curtisa Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Back aboard the bandwagon then for my yearly build. Targets: Neck - 5 piece blackwood/celery top pine with jarrah accents Fretboard - gidgee Frets - 24 jumbo Scale length - 25" - 26", perpendicular at 9th fret Tuners - Hipshot Griplock in chrome, 3 per side Body - blackwood with eucalyptus burl cap Pickups - EMG 57/66 set in brushed chrome Bridge - ABM independent saddles in chrome Electronics - 1x vol, 3-way switch In keeping with my "try something new every build" approach I'm going to have a go at binding the body, neck and headstock and chambering the blackwood body. I also have a second piece of gidgee, a big plank of myrtle, leftover celery top pine and lots of jarrah veneer, so I may make two necks to similar specs concurrently to see what effect it has on the instrument...and as an incentive to build yet another guitar, I'll have a leftover neck! For now though here's the blackwood neck undergoing its gestation: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Will the EMGs line up while angled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted May 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Not going to be angling the EMGs, they'll be perpendicular to the centre line. Also experimenting with carbon fibre neck reinforcement. Two 6mm x 4mm bars either side of the trussrod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I love the jig to make the fret slots. I'm considering to make a multiscale one, but I was always afraid about the angled pickups... Placing them perpendicular seems to be an alternative, but not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted May 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Other option is to take a regular pickup and twist it around, which is exactly what I did with the first Wonky Frets. Perpendicular pickups on a multiscale can result in a warmer tone on the bass strings, especially at the bridge position as the sensing part of the pickup on the bass side is further from the saddles than the treble. I'm not going for a too extreme fan, so the gap behind the bridge pickup won't be too severe, and I've heard enough sound examples of perp-mounted EMG 57/66s on multiscale guitars to be reasonably satisfied that I'll be happy with the sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I'm looking forward to seeing this one develope! I like the idea of trying new things with each build. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 I love the jig to make the fret slots. Agreed, really nice jig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 Yeah, I'm stealing that jig idea. hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted May 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 Cheers guys. I can't claim to be the original owner of that idea. It's already been stolen from someone else by me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted May 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2015 Been a bit too busy to spend much time on this, but have pressed on with some work where I managed to find time. Have had to spend a bit of time flooding areas of the top blanks with CA to shore up some of the weak burl before being able to joint the edges for glueing. Blackwood body blank glued up: Started on the myrtle neck: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Two neck blanks on the go: Top is glued and getting a bit of planing to remove the fuzzies from the saw blade. Still need to fill those two large knots with epoxy before going too much further, as they're quite flaky inside at the moment: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 That's one badass top. Those voids would look super-insane if you filled them using this idea: http://www.instructables.com/id/Glow-table/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Love those necks... I wish I could make them like that. That's one badass top. Those voids would look super-insane if you filled them using this idea: http://www.instructables.com/id/Glow-table/ That filler rocks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Hmmm. Now you've got me a-thinkin'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted May 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Planning chambers: Routing chambers. There's actually a bit of room behind the upper cutaway for a tiny chamber. I'm probably being a bit pedantic putting it in though. It would be smaller in area than the battery compartment at the bottom of the body: Fresh off the bandsaw: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 For someone claiming to be too busy to get much done.......you sure got a lot done whilst I was out traveling about. That top........man, this is going to be a stunner! SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Cheers Scott. There was a couple of weeks where I didn't get a chance to do anything with this one, but last weekend I had a clear run to finish off the second neck blank and get the body underway. We have a 3-day weekend coming up, so I should be able to plough on a bit further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted June 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 Postman brought me some goodies yesterday. Will save this one for a future build (for the second neck blank, possibly?): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 Postman brought me some goodies yesterday. Will save this one for a future build (for the second neck blank, possibly?): SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted June 7, 2015 Report Share Posted June 7, 2015 That's one badass top. Those voids would look super-insane if you filled them using this idea: http://www.instructables.com/id/Glow-table/ I worked in a Japanese company years ago where we processed luminescent materials. We had red and blue phosphor that was white...until you shone UV light on it, then it was a vibrant blue or red. I may need to call them for some samples... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Good call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted June 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Might save the luminescent epoxy fill for a different build. I reckon the top on this will be loud enough by itself. Sod it - added a weeny chamber above the neck pickup anyway. A little more weight relief can't hurt, and the burl top just about doubles the weight of the body as it is: For RAD (if he's watching): Binding channel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 You gonna carve that burl? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted June 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 You bet. Picked up a new toy to experiment with the carving process too: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 At first glance I thought that was one of those chain saw blade looking things. Scared me. Second look shows it to be something a bit more subtle. I'm looking forward to your reviews.I'm hoping you've got some offcuts of that burl to test against chip out? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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