t1r12003 Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 The body style is a cross between a PRS and Peavey HP Special. Here are the specs: 2 1/8" thick single slab of Black Limba Washburn Idol series 24 3/4" scale Mahogany set neck with rosewood fretboard (Headstock will be altered) Seymour Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge position Seymour Duncan '59 bridge model with an Alnico II magnet in the neck position Tune-O-Matic bridge Strung through body with ferrules on top and back 500K Stew Mac Vol and Tone pots and 3-way switch Here's the way it looks with the neck, bridge and a couple knobs set on top, then I'll go through the progress step by step with links. First I printed out a template on my computer using 4 sections taped together. http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4167.jpg Next I rough cut the shape out with my Skill saw http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4168.jpg Then I took my router and made a first pass around the shape of the guitar to smooth out the edges http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4170.jpg I had to go around a couple of times with follower bits due to the thickness of the body http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4173.jpg That's all done, now we have a nice shaped guitar. The neck pocket is obviously too big, but will be corrected later http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4174.jpg Just showing how thick the body is http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4175.jpg I used another router bit to start to created a carved top http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4177.jpg After that, draw out the lines to start contouring the body down to the edge http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4179.jpg Using a belt sander and 36 grit paper I start contouring the body http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4180.jpg Finished with the belt sander, now it's time to use an orbital sander and 150 grit pad http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4181.jpg Here's how she looks after using the orbital sander http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4184.jpg Finally, I went over it pretty good by hand with sand paper to really smooth out the edges and lines http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4186.jpg Done for today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwood999 Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 thats one thick body is there a reason for that? just curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 (edited) thats one thick body is there a reason for that? just curious The blank was that thick, and I carved it down by 5/8" around the edges. I believe Les Pauls are thicker. Edited July 1, 2007 by t1r12003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowrider Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Your carve came out nice. Belt sander eh? I'm planning on using an angle grinder with flap disc's. Hope mine turns out that good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheIRS Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 I have to agree, thats one nice carve. I did one once with a big rasp, a palm sander and lots of varying grits of other sandpaper. Worked out pretty darn well, and I did the neck carve on my new guitar with a router, rasp and sandpaper. Anyway! I really like your design, its simple yet well thought and i like it even with the unaltered headstock. Great work, I can't wait to see this beauty finished! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Yeah, 36 grit sandpaper on a belt sander tore right through the nice soft limba. I used the same technique on a bubinga topped guitar. It worked just as well, however took longer as the bubinga was definitely harder than limba. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 I love limba! Once it's finished it has one of the best looks! in my book It' walnut and a close second is limba. The sculpting is really sharp with nice clean lines on your bevels. I can't wait to see it completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 After the 4th of July holiday, I did some more work. Got the control cavity routed, the neck glued on, and the pickup cavities routed. Here's a full body shot. I'm actually coming to like the headstock as is. Might just leave it. http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4189.jpg View of the body without all the hardware on it. You can really see the neck tenon well. Nice tight fit for my first set neck. http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4194.jpg Neck joint. Still need to do some more sanding, but it's pretty good http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4192.jpg Control cavity. I only rout freehand, so the edges aren't the best, but the control cavity cover will, well, cover it. http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/t1r...al/141_4193.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 with all the work you have done, why did you free hand the rout? If you used a template, there was something wrong with it. I think that if you take a little more attention to detail your guitar could turn out much better. Just because you won't see it with a cover doesn't mean that it it's OK to leave it rough. Make a template, clean it up and it will look 100 times better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 I like the body shape. Classic, yet with significant Rockage. Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonsg26 Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 were did you get the washburn idol neck did you buy it or did you get off a broken idol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 were did you get the washburn idol neck did you buy it or did you get off a broken idol? I got it off an Ebay auction. It was an overstocked item or something, but never mounted before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonsg26 Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 thats sick ive had no luck so far finding a set neck on ebay do you remember the seller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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