HeavnerGuitarWorks

I did this once and I would NOT recommend doing it. I installed a Gibson humbucker on my old acoustic (one of the nicer Harmony guitars if that is possible). I cut the last fret off the guitar and attatched a slightly modified pickup mounting ring to the top of the guitar. When I plugged it in and played at a low volume it was fine. Not quite acoustic sounding. When I turned the amp up... that's when all hell broke loose. Feedback out the arse. And I'm not talking about the high pitched squeal, but the low rumble of the low E string. You could actually see the string wildly vibrating out of control. Yes, the pickup was at a decent height... before anyone asks. Of course, it was a high output pickup, so I'm sure that didn't help. Its funny though, cause the singer for Cake had the exact same guitar with a humbucker duct taped in the soundhole that he played at all of their shows and never had that problem. I guess it's all in how you mount it.

I personally don't care for KWS. His first album was nothing more than a decent attempt at becoming the next SRV wannabe. Don't get your panties in a wad and take that the wrong way. I know he has taken his career a different direction now and I totally respect that. But come on... let's be real about this. He did use the exact same rig as SRV even down to the beat up sunburst strat. But then again... so do I and half of the white blues guitarists out there. If I had his talent and could actually get that close to Stevie's tone, who knows, I might be in the exact same position. I really don't understand why people get so upset over this issue though. It's not like the people chanting "Stevie is God" aren't sitting in their rooms trying to play "Texas Flood" or playing "The Sky is Cryin'" at their gigs. KWS just made it big doing it. He made one album that sounds a little to close to Stevie and moved on. But yet he still gets flamed for it. Its no different than Tinsley Ellis or Chris Duarte or the countless other so called "Stevie clones". I don't care for him cause I don't like his songs. The first album had a singer from Canada trying to sing blues. The rest of his stuff isn't quite bluesy enough for me. He is talented though... just not my can o' beans.

My first guitar was a '72 Gibson SG Standard. I had asked for a guitar for Christmas every year since I was 5 and never got one. My parents decided to get divorced right at Christmas and asked me what I wanted. I told them a guitar or nothing. Spoiled... I know. My pops and I never really got along, so he bought me a used SG and this huge 300 watt bass amp from the seventies to try and win me. My parents got divorced... I went with my mom... and I still play that guitar to this day. Since then I have owned 67 guitars ranging from Ibanez, B.C. Rich, Jackson, Carvin, Fender, PRS, Zemaitis, Ampeg, Robin, ESP, Fernandez, Washburn, Gretsch, Martin, Guild, and a butt load of Gibsons. Right now, all I own is the SG and all the guitars I've built.

I found some nice fabrics on ebay if anyone is interested. Most of these fabrics are generally always on ebay if you can find them, especially the "day of the dead" stuff. Yes this is fabric. Rainforest Purple Floral Dancing Skeletons Skulls Cheap Trick Autumn Leaves My personal favorites: Red Swirl Rainbow Swirl Red Marble If you notice, most of these are from the same seller. I've bought a ton of fabric from them and have always had great service. Their prices are kinda steep though, but its definitly worth it.

If you added a 1/2" maple top wouldn't you have to also add 1/2" inside the neck pocket? If not, your fretboard would be recessed into the body. If you did add 1/2" inside the neck pocket, your heel would be awful thick, and I don't think you could take enough off the back of the heel to safely hold the neck and make the heel thin enough. I would do exactly what Drak said and fill in the tremelo route and put a hardtail on it. Throw in some Duncans and rock on.

I've never attempted a material finish, but have always wanted to give it a go. I've read the tutorial and did searches, but couldn't find an answer to this question. Do you have to use cotton fabric? I have a huge collection of 1960's polyester, rayon, and silk shirts that would totally kick ass on a material finish. I do plan on testing on scrap, but was wondering if anyone had tried this. I know the glue will hold these fabrics, but I don't know about the sealer or clear coats reaction with these fabrics. I would think that they would work though. Put a shiny shirt on a guitar, hang a gold chain around the neck, glue some chest hair on it and boogie down.

Hey, thanks for all the help. I tried the artists masking fluid today on scrap and it worked beautifully. I used tape on the piece of scrap and then put the masking liquid over the tape. No bleeding whatsoever. When I swirl the guitar I will not tape the entire binding, but only halfway up. I will use the artists liquid masking to cover the rest of the binding so there will be no bleed through on the body. It seems like an awful lot of effort to keep from bleeding through, but well worth the effort. This was one of those projects that wasn't supposed to turn out the way it is. I wasn't completely happy with the top wood and decided to paint rather than stain. I had already finished the body, but had to sand the top back. The paint I'm using isn't very forgiving when sanding. If you get a run, you pretty much have to strip and reshoot. So I decided instead of dealing with it, I would just swirl the top and have the back and sides stay the way they are. Hopefully it will look decent in the end and I won't have to send it to Drak to WOD it. I'll probably dip it later on this week and try to get it put together and get some pics posted. Thanks again.

I'm interested in the neck if you can post a photo. I'm in the process of building a V now. Is it a bolt on and what scale length is it? And I'm sure it has the traditional Gibson V headstock... right?

What do you want for the flying v neck. Is it a real Gibson neck or an Epiphone bolt on.

I was hoping it wouldn't come to all that. I know they make a liquid mask used by artists that you brush on and let dry. When you are done painting you rub it off with your fingers. Can't think what its called right now, but I'll be picking some up tomorrow from the art supply store and trying it out. If that doesn't work I guess I'll just grease up the old elbows and do it the hard way. Wish me luck.

I actually just finished testing with all the different types of tape I have around my house. The blue painters tape didn't hold up. It allowed to much bleeding. The plain white masking tape did the same with a little less bleeding. And..... the duct tape just didn't work at all. So... I guess the old saying isn't true "If you can't fix it... duct it!" Back to square one.

Hey, I just finished building a body and have been driving myself nuts trying to figure out how to do a swirl finish on just the top. To add to the problems, this body has white pearloid binding on the top. I've thought about just masking off the binding, sides, and back really good and dipping, but I don't think the tape would hold up under water. Although, I haven't tested it yet. I have never seen a swirl with binding or one that is just swirled on the top for that matter. Just wondering if anyone out there has run into this problem and can offer some tips. Thanks.

Man, I love all of them. If something doesn't work out with either one of the buckeye bodies, I would definitly buy one from you. Especially the "Buckeye Blues". I can't get enough of buckeyes and burls.

Thanks.... that's the page! I love the Jellycaster and have been toying with the idea of making one. Of course, I'm not a fan of the traditional tele. I prefer the old tele customs with the big pickguard and humbuckers. So... I was thinking about building a "Jellycaster Custom". I don't like ripping other peoples designs, but that one is just too good. I like the mouth guitar too, but I don't think it would look good strapped on me.

Hey, does anyone know the name of the maker of those warped looking strats and teles? They look kinda like someone stuck them in the microwave and melted the bodies. I know that's not much to go with, but that's all the info I have. I had the site bookmarked, but can't find my link. Thanks.

I know this is an old conversation.... but S@?T that's some funny stuff. Hey Lovekraft... are you really a member of Mensa? I've been interested in trying to join. Seriously!

I use a Marshall DSL 60 watt head through a Marshall 2 x 12 cabinet live. That is the best sounding head made for any style of music. If you are going to buy that Crate combo, forget buying pedals to go with it and buy a decent amp stand. It'll make a world of difference in tone and volume. Plus it looks a hell of alot better than sitting it in a chair when you're on stage. I have that same amp and have been more than impressed with its sound. I play everything from Mississippi juke joint blues to sludge/doom metal to country and that Crate has sounds for all. The only problem with using a combo at band practice is the speakers being so close to the floor. If you use an amp stand to lift it up off the floor and have it angled back it will put the path of sound more at ear level so you won't have to turn it up as loud saving your speaker in the end. Just my 2 cents and it probably ain't worth that...

Hey, having worked for Gibson for a few years, I can tell you that sandpaper never touched a refinish. Try using acetone and a rag. That's the way they strip the paint in the factory and that's the way I strip paint on all of mine. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and safety goggles. It will require some sanding after the final bit of finish is removed, but it will definitly save some elbow pain. If I'm not mistaken, that guitar doesn't have bindings, does it? If so, you might try a different method of removing the finish. Just my 2 cents.

Congrats on the baby! My wife and I had our daughter 11 months ago and it has been the best 11 months of my entire life. They had to induce my wifes labor (she was a week overdue) and she was in labor for 17 hours. That was the most miserable day of my life with the greatest results. How could one day be that bad (watching my wife in that much pain, knowing I put her there), but yet so good holding my daughter. Of course, I've already built her a mini PRS (with "chicken" in flight inlays) and am working on a mini strat and 335 right now. She just started walking and already has better equipment than me. I also built her an amp off the AX84 page (with some of my own mods). It is 2 channels (footswitchable) with reverb and 5 watts into 2 4x5" cabinets. I will take pics when I get a chance. Funny thing is, I never wanted a kid, but now I wouldn't trade it for anything in the universe, and I can't remember what I did before her. Anywho....

I always put a drop of super glue on the nut to keep it on. Jackplates are cheap enough and switches go bad so rarely that it doesn't really hurt anything. I used to tech for a few different bands and thats the only trick I found that would fix it.

I use the Mighty Mites quite a bit. I own 6 strats, all with different pickups, and the one with the Mighty Mites is my favorite, followed by the one with Duncan JBs I think they are great pickups for the money and I am a "tone nazi". I play through a blackface Fender Twin, a Dumble, and a Marshall TSL60 and they sound great through all of them. I play mainly blues/rock. (Stevie Ray is god!) They definitly have more output that stock Epiphone and Squiers. They also have a better tonal range. Plenty of highs and lows with just enough mids. They aren't Fralins by any chance, but they are great for the money. I personally can't stand the EMG Selects or HZs. If you're going to spend the money get the real deal. My only concern is that $71 is alot of money for Mighty Mites. Check this out! I buy tons of stuff from them and have always had great service. The reason I am showing you the loaded pickgaurd is because of a little trick I learned a few years ago. Buy the preloaded pickgaurd, put the new pickups in your guitar, put the old pickups on the pickgaurd and sell it on ebay. Start the bidding at $.99 and let it go. I do that all the time, and I basically have never paid for pickups. Someone will always pay more money for the cheaper pickups. Man, I love ebay! Even if you don't get but half of your money back, that's still better than $71. I have found that either the white pearloid or tortoise shell pickgaurds sell the best. For me, anyway. Keep in mind, if someone is buying a preloaded pickgaurd, they usually want a different look for there guitar as well. So stay away from the solid white and black pickguards. That's just my opinion though.

John Cattos guitar blows away any Zemaitis I have ever seen. He paid someone to do the top after creating the design with his computer. It wasn't cheap, but well worth it. If I was you, I would start this thread at MIMF, since he is a regular there. Believe me, you will learn alot from him. I am in love with all the guitars he has built, especially the Zemaitis copy and his Bigsby Merle Travis replica. They both kick major arse! I would give anything to have my Zemaitis back, (I had one of the pearl covered models). I found it in a pawn shop in a tiny little town in Tennessee for $600. Of course, I sold it and made one hell of a profit. Enough to buy my shop and all the tools.

Yep. Click here! You can find anything online if you look.

Its just a cheap Jackson Floyd Rose Liscensed trem (double locking). I'm not a tremolo person, but most of my guitars have them. I have 3 Ibanez S470FMs, 2 highly modded Fender Strats, 1 Fender HMT Tele with a Floyd, 3 Gibson Les Pauls (Class 5, Standard, Classic), and 3 guitars that I designed and built that have string thru bridges. I play my strats and one of my Ibanezs (Trans Butterscotch) the most, when I'm not playing my handmade guitars. Its funny cause I play mostly blues/rock in the Stevie Ray/Black Crowes/Black Sabbath/Zepplin kinda way with a lot of old R&B and funk influences so I don't know why I keep looking at these 80s metal guitars.

Thought I'd post a pic of the Charvel I just bought. Some friends of mine own a guitar shop back home and I couldn't resist for the price they offered me. I'm typically not a Charvel guy, but there is just something about the Spectrum series. I know it wasn't top of the line stuff, but I like em'. It has Jackson pickups with an active mid sweep circuit which is supposed to be like a "wah built into the guitar". I don't know much more about them. If anyone has any info about it, please let me know. I haven't actually gotten it yet. I'm waiting til I go back home cause I hate how UPS/USPS/FED EX handle packages. Here's a link to their webpage if you are interested!