Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Newest V comin' out the gate. OK, let's get the painful stuff out of the way right off the bat. Yes, yes, yes, damn you all, I glued two pieces of mahogany together in a really oddball way. I never said I was the 'pretty boy' builder around here anyway, I've got a W.O.D. after all, and I'll use what I got to best advantage. Pics are showing my glue line, I originally used Titebond, but there were a few small gaps that I filled with thin CYA. If you're gonna cry, complain, flame me, or biyatch, lets get it over with now, because it's all sweet once you get past this stage, this baby is turning out -extremely- nice, and that glueline ain't gonna affect nuddin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 On to the top, Bubinga top No. 2 from erikbojerik being glued up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Bubinga Top being glued to Mahogany Body.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Trimming the body to it's final bad-ass shape... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Final teaser pics for the weekend. The guitar is a pretty far clip past this now, but we'll see each other again Monday for more updated pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narcissism Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 (edited) Rhoads' are popular this time of year aren't they? Its not the most amazing piece i've seen from you, but then again, it is just raw wood and you have a tendancy to surprise us all. Can't wait to see it! [edit] I'm also glad to see that you've used a straight bevel, because I was planning on doing this instead of a gradual sharpening toward the neck. It looks good, and because of you i've made my decision on how I'm going to do it! Thanks! Edited June 19, 2009 by Narcissism Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 OK, one more set... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Cool Narc. PS, before anyone says it, the center pot hole is like 1/32" off center from the other two, I know, I know, this will be addressed at final pot installation, all will be perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 I have no doubt it'll end up pretty. That being said, I really don't care for wood-porn on a V. In my mind, it doesn't fit the shape. But... to each their own. I remember some comments from folks who thing an in-line headstock on a PRS was blasphemy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 nice bubinga! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 I am diggin' it baby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 I am diggin' it baby. Quit kissin up. You HATE wood-tone guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ae3 Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 The bubinga top looks great, you sure can pick a pretty piece of wood, Drak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 You HATE wood-tone guitars. Once again you are clueless...I hate wood tone guitars...but I am willing to bet this will be dyed...as they always are from Drak...and have you forgotten my red dyed bubina exploder?Also..I despise plain pieces of wood left uncovered...but I also don't condone covering waterfall Bubinga with black paint.. So go play your corvus and leave me alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 I really don't care for wood-porn on a V. In my mind, it doesn't fit the shape Well that is an interesting comment, because I agree with it, but disagree with your final analysis, and here's why. I agree that any figure that runs left-right, like most Maple booked tops do, would look out of place on a V because from a design standpoint the grain is working against the organic longitudinal shape of a V to begin with. However, the grain pattern on this guitar goes (to me anyway) perfectly with the V shape. It's almost like 'drapes', which I think looks cool. And in the end, most of the plain center is eaten up by hardware anyway. (Actually I was tempted to put a third pkp in there, ...but only for a minute) When making V's, I am ALWAYS aware of the pattern, and that it must 'agree' with the shape of a V. So, I agree with you, but am a little baffled why you don't think this piece 'goes' with a V. But to each their own, it's all good. Actually, I was pretty sad as I cut the Floyd routes, because the tap tone of this thing is MONSTER good, and I think you lose a lot of the organic wood tone when installing a Floyd tremolo, but in the end, the tone is so deep and rich, I think it will help offset the loss of using a Floyd in the end. It's a shame that all you out there can do is look at the pics, because if you could hit the tap tone and actually listen to it, you would forget about the ugly wood graft in about .00002 seconds, it's that good. And it is that good for a reason I will not take any credit for: It's that good because if you look at the first two pics, you'll notice that the primary wood piece follows the upper fin line, that it doesn't go down the centerline at all. I did that for economy reasons myself, but I had old information on tap... Now, I remember reading some posts from a pro builder on another forum many years ago about this very subject, he said he did it that way on purpose, and now I know why, because the very long piece of wood creates a much lower, richer, deeper resonant tone than any wood done in a typical centerline style could give, unless the body was 24" long, which no body is. Believe me or not, the difference is HUGE, and completely overrides the graft job. If I make any more V's, they will ALL be done like that from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 If I make any more V's, they will ALL be done like that from now on. Well, of course I meant that I will use the longest piece of wood I can and run it parallel to the upper (long) wing, not grafting pieces on like I did here. I think also it was a great piece of seasoned mahogany to begin with, the thing rings like a deep bell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrkIncGuitars Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 I am not a big fan of the V but man, that is one sweet looking V Drak! I agree with the assessment of losing tonal properties with a Floyd but all will be good! I have seen other guitars with one and still have kick @$$ tone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Don't get me wrong Drak - I have not one negative thing to say about the thought you put into the design, the craftsmanship, likely outcome based on your history, etc., etc., etc. I simply don't think the V lends itself to anything other than solid paint. It honestly wouldn't matter what woods are used or how pretty they are. The most I'd me likely to do is a plain-grained wood like maple or mahogany with an extremely deep dye - so deep you'd have to get within 10' to see the grain. In my eyes, a V is a metal shape, especially a pointy V. Metal isn't pretty, it isn't blinged out, it isn't wood-porn. It's straight forward, in your face, and aggressive. Wood-porn is pretty, elegant, and classy - everything metal isn't. Again - nothing inherently negative about what you've done with it thus far, it simply isn't for me. As you've said in my posts, that's the way you want it, the craftsmanship will be where it needs to be, so it's all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narcissism Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 I'm going to disagree with Avengers in the "misc" thread so as not to hijack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Well, let me express my thoughts and ideas a little further on my plans for this... I actually am trying for an interesting middle ground between a hard-raked completely bad-assed V, and the original Gibson V (in looks). Lonnie Mack has a really cool looking road-worn beat-up V with a Bigsby on it. It has a lot of earthy, rich, vintage charm to it in the looks dept. I also dig Metal. I also designed these V's exactly the way I want them, and it took awhile and a few prototypes before I got them exactly where I want them. I even threw a few older ones away that were really sweet, but they didn't have the sleekness and 'weapon' feel of the ones now. The new design, I swear when you put one on it feels like your holding a damn weapon, it's like...Powerful. It's almost intoxicating. I'm not sure the pics do it justice really. I mean, this is what designing guitars is really all about for me, to design a guitar that connects with me in a way that most other guitars can't and don't, and not to stop at the first try but to keep refining and refining and refining until you finally 'hit it', and you know it when you get there. This is focused design, not scattershot building. There's an organic connection, and that is good design when a design can affect your mental attitude toward an instrument. A lot of V's WANT to feel like this, but don't, not in a long shot. It's balanced perfectly. It's sleek as hell. It's -just- the right weight, not too light, not too heavy, -very- comfortable. So anyway, the shape and feel is exactly what I was shooting for. The look of the Bubinga is the connection between the shape (Metal) and the look (Vintage Mack) The hardware will be a mix of black and gold, which definitely give off a vintage warmth/feel. So it's metal in nature and attitude, but with a hint of vintage-ness in the look. The Bubinga is a really sweet mix of reds, browns, and blacks, which 'might' work out on it's own, I'm not sure yet, I'm still waiting to see. I can always shoot a toner coat and adjust to suit if I want to, but I want to give the Bubinga a chance, I already dyed the other Bubinga red, and that looks great, so I want to give this one a shot before coloring it. But imagine a Gold Floyd (w/ blk fine tuners of course), Gold covered pkps w/ blk rings, black knobs, Gold tuners, Ebony 'board, ...the colors are all working together to give off a really cool warm vintage feel, but with a deadly sleek Leopard-like feel to it. We'll see.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narcissism Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Now I really have a good idea of what you're going for! (horay for an overactive imagination!) I can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 My friend, that would be gorgeous.... on some other body style. Do your thing, Drak. It's all good! Ignore my tastes and make the guitar you want to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJE-Guitars Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 That being said, I really don't care for wood-porn on a V. In my mind, it doesn't fit the shape. I know the point you are making and ingeneral I think you're correct the Flying V has virtual always been a solid colour. However many people would of said the same about the Explorer until a certain James Hetfield started playing a natural wood coloured Ken Lawrence explorer. I aren't a particular fan of V's but this is looking great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Like always, looking really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenspoke Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Allways a new surprise. Now how many guitars are you building this month? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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