SerpentineGtars Posted May 23, 2013 Report Share Posted May 23, 2013 Before I started this build, I had planned on taking full photo sequences of the guitars production. Unfortunately, I did not get the photos I wanted so I will be documenting this build from the point I'm currently at, with the hope of photo sequences for certain "procedures", such as the inlay work that will be undertaken on this particular guitar. So, this build is a private commission for a UK based client with the following spec... Swamp Ash body with Flame Maple top (carve-top) One-piece Indian Rosewood neck (set-neck) Ebony fretboard 25.5" scale length 20" radius 24 frets (Jescar Jumbo Stainless Steel) PRS 513-style Paua fretboard inlays Grover machine heads (Gold) GraphTech Resomax NW2 bridge (Gold) JBE Pickups (T/T neck and bridge, SC middle) Trans Red Gloss finish w/ natural faux-binding (body and headstock face only) Progress so far: The Swamp Ash has been planed, joined and thicknessed (currently 34mm but due to be thicknessed down to 26mm to take the (new) Flame Maple top we're using). Looking at the first picture in this post, there is some Flame Maple laying underneath the Ash, this has since been replaced with a thicker top (3/4" when planed and thicknessed for gluing to the Ash). This Maple top shown is what we'll be using for this build. The neck will be a one-piece affair with 12 degree headstock angle (to which a Flame Maple veneer will be glued) and volute. The face has been planed/sanded flat ready to take the Ebony fretboard and a Truss Rod channel routed. The next step will be working on the fretboard; fret slots and inlay work. I'll be using some stunning Paua shell blanks (imported from Israel) for the inlays, which are based on the PRS 513 birds. I have glued on some headstock ears, followed by a Flame Maple veneer (bookmatched) to the head face... The neck profile has been roughed in - including angled heel (2 degree angle) and volute... The Flame Maple top has been jointed and glued, soon to be thicknessed down to 16mm and glued to the Ash (26mm thick)... Further updates coming this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted May 23, 2013 Report Share Posted May 23, 2013 I was looking at your guitars just recently.I remember the V.Nice examples of "natural" builds(or that is what I call it when the wood is visible and the pores are showing.) I am a big fan of the style. Oops.Just noticed this is not your first topic.Oh well it hardly matters.The sentiment is the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oblaty Posted May 23, 2013 Report Share Posted May 23, 2013 wow! can´t wait to see the progress on this one! stunning build so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted May 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2013 Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Where did you acquire the Indian Rosewood blank from for the neck? It's so scarce in good large straight pieces! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted May 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Where did you acquire the Indian Rosewood blank from for the neck? It's so scarce in good large straight pieces! Exotic Hardwoods UK Ltd in their Instrument Wood section < Google them. I don't normally like buying milled timber/blanks specifically for instruments like this as you pay a premium, but it's expensive stuff and I didn't want to buy more than I needed. You could also Google hardwood suppliers and find someone that might have some off cuts, but the Exotic Hardwoods stuff was quartersawn and nicely seasoned (I believe it's reclaimed timber). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Yeah, I know of Exotic Hardwoods and you're correct about the premium. Still, when "instrument" wood is good then the premium exists to soak up losses and work put into controlled drying/storage. Certainly, in the visakoivu I have ready to go into the kiln there are a lot of knots which I am having to plan around in order to get good material for archtop back/sides or even LP-size 3/4" bookmatched tops. For general use outside of instruments I could happily include those as minor faults (being sound knots) but they're going to have to go the way of the Dodo. Newer-growth Rosewood is rarely straight whereas yours appears straighter than as not. I wouldn't like to imagine what you paid charged the customer for it! Actually, I would. ;-) Looking forward to seeing this one develop and perhaps seeing your first GOTM entry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted May 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Yeah, I know of Exotic Hardwoods and you're correct about the premium. Still, when "instrument" wood is good then the premium exists to soak up losses and work put into controlled drying/storage. Certainly, in the visakoivu I have ready to go into the kiln there are a lot of knots which I am having to plan around in order to get good material for archtop back/sides or even LP-size 3/4" bookmatched tops. For general use outside of instruments I could happily include those as minor faults (being sound knots) but they're going to have to go the way of the Dodo. Newer-growth Rosewood is rarely straight whereas yours appears straighter than as not. I wouldn't like to imagine what you paid charged the customer for it! Actually, I would. ;-) Looking forward to seeing this one develop and perhaps seeing your first GOTM entry? Exactly the same as I paid... honestly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Nothing to be embarrassed about. When you buy loaves of bread, you're not expecting to pay the price it costs to grow a few square metres of rye :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted May 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2013 I was being serious Customers pay what I pay for materials unless there's extra work to be done on top of the standard build stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 I just saw this having a random click through luthier shops: http://www.tonewood.es/product.php?id_product=857 (too bad this is the guys with 200 EUR minimum order) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Yep. Frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted May 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 I just saw this having a random click through luthier shops: http://www.tonewood.es/product.php?id_product=857 (too bad this is the guys with 200 EUR minimum order) They're not bad prices either! Would even consider a bulk order if I knew for sure that their stock was good quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 I haven't bought from them due to this 200 EUR thing, I'm just starting up with guitar building as a hobby. I think some people over here must have ordered something though. I agree that the prices are good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Perhaps we should organise a group buy for members in the EU if we have sufficient interest. Not sure if it would save us that much after shipping of course but worth looking into nonetheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted May 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Perhaps we should organise a group buy for members in the EU if we have sufficient interest. Not sure if it would save us that much after shipping of course but worth looking into nonetheless. Shipping is only £23 to the UK for £200 of goods, so probably not feasible to start splitting up an order getting everyone their part of the order. Good idea if everyone was living in the same area though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 True. Shipping and a minimum order doesn't quite cut it as much as a quantity discount might. I noted they also don't do Rosewood in pieces large enough for bass neck, at least on the site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted May 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 No, and having had a proper look around at what else they have on their site price-wise, it looks like stock's either really nicely priced or too expensive! I wouldn't pay their body blank prices and I couldn't justify spending £200 out-right on neck blanks and fretboards alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted May 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 Started off bit slow this week; the Flame Maple top is now glued to the Swamp Ash body and routed to shape. The Maple still needs a fair bit of sanding, but I'll be doing this once the carve-top is finished... The back (Swamp Ash)... Close-up of the Maple-to-Ash glue join... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted June 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2013 A small photo update/taster of what's (been) going on lately. Basically, the headstock shape (Serpentine Guitar's new 3x3 shape) has been routed and work on cutting/shaping the inlays (15th fret inlay shown below)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsullysix Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 I'm all for people selling their builds and all, but how is this not an outright copy of an Ormsby? Sully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 That's something these guys'll need to hammer out themselves I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted June 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 I'm all for people selling their builds and all, but how is this not an outright copy of an Ormsby? Sully Ok, looks like there's a bit of an issue over my headstock design here... Similar comments were also said on the Ultimate Guitar forum too. Basically, as I explained there, it is extremely difficult to come up with totally original designs nowadays as there are so many already, and in this case, it's purely coincidental and I would have no intention of deliberately ripping off one of Ormsby's designs. Although I would recognise his 6-inline headstock shape, I had not seen his 3x3 shape (of which mine resembles) enough until I Googled it yesterday to consciously copy it. With this coming to light in such early days of me using this particular headstock design, I will be withdrawing it as an option on my custom and stock builds and making my way "back to the drawing board" in an attempt to come up with an alternative 3x3 shape for Serpentine Guitars. Ormsby; if you're reading this, my apologies for any concerns or offence I may have caused. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 (edited) I'm all for people selling their builds and all, but how is this not an outright copy of an Ormsby? Sully Not to be contentious here, but both are much identical to a PRS headstock with "slight" modifications. Id say they are both equally different from each other as they are from a PRS! I mean... cmon...http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/116/1347db8d01024971b1302369a8f3ef75/l.jpg Vs http://www.obmart.com/images/MickEquipment/PRSArtistHeadstock.jpg That aside, the build is looking sick! Edited June 11, 2013 by bob123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 That's not the point though. A Yamaha Pacifica headstock (for example) is derived from the Fender Strat style. It doesn't mean that a headstock which highly resembles it can be defended by saying they are both Stratish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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