westhemann Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 So yeah,you guys with your spalted maple have been making me jealous,so I am going to do something about it.Funny thing is that this is going to be kind of an easy build because I bought the body blank from Scott French already bookmatched and joined,and I bought the rough neck from Doug...so I guess I can jump right in to the fun part.Cut the body today.I went over and over in my mind what to mate the maple to as a back,but I just don't want to cover any of it...so at 1 1/8" thick it is going to be a super thin. This is the neck. Used a Dremel to fit the nut end of the truss rod.The truss rout was already done by Doug's CNC So this is the fretboard,also done by Doug on his CNC...it has this neat "faux binding" that looks pretty cool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Looks like it should be pretty cool. what kind of headstock you going to use? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 3+3 similar to the Jacksons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bionic Machinist Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 I don't know if you've played a multi scale before but, I think your going to find it rely weird to play with the perp at the 16th fret. For the best ergonomics the perp fret should be closer to the nut. Usually around the 3rd - 7th fret. BM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Hell if I know.I bought it premade.No I have never played a multiscale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 You should use RADs latest pup in this build. It'll keep with the 'forum members' parts compilation and it just happens to have killer tone. I'm guessing that a super-thin maple body will sound just that- super thin. I forget the model name ( I was calling it "the beast" ) but it has great bass tone. I used it on a Maple/Elm strat and love the chunkiness of it. Mad props to his pickup building skills ! FWIW ,I utilize the 5th fret as the perp most of the time for the reasons stated above. In playing position, it feels very natural. What kinda bridge you using?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Those little individual bridges...Doug sent a template with the neck As far as the "tone",I really don't think this thing is going to sound like maple...it is spalted so it is very porous.After I stabilize it with CA i am sure the tone is going to just be whatever it is...The "tap tone" is closer to poplar than maple... I am not fond of poplar,but I am sure that with the right electronics and hardware it will sound fine But being a 27" scale on the low end I am sure I will keep it tuned to D To be absolutely clear i have no idea what this thing will play or sound like.It is a total experiment and is completely out of my comfort zone...just for example,this will be the first bolt on guitar I have ever built...but I have 2 identically scaled necks that I want to be able to switch if needed...the other is mostly mahogany,so if this turns out too "bright" I can fix it with a mahogany neck,then use the maple one elsewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 By the way 12th is the perpendicular fret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Ross Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Nice stuff! Doug sent a test fretboard my way a while back to get feedback on it, and one of my comments was the same as Bionic said: for me, the 12th was much too far up the neck for a perpendicular fret. I place mine at the 6th on my baritone 26.5"-28" boards, which I've found is a good balance of playability, aesthetics, and string tension (tuned B to b w/ GHS .070" strings). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Just ordered the little bridges.Those things are expensive! Just so you know,Brian has 'em cheaper than anywhere else I found..most of his stuff costs less.I forget to check there sometimes,but he has quite a bit listed http://www.universaljems.com/cart/bridgent.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauliemc Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Yea. Brian has some cool stuff at good prices. that lefty Prs from last months GOTM had a gotoh floyd from Brian, Cost about $60.00 less than everywhere else. Ill be hittin him up for bits again this month. This should be cool Wez. But id prefer the perp at the fifth fret. but you will never know your preferance untill you start messing with fan boards so go for it man. Can always change it later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Spalted maple..... and multiscale???? from Wes? what that hell happen to you man. Old age is catching up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntinDoug Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Nice stuff! Doug sent a test fretboard my way a while back to get feedback on it, and one of my comments was the same as Bionic said: for me, the 12th was much too far up the neck for a perpendicular fret. I place mine at the 6th on my baritone 26.5"-28" boards, which I've found is a good balance of playability, aesthetics, and string tension (tuned B to b w/ GHS .070" strings). So, what ever happened with that build? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiKro Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 So now this has me thinking of a multscale Bass for a friend? what would that be like? and where to put the perp? He's interested in a short scale and would switch to a long scale, maybe a multi would work for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Well,my fingers are getting crooked with age,so I think the crooked frets may help...but it's tough to tell right now without strings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Picture reference of a template Doug provided.That is 2.125 bridge string width and nut 1.6875.Perpendicular fret is #12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Ross Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Nice stuff! Doug sent a test fretboard my way a while back to get feedback on it, and one of my comments was the same as Bionic said: for me, the 12th was much too far up the neck for a perpendicular fret. I place mine at the 6th on my baritone 26.5"-28" boards, which I've found is a good balance of playability, aesthetics, and string tension (tuned B to b w/ GHS .070" strings). So, what ever happened with that build? Hey Doug, I thought I sent a bunch of feedback to you--one of the main points being what I stated here. In a nutshell, it will be extremely difficult at best, painful at worst, to play in the first position & suggested placing the perp fret @ 6 or 7, and reducing the disparity between the two scale lengths by a half inch or so on either the bass or treble side (2" is a bit extreme at these shorter scales). I did want to say that the quality of the board was top-notch, and the faux binding was a really nice touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 The weather outside is really not conducive to guitar work...but I am not going to complain about rain after last year's drought...(and the fact we are still behind on rain)...all I managed to do today was cut out the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I like that shape. It's better than the Jackson you referred to. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Well,it's just similar to it...my own design I drew a few years back,but haven't ever used.I drew it for super strats then stopped making them.Glad you like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntinDoug Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 The HS looks good. You let me know if the 12th perp fret feels funny to you when it's done. If it does, I'll get you another fretboard with a different layout for the next project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Thanks for the offer,I'll let you know...but yours is certainly not the only one like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 That shape looks good. Going for a straight pull? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Straight as I can and still keep some aesthetic value Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 yeah, a 12th fret perp is not a flaw- just promotes a different playing style. i do prefer 3-9 fora good alrounder but shredding on a 12th fret perp will be no problem i once saw one with a straight bridge and very angled nut - it certainly made some first position chords difficult but most were still viable. I have one of doug's neck/fretboards ready to go - looking forward to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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