Geo Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 (edited) Here's the plan for my next guitar. The body is ash. It will be stained blue I think, with white plastic binding. The neck will be maple, walnut or poplar (not sure yet). The pickguard will be walnut. 2 P-90's, a LP Jr. style bridge/tailpiece, ebony fingerboard... finish will be tru-oil. Sorry that's the only picture I have right now... Just thought people might like to see the body shape. I'll have more pictures soon once I get the body cut out etc. EDIT: hm, didn't realize the headstock was so invisible... Edited October 4, 2008 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Here's the body cut out. There's still a lip around the bottom because my bit doesn't reach far enough. I'm debating whether to bevel this off with a spokeshave or do binding on the back as well. Any thoughts? http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1539.jpg http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1538.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 (edited) Here's the body cut out. There's still a lip around the bottom because my bit doesn't reach far enough. I'm debating whether to bevel this off with a spokeshave or do binding on the back as well. Any thoughts? http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1539.jpg http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1538.jpg Why not just get a routerbit with the guide bearing on the bottom? ... or a round-over bearing bit? Cool shape btw! Edited October 4, 2008 by Cactus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Why not just get a routerbit with the guide bearing on the bottom? ... or a round-over bearing bit? Cool shape btw! Mmm... but that would cost money. Thanks, I'm glad you like the shape! Progress on this will be pretty slow, as I can only work in my parents' basement and I can't get home during the week because of school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2008 Here's a wee bit of progress... nothing to write home about, but thought I'd post anyway. I decided to go with a poplar neck because I had it on hand. I took a ~3" flatsawn piece, ripped it into 3 pieces, and rotated them 90 deg. I flipped one piece end-to-end as well as rotating it 180 deg along its axis, and then glued them all together. Here's the scarf joint gluing. http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Georder/IMG_1558.jpg I also cut out the pickguard. Here's a little mockup of the body. Any comments welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Posted October 12, 2008 Report Share Posted October 12, 2008 Poplar neck?.. isn't poplar a very soft wood?.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2008 Poplar neck?.. isn't poplar a very soft wood?.. It's a hardwood. I got some feedback that it was acceptable as a neck wood. http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=38553 @Mex: thanks, I like the retro look too. I'll round the back of the body with a spokeshave, but the front will be bound, mostly so I can use the $50 binding-cutting bit I bought for my first acoustic project... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElysianGuitars Posted October 12, 2008 Report Share Posted October 12, 2008 looking at your thread inspired me to come up with a single cut design of my own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2008 (edited) looking at your thread inspired me to come up with a single cut design of my own Well, I'm flattered! I really like the concept of "single-cut" because it's so open-ended. You can go towards a Tele, or a Les Paul, or a LP Jr. (like I did), or... My design is I think a pretty basic LP Jr. except for the bulge, which may make it uncomfortable to play sitting down. Oops. Well, the headstock is NOT traditional. Edited October 12, 2008 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Lookin good Geo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 (edited) What bulge are you speaking about? Is it an absolute, must-have feature? Well, it's a pretty important feature... the way the shape sweeps out on the bass-side lower bout. But it will get some pretty serious carving on the back until I like how it feels, so it doesn't worry me too much. It's hard to judge the sitting-down "feel" of a body when there's no neck attached. we need a pic of that headstock! I can´t see a darn tootie in that first pic! I know, sorry... I adjusted the contrast of that pic until you could actually see the pencil lines, but then the headstock area went all dark. It'll be awhile before I can take any more pictures... I shall attempt to describe... basically, the headstock is 3x3, SLIGHTLY scimitar-like, sweeping up towards the bass side of the centerline. It's a fairly long headstock (~7 3/4" if memory serves). Here wait, try this... Edited October 13, 2008 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 (edited) I got the headstock cut out and the neck profile routed. Finally, a clear picture of the headstock shape! I'm beginning to think that the headstock should be bound as well. http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1575.jpg http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1578.jpg http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1576.jpg And the mockup.... (I have to do this again and again with each little bit of progress. ) Edited October 19, 2008 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge for november Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Looks a bit like a reversed version of my headstock... Maybe a bit more then a bit . I like this build! I'm planning on a singlecut with p-90ies as well, though soapbars, and also a wraparound bridge. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 a reverse Strat headstock, a bit. It seems to work, though I was expecting a bit more traditional...Is it 3 on a side or are you going for six in line? 3x3, so it definitely won't look like a Strat with the tuners installed. Hey, I told ya it wasn't traditional! I don't think a symmetrical headstock would compliment the "swept" body very well. Looks a bit like a reversed version of my headstock... Maybe a bit more then a bit tongue.gif Never seen it, I swear! Glad you like it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted October 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Now, is it angled or are you using string trees? It's angled. It's essentially a typical 3x3 headstock swept off-center as it tapers away. You can see the angle somewhat in this picture. http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1578.jpg Thanks for the comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) Finally some progress. This semester has kept me from working on this guitar, but for time spent working, it's been one of my quickest projects I think. The obligatory mockup: another mockup angle: http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1894.jpg I did the fretboard work in a different order this time. First I planed the taper into the sides, then thicknessed/radiused it with a plane and sandpaper. Using centerline marks I made before this, I aligned it on a squared piece of wood with carpet tape. Then I cut the fret slots in my miter thing. It worked really well mostly, and it allowed me to use a plane. Unfortunately this piece of bloodwood had a patch where the grain changed direction, and I got some nasty tearout while planing. The tearout is too deep to sand out, so I'm going to leave it as is. I thought of inlaying something in place of it, but the board already had most of the radius and was near the final thickness. http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1895.jpg Gluing the fingerboard to the neck: http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1896.jpg Here's a sample of the blue stain. The large chunk is ash, while the smaller piece is poplar/walnut waste from the neck. The walnut will look a lot better against the blue once there's tru oil on it. Pickup cavities etc. routed out: http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1898.jpg I'm thinking this will look pretty striking with the blue stain, walnut pickguard/headplate, bloodwood fingerboard, and WBW binding on the body and headstock. Edited November 28, 2008 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keegan Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 I like it. It's like if Gibson tried to copy the Jazzmaster, except they actually made a guitar with quality craftsmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted November 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 (edited) Ha ha, thanks... although I'm afraid a Gibson would have better craftsmanship than this. The bloodwood polished up very well. http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1906.jpg http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1904.jpg The weird grain in the fingerboard is actually kind of pretty. http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1907.jpg http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/Ge...ct/IMG_1908.jpg Edited November 29, 2008 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keegan Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Nice grain, I love bloodwood. This build has got me gassing. Are the pictured pickups and bridge the ones you plan on using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted November 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Nice grain, I love bloodwood. This build has got me gassing. Are the pictured pickups and bridge the ones you plan on using? Thanks... yeah, that's the hardware. What does gassing mean? Don't hurt yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Isn't it amazing how glossy some woods can get just from sanding and polishing? Very cool. I have a pic somewhere of the last neck I built with the cocobolo fretboard actually reflecting like a mirror. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keegan Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 GAS=guitar acquisition syndrome gassing=verb form It just means I want your guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted November 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2008 GAS=guitar acquisition syndrome gassing=verb form It just means I want your guitar. I get it now. Thanks for the compliment. You had me worried there... Rick, I think it was your mirror-like fretboard that I had in mind when I took those pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. pierce Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 I have a build with a bloodwood fretboard, and I have to say, it's one my favorite boards to play on. This should be fun. I'm really digging it, this is the style of guitar I always love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted December 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 I have a build with a bloodwood fretboard, and I have to say, it's one my favorite boards to play on. This should be fun. I'm really digging it, this is the style of guitar I always love. Thanks dude! I agree, bloodwood just feels good. I actually chose it for that reason rather than the aesthetics. I'm still not sure how well the bloodwood will go with the blue/walnut color scheme, but I don't care, I want to play on blood wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.