Blackdog Posted October 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2008 Holy Mother Of Pearl! That is one beautiful looking carve!!! Looking excellent especially for a mock up, can't wait to see it finished. Very well done and great choices on everything. Yeah if I were you I would find some quality picture of fire and tell the customer your shop burnt down along with their guitar and you will be starting a fresh one for them, that way you can keep this one, seriously! Thanks for the encouragement !! You're idea has some merit, but I don't think it's going to fly... Firstly, my "shop" is in the attic... if it had really burnt down I wouldn't probably be able to even explain all this to the customer. Secondly, the customer is my 17 years old only son. I've done done my fair share in complicating his life already... Thirdly.... I have plans for my own: It's going to have a rosewood neck (I love RW necks...) and it will be hollow, carved on the top AND the back.... But I'm likely to clone this carving, I like it a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Very nice! I don't like the recess on the toggle, takes away from the flow of the carve (IMO) but like you say about the heel, it is a matter of taste. On mine, I didn't bleach the top. Here is a link to my thread http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.ph...c=27786&hl= This maple was a little yellower than yours, I started doing some test pieces of stain and tinted coats, and I can tell you that the best finished pieces that I got were done with a hybrid approach. Staining the curls, sanding it back to the depth of color you want, sealing that with a few clear coats and shooting tinted clear on top. Somehow it made the grain look deeper. Overall I like your build a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Yeah I know what you mean about rosewood necks, I have the same idea for my next neck. Rosewood w/ziricote fretboard with curly maple binding What a great gift for your son, that is very neat. I'm sure he'll treasure it. I hope you know I was joking btw, I realize now I should have added a smiley or left off the seriously, though that guitar might temp me to throw ethics out the window, lol. Anyhow, very nice work. Looking back I read you mention a dilemma I went through about belly carve or not. I really needed one due to my design just wouldn't have been comfortable, but it was tricky with the heavy chambering. I ended up doing this rolling belly carve (tough to explain) and honestly it is even more comfortable than any standard belly carve that I have felt and I have no idea why. Glad I did it, but it was a gamble for sure. Again, nice work. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andronico Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Excellent work Luis ! Your son will be proud of you ! This is a fantastic gift, keep us updated please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Dude...so nice...I mean really,really nice...I gotta build me one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Wow that carve is absolutely perfect! I think im gonna have to use something like that when i make my lp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Wow !!! Thanks so much for the kind words !!! The carving is intended to be the single-cut version of this one. Which in turn I borrowed (rather shamelessly) from PRS, obviously. The idea was to create a sort of a hybrid between the PRS single-cut (of which I don't like the outline) and a Les Paul (which could use a more dramatic carve, IMO). I decided to get rid of the big scoop in the cutaway for two reasons: it really adds very little to upper fret access, it's more psychological than anything, and because it makes it look a little too PRS. I think I got a good balance between both designs. It is intended as a new year AND birthday gift to my son. As he'll be 18 in March but I don't think I'll be able to be there. I could have bought him a Les Paul, but thought that something handmade by me would mean a little more in years to come if not right now. (And maybe one day owning a Blackdog with a low serial number like #003 will be worth some money, who knows... ) @Maiden69: Amazing blue quilt you got there. Somehow I had missed your build thread. Interesting that you got such a nice deep blue with that yellower top. I tried the blue thing on my previous build, but the growth rings on the maple persisted in popping up yellow giving the whole thing a greenish tint... At the time I can only work with stains and clear coating, as I do not have any spraying equipment. I still work with rattle cans... @jmrentis: Of course I knew you were joking. Now that description you make about the belly carve sounds interesting, but can't seem to picture t in my head. Got any pictures of that ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Blackdog,look up "wood bleach" online... You bleach it to white before coloring it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setch Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 I concur with the others - seriously tasty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 @Maiden69: Amazing blue quilt you got there. Somehow I had missed your build thread. Interesting that you got such a nice deep blue with that yellower top. I tried the blue thing on my previous build, but the growth rings on the maple persisted in popping up yellow giving the whole thing a greenish tint... At the time I can only work with stains and clear coating, as I do not have any spraying equipment. I still work with rattle cans... That guitar was painted with a Preval can, the finish is so much better than any rattle can I have used! (I have not used the colortone from Stew so I can't comment on those) It is still cheaper than to buy a lot of good cans from Stew. Now I used a small compressor I bought, I think that if I had bought the compressor to begin with, I would had saved a couple of hundreds on cans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 @jmrentis: Of course I knew you were joking. Now that description you make about the belly carve sounds interesting, but can't seem to picture t in my head. Got any pictures of that ?? I don't have any decent ones, but I will get some maybe tonigh and get you one here soon, just as an idea. Its too difficult to explain well, but as I said, I really found it very comfortable, more so than a standard belly cut. How it looks and and how difficult it will be to finish remains to be seen, but shouldn't be bad I don't think. Again, great looking build, those pics definitely display your skills. Get you a pic soon hopefully. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog Posted October 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 Progress report. Too late for a Bigsby or a wraparound... (I have to admit that the second would have been my personal choice) Got the bridge, so now it is installed, together with the tailpiece. A mandatory fit-check to verify that the hardware aligns well. The high E string can barely be seen in the picture, but I can tell you that it all aligns perfectly. I still need to drill for the strap hold buttons, level the frets and inlay the logo on the headstock. Then disassemble everything to start the finishing phase. We're getting closer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narcissism Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 I like how your carve gives the illusion of binding. This is really nice work, and I'd be proud to own it! Hell, if i could build it with the skill you had, i'd be bragging lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Thant is what I wanted, I did the PRS style but took it one step further. I smoothed the area entirely, like Myka does on his guitars. Just curious... what kind of glue was used to glue this neck in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Just curious... what kind of glue was used to glue this neck in? Titebond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog Posted October 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Just curious... what kind of glue was used to glue this neck in? Titebond Exactly what I was going to use BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffster Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Beautiful and clean work blackdog. my only question is, did you put a smaller template on top then routed the sides to achieve that binding look? I know it may be a stupid question but I'm trying to learn. Keep up the good work. Checking out your guitar is now a guilty pleasure. It distracts me from doing my term papers! Happy Building! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog Posted October 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Beautiful and clean work blackdog. my only question is, did you put a smaller template on top then routed the sides to achieve that binding look? I know it may be a stupid question but I'm trying to learn. Keep up the good work. Checking out your guitar is now a guilty pleasure. It distracts me from doing my term papers! Happy Building! Thanks a lot, I'm really happy with how this build is coming out. I understand that the "binding effect" you are referring to is the effect of the "lip" and recurve routings. I don't know if there are better english names for these. But this are two steps i do well before the carving, while the top is still flat. It is done with an edge follower adapter on the router, using a normal template-follower and a round-nose bit. I made a smaller version of the one that came with the router to be able to follow the close curves of the waists. Note that for this use the ball-bearing on the router bit is not used. This device: I do it in two steps. Firstly I route the lip, then the recurve. Only after these two things are done, I cut the angle(s) to the top. And then, of course, the carving itself. I hope this is more or less clear, let me know if not. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psw Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 A…A...Paula… I want to make it with you… A...A...Paula… I love your sexy carve too… I ain’t seen nothing like you I don’t think I can explain… It’s more than just shape of your top… It’s more than simply your grain… A…A…Paula… So, who’s the lucky chap A…A…Paula I wish I could sit you into my lap I long to play your highest frets Your heel looks comfortable, true… I wish that I could call you mine… And carve my name in your headstock too… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffster Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Wow! you took the time to take a picture of what your talking about! I get in now. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog Posted November 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Update time. The top has been stained. Like on the previous one we went for a double staining. This is the first staining, and after sanding it off: And the final staining with a hint of a sunburst: I also inlaid the logo on the headstock: It's actually meant to be the initials of my son's name: MA Next (messy) steps are the pore filling and sanding, and the application of the sanding sealer before gluing the neck to the body. How do you like it so far ? I think is coming along very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Gorgeous!!!! The stain really came off well. Your projects are so refined! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brutas Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 That is one first rate project! I am actually going to send you some adoption papers so you can adopt me and I can get one for my birthday. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andronico Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Fantastic work BlackDog ! As usuall ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superfly Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Nice Work BlackDog (Dat doe je goed) Wim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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