SOLLYGTRS Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 Hi guys! I’ve been following this forums for a while now. I really appreciate all the knowledge that has been on here. It has helped me a lot. My first two builds were not up to the standards that many of you have shown, but I did learn a lot. I had limited tools on hand. In fact, I built both guitars with three tools: jig saw, router, power drill. I need to prove to myself that I could build a guitar that was functional before investing in more expensive tools. Below is a pic of my first build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 My second guitar still needs a few things like knobs and pickup rings, but the quAlity of the build is much better that my first. Also pictured is a neck that I’m working on for a body someone gave me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 My current build will be a modern version of o rod my favorite guitars that I owned as a kid. It was an Ibanez RG550. I’ve own much more expensive guitars including a 58 Custom Shop Strat that I currently own, but if I could have my RG550 back, I’d trade them all. Below are a couple of pics of the ash body that I’ve build so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 Nice progression of skills and results on show and warm welcome to the growing band of builders on this excellent forum I like the look of your latest body very much! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 1 hour ago, Andyjr1515 said: Nice progression of skills and results on show and warm welcome to the growing band of builders on this excellent forum I like the look of your latest body very much! Ditto - and welcome! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 Welcome to the madhouse. 1 hour ago, Andyjr1515 said: I like the look of your latest body very much! I can feel another 'Are You Being Served' moment just around the corner... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquorice Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 Great looking RG body, nice piece of ash. I did also my first two bodyshapes with drill, jigsaw and router, that was a tough job. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 Welcome! Not so long ago I was doing body shaping with a jigsaw and a robosander Good luck with the RG! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 Thanks for the welcome guys! I’m glad to be here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 welcome fellow Georgian!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 (edited) I got some work done this weekend. I finished up my 2nd neck and I did some carving on my body. The neck is wormy maple. I love the knots and colors that the worms make. I did have to fill one hole on the back of the headstock. It’s going on a tele body someone gave me. The body is ash, but it seems to have some slight flaming in places. I’ve never noticed this on ash before, but I’m new to this stuff so I’m sure you guys will enlighten me. I did a little carving in it, but I had another question. Do guys that build these types of bodies do a round over on the edges? Maybe 1/8th? Edited January 17, 2018 by SOLLYGTRS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquorice Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Yeah there can be flames in ash or oak or what not, I think it looks great. I have few flamed ash veneers on my thread that might be going on top of my guitars. 11 hours ago, SOLLYGTRS said: I did a little carving in it, but I had another question. Do guys that build these types of bodies do a round over on the edges? Maybe 1/8th? I have done my roundings with 3mm radius bit (roughly 1/8th), It feels great in my hands and looks nice also. But there is that one ancient Ibanez drawing from the stone age lingering around web and it says that those edges are rounded with 2,5mm radius ( 1/10th). Houli bools I can´t remember if "it" is with a capital letter or not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 10 minutes ago, Liquorice said: Yeah there can be flames in ash or oak or what not, I think it looks great. I have few flamed ash veneers on my thread that might be going on top of my guitars. I have done my roundings with 3mm radius bit (roughly 1/8th), It feels great in my hands and looks nice also. But there is that one ancient Ibanez drawing from the stone age lingering around web and it says that those edges are rounded with 2,5mm radius ( 1/10th). Houli bools I can´t remember if "it" is with a capital letter or not. I also would round the edges - even if a very tight radius as you and @Liquorice suggest. Makes a big difference to the feel, it makes finishing easier (finish hates sharp edges), and it will be much less susceptible to damage. I like the figuring on the neck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Thanks guys, that’s what I was thinking but I wasn’t sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 I agree, that's a great looking neck. As far as whether it is okay to round over the edges and how much radius to use.....there are no rules in guitar building beyond making it structurally sound and getting the scale right. Do what pleases your eye and feels right in your hands. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted January 18, 2018 Report Share Posted January 18, 2018 If you do a small radius, you can always make it bigger Lovely woods btw 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 Well, the day was progressing seamlessly with the completion of the top carve.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 (edited) ... then I got in too big of a hurry and tried to use the router to round off the edge on the back without clamping ( no router table yet)... .... NO GOOD!!! Oh well a quick sawdust and glue mix filled it in, but now I guess I going to try my first burst finish on this one. Edited January 21, 2018 by SOLLYGTRS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 (edited) Today I drilled out the truss rod channel to help the router. Then a cut two fretboards blanks. Somebody call the fire dept because I see flames! 🔥 A little sawdust and Titebond fixed up my goof. Edited January 22, 2018 by SOLLYGTRS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted January 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2018 I finally finished this one. It’s been at 90% done for the last month, but I was working on other projects. It sounds and plays great, well better than my first one anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted February 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) I’ve got my first scarf joint neck progressing. It’s been a little bit of a struggle, but it’s coming around. The neck has a really heavy flame on the back. I’m hoping to have it fretted by the end of the weekend. I ordered the pickups for it too. It’s going to have DiMarzio Super Distortion and a PAF Pro. Of course it will have a Floyd too to continue the theme. The stuff around the nut area is a glue sawdust mixture to hide the veneer I overlayed. It will be sanded off of course. if you guys see anything I’m doing wrong, let me know. I’m an absolute newb. Edited February 1, 2018 by SOLLYGTRS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StratsRdivine Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 You appear to be having fun, and this stage is definitely fun. Personally, I would round your body by hand, and round more at the top horn to remove the router dig. Utilize the dig as a design challenge. Next time you take a router to the top, like if you decided to use a larger radius roundover, cut scrap wood to fit around the guitar horns flush with the body face so that the router has solid support and doesn't drop over the end of the horn to dig further. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted February 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 9 hours ago, StratsRdivine said: You appear to be having fun, and this stage is definitely fun. Personally, I would round your body by hand, and round more at the top horn to remove the router dig. Utilize the dig as a design challenge. Next time you take a router to the top, like if you decided to use a larger radius roundover, cut scrap wood to fit around the guitar horns flush with the body face so that the router has solid support and doesn't drop over the end of the horn to dig further. Thank you for tip on the router! I will certainly do that next time. The gash on the horn was the backside. I was hoping to leave it on the flat side. I'll put a coat of sealer on it when the time comes to see how it looks. I may carver it out more if it patch-up stands out. The body carve is almost done now. I didn't mean for it to happen, but it's basically the same carve that's on the PRS S2 Custom 22/24. That's not where I was going with this at all. This was supposed to be a Charvel/Jackson/JEM inspired type of deal, but I just carved too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted February 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 I was lucky enough to get a lot of time in this weekend. I was able to finish one up and fret a neck I’m working on. First the fretting, taping and pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLLYGTRS Posted February 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 Now for the one I finished. The unique this on this one is the neck radius. It’s 6.5. I had a 58 Strat with a 7.25 inch radius and though why not try some even rounder. This also is the debut of my new headstock logo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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