SerpentineGtars Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Back after a few months' absence, I have been working on various large projects, including guitar repairs and a number of forthcoming commissions. At the moment, I have one priority build in progress that I picked up a couple of weeks ago after a break from, which is a standard Superstrat carve-top. I have decided to add an element of curiosity and surprise to my future threads, so don't expect to see the full picture until the guitar is finished. So, to start us off, here's a run down of what we have achieved so far with build #SG1013... The body is a two-piece Ash with 17mm thick Flame Maple top: The neck is one-piece reclaimed Indian Rosewood with Ebony fretboard and Flame Maple headstock face: Custom inlays are a copy of the PRS 513 birds, recesses routed with a 0.8mm Dremel bit: Paua Abalone inlays glued in and cleaned up: Work has started on the body's carve-top - rough contours routed in steps, ready for hand carving. The full carve depth is 9mm, with 8mm depth left in the Flame Maple for faux-binding: This build will continue shortly with more photos - watch this space! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 I always love a beefy top. Wish i could comment elsewhere, but the pics are pretty ambiguoua haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 I always love a beefy top. Wish i could comment elsewhere, but the pics are pretty ambiguoua haha Don't worry, I will reveal more as I go along :o) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCRoadie Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 I love the mystery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 Carve-top 90% complete (by hand). Forgot I'd run out of pads for the oribital sander, so I will finish this off tomorrow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2013 Final contouring complete... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygtr Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 That's a really nice carve. Can't wait to see some finish on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Nice! Looks like a more extreme ran type carve. Do you ever have problems wetsanding over top of those curves? Seems like you would burn through in a heart beat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Nice! Looks like a more extreme ran type carve. Do you ever have problems wetsanding over top of those curves? Seems like you would burn through in a heart beat! To be honest, I rarely paint or clearcoat my guitars, preferring oil finishes which don't present so much of a problem when it comes to the sharp edges of the curves. That's a really nice carve. Can't wait to see some finish on there. Thanks crazygtr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Very nice. That is my favorite type of carve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 but how will you make this happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 but how will you make this happen? Ahhhh, I didn't say all Flame Maple carve-tops were oiled... watch this space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 but how will you make this happen? Oh, its possible... Check out this KL with oil and wax finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Thats gorgeous. Tru oil im guessing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Looks as good as the clearcoat finish... What to look out for is the stain lifting as the oil is rubbed in, leaving a patchy finish. Avoid this and once the first coat is on and cured, there shouldn't be any further issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 What about sealing with shellac? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCRoadie Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 The carve is very "dramatic". That blue gtr's finish is off the leash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 A little more progress on #SG1013... Test fit... Volute shaped - needs some more work done to it... Rough heel/neck-transition... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Important body routs (pickups and neck pocket) completed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Nice! Very clean work. Have you ever thought about veneering the back side of the headstock? I love that super clean heel a lot, looks very much like RAN level work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Nice! Very clean work. Have you ever thought about veneering the back side of the headstock? I love that super clean heel a lot, looks very much like RAN level work. Thank you bob123 Being a commission build, the client only wanted the headstock face veneered. However, on this occasion, it would be a shame to hide any more of that Rosewood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 I normally dont like back headstock veneers, but it just seems like it would go well here. The back of my ibanez j custom has a veneer on it, and its very classy for some reason. Looks great the way it is, just verbalizing a thought. Nice! Very clean work. Have you ever thought about veneering the back side of the headstock? I love that super clean heel a lot, looks very much like RAN level work. Thank you bob123 Being a commission build, the client only wanted the headstock face veneered. However, on this occasion, it would be a shame to hide any more of that Rosewood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerpentineGtars Posted October 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2013 Getting closer to finishing stages, just some drilling for the bridge (WD Music humbucker spaced fixed bridge made by Gotoh factory) and final sanding to be done... Edges still to be rounded over properly... A couple of revealing photos that will please a few of you who have been asking for them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 Pictures are gone. Did you edit your photo album? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCRoadie Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Pictures are gone. Did you edit your photo album? Ya, no pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.