SoundAt11 Posted December 31, 2005 Report Share Posted December 31, 2005 http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/al...dat11/my_photos I had an Epiphone Special (bolt-on) laying around from my first guitar and figured I'd put it to good use and build a new body and fix up the neck. The body will be 2-piece mahogany, flat top, single-cutaway style with the Epi neck bolted on. This will be my inexpensive "fun" axe to grab (built out of leftover parts and scrap lumber) when I don't want to take the PRS somewhere. NECK: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=670bre2.jpg I refretted the neck and scallopped the last few frets following the tutorial on this site (no pics of the process, just the finished result). http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=e658re2.jpg Next I sanded off all the finish off the headstock (I'd already sanded all the other factory goop finish off the neck long ago). http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=e9f8re2.jpg I marked up the headstock for the proposed new headstock design: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=6513re2.jpg I then enlarged the tuner holes in order to dowel them up (had a 1/2 mahogany dowel to use). http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=8dddre2.jpg http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=ac4cre2.jpg and rounded down and sanded (but marked for some more precise hand carving, I tweaked the headstock shape a bit more) http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=a678re2.jpg Epi puts this thick black poly finish on there really thick and that's on top of a thick layer of red sealer, yeesh! BODY: Template: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=c336re2.jpg I went with an slightly offset single-cutaway style. It's got some influences from a PRS (bottom horn) and a Les Paul and Tele (top), with a little tiny bit of Jaguar with the offsets. I've later changed my mind on the offsets, as it didn't look right with my new headstock, and redid both of the lower bouts and cutways to match. I had a lightweight 12x20 piece of Honduran Mahogany laying around that had a few bad spots on it and was otherwise unusable, so I cut out the 2 body halves from it (being careful to skip the bad spots). My jig-saw died during the first cut, so I had to go buy a new one. The new one came with a multi-purpose blade, just I figured I'd stick with it and cut wide. Good thing I did, that thing is too aggressive, but I knew I'd be shaping later. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=aa6cre2.jpg Roughly shape sanded with black marks showing the remainder to remove. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=130are2.jpg With the neck: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=1ff0re2.jpg http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=cb11re2.jpg The next task for the body is to plane the 2 halves down, run the edges through a joiner, glue them up, and continue shaping. The neck needs more sanding and shaping, tuner holes drilled, and a new bone nut added later. The finish is to be determined, likely tinted tung-oil from Woodburst, though I might go with a solid color on top (perhaps flat black or surf green), with cream binding, and a clear mahogany back. Pickups will be 1 or 2 direct mounted Seymour Duncan humbuckers I've got laying around, likely black in color. Hardware likely a gold tune-o-matic bridge, gold grovers, and string-thru (with gold ferrules). Controls, likely a push-pull Vol and Tone (with coil splits), a 3-way switch, and an Electrosocket jack mounted at an angle. More to come..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninoman123 Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 I really like that body shape you did. Its got curves! Much approved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian d Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Pickups will be 1 or 2 direct mounted Seymour Duncan humbuckers I've got laying around, likely black in color. Hardware likely a gold tune-o-matic bridge, gold grovers, and string-thru (with gold ferrules). Controls, likely a push-pull Vol and Tone (with coil splits), a 3-way switch, and an Electrosocket jack mounted at an angle. More to come..... ← Looking good. Sounds and looks a lot like a project I'm working on but mine definitely won't turn out to be cheap. the java in progress African Walnut body, with Goncalo Alves top and back, two piece Goncalo Alves neck with Braz R/wood pinstripe, Madagascar R/wood f/board. It will have A gold Ghost (piezo and MIDI) equipped TOM with strings through body (gold ferrules), gold locking grovers. Two H/buckers with splits (not decided which, but something "jazzy"), and a three way. I wanted to use an electrosocket, but the planned carve tapers in such a way that I won't have enough width at the edge to put it. I was going to use a strat style plate on the back, but maybe your idea of an angled electrosocket jack might be better. Could you explain it in more detail? All the best Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundAt11 Posted January 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Thanks guys, I'm glad to know you like my work so far:-) For the jack, I was going this route: http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/proutput.htm and then screwing in the Electrosocket. So there'll have to be an angled hole in the side of the body pointing downward (I run my cord behind the strap button). Those Electrosocket's are great, they don't work themselves loose at all, they're solid and they look cool to. Here's a tip for jack: http://www.jetguitars.com/jack.htm Notice that body style looks similar to mine, I realize I'd been subconsciously following it:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian d Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 thanks for those links SoundAtt. That Jet jack configuration could solve my jack problems. Cheers, Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 (edited) HA! That's funny. I've been planning on using that same exact mounting technique(as the "jet jack) on my current project. I had that idea and put it into my plans months ago. Well, I suppose that idea was too good to be new. Edited January 1, 2006 by thegarehanman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundAt11 Posted January 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 JET has a lot of nifty ideas worth using:-) I like the ebony "ramp" for the string-thru, along with the brass plate on the back, very clever. Now if the Carribean Burst was only as easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 I don't really like the jet jack idea...The cable stands straight up but the force of gravity will tug it straight back down. Add a few 'gentle' nudges when you (or the bass player) inevitably step on the cable, and you're just asking for a few broken cables...and wear on the screws holding the jack plate. Coupled with the fact that you'd have to modify the design of the guitar (unless you like that oblique surface there). Personally, I like a pickguard-mounted jack with right-angle cable (but I'm starting to figure out that not everyone here is a fan of pickguards ) I prefer the idea of a rear mounted strat jack (even better, mounted into the rear control panel). Pointed down toward the floor, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 (edited) Mickguard the cable goes up from the jack and around the strap button before going down. Thats the way prety much every acoustic guitar player does it so the cable wont get ripped out of the jack. It's a much safer way of doing this than just running the cable strait out. Edited January 1, 2006 by Godin SD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Mickguard the cable goes up from the jack and around the strap button before going down. Thats the way prety much every acoustic guitar player does it so the cable wont get ripped out of the jack. It's a much safer way of doing this than just running the cable strait out. ← Yeah, I saw that. Still, I don't like the idea of the weird oblique flat side either. Don't get me wrong though, I'm all for weird luthier ideas and innovations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoSo_Spencer Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 that is looking great..... never thought a special neck would go to such good use.. will be looking out for more pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundAt11 Posted January 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 I filled the screw holes from the previous tuners and did some more shaping and flush sanding on the headstock today. I also experimented with hide glue on some mahogany for the first time today. That's what I'll be using on the body. It's relatively easy if you follow the instructions online. The only thing is that I'm debating turning this body into a full blown guitar project and adding a deep set 5-piece neck and a maple top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marzocchi705 Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Reminds me alot of a guitar i designed along time ago. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v623/mar...stomguitar2.jpg I like it, its gona be cool when its done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundAt11 Posted January 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2006 Got the pieces run through a jointer today, so the edges are nice and straight, so I'll get the hide glue out of the fridge, heat it up, and join them this weekend. Pics to come then. The headstock is shaped down a lot more, almost complete, just needs some hand sanding, then I can drill for the tuners. I used some handfiles to get it down smooth. I found out that Epiphone uses a scarf-joint for their tilt-back necks. I still don't know what the wood is, they call it "Mahogany", although I'm guessing it's some Asian variation of it, it's similar, but definitely not mahogany. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundAt11 Posted January 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 (edited) Uh-oh. Well, I've got the headstock shaped down and it was looking good. I grabbed can of flat black and sprayed it so I could get an idea of what the finished one would look like. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=fe6fre2.jpg Then I noticed a crack in the neck directly below the truss rod under the nut. I didn't really notice the split before the paint, but then it became obvious. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=93e3re2.jpg So now I have to decide if I want to fix this crude old neck , buy a neck, or just build my own? I've got a Carvin neck-thru blank going unused to, so I have to decide if I want to use it on this guitar and turn it into a full blown neck-thru (or cut it down to make a deep set neck) and put a top (either Purpleheart or Honduran crotch Mahogany) on it..... Here's the body further cut down, though it's obviously got a lot more shaping to do. The areas in black are my markings of what excess to sand off. I'm leaving the excess wood for the bolt-on joint until I finally decide on what neck (or neck joing) to go wit h. Note the excess hide glue and the chunk I knocked off the top accidentally. No biggie, though, as the body will get planed down to around 1 1/2" soon (it's 1 3/4" now). http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=d4e1re2.jpg Edited January 10, 2006 by SoundAt11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundAt11 Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 OK, first update in a while, been rather busy. I now have a strip of purpleheart that's 1/2" wide that I'll be running down the center when I join the two mahogany body halves. I figured that might add a little brightness and should look really cool. I've got some 1/2" wide black limba strips that I'm also considering putting on the outside of the purpleheart, so it'd be: M BL / PH / BL / M I'm also looking into building a new neck myself, some form of a set neck. It will likely have the same build and be 5 pieces with the grains all vertical ("quartersawn" as they say). Fretboard is up in the air, I want a smooth Les Paul like tone, but with a little extra brightness and definition. I don't want to do Ebony, as it's on one of my guitar now and I want something different. Perhaps a Purpleheart fretboard or perhaps some form of Rosewood (maybe Cocobolo, but I'm afraid of the dust). Inlay will likely be abalone dots. Scale length will be 24 3/4 like a Les Paul. So basically what started out as just a replacement body for an orphan neck is turning into a full-blown project build. It'll have a pair of Duncan humbuckers, and perhaps the 4 control spots like a Les Paul, except that 1 will be the toggle switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundAt11 Posted August 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Finally worked on this today. I debated back and forth on Limba vs. Purpleheart vs. Walnut for the center strip. After tapping on lots of different strips of wood, I found a Purpleheart one with a clear bright tone that sustained longer. The Walnut was quite deep and resonant and the Limba more full-frequency with long sustain. I figure as Purpleheart for the center strip would add a little clarity and high end resonance to the Mahogany (old Honduran) on the sides. Pics will be posted soon, the purple strip looks great next to that orange mahogany. For a neck, it will likely be some combination of Limba, Purpleheart, and Mahogany. Fretboard: still up in the air, something exotic, though. Something brighter than Indian Rosewood, but not as bright as Maple or Ebony. So I've considered Ziracote, Bloodwood, Purpleheart, Bocote, Zebrawood, etc. Frets: Big, Jumbo ones! Top: Considering Padouk with some accent strips of Walnut and Limba down the center. I want something fairly clear and bright sounding and something that looks exotic and colorful. Figured Maple is a little to hard and bright for my tastes, plus everyone does it, so I want something different, but still sounds close to a Les Paul Custom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundAt11 Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Photo of body (South American Mahogany with Purplehart accent line): http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=366bre2.jpg Body weighes in at approx 5lbs, is 13" wide and 1 9/16" thick. That's a tad heavier than I'd like, but it also hasn't been routed yet. Wood for top (Flamed Soft Maple and Steamed Black Walnut): http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soundat11/de...dnm=b119re2.jpg The Mahogany body is going to be chambered to reduce the weight and hopefully will make it less compressed and more resonant than if were truly solid. The finished body should be 1 3/4" thick and will have a very light carve along the edges and possibly a tummy cut in the back. Neck details still being debated in my head, although it will be a long tennon or set-through (deep set neck) with some portion of flamed Limba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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