killemall8

So, I have come to the conclusion that properly slotting a nut is the absolute hardest part of an entire build. After 8.5 years, i still cant do it right. After playing this guitar for a day, I have also decide that i dont like this neck profile as much. I tried to make it a little more flat and trapezoidal, but i really prefer my thinner, round shape i used on the SS by far. I am surprised people like the trap/ flat shape necks more.

That is a great piece of quilt! I am sure you will redefine what a great build with quilt will look like, Scott.

Thanks Stu! I had been posting it on their page as it became more completed. Pretty cool to see how many people liked it!

Normally that is what i do, as far as testing with hardware. This one however, was meant to be a full, finished build. I have a set of cheap hardware that i use for testing all of the builds that wont be fully completed. This one has all of the best hardware on it. I normally dont actually have an extra set of pickups around. As far as the offsets, When i was making the template, i drew out a normal explorer. I had an altered explorer template i had made a few years ago, that had the long horn. So i added that to it, and tweaked the thickness and placement of that for a while. For the offsets, i just eyeballed them and moved them around a few times on the drawing. I think that was actually the easiest part. But once i cut the template, i havnt changed it since.

I'll PM You here in a minute. But i will publicly say, i have been undercharging by a ton. A couple of guys that bought my full builds (real, gigging musicians with other high end gear) estimated my builds to be in the 3200$ range.

Thanks Scott. Most of the time they have a few little things that keep it from being perfect. At least in my mind. This one had been planned for a really long time, and everything just went really well. The finish is perfect, the construction is immaculate, and it plays and sounds great. So that is why i dubbed it my best. Here is a teaser pic.

The bubinga is now ready to be assembled. I will have it done within a couple days. This is without a doubt the best guitar i have ever made.

Thanks guys. I really dont like string through. Plus, i would have to order special strings. The low E barley reaches because of the long reverse headstock. MN, the body is 1 3/8" thick at its thickest.

Thanks guys. Stu, I wouldnt have expected it to be liked as much as it is. I feel it looks to vintage, but it was about my only option.

Sorry, been slacking on posts. Been getting a lot of work done, but not much to take pictures of. Here it is with test parts: r. And here is the black SS, refinished

That is some pretty cool looking maple. And i like that it is more brown in color.

kinda crazy how similar we do things. I use that exact method for drilling the wiring holes as well. How thick do you make your super strats, center body measurement?

First coats of clear. Looking good!

You ready for this?

Wenge dust was never as bad as walnut, at least to me. Even cocobolo doesnt bother me at all. but my lungs and throat hate walnut.

I glued the neck in and carved the heel today. It is feeling like a great guitar already! tomorrow i begin the sanding. I am probably going to glue up the second part of the scarf on another neck blank as well. Pics in natural light tomorrow.

I keep forgetting to take pictures during the build process. I have been "In the zone" lately and have a hard time stopping for anything. But here is the bubinga EXP so far. I knocked out everything in 3 days so far. I could have gotten more done today, but had family over.

This is the way i have done it for years. You are right, it is a much better method.

I think I found your guitar pick! I must say, I'm jealous of your lack of snow and lamination ideas. Any technique behind it or just "well I have some maple...and some padauk....oh look there's mahogany too! *Clamp!* We have -15C here and about a foot of the good canadian stuff waiting to melt. I should try my hand at a V again....my first attempt was one and what a mess that was. Freehanded routing! What a crazy 14 year old I was. Haha, i actually dont know what that green thing is. As far as my idea behind laminating, I have either 2 possibilities, Extreme contrast (which this was) and something to match, which is when i use mahogany instead of the maple. And sometimes only do 2 woods, mahogany/walnut/mahogany, walnut, mahogany It rarely snows here. Even though we are over a mile high in elevation, we are a high desert. It did snow the other day for the first time this year, but it is already gone. We are lucky if we get any kind of moisture at all, at any time of the year. The whole state is a fire hazard.

I also agree. Sapele ofen has those squiggles yours has on the back plate.

The V sold faster than i expected. It is on its way to brooklyn!

Looking good! Where did you get that long 12" radius block?

I find that putting the fingerboard on is the first major land mark point for the woodwork side of the build. The neck carve and the top carve etc to me are probably the second landmark stages. This quick video is a response to a request I had but I'll post it here for anyone else who is learning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpWSlrnEMs8&feature=youtu.be I guess it is different for me, since i glue the fretboard on much sooner than you do on your neck thrus.

All looking great so far. to me, once i carve the heel on a set neck, and clean it up, is my favorite part. I just love the way it makes the guitar look like a full guitar.

Thanks wes. i figured that would be right down your isle. Glued up 2 of the neck blanks. One of them is already cut out and ready for fretboard. I will be attempting the Bubinga Explorer next, along side the mahogany carved top.