srt Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 Hello all, I've lurked here for a while, thought I would post my current project and get some opinions. There's nothing really new here, just a shape I drew inspired by a lot of guitars I've seen and liked. It will be a hollow-body, similar to the Myka Dragonfly guitars. Top and back are walnut, middle is hollowed out african mahogany. The neck is bocote with a camarillo fretboard. It is 25" scale, 22 frets. Will have a TOM bridge and string-through. Not totally sure about the pickups yet, but leaning towards a benedetto humbucker in the neck position, and .... something else.... Ideas? I'm after a versatile jazz type guitar, and just experimenting too. Here is the neck and part of the body: I am trying out putting the access panel in the side rather than the back. And the walnut top, I've since added 3-layer binding - white beach, walnut, white beach (about 0.03" per strip): And a couple more of the neck: One more fret to install, ran out of fretwire. As I wrap this one up, I am starting a 27.5" scale 7 string version, though I may wait a bit and see if I learn anything here that I want to apply on the next one. Anyway, thanks for looking. Let me know what you think of it. srt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 Something about the shape reminds me of a Fender J-bass. The woods all look nice and I LOVE that bocote neck! I can't wait to see this one come along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srt Posted July 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 Yeah, I really like the "swept" look of the jazz bass and jaguar. Tried to continue that theme on the headstock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chonker Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 Oh man, that neck is something else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 I like the body shape too. It's like it's leaning forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddW Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 Stunning figure on that neck! Are you worried it'll move given the crazy grain pattern? Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 A P-90 type in the bridge would be cool. That is a beautiful guitar!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Not Rex Brown Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 that's one of a hellish guitar r there gona be any f holes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srt Posted July 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 Thanks for the comments! I am a little worried about the wavy grained neck moving, but I put in two 1/8"x3/8" graphite rods, so I hope it will be ok. Hmm... P90's... I'll look into those. Planning holes something like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srt Posted July 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2008 (edited) I've started on the 7 string version. This one will have the same body shape, 27.5" scale, bubinga top, the neck is something I found called monterillo (I think it's a rosewood, can't find anything about it, looks cool though) with a cocobolo fretboard. I screwed up on the fretboard, I nearly sanded the fret slots out. I don't want to take the binding off to fix it, so I'm searching for a good way to re do the slots, any help? Here is the neck part way done: I love how cocobolo will polish! It's like a mirror: http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l464/sc...opy_IGP6374.jpg Edited July 27, 2008 by srt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boundsteelblues Posted July 27, 2008 Report Share Posted July 27, 2008 Amazing neck. Keep the pics coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psw Posted July 28, 2008 Report Share Posted July 28, 2008 Great looking guitar and concept...really like the side access idea. I say nix the holes completely, there is no real need for f-holes and I think it detracts from the look pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dickie_rayne Posted July 28, 2008 Report Share Posted July 28, 2008 I've started on the 7 string version. This one will have the same body shape, 27.5" scale, bubinga top, the neck is something I found called monterillo (I think it's a rosewood, can't find anything about it, looks cool though) with a cocobolo fretboard. I screwed up on the fretboard, I nearly sanded the fret slots out. I don't want to take the binding off to fix it, so I'm searching for a good way to re do the slots, any help? stew mac sell a little saw for doing jsut that but i made my own. get a micro saw or a gents saw and using a dremel cut all of the blade off down to the spine of the blade appart from the last inch. you should end up with a long handle with an inch long saw on the tip. you can use this to deepen the frett slots. heres the link to the stewmac one. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_suppl...Refret_Saw.html you should be able to get a gent saw for about a quarter of that price and you will end up with exactly the same tool. Dickie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted July 29, 2008 Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 It takes more time and control but you can also find dremel bits in the right diameter or grind them down to the right diameter. Then you need the precision router base. Dan Erlwine talks about this in his fretting book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srt Posted October 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 OK, Some more progress on the 6 string. I've been moving much more slowly on these than I intended, busy summer... Anyway, I have it put together as sort of a mock up. The carving on the top (inside and out) is finished, the top is glued to the center, neck pocket is cut, and neck is temporarily screwed in place (it will be glued for final installation). Bridge is in, pickups installed (SD Jazz in the neck and JB in the bridge). I'm working on a piezo set up. I'm getting decent results with a radio shack buzzer and this preamp (http://www.till.com/articles/GuitarPreamp/). So far, it sounds great and plays well. With a little time spent, I think it will setup perfectly. Still left to do: Binding on the sound hole, a back plate, glue the neck in, sand the edges of the center/back to match the top, shape the heel area, finish sand and lacquer. Let me know what you think! (Ignore the rat's nest wiring, it's just for testing purposes...) srt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim37 Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 wow thats amazing wood and i love the design you should enter it in gotm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 The work you've done looks REALLY nice. But... Looking at it more from when you started, the bottom looks unbalanced to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srt Posted October 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 The work you've done looks REALLY nice. But... Looking at it more from when you started, the bottom looks unbalanced to me. Thanks for looking and I appreciate the opinion. What do you mean by unbalanced? The non-symmetry at the bottom is intentional (I like it that way), is that what you mean? Or do you mean it's just kind of "off" somehow? I kind of think the top of the body and neck should be rotated counter-clockwise just a little, keeping the unsymmetry in the bottom, but maybe the bridge is just a touch too high. Just gives me a reason to build another one, I suppose if I built a perfect one, it would be time to stop! -srt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 From the last pic, the bottom looks like it was all pushed over to the right. If that's the way you intended it, mission accomplished. Perhaps if the top were pushed to the left it's be more balanced visually. It's a concept from visual design classes. People need balance. Even those who abhor even, paralell symetry need a balance to even things out. There needs to be a certain level of symmetry or balance to a composition. Unbalanced weight is just that - unbalanced. Lack of balance in a composition throws the whole thing off. For uneven balance, consider the explorer. There is a LOT more body at one corner than the other. It looks right because the trebel horn sticks out for a visual balance. The two horns on a Strat or PRS are like that too. One is longer, but there's something to balance out the weight. Like I said, the work looks top notch. It's just lopsided visually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 My gut reaction is the same as avengers's--it looks off-balance (though I do like it). I think your guitar is "radially symmetrical" around a point ~2-3' below the treble side ("towards the floor" if playing it on a strap). Most guitars are symmetrical around the centerline--even the "offset" ones like the Jazz bass, Explorer, etc. They all have something on the other side of the centerline to balance them out. One way to work this out is to have the headstock "flow out of" the shape and help balance the guitar. Your headstock is awesome, but seems to follow the traditional "symmetrical to centerline" design rather than matching the body's symmetry reference.... Does that make sense? Regardless, it's a cool design and the woods really work well with it. And one more thought... another soundhole on the treble side of the body would REALLY alleviate things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srt Posted October 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Avenger, Geo, Gotcha. I think I sort of agree. The "flow" of the thing doesn't work quite as well as in my sketches, I still haven't quite put my finger on it... I'm thinking either rotating the neck CCW or sliding it to the right (down if your standing up) would help, or maybe the left side of the lower body needs to swell a little more... Regardless, I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. The second sound hole on the bottom was originally planned (you can kind of see the pencil marks in one of the pics), I had almost decided that I couldn't fit it in, I'll revisit that. Thanks for the advice and kind words. -srt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Regardless, I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. That's what counts. And I agree, moving the neck towards the floor may help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srt Posted October 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Sprayed the first coat of lacquer last night. Should be done soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narcissism Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 omg that neck! *drool* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srt Posted October 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 OK, it's done. Except for the cheap plastic pickup rings that will soon be replaced by some made of the same wood as the neck... Bucket 'O Pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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