srt

Here we go, some progress finally. I want to leave it assembled and play it for a week or two and see if I want to change anything before applying finish. Still needs the headstock inlay, final tailpiece shaping, and some misc ridges/bumps/marks/etc taken care of. So far, it plays and sounds nice, I'm liking it. Can't decide what to do about the neck heal area. I originally intended to blend the body into the neck, but I ended up with less neck pocket area than I wanted and I don't know if I should remove any more material. So far it doesn't seem to interfere and I kind of like how it looks. Any advice one way or the other? Thanks for looking

The binding is curly maple/bubinga/maple in about .025" veneer strips. Neck joint will be glued/set. Body is mahogany center and grenadillo back:

OK, it's done. Except for the cheap plastic pickup rings that will soon be replaced by some made of the same wood as the neck... Bucket 'O Pics

Sprayed the first coat of lacquer last night. Should be done soon!

Avenger, Geo, Gotcha. I think I sort of agree. The "flow" of the thing doesn't work quite as well as in my sketches, I still haven't quite put my finger on it... I'm thinking either rotating the neck CCW or sliding it to the right (down if your standing up) would help, or maybe the left side of the lower body needs to swell a little more... Regardless, I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. The second sound hole on the bottom was originally planned (you can kind of see the pencil marks in one of the pics), I had almost decided that I couldn't fit it in, I'll revisit that. Thanks for the advice and kind words. -srt

Thanks for looking and I appreciate the opinion. What do you mean by unbalanced? The non-symmetry at the bottom is intentional (I like it that way), is that what you mean? Or do you mean it's just kind of "off" somehow? I kind of think the top of the body and neck should be rotated counter-clockwise just a little, keeping the unsymmetry in the bottom, but maybe the bridge is just a touch too high. Just gives me a reason to build another one, I suppose if I built a perfect one, it would be time to stop! -srt

OK, Some more progress on the 6 string. I've been moving much more slowly on these than I intended, busy summer... Anyway, I have it put together as sort of a mock up. The carving on the top (inside and out) is finished, the top is glued to the center, neck pocket is cut, and neck is temporarily screwed in place (it will be glued for final installation). Bridge is in, pickups installed (SD Jazz in the neck and JB in the bridge). I'm working on a piezo set up. I'm getting decent results with a radio shack buzzer and this preamp (http://www.till.com/articles/GuitarPreamp/). So far, it sounds great and plays well. With a little time spent, I think it will setup perfectly. Still left to do: Binding on the sound hole, a back plate, glue the neck in, sand the edges of the center/back to match the top, shape the heel area, finish sand and lacquer. Let me know what you think! (Ignore the rat's nest wiring, it's just for testing purposes...) srt

I've started on the 7 string version. This one will have the same body shape, 27.5" scale, bubinga top, the neck is something I found called monterillo (I think it's a rosewood, can't find anything about it, looks cool though) with a cocobolo fretboard. I screwed up on the fretboard, I nearly sanded the fret slots out. I don't want to take the binding off to fix it, so I'm searching for a good way to re do the slots, any help? Here is the neck part way done: I love how cocobolo will polish! It's like a mirror: http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l464/sc...opy_IGP6374.jpg

Thanks for the comments! I am a little worried about the wavy grained neck moving, but I put in two 1/8"x3/8" graphite rods, so I hope it will be ok. Hmm... P90's... I'll look into those. Planning holes something like this:

Yeah, I really like the "swept" look of the jazz bass and jaguar. Tried to continue that theme on the headstock:

Hello all, I've lurked here for a while, thought I would post my current project and get some opinions. There's nothing really new here, just a shape I drew inspired by a lot of guitars I've seen and liked. It will be a hollow-body, similar to the Myka Dragonfly guitars. Top and back are walnut, middle is hollowed out african mahogany. The neck is bocote with a camarillo fretboard. It is 25" scale, 22 frets. Will have a TOM bridge and string-through. Not totally sure about the pickups yet, but leaning towards a benedetto humbucker in the neck position, and .... something else.... Ideas? I'm after a versatile jazz type guitar, and just experimenting too. Here is the neck and part of the body: I am trying out putting the access panel in the side rather than the back. And the walnut top, I've since added 3-layer binding - white beach, walnut, white beach (about 0.03" per strip): And a couple more of the neck: One more fret to install, ran out of fretwire. As I wrap this one up, I am starting a 27.5" scale 7 string version, though I may wait a bit and see if I learn anything here that I want to apply on the next one. Anyway, thanks for looking. Let me know what you think of it. srt

Thanks for the answers. Do you find that an allergy to one rosewood species means you will be allergic to other rosewoods? I was planning on using cocobolo for a neck, but may change my mind on that now... Sounds like a respirator should solve my problem? I'll be getting one before continuing for sure! Thanks again -srt

What are some solutions to allergy problems? I've never been allergic to anything in my life, but am using some grenadilla for one of my current projects and I'm having reactions to it. About a month ago, I re-sawed it and stupidly let the dust blow right in my face... A half hour later my throat hurt and was swelling, breathing was difficult. Benedryl and an inhaler cleared it up. Again tonight I did some very light routing and sanding (finish the joint for bookmatching) and had the same reaction. I thought I wouldn't get enough dust to bother me, wrong I guess... No skin reactions either time, just respiratory. Will a respirator allow me to continue with this wood? Or should I just stop using it? If the grenadilla is giving me problems, will other rosewoods? I used cocobolo a few years ago, and camatillo, bocote, monterillo, ebony, african mahog, etc. recently with no reactions, but I'm a bit worried now that they might start. Anyone have similar experience? Advice? sucks, I really like rosewoods... Thanks in advance. -srt

here is a semi-related site, interesting: Modal Analysis of an Electric Guitar might give some ideas for mounting fixtures, measurement methods, etc. ... srt

Hello, I am nearly done with this guitar and am to the point where I need to decide on the type of finish. What are some good options? Lacquer, polyurethane, oil, something else? I want a good high gloss finish, what would be best with an oily wood (cocobolo)? Thanks for any advice, srt

I figured that was a long shot, oh well... I listen to alot of different music, mostly like to play blues, rock, etc. Some favorites are SRV, Joe Satriani, Dream Theater... All kind of different. As far as guitar styles, I was thinking something like the Ibanez Satriani guitars. I like the look of quilted maple, so I kind of want to use that, I have read that it gives a "bright" sound which I am not sure that I will like as much though. Maybe I should build one that will allow me to have a very wide range of sounds available? I found some sound clips on EMG's website and liked some of those, but I don't really know what other factors will affect the sound. Hmm, is there anything that will kind of "limit" me to one type of sound or another that I should be aware of? Thanks for the quick reply, srt

Hello, I have been wanting to build a guitar for a while now, and think I am almost ready to start. I have read quite a bit on the subject lately, but am not quite sure what sound I am after or how to get it. I have been playing acoustic guitars for about 8 years, but don't have much experience with electrics. Does anyone know where I could download some sound clips with the setup described to help me figure out what I want. thanks, srt