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Building A Case


Hitone

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I was inspired by thegarehanman to build my own case. I designed & built a few guitars that don't fit into a standard case. I actually scaled down my body size on my last build just so it would fit into a standard case. This has always bugged me since what we do doesn't have to be standard at all. In fact I enjoy it when it's not standard. I ramble!

Here's my case and my new semi-hollow body.

23.jpg

I'll try my best to descripe the materials I used.

1/4" Poplar boards (the cheap ones from Home Depot) I bought (2) 2 1/5 and (2) 1 1/2 boards

Masonite for the top and bottom

The outer black material was something I had bought from Joann fabric store. I think it's just plastic material. It looks like fake leather.

The green was just some sales item that Joann had and I thought would work. since my guitar has a green head stock.

The edge material was another fake leather material. I would have used something heavier duty if I would have bought it myself.

I have several build pictures HERE and also on my BLOG

I want to post images of the guitar when I get it finished. I still need to set it up to call it done.

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:D You know...it wouldn't hurt to add this to the thread I started about building cases...just to keep everything together. I think that the more well-built, home made cases that people see, the less they'll think it's difficult(obviously, you've already figured out that it's pretty easy). Once I get rolling on my current build, I'm going to do a tut on how to build a molded fiberglass case.

But I digress, You did a mighty fine job. What stopped you from making the inside form-fitting?

One more question: How does that green foam from Jo-anne fabrics hold up. I looked in their store for some plush material. I ended up with something from hobby lobby, but I considered using that type of foam for a while. I ultimately decided to use more rigid, styrofoam.

peace,

russ

Edited by thegarehanman
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Thanks for comments

On the Case:

The HD foam works really well. It stiffens up when you glue the material to it. I don't know why I didn't form fit it. I guess I thought doing with out it would be more straight forward.

On the guitar:

Yes it's one of two new classics I have built. I haven't completed them yet so I only have a few images. I'll link them below. I do have a pickguard made out of maple. I wanted to make it green to match the headstock, but the dye wasn't working with me. So I stil haven't decided if I'm going to use it. I'll take another look.

Here's a mockup with the pickguard

Here 's top view of the classic

Here's a detail of the art on the back

Here's a decent shot of the body

Here a side view of the headstock

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Ah...yes...the pickguard...definitely! Brings the whole guitar together that's why

I'd go with a clear/clouded floating pickguard for the black one...(you could reproduce the floral design on the pickguard)...and I wouldn't be so strict with the lines of it --to angular for this model...I like Gretsch's pickguards a lot. But for this one, it'd be easy to follow the line of the guitar's waist a little...

Really love the Dano-style shape too...and the P90...and the wraparound bridge...

One of the few guitars I've seen in PG that I'd actually want to BUY...

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So, does the Classic have an end to end center block?  Or are you doing something else like a Gretsch or a Danelectro?  Got any more build pics of the Classic or the Fatboy?

Thanks Tirapop. That picture of the gretsch is incredible. I still don't understand how that body is built, but those images sure help.

I put up some more build picks Here.

The guitar has a solid centerblock that I made out of basswood. Pretty much like the Martin Koch book. The center is shaped to the arch. The sides are bent in a mold and then glued to the block.

Sorry, but I guess I dont have any images of the body and block together. The images mainly show how I did the masked design and also the binding. I used veneer for the binding. A technique I came up with after I kept breaking regular wood bindings. It came out great. You can't even see the layers of the wood. Which I though would have been cool if you could. It might be neat to do different kinds of wood to get a line effect. I also did a faux binding on the headstock. Check out the picks.

Idch, I am working out a pickguard based on your suggestion. I'll shoot you a pict as soon as I get it worked up.

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Wish there were a separate thread to discuss the Classic...

I'm really interested in the overlay --do you have any close-up pics of that? I'm curious to see how sharp those edges are...seems to me this would make an excellent technique for a headstock logo too.

Are you placing the overlay on the masking tape, cutting around the overlay then pulling up the tape -- leaving only the overlay-shaped masking tape in place?

Man this is an exciting guitar...a maple set-neck? Beautiful!

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