Thanks for having me

[RVA]

Hello all. I am a guitar player and a fledgling builder. I played guitar as a teen and through college, stopped playing when I started my post college career, and then started again in 2010 after a 15 year layoff. After having a two guitars chipped at shops, I set out to learn how to do my own repairs and maintenance. This became an obsession where I did my very best to get "starter" guitars to play like my higher end guitars. I had mixed success in this regard, but I learned a lot. From there I began working with unfinished parts. Over the the past 12 months I have managed to complete 3 builds begin my 4th (body only - no necks so far). 

I look forward to sharing, learning and enjoying the company of fellow guitar enthusiasts. 

[Bizman62]

Hello and welcome!

Waiting eagerly to see your stories and pictures.

 

[RVA]

2 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Hello and welcome!

Waiting eagerly to see your stories and pictures.

 

Thanks for asking!!

 

Build 1

[url=https://postimg.cc/q6LBvhpR][img]https://i.postimg.cc/3WMk9m6g/PXL_20211018_022953573_copy_756x1008.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimg.cc/k6WXLYZW][img]https://i.postimg.cc/cHbggVBk/PXL_20211018_023028050_copy_756x1008.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimg.cc/YLkq7fKZ][img]https://i.postimg.cc/tJn1h2rq/PXL_20211018_022937399_copy_756x1008.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimg.cc/bsykH1Dm][img]https://i.postimg.cc/VLMgwRYP/PXL_20211018_023232506_copy_756x1008.jpg[/img][/url]

 

 

[RVA]

Sorry. My PostImage links don't appear. If anyone can help me figure out how to link here, I would appreciate it. I hate to burden your server with uploads

 

But for now, here are some resized photos of build 1. Spalted and burl maple on Mahogany 

 

 

[RVA]

Build # 2.  Walnut in walnut 

 

 

[curtisa]

Good to have you here

58 minutes ago, RVA said:

Sorry. My PostImage links don't appear. If anyone can help me figure out how to link here, I would appreciate it. I hate to burden your server with uploads

The forum doesn't accept BBCode links, so you need to post the raw HTTP link instead. So your original link:

Quote

[url=https://postimg.cc/q6LBvhpR][img]https://i.postimg.cc/3WMk9m6g/PXL_20211018_022953573_copy_756x1008.jpg[/img][/url]

,,,needs to have all the [img] and [url] tags deleted and be abbreviated to:

Quote

https://i.postimg.cc/3WMk9m6g/PXL_20211018_022953573_copy_756x1008.jpg

If the forum software can resolve the link the image should display automatically:

Or you can just upload your images directly to your posts. Don't sweat the server overhead; we have that largely covered by the charitable nature of our members via Patreon.

[RVA]

2 minutes ago, curtisa said:

Good to have you here

The forum doesn't accept BBCode links, so you need to post the raw HTTP link instead. So your original link:

,,,needs to have all the [img] and [url] tags deleted and be abbreviated to:

If the forum software can resolve the link the image should display automatically:

Or you can just upload your images directly to your posts. Don't sweat the server overhead; we have that largely covered by the charitable nature of our members via Patreon.

Thank you for the advice

[Bizman62]

8 hours ago, curtisa said:

Or you can just upload your images directly to your posts.

In the long run that's a better option especially if there's something in the photos that can help learning a thing or getting an idea for designing. There's tons of dead links in the early posts most likely because the image hosting license of the poster has expired.

How coincidental, you seem to like the Gibsony 3-way switch between the pots - and that's exactly what I've done in my latest build!

 

[RVA]

4 hours ago, Bizman62 said:

In the long run that's a better option especially if there's something in the photos that can help learning a thing or getting an idea for designing. There's tons of dead links in the early posts most likely because the image hosting license of the poster has expired.

How coincidental, you seem to like the Gibsony 3-way switch between the pots - and that's exactly what I've done in my latest build!

 

I find that layout simple convenient. I am also a fan of rear routing on drop tops so it works well, I think. Are pics of your latest on the site? 

Your builds and the others I have seen here are very impressive. I  have much to learn!

[Bizman62]

3 hours ago, RVA said:

I find that layout simple convenient. I am also a fan of rear routing on drop tops so it works well,

Good arguments!

Do your switches work up-down or right-left? Why? Have you tried the other option or did you just follow your instinct?

[RVA]

6 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Good arguments!

Do your switches work up-down or right-left? Why? Have you tried the other option or did you just follow your instinct?

Up/down positioning of the switches for me. I had never reflected in why, but I guess because:

- It feels quicker, at least in one direction (down).

- This seems to me to be the best way to keep your hand in position as moving the hand rearward is an unusual motion for guitar players, where as up and down is happening all the time. 

I have not tried a 3 way in the right/left direction, but I have played with traditional tele controls and it was not comfortable for me. I even thought about getting a control plate with a slanted switch slot but never got around to it.  

[Bizman62]

Thanks! Up/down indeed must be faster although I put mine left/right, maybe because of tradition. Slanted Tele switches may be targeted for hardcore Strat players... And the joy of a Gibby switch is that it can be slanted any direction! All that said, my understanding of using the switch during a certain song is very limited. I've seen vids about very good players switching amidst a solo, maybe because they think that certain positions on the fretboard require another pickup but for me that's something I can't judge.

[RVA]

19 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Thanks! Up/down indeed must be faster although I put mine left/right, maybe because of tradition. Slanted Tele switches may be targeted for hardcore Strat players... And the joy of a Gibby switch is that it can be slanted any direction! All that said, my understanding of using the switch during a certain song is very limited. I've seen vids about very good players switching amidst a solo, maybe because they think that certain positions on the fretboard require another pickup but for me that's something I can't judge.

Yes, quick pickup switching and knob manipulation without losing time in the song is a skill set I have not mastered (among many others). As a home player, the pressure to execute does not happen unless I turn on that darn, unforgiving recoding device!

BTW, there were so many posts and pics for which I wanted to hit like, but it seems I am presently limited in that regard. So let me say that I am both humbled and inspired by the work here. I look forward to raising my skills to the next level and the info on this forum will be of great help

 

[Bizman62]

18 minutes ago, RVA said:

BTW, there were so many posts and pics for which I wanted to hit like, but it seems I am presently limited in that regard.

Hehe... I totally understand, believe me! I was out of "likes" in the beginning as well. To stay alert of what's happening "now" I first marked all posts "read" so I could concentrate on the latest topics - after all the same questions rise up all the time so joining an ongoing discussion makes more sense to me than reading ancient comments of inactive members. That doesn't mean there isn't anything to learn about in the old posts and every now and then one of them resurrects for a while.

[RVA]

Anyway here is my last build

 

 

 

 

And my current build - Finally another shape!!

 

 

 

I have much to learn, but I am happy with my progress so far considering I have no experience with the trades (suit and tie guy here) and I started scratch building a year ago.

 

[Professor Woozle]

I like the figure on that last one - burr walnut?

[RVA]

40 minutes ago, Professor Woozle said:

I like the figure on that last one - burr walnut?

Thank you.  Yes, walnut top and alder back

[Bizman62]

Before boosting your ego more, please tell about the bodies. I couldn't quite grasp whether you built them from scratch or from readily shaped and routed blanks.

[RVA]

1 hour ago, Bizman62 said:

Before boosting your ego more, please tell about the bodies. I couldn't quite grasp whether you built them from scratch or from readily shaped and routed blanks.

All the bodies were built from scratch from blanks. And I assure you, what little ego I had is gone after spending time here!!

[Bizman62]

8 hours ago, RVA said:

All the bodies were built from scratch from blanks.

In that case I must say you really do a nice job with your router! And your sanding looks outstanding.

[RVA]

15 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

In that case I must say you really do a nice job with your router! And your sanding looks outstanding.

Thank you for the compliment.  After seeing your work, it means a lot to me.

[mistermikev]

On 5/11/2022 at 1:16 PM, RVA said:

Sorry. My PostImage links don't appear. If anyone can help me figure out how to link here, I would appreciate it. I hate to burden your server with uploads

 

But for now, here are some resized photos of build 1. Spalted and burl maple on Mahogany 

 

 

you had me at tele-w-p90s.  nice job.

[RVA]

9 hours ago, mistermikev said:

you had me at tele-w-p90s.  nice job.

Thank you very much. I enjoyed your build threads and videos!

[mistermikev]

14 hours ago, RVA said:

Thank you very much. I enjoyed your build threads and videos!

well thank you for saying so.