El Dangerouso

Melodic Minor or Harmonic Minor will do the trick 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7. The iii-VII progression is a less simple answer, but a "minor" Lydian with both a b7 and a 7 would do the trick 1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7, 7. You could drop the 2 if you wanted to get it back to a seven-tone scale. You could also just play some minor scale (pentatonic, Dorian, Phrygian, Aeolian) for the iii, and a major (major pent., Ionian, Lydian) over the VII. I don't know how Mixolydian would fare over the VII, with its b7. Might bring some cool tension to the mix, especially as a carry over from the iii. Major pentatonic might actually be the best choice over both. Some "blues" ambiguity introduced by having both the b3 and 3, and you stay away from the tricky question of 4s and 7s altogether.

If you aren't going to believe the answer, why ask the question? You could go to Guitar Center and measure a Dime for yourself. You would then have first-hand knowledge of whether it fits.

The Reranch stuff is really worth the money. Dead-on repro of the finishes and easy to use. I did my guitar, "The Shredocaster" with their Copper Tone Metallic. I also used their grain filler, S and S, Primer and clear(at least one can). I finished the clear with the Deft stuff from Lowes. Check the In Progress and Finished thread if you want to see pics.

Can we find out what gear you used to do the recording? Do you use a stand alone, or a PC? If PC, what stuff?

For me, I direct you to the final line of "Atlas Shrugged"....."...and he traced the sign of the dollar in the air." So right, so very right.

Very Cool! It gave me a very Satch-Engines of Creation era vibe. Sweet blender of styles, Batman! I'm afraid that I do have to notify you that you violated the "no posting cool soundbytes without accompanying powertab file" rule. For that....you must post more cool stuff! On another note, I need to get one posted of the Shredocaster. Maybe I'll work on that this weekend.

I knew the dancing banana wasn't the only reason for thinking you were a genius!

In fact, the middle pickup ring is UNDER the Bridge pickup ring, totally intentional. I never really wanted the middle pickup to be "middle pickup" sounding. I wanted to get it as close to the bridge as possible. There is only a wafer-thin piece of wood separating (seperating?) the two cavities. That was also the reason I angled it.

Good idea. My only worry is that they went in TIGHT. I don't want to jack up the finish by pulling 'em out. I may give it a shot, and if I get weak-kneed you can't blame me.

Yes, I used the Dremel with a (obviously) small routing bit, and a routing base. Stew Mac's is great, but I opted for the Dremel one for half the price. Routed out that small bit perfectly. I agree, the recess-mount is a good, clean look, and only a bit more work.

This may or may not surprise you, but I'm totally with you on the binding. I had no choice with the tummy cut, that was driven by a tool limitation, but I wish I would have taken the horn binding farther too. That's why there's always a next time. I guess the headstock/body thing doesn't bother me as much, but I see what you're talking about. I tought about something else, but I wanted room for a decal, and, what can I say, I went unoriginal. On the dots, if I had it to do all over again, I would do it with them pushed over to the bass side, but I love the pickup covers. The chrome/black was a repeating thing I was going for. I appreciate the comments. It's really helping fuel my thoughts for the next one. Thanks! As for the flames, the offer stands to see it in person, and like I said, I'll try and get some better pics of 'em.

Let's hear the opinions...after four years at West Point and six in the Army, my hide is bulletproof, let alone thick. As for the flames in the pictures, they are hard to see. In the first one, look at the "Parker carve" by the top horn; you can see the edge of one of the flames. In the third down, if you follow the side of the trem out you can see the body of one of the tips. You can pick it up if you look at the edge between the shade and sun. Hard to see, I know. I'll try and get some better pics of the flames.....just one of those things that are hard to pick up on camera. If you're ever in DFW, let me know, you can stop by to see them.

The Earvana really helps with the open chords. Using the Piezo, you can really hear it. As far as intonation across the rest of the neck, it says it helps, but I have a hard time telling a huge difference. I tried to do everything in satin, but it wasn't to be. Some parts I could only get in straight chrome. Satin chrome/nickel is my favorite finish.

You CAN still see the lines a little. You have to be up close. I think that one falls in the "good enough for government work" category. I used approx. 80% of a can of nitro to get to that point. I'm pretty impatient by nature, and just about everything in this project tested me to the limit. I think one thing that might help besides cutting it close as possible, is taking a piece of scrap and cutting it to the same shape. You could use some double sided tape and "mask" the decal. Once you get some buildup with the nitro or poly, you could pull the mask, and then you could avoid having to get a huge buildup and then sand back to keep the area around the decal from being "proud" of the rest of the headstock. Bottom line, I think it's the best way to get that Fender-looking decal with the metal pen letters.

Thanks, for all the comments! Well, the paint isn't screwed up, but I could do a whole thread on what I learned about finishing doing this guitar. It's still my weakest point. I followed the instructions of the Reranch to the letter. Still, not even I am totally satisfied. I guess if we were all perfect out of the gate, we wouldn't be building so many guitars. I've already started collecting ideas for the next. I was worried that the ghost flames would be too complex(I had already screwed up enough stuff) and also overbearing for the final look of the guitar. I was going for subtle/shred. As far as the AANJ goes, in some ways, I wish I had done one instead. No doubt that it gives the best access on a 24 fretter. However, I also really wanted to use the "Big F" neck plate. That tied my hands somewhat. I "had" to give that nod to Fender, after having grown up in Fullerton. No doubt she's not perfect, but I was going for different, and wanted to meet some requirements I had for my playing. Maybe a bit too complex for a first build, but I took my time best as I could; spent six months building it. I was overjoyed to find out that she sounds great, and may easily overtake my #1 slot. I made it to play, so I can't really be upset with the outcome there.

Real Satch autograph, got it at the Dallas Guitar Show. He did a set of some of the tunes off the Is There Love in Space? album and a few oldies (Satch Boogie, etc.) He then did a signing at the Peavy booth. I only had the neck with me, to make it easier to get around. No comment from Satch on the neck. Thanks! for the comments again

The flames are in nitro, and my hand isn't steady enough to do any kind of pinstriping, so I had to go with what I went with. The flames are much more visible in person....one of those things that doesn't come across well on camera. Not surprised about the body shape comments; most folks have a strong reaction to Parker-style bodies one way or the other. Nonetheless, I appreciate you taking the time to leave some feedback.

Well.....bottom line, I owe a bunch of folks thanks for help on this project. It hasn't been easy, and I've made a bunch of mistakes. This sucker has seriously cut into my practice time, but it has all been worth it. Special thanks to Jehle, who had won GOTM when I first visited the site, and provided some serious inspiration in several areas with the "Jehlecaster". Thanks to Brain for some parts, and Croaticum for finishing ideas. Finally, thanks to everyone who keeps this site moving forward as the best site to get ideas and advice on building guitars. The Specs: Body: Alder, Copper Tone Metallic (from the Reranch) with "Black Album Flames" (The flames are in the clear, you can see them up close (a little in the pictures) but they are meant to be subtle, and you think the guitar is just CTM from a distance) Cream Binding Neck: 25 1/2 in. scale, 16 in. radius fretboard, Maple with Rosewood fingerboard, frets 19-24 scalloped Joe Satriani Autograph on back of headstock, satin finish, custom headstock decal Hardware: Schaller locking tuners, earvana nut, Wilkinson Trem, single coil and humbucking pickup rings from stew mac, Fender "Big F" neck plate (I grew up in Fullerton, CA, the birthplace of Fender, had to give the nod), pickup covers are copper foil inside clear acryllic. Electronics: All Duncan Pickups; Cool Rails in neck, Twang Banger in middle (I wanted to get close to a tele bridge p/u, so I mounted it as close as I could get it to the bridge and slanted it, should help get that "Albert Lee" tone), Duncan Custom in the bridge. Graph Tech Ghost piezo system on the trem (I had to drill trough the bridge plate to route the wires from the saddles, and file channels in the trem route to keep the trem from pinching the wires. I put a thin piece of clear plastic to keep the wires in their channels. The connector block sits under the trem springs). Switching is as follows; Three way selects each pickup individually(I used the one that they have on Gibson SG Customs and the LPs with the three humbuckers) A push-pull on the volume turns the neck on and off (this way I can get the bridge/neck combo as well as neck/middle if I ever wanted it) A concentric pot does master tone and piezo volume duties. Finally, the Graph Tech quickswitch lets me select magnetic p/u, piezo, or both. Now the pics.....

Yeah, the Cool Rails fit in a single coil slot. The cool rails is a great pick-up. Put one in my "Shredocaster" (just completed this weekend, pics later today). I have a Dimebucker in my main guitar. I paired it with a Alnico 2 Pro. Pretty big difference in output, most probably would not like that setup. I would also strongly reccomend a Dimarzio Air Norton with that Dimebag, if you're looking for a full-size hum instead of a hum in single coil size. The Jazz is also really good. If single-coil size hums are the thing, you really can't go wrong with a Cool Rails. You can go to Duncan's website and hear them all to do some bastardized A/B if you like, too!

Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, although really more Ft. Worth than Dallas. I have lived in the following places though: Orange County(Fullerton-Birthplace of Fender), CA for 18 years, West Point, NY for four years, El Paso, TX for six months, Kitzingen, GE for three years (including 18 total months in Bosnia, Macedonia and Kosovo), Waynesville, MO for one year, and Killeen, TX for 18 months. Until I moved to Dallas-Ft. Worth I considered Fullerton, CA home, dispite the fact I lived all those other places.

Totally reminds me of Monte too. Monte being a real favorite of mine, since he's just down the road from me, even closer to Wes (not as close as the goat, though). I have to check out these Justin King and Preston Reed characters. If they rock like that, it might be worth a few bucks for a CD.

Totally rocks! Shred is near and dear to my heart, I almost cried. Sweep IS the man's man guitar technique!

I'm sure plenty of folks have 'em. Use it with some locking tuners and a graphite or roller nut. I built one guitar from parts and used one on it with some Schallers. Winner. No pull-back, but you can dive bomb it to death. Bought some Korean-made jobie when I was there and it had one. I changed out every piece of hardware except that. Using one on my first build. Got a graph-tec Ghost for it, should be finished by EOM. I'll post pics, give an eval., etc.

I think we've developed the solution here. Put the cat and the banana in the SAME avatar and have them duke it out. If the banana can dance, surely the cat/banana can be made to duke it out?

Totally. Check out the new G3 vid. The bald keyboard/guitar player is MacAlpine. Vai's set really rocked. He had so many good players besides himself, shows how comfortable he is with himself and his playing. Wish I was there.