jazzclub Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 (edited) Hello everybody! It's been a long time since I've have had a chance to do guitars. Been in army and stuff. Recently I got into a polytechnic to study wood technology. So it was pretty obvious that I'm going to build a new guitar. This time I would have all the needed equipments. There would be a CNC too but I don't believe in them. CNC EATS THE SOUL OF GUITAR! Ok that's enough of my life. Now to the subject The Telezipper. I wanted to mix the elegancy of les paul to the punkness of telecaster. As I knew there would be a proper parallel planing machine or rotary planer (don't know the english word, remember I'm from Finland) I wanted to do the body from multiple woods and a neck-thru of course. Here's the plan I draw on my mother tonque lesson: In this picture I didn't know what kind of headstock to put Edited February 19, 2007 by jazzclub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 CNC EATS THE SOUL OF GUITAR! I don't think you could've said it better. I'm wondering... where do you want to go with the tone of this instrument? More Les Paul-ish or more Tele-ish? Somewhere in between? Having a neck-through design, for example, would definitely lean in the opposite direction from the Telecaster's bolt-on neck, which would shift the tone away from Tele-ish. Or did you mean that you want to combine Les Paul and Telecaster visually? Because I can see elements of both in the drawing. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this guitar -- I like it. Dylan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Here's the plan edited with photoshop (still don't know the headstock): The idea was to use multiple woods, so here's the woods from the middle to the side: mahogany (or some substitute), maple, some very dark veneer, Finnish birch, the same veneer and last but really not least WALNUT! This guitar is going to weigh a little...needs a wide strap. I studied autocad in the school and I had to do a 3D work for the course. Guess what I draw! The headstock still isn't the final model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 (edited) I'm wondering... where do you want to go with the tone of this instrument? More Les Paul-ish or more Tele-ish? Somewhere in between? Having a neck-through design, for example, would definitely lean in the opposite direction from the Telecaster's bolt-on neck, which would shift the tone away from Tele-ish. Or did you mean that you want to combine Les Paul and Telecaster visually? Because I can see elements of both in the drawing. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this guitar -- I like it. Dylan I haven't thought about the tone so much but I wanted to combine them visually. The appearance of guitar has always been a big part for me. That's why I always want to desing my guitars myself. Edited February 19, 2007 by jazzclub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campylobacter Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Looking good, especially the body design. I'd cover the headstock with a veneer, because without it it would look messy. Good luck with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheIRS Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 For the headstock, I'd make sure that the top line goes the same way as the main body line. It will look much more visually pleasing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted February 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 (edited) Thanks for the tip for the headstock! I got some pieces done for the body and the neckblank too. Here's a wing for the body done from 3 pieces of walnut and 2 pieces of ebonized teak veneer. I glued them together using a press. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00005.jpg Here are the pieces between the neck and the wings done from ebonized teak veneers and birch. Glued also with a press. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00002.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00004.jpg This is the neck. Mahogany in the middle and maple on sides. Honestly I've never succeeded to do a gluing as good as this. Progress!!! Edited October 16, 2007 by Maiden69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted February 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 (edited) Here the pieces are together http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00024.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00028.jpg It's a shame i didn't get that black veneer but the teak (four brown stripes) suits pretty well too. Though I tried to ebonize the teak but it just didn't soak the black stain up enough. Maybe I should have kept the veneers in the stain longer than 24 hours. Edited October 16, 2007 by Maiden69 ONE PIC PER POST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 CNC EATS THE SOUL OF GUITAR! C'mon...we're being a little over dramatic aren't we? On another note...I dig your laminations. It should make for a really sweet looking guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campylobacter Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Yes, this is going to be an awesome one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Is it just because it's a photograph rather than an in-person thang, or is the body going to be hella thick? 2" at the thickest part is already considered pretty hefty for a solidbody. What's she measuring up at right now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted February 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 Is it just because it's a photograph rather than an in-person thang, or is the body going to be hella thick? 2" at the thickest part is already considered pretty hefty for a solidbody. What's she measuring up at right now? In those pictures she's about 55 mm thick. I'm going to do it 50 mm thick at the thickest part but after sanding it to its final shape it won't look even that thick because it's going to be veeeeery round. By the way how thick is an average les paul at its thickest part, does anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted February 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 (edited) Time to take it to the band saw. First cutting it raw with a band saw (sorry, no pics from that) and then some sanding. And the result -> http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00001.jpg You can see some brown stuff in the corner of the neck angle as in the previous pictures. It's not what you might think it is. It's plain PVAC glue tinted with some brown stain powder. I was't sure if the joints with the veneers would be good, so I used the glue also as filling. I had some bad luck with the walnut as you can see in the wings. The pieces in the middle are not as dark as I wanted them to be. I heard that the lighter walnut is called "fat wood" so it's not heartwood. I got the heart wood on the top in the lamination. Edited October 16, 2007 by Maiden69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted March 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 (edited) I couldn't find any proper driver to the router from the school I had to break my habits and use cnc! And it was pretty scary to watch my precious under the horrible, horrible machine. Here's some pictures from the process. That's a big machine it is. Scarred yet? http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00012.jpg In this stage I really had to focus not to wet my pants. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00015.jpg The result wasn't so astonishing. But that was the sparkle to make mounting ring from walnut (wasn't going to do them at all before this). And I also got a vision to put golden pickup covers. Of course all the hardware had to be golden now. This project just became a little more expensive! Edited October 16, 2007 by Maiden69 ONE PIC PER POST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaam Posted March 5, 2007 Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 It just ate the soul of your guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted March 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2007 (edited) As I had the pickup cavities done I didn't need to have the top flat anymore so I started to do the surface. With this: The same sanding clamp as last time with the Zipper Cherry, Rotoflex. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00018.jpg The shape's starting to look like something http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00008.jpg Another angle Edited October 16, 2007 by Maiden69 ONE PIC PER POST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted March 10, 2007 Report Share Posted March 10, 2007 I love the look of this guitar. One of the coolest I've seen. Can't wait to see it finished! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtommyb Posted March 10, 2007 Report Share Posted March 10, 2007 how much does it weigh?! it looks amazing and very comfortable to play look foward to seeing it finished. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted March 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 how much does it weigh?! it looks amazing and very comfortable to play look foward to seeing it finished. T As the body is mostly walnut it weighs pretty much. More than any of my guitars I think. The shape takes the weight down a lot. By the way does anyone have any suggestions for finishing? I have been thinking about danish oiling it but on the other hand I've always liked a shiny lacquer finish. Oiling would be a whole new dimension for me though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted March 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 Now that I knew how low the volume and pickup switch would be, it was time to rout the cavities to the back side. I had a 6 mm routing cutter that had the rod as thick as the cutting part, so I could use the cutter as a driver too. I know there is a possibility of burning the cutter but had to try it. First I routed the cavities raw with a 10 mm cutter leaving 1-2 mm room. Then I made two simple templates from 6 mm plywood and routed with the 6 mm cutter against the templates. As a matter of fact either of the cutter or the template didn't burn at all. The body was still too thick so I couldn't rout the cavities all the way down but I think I figure something out. There's always a chisel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 By the way does anyone have any suggestions for finishing? I have been thinking about danish oiling it but on the other hand I've always liked a shiny lacquer finish. Oiling would be a whole new dimension for me though. Make it shiny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 (edited) The neck heel would look nicer as a line joining the upper bout and cutaway, instead of that lump you've drawn IMO. possibly more ergonomic too Edited March 13, 2007 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 (edited) I don't know, seems this guitar is a big waste of time now that you let that cnc mill "eat the guitar's soul." . Really, the only people who should be opposed to cnc milling are the ones who have never had a chance to use it properly. It really opens up a world of opportunities, not so much in woodworking as in metal and accordingly, custom hardware . Edited March 13, 2007 by thegarehanman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scab Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 what are you going to do for the headstock?? You doing a scarf joint?? how are you going to pull that off with the body on their?? l8er Scab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzclub Posted March 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 (edited) what are you going to do for the headstock?? You doing a scarf joint?? how are you going to pull that off with the body on their?? l8er Scab I don't know what is a scarf joint, but I had to glue an extension because of the neck angle (not enough wood below the bottom line). I made a 13 degree angle to the joint. I put two pieces of wood on the sides so the mahogany stripe would go straight. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00039.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jazzi...bi/PIC00036.jpg I suppose this is the scarf joint? Edited October 16, 2007 by Maiden69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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