Pestvic Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 So yesterday i started a new build. Here is the original Sketch. which turned into this (This is post glue and template making haha) this is the polyacrylic template made Hard to see... but yeah thats the headstock design. Just barely changed up a headstock from a "Vik" guitars headstock. I already started the top. Glued it up and rough cut. And here is the mahogany in the clamps for a good hour or so. 2h Dont have much awesome tools like you guys do but I hope I can make it awesome :-P. I've seen people here do amazing work lately. Anyway, just posting as a keep track kind of my build thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xadioriderx Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 looks pretty sweet, looks like a paper mache template Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 Alrighty, Took the mahogany out of the clamps and rough cut the mahogany. This is so thick! I was thinking I could easily make a All mahogany guitar with this block! haha. But I love the top to much. Hmmm... Maybe I should save the top for another build? hmm... If not ill have to thickness the mahogany... :-P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPA or death Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 How thick is it now? Les Pauls are pretty thick but once the carve is done it doesn't seem too thick. I think they are 1.75" mahogany and 5/8" maple. That's 2 3/8" all together. But Les Pauls are comfortable to play, so yours shouldn't be too bad just by looking at it. Keep up the good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 But Les Pauls are comfortable to play maybe the lightest 20% of them are ok - they are certainly not the comfiest design and can get pretty backbreaking at the heavier end of the scale so really i would say if it feels heavy now it will be when completed. thinning it down or hollowing it out will save back cracker bills later on down the line and give you a guitar you still play a fdew years down the line. i say that as someone who has made the mistake of leaving things a little heavy thinking it doesnt matter too much if its just for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 Yeah I definitely plan on making this Chambered for weight. Also the carves and such. I dont think its going to be much of a problem. I guess its just a look thing in my opinion now haha (its 2 9/16" right now btw.) Maybe I'll just shave down the guitar to 2 3/8"? Then again I like the look of a thinner looking guitar. Hm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 WOO! thanks to a good friend of mine I'm hopefully going to a woodworking shop tomorrow to split the mahogany clean in half. This should give me enough for two body's (thinner guitars like I wanted anyway). I already have the wood for another top as well so I'm going to take that and joint it together. So having two bodys and a two tops means simultaneous builds. One a 6 String and a Second a 7 string! So stay tuned for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 If it's 2 9/16" now, and you're cutting it in half, that's gonna leave you with less than 1 1/4" to work with, right? That's very, very thin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 (edited) If it's 2 9/16" now, and you're cutting it in half, that's gonna leave you with less than 1 1/4" to work with, right? That's very, very thin. Actually Its going to leave me right at 1 3/4" which is 1/8" Inch bigger than my ibanez. It should be just enough Edited October 6, 2011 by Pestvic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 My bad. Apparently I can't do math that late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 If it's 2 9/16" now, and you're cutting it in half, that's gonna leave you with less than 1 1/4" to work with, right? That's very, very thin. Actually Its going to leave me right at 1 3/4" which is 1/8" Inch bigger than my ibanez. It should be just enough Did you factor in blade width, drift and leveling after? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 (edited) If it's 2 9/16" now, and you're cutting it in half, that's gonna leave you with less than 1 1/4" to work with, right? That's very, very thin. Actually Its going to leave me right at 1 3/4" which is 1/8" Inch bigger than my ibanez. It should be just enough Did you factor in blade width, drift and leveling after? Actually I Was thinking that 1/8 would be enough I'll see what I can do. I actually though about another option. Cutting the mahogany Just right where I have a thicker body for this guitar, but enough mahogany for the 7 strings body in the center. Like I was going to split another maple top in half and have it maple top, mahogany center and maple back. I'll work it out for sure though. I've been doing a lot of layouts and measurements and marks lately. If anything ill just thickness both these pieces and then buy more mahogany for the 7 string. Probably the best bet... haha Just trying to save where I can to get some tools. Actually you know what would help? How much top do you guys recommend for having a nice carved top? About half an inch? If anything I can start thickenessing the guitar from the half inch spot on the maple. Edited October 6, 2011 by Pestvic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xadioriderx Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 half inch seems excessive. its going to look like natural binding, and 1/2" seems a bit big! i would think 1/4" is better. but i havent done a carve top ever so what do i know =p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 half inch seems excessive. its going to look like natural binding, and 1/2" seems a bit big! i would think 1/4" is better. but i havent done a carve top ever so what do i know =p Well that's exactly it. Half inch top would be enough to give the depth of a carved and shaped top while leaving enough maple to have a Faux Natural binding around the guitar. which is what I'm after anyway :-P. Anyway Build has been put on hold to put these factors into a decision and Also waiting on the trip to the woodshop. Friend had a big fight with the wife and couldnt take us to the contractor. So I'll update when I can, But keep the opinions coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Yes,1/2" top...that is the "standard" thickness for a carved top.I use closer to 5/8",but I like a thick top and a deep carve.1/4" is barely a carve at all to me.This is what a 3/8" deep carve looks like,but this is not a top,it is just a one piece body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Yes,1/2" top...that is the "standard" thickness for a carved top.I use closer to 5/8",but I like a thick top and a deep carve.1/4" is barely a carve at all to me.This is what a 3/8" deep carve looks like,but this is not a top,it is just a one piece body damn that looks good! man all these factors in what im trying to decide to do. but its better to plan out everything exactly how you want it before you continue Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xadioriderx Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 ah i think i misunderstood. a 1/2" top minus the carve would leave a side of less than 1/2". i was imagining something thicker, with and edge of 1/2. my bad! ill have to try this carve thing one day =D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 I like deep carves. This top was one inch thick to begin with. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Doi! That's wood porn, Scott. Nice work too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 OMG haha Keep the wood porn coming! I love that 1 inch top. I might just leave the full top and carve it and then keep the back thick. Im just leaning toward a thick guitar like you guys mentioned so I can just continue the build. How good is thick for resonance and sound? The neck will be all Mahogany too. So I'm looking to get that nice perfect buttery mahogany tone with a pop of bright from the maple. (7/8" thick Maple top) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Thick sounds fine, very resonant. But you don't have to keep the back the full thickness, or hunt up a planer or thickness sander to reduce the overall thickness and weight. Carve the back. There are a ton of pics of the carved back in the thread that pic came from. You can see from the pic above that the edge on the tummy cut side is quite thin and the carved back is very comfortable and unique looking. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Ok so I finally started some more work and decided on more building. (I'm Taking all the time in the world on this build because the last two I was a noob and rushed them.) I want this guitar to look at least 70% as amazing as the guitars you guys build haha Anyway, So I decided to keep the same scale length I always play on which is PRS's 25" Scale length and removed a fret board from a previous build I didn't like anymore. I used the Steam/Iron/Knife combo to pry it away. I got it perfectly off until the 1st fret (started on the 24th). The wedges I had prying the fretboard up as I went along the fret board I guess had to much force and snapped the fret board right in half at the 1st fret. the rest of the Damage went under the 2nd fret so it wasn't bad at all. I forgot to take a picture cause i immediately wanted to repair it. Here it is being clamped. after repairing it, I leveled the backside of the damage. AWESOME haha Couldnt even see the break line. So I leveled the rest of the back of the fret board and it sits perfectly flush along the new neck mahogany and the frets stayed pretty much perfect (checked with a straight edge) So here is the Repaired fretboard at its first fret sitting perfectly on the mahogany. Im so glad it wasn't a problem. You cant even tell where the break line is anymore. I would work on it more and rout in the truss rod tonight but I cant cause its late and I dont have a garage to do it in... I Envy your guy's shops haha So anyway... Tomorrow's plan is... I will rout the trus rod channel, hot glue it in (to stop rattling), then glue the fretboard on. After that I will rough cut the neck and flush it up to the fretboard. Then comes the rasp and shaping the back of the neck. once I got the shaping done im going to start laying out the cuts for the neck to match the body. Also, I'm going to thickness the back of the body(only got to take off 3/8ths off the back if you guys have a good solution as to how to get that done easiest) From there I can glue in the neck then glue on the top. YAY haha. Lots of work but I will be free all day so it should be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) I have a question guys. If I decided to chamber the body out. (not much but in the usual spots) would this help the guitar resonate more/ be louder when unplugged? Or would it take away resonance? I'm Looking to get the best resonance. Thanks again! Also to prevent people asking if ive searched, I have. Still looking on this board and also found this board. http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?p=888715 Where they talk kinda 50-50 on if it sounds better and or sustains better. Edited October 11, 2011 by Pestvic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 In my experience,that depends on where you put the chambers and how large you make them.It is a complicated subject with very little definitive info. When I wanted to make a guitar lighter and in the process give it that "airy" LP feel,this is what I personally came up with.The back is limba and is going to be 1 1/2" thick,the "swimming pool rout" is 1" deep and is going to be connected to the control cavity with a larger channel than what you see right now.The birdseye top is going to be shaved down to 1/2" thick before carving,and will have tight humbucker routs and they are going to "hang" from the top...which is going to be tricky.The "idea" is to give it that airy feel you seem to be talking about,but since it is far from finished I have no idea how it will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pestvic Posted October 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) Would it help if I posted a pic of where I planned on putting the chambers? Keep in mind I just realized I need to make room for the back carve too, so it will change but I will post the ideas for input in the morning But as for your picture. I plan on leaving the whole center of the guitar untouched for the trem and pickups and such. Is this a completely different style? Edited October 11, 2011 by Pestvic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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