fordguy_85 Posted May 18, 2017 Report Share Posted May 18, 2017 Hey guys, first time poster here from SW Virginia. I put together a swamp ash partscaster a couple weeks ago, and wondered if I could build a guitar from scratch or not, so I picked up some materials and decided to give it a go. I tried the outline of one of my Telecasters, and then tweaked it from there. Anyway, here is where I'm at this far... Pine body with a black walnut top. It will have a set of PAF type humbuckers and a Strat style tremolo. I'm going to attempt to build the neck from scratch as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2017 Can't figure out how to upload pics... gimme a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StratsRdivine Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 out of all the forums, this one is the easiest to upload pics, but maybe since you just registered today, it doesnt allow you yet, so give it some time. This is a great forum for new guys with scratch builds - lots of support and great pro info, but not as active as others. Why pine as a base? Either go full walnut, or walnut on top of basswood, alder or maple. Even poplar would be better than pine, as it damages easily, and the grain telegraphs right through to the perfectly flat finish you are hoping for. Cost of wood is so negligible compared to all the other costs you will be putting into it, so get good wood right off the bat. Others might have better suggestions, but you will have a ton of fun either way. Welcome to the forum!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 I used the pine because I had it in the shop, I come from a Telecaster background (many great Tele's are made of pine. It's resonant, light, and has a snappy response and a bright tone.), the walnut I have isn't thick enough for a complete body, no local suppliers of dry hardwood, plus my impatience to not want to wait until green lumber is dry enough to use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Welcome to the forum! Pine is a pain to work with but it has a reputation of sounding great. There was a gorgeous pine build in the GOTM a couple of months or so back. How are you trying to upload pics? SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 I've tried uploading from the photo library directly from my phone, and from photobucket as well, but neither is working... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 29 minutes ago, fordguy_85 said: I've tried uploading from the photo library directly from my phone, and from photobucket as well, but neither is working... Photobucket has been problematic for a while, but uploading to your directly to your thread woks pretty much the same way. There is a choose files link at the bottom of the posting box. Clicking that will open a window on your computer within which you select the pictures you want to upload and then click open. Thumbnails will load to the bottom of your post with a "+" symbol on them. Hitting the plus sign inserts them into your post. If that is what you are attempting to do, and it still is not working, then @curtisa or @Prostheta will need to check your permissions. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 (edited) Aha! Imgur to the rescue! Here I am still getting the top trued up for flatness. Then I have to decide on how I want to carve the top... Edited May 19, 2017 by fordguy_85 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Nice chunk of walnut there. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Yes - nice piece of wood. Walnut is one of my favourites... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariahrob Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Agreed. Very nice piece and really like the tweaks you e made to the shape. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eubie Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Looks like a great project. Beautiful color on that walnut. -- se 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 (edited) No pics, but I took some thickness off of the back of the body with the router yesterday to get back down to around 1-3/4 - 1-7/8 once I sand the back. Also, here is a pic of the other end of my walnut boards... this figured end I wanted to save until I had finished at least one build so as to not risk ruining it. Edited May 23, 2017 by fordguy_85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Lovely feathered crotch figure there. Is that black walnut? It almost is colorful enough to be claro. It is amazing difficult to make complementary comments about crotch figure without sounding creepy. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Thanks Scott. It is indeed Black Walnut, but the color is off a bit in the picture on account of the red shift from what it's laying on. And, yes, it is very difficult to talk about crotch figuring without raising eyebrows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mateyboy Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Good luck with the build! I am also a first timer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 Still cleaning up the pickup routs, tummy cut, and trem rout. Also drilled holes for the controls, and have yet to rout out the control cavities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 The pickups are backwards because I don't have the control cavity in the back to run the wires to, but here's what it oughta look like... The lines drawn are guidelines for carving the top 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eubie Posted May 30, 2017 Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 Looks like you are making great progress. How are you doing the body carving? Rasps, angle grinder, gouges? -- se Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 I ended up using a farriers rasp, what I think is an auto body rasp, and an angle grinder... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eubie Posted May 30, 2017 Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 21 minutes ago, fordguy_85 said: I ended up using a farriers rasp, what I think is an auto body rasp, and an angle grinder... Nice - I'd love to see more pics from some different angles that show the contours. -- se Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordguy_85 Posted May 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 I'll try to get some pics here in a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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