges and gluing together to create the body blank. More work will be done early next week when I have finalised the drawing for the body-shape.Updated Photoset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Picture of the bandsaw, for those who are interested: ← Yes. Yes, I hate you now. Lots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoSo_Spencer Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 this is sounding like one crazy guitar - im digging the idea of a dano lipstik pickup they are just pimp.... the idea of the side mounted pots is cool and all but having to use a screwdriver would suck i mean make it more accessable........make it something you can do with your fingers while not ripping nails off either.... lol in the pic of ure bandsaw look on the top shelf - is that plane sitting flush with the wood, i heard thats not so good for the blade keep the pics coming - even if they are of you're tools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBlack Posted September 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 this is sounding like one crazy guitar - im digging the idea of a dano lipstik pickup they are just pimp.... the idea of the side mounted pots is cool and all but having to use a screwdriver would suck i mean make it more accessable........make it something you can do with your fingers while not ripping nails off either.... lol in the pic of ure bandsaw look on the top shelf - is that plane sitting flush with the wood, i heard thats not so good for the blade keep the pics coming - even if they are of you're tools ← Zoso - don't worry, the plane has the blade-retracted. It's actually a very old Record jack that is in the process of renovation, it's not actually being used at the moment, but hopefully in a couple of weeks when I get chance i'll get the renovations finished and will be able to start using it. I was thinking about the lipstik pickups, but I really want something more beefy. As for the side mounted pots, the reason these will only be done with a screwdriver is because I will very very rarely need to change them, I hardly every change the volume or tone pots when i'm playing. BUT i am currently thinking about using wooden-plugs that stand a little proud that will allow turning with a thumb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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