Popular Post sdshirtman Posted July 24, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 24, 2017 So late last year I started in on a new model based around a Super Strat that I ultimately named the Helix. I wanted to incorporate some things I like in a guitar such as a super thin neck profile, a deeper cutaway, magnetic truss covers and a thinner body and a few other minor things. When I started building the first Helix I broke out the video equipment and documented the entire process. To anyone who's done it you know shooting a build by yourself is a time consuming task. Stopping at each step of the build process to set up a camera slows down the build process considerably. On some tasks it would take me longer to set up the camera than it would to actually complete the task at hand. Over the eight weeks or so it took to complete the build I shot something in the neighborhood of 40 hrs worth of footage. The build was completed late last year but the footage has been sitting untouched on my hard drive for months. With 40 plus hours of footage it was a time consuming task just to roll through and view all the footage I shot just once to see what I had, let alone organize it all and edit it all down to a point to where its viewable. Anyways, after many hours of shooting, months of procrastination and many tedious nights in front of a computer I finally have the first installment complete. Now that I'm at the editing stage I plan on releasing a new installment each week until the series is complete. So with that being said I give you the first 6 min installment of my Helix build series. Part one. ~JW 6 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Cool video! Man, those top to body "clamps" are genius!! Be right back going to buy some allthread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 3 hours ago, 2.5itim said: Cool video! Man, those top to body "clamps" are genius!! Be right back going to buy some allthread. Those are called spool clamps, they're standard operating procedure in acoustic instrument building. Very handy for clamping thin edges with even pressure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Nice one, John. Looks like you stole my two-nail method of lining up the top with the body too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoltar Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Great video, I'm already looking forward to the next installment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Hah gonna be watching these! I did pretty much the exact same thing a few years ago so I can relate to all the comments about taking time to set up the camera and then the time spent managing the tens of hours of footage and distilling that to something watchable. I also ended up releasing it in episodes (otherwise I'd have never finished probably), ended up with 13 parts of 10-15 minutes each. (though mine includes a lot of talking and explanations aimed at people unfamiliar with guitar building) Good job with the first episode! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 13 hours ago, 2.5itim said: Cool video! Man, those top to body "clamps" are genius!! Be right back going to buy some allthread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 2 hours ago, pan_kara said: Hah gonna be watching these! I did pretty much the exact same thing a few years ago so I can relate to all the comments about taking time to set up the camera and then the time spent managing the tens of hours of footage and distilling that to something watchable. I also ended up releasing it in episodes (otherwise I'd have never finished probably), ended up with 13 parts of 10-15 minutes each. (though mine includes a lot of talking and explanations aimed at people unfamiliar with guitar building) Good job with the first episode! ^^^^ This ^^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyjerk Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Yo John, Really enjoyed the video. I've thought about doing one myself, however just the added time of taking detailed pictures, editing the pictures, and posting them to document a build is a huge increase. Probably adds 10-15% more time to the job. Video I have to think is gonna add 50% more to the job itself, and then all the editing into a coherent production after the fact, I decided not to bother. Plus my shop is always such a mess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Shit, I got addicted... waiting for the next episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdshirtman Posted July 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Thanks for all the positive comments. Nice to see people enjoying it. I'll have another episode ready soon. As far as the spool clamps, I made mine similar to the hole saw method but instead used a piece of round stock similar to what you'd find your clothes hanging on in your closet. They're a few dollars at your local home improvement store. Slice and drill as needed and stick some cork on there. I think they ended up costing me something like $0.30 per clamp. I have a bucket full of em. Oh, and they work great for fretboard/neck glue-ups. And to think StewMac sells them for six bucks per. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 That's actually what I was thinking was some pine rod stock from lowes. Thanks for the insight sdshirtman and Carl!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Nice John! I like the idea of using a chalk line over your pencil line for the cutting offset. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sdshirtman Posted July 31, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 Happy Sunday. Heres my next installment. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted July 31, 2017 Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 Very nice work man! Goodness ya could have gotten 3 necks outa that neck blank haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 1, 2017 Report Share Posted August 1, 2017 Stellar work, John. You've really gotten your processes down pat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted August 5, 2017 Report Share Posted August 5, 2017 I only have one problem with your vidoes, you make it look so easy. Really nice work man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdshirtman Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 On 7/31/2017 at 4:03 PM, 2.5itim said: Very nice work man! Goodness ya could have gotten 3 necks outa that neck blank haha Yeah I know. I do the occasional scarf from time to time but sometimes you just gotta make some sacrifices to get what you want. On 8/5/2017 at 5:49 AM, meatloaf said: I only have one problem with your vidoes, you make it look so easy. Really nice work man Well thanks Meatloaf (love that username BTW). What amazes me is just how fast I work on video. Since I'm here I might as well post the latest installment. I unfortunately had some corrupt files and lost some fretting footage which kinda sucks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 That is some impressive work, makes me feel like a ham fisted amature but a joy to watch anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 Excellent treatise on the importance of paying attention to the little details, John. You've pick up some nice toys over the years too. What is that greenish housing over the bit on your dremel? I haven't seen that before. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 I believe that it's a fan that blows away debris. I've seen people 3D print them, but I'm unsure what John did or where he got it from. Certainly more swish than a bit of masking tape! Your fret press head is deflecting a bit, John....mine did that till I replaced the pivot pin with something heavier. I bent the original machine bolt till it broke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdshirtman Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 2 hours ago, ScottR said: Excellent treatise on the importance of paying attention to the little details, John. You've pick up some nice toys over the years too. What is that greenish housing over the bit on your dremel? I haven't seen that before. SR Its the 490 blower from StewMac. http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Routers_and_Bits/Routers/Dremel_490_Dust_Blower.html I got it on a whim during a big order from SM last year. Shit you have to have right? I think it was the subject of ridicule by Sully and friends on one of his Luthierist podcast a few months back. It works but its more trouble than its worth because you can't get bits out without completely loosening the height adjustment on the router guide. I've since switched back to a piece of tape or a fish pump. 1 hour ago, Prostheta said: I believe that it's a fan that blows away debris. I've seen people 3D print them, but I'm unsure what John did or where he got it from. Certainly more swish than a bit of masking tape! Your fret press head is deflecting a big John....mine did that till I replaced the pivot pin with something heavier. I bent the original machine bolt till it broke! Funny you bring that up because I didn't really notice until I reviewed the footage I shot from that angle. Its since been fixed with a shim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 15 minutes ago, sdshirtman said: It works but its more trouble than its worth because you can't get bits out without completely loosening the height adjustment on the router guide. I've since switched back to a piece of tape or a fish pump. It looks like it would obstruct your view of your work piece as well. I use a little hose from an airbrush compressor after asking you what your were using in one of your past builds. And I don't use that very often, since inlaying is way down near the bottom of the list of things I enjoy doing. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 8, 2017 Report Share Posted August 8, 2017 Pantograph.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 8, 2017 Report Share Posted August 8, 2017 8 hours ago, Prostheta said: Pantograph.....! Naw, it's not that. I don't have any problem coming up with designs or rendering them proportionately. It's cutting out those tiny little pieces of shell and routing the tiny little routes. It makes my fingers hurt and my eyes twitch, and uses up my patience in a hurry. Oddly enough, I can carve little details and sand all day and achieve a state of zen. But cutting little pieces of shell twangs my last nerve. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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