avengers63 Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 While the Avenger prototypeand Bloodwood LPjr are nearing either completion or waiting for the finish to cure, I'm starting another one. Yea... it's just another PRS. Try not to get too excited. Anyway, here's the rundown: Ash body - 1.5" thick Westone neck - 25.5 scale Khaler trem 2 P-90 pups - maker undetermined, but NOT atrec/GFS 3-position toggle 1 volume, 1 tone MAYBE a push/pull for a phase switch chrome hardware The input jack undetermined, but leaning towards a Strat. Thebody may not be thick enough to support it, though, so I may need to go with a side-mount. Likewise, it may be too thin for a push/pull, so a mini-toggle would be in order. I wanted it thin and lightweight. I figured 1.5" was about as thin as I could get away with. I ordered some water soluable dyes last week. I'm going to dye the body either green or orange. I'll top it off with lacquer. Here's the first WIP pics. The body has been shaped and given a 0.5" roundover. Later, it'll get a forearm contour and belly cut. I was an inch from making it a HSS setup, top-routing it, and making a P/G for it. It'd have ended up a Strat/PRS hybrid. In the end I decided against it. Still, the body has a all of the Strat personality, but with a PRS shape. Add in the Gibson-style P-90s, and it's a little bit of all three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 The Kahler Flyer was paid for Monday. Today, I found a pair of black Gibson P-90s. They're paid for and on their way as well. I decided to go with a mini-toggle for the phase switch. I'm debating about a flat-mount jack or an electrosocket. BTW: The Kahler didn't have the locking nut or arm with it. Where would be the best place to get parts? The Kahler website didn't have an ordering system or price list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 This got some work this weekend, as did the Retrotron. The Westone neck I'm using had some screw-in bushings. Clearly, they had to go. I just KNOW that I wouldn't place the ferrules in the exact same place as these bushings, so it's just easier in the long run to drill them out and plug the holes. Since that'd juse be boring, here's the WIP series on the process. bushings holes drilled, plugs cut plugs glued into place plugs sawn off & sanded flat I also got the neck pocket & pup holes routed. The Kahler is just sitting on the body right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Looks good, so what are you thinking for a finish?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Looks good, so what are you thinking for a finish?? I'm going to dye it either green or orange. I'll most likely top it off with lacquer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 (edited) sounds goood! i love dyed ash tops with nice glossy clear coats. Edited October 14, 2008 by carousel182 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernova9 Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Nice new build - just a tip - think about tinted lacquer instead of staining ash. Ash is a beast to get to stain right, I've tried twice and both times ended up ditching the idea because it was too patchy. If you're set up to spray lacquer you should be good to tint and spray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Nice new build - just a tip - think about tinted lacquer instead of staining ash. Ash is a beast to get to stain right, I've tried twice and both times ended up ditching the idea because it was too patchy. If you're set up to spray lacquer you should be good to tint and spray. Thanks for the heads-up. I'm not set up to spray. Pine is notoriously patchy as well. Flexner advises using a conditioner for woods that get patchy. IIRC, they're washcoats, but the only difference is the name. I'll give this product a shot on some cutoff. Better yet - I can try it on a Retrotron body. The whole thing is getting covered anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Remember to check the bridge to neck position. Those Kahlers like the neck pretty tall, if not you will have to shim or give the neck pocket some angle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElysianGuitars Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 why'd you get rid of the insterts in the neck? from my experience, inserts are superb for bolt on's, because you can torque the hell out of the bolts, without having to worry about stripping them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 (edited) why'd you get rid of the inserts in the neck? from my experience, inserts are superb for bolt on's, because you can torque the hell out of the bolts, without having to worry about stripping them... Cuz I KNOW I'd never line up holes in the neck pocket perfect. I'm keeping them, so I'll still be able to use them in another build sometime. Remember to check the bridge to neck position. Those Kahlers like the neck pretty tall, if not you will have to shim or give the neck pocket some angle Thanks for the heads-up. FWIW - it's a Kahler Flyer. IDK if that makes a difference in your statement, but there it is. Edited October 15, 2008 by avengers63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anderekel Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 I think you should see if you can do a deep, vibrant blue to an orange center, that'd be awesome if it could be pulled off Lookin' good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 I finally got the trem out for the Kahler done. I started on the trebel horn bevel with the drill & microplane, but the battery died before I could finish it. I'm still waiting for the dyes to come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I spent some quality time with this body and my angle grinder. http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/av...20P90/wip12.jpg http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/av...20P90/wip13.jpg http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/av...20P90/wip14.jpg http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/av...20P90/wip15.jpg The intent was to get the sides as round as possible and to have a massive sloping on almost the whole thing. See that hole where you might expect the jack to be? That part has issues. It was supposed to be a hole for an electrosocket. I'm still working on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
factory5150 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 So its like an Ibanez "s" series with a PRS body shape..I like it! Very cool build you got goin on there. Whats the paint scheme? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Whats the paint scheme? Read the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 Since the dyes I ordered in at the bedinning of October aren't coming in anytime soon (http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=39033&st=0&#entry402607), I'll be going a different direction. I picked up some hunter green stain and some wood conditioner (wash coat) the other day and I'll be going at it that way. I'm going to experiment on some scrap first. My plan is to hit it with some ebony stain then sand it back so the grain is clearly defined. Then I'll hit it with the green. When I get something to show, I'll post some pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Here are some test pieces that have been stained black and sanded back. Note that the pieces weren't 100% level, so there will be some irregularities in some places. I'm only looking for how the grain and overall appearance is effected. More pics later today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Can you tell a difference between the pieces? If so, PLEASE shoot me your thoughts and observations. My wife offered up some input that I hadn't thought of that was really useful, so ANY input is really great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAK Guitars Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 I'd say the one in the middle in that picture looks the lightest. Just by a bit though. It might be the pic too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarter Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Minor differences, but I like the far right one best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripthorn Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 I think I like the right one best too, I think it has to do with how bold the grain is in that one compared to the other two. The left one also has pretty good grain, but I think the right one edges it out. Of course, that could have a lot to do with the piece of wood, but all things equal, I like the right one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 +1 for the right one. The grain stands out a lot more on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anderekel Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 I think the right one is the deepest darkest color and I love vibrant colors, so I'm with everyone else that the right is the best, my favorite anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 As if you needed further votes, the right one too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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