Jump to content

mgdesigns

Established Member
  • Posts

    14
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by mgdesigns

  1. I would be interested in trade, but it would have to be for Custom Hand Engraved parts for a guitar or banjo. You suplly the parts - I engrave them. Check out the parts I've done for "Cooperative Project" on the TDPRI.com telecaster forum. ou'd have something you cannot buy elsewhere. Guaranteed. And I could get a tool I cannot afford otherwise.. Let me know.
  2. I got a Fender Squire Telecaster a couple of monhs ago (my first Tele-style ax) and even though it was really inexpensive, it's great. Great fit and finish, and keeps intonation very well, even with excessive string stretching. It did have a wobbly selector switch (which save me about $20 more), so I've researched and purchased a Fender 4-way selector on Ebay ($15 delivered). Somehow I thought I'd be having the #1 as Neck, #2 - Standard both parallel pickups, #3 - Series both pickups, and #4 - Bridge pickup. But the diagram lets #4 be the new Series - both pickups. Which way would be the best (as the Fender diagram shows, or my scenario)? The only disadvantage of my scenario is I'd switch through the new fller sound to get from one end to the other. Any comments, or users who already have the 4-way installed? Got to say that this Honey-Maple Telecaster is phenomenal. I am sure the pickups are lacking to the real deal, but as my 10th guitar it's a winner. But it also gives me the templates I need to start hand engraving scratchplates and knobs and control plates for custom projects. Thanks. MG DESIGNS Smashville, TN
  3. A friend of mine has a Steinberger Bass, and saw a guy selling quilt maple pickguards many years ago. Now he wants one, and the guy doesn't make them anymore. I told the friend to contact the maker, and see about getting the dxf or dwg file. I am CNC savy, but machine deficient. If I could get the CAD file, I could procure the right piece of wood, and find someone to mill it. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. I could also scan his existing pickguard, and measure it, or send it to friends that have 3d laser scanners, and get a cad file created quickly. Just ideas on how to conquer this task. Mark from Nashville. The friend will be over tomorrow, and I'll get the model number, and the vintage, and maybe a photo to post. Thanks again.
  4. Hey John: I am not yet a builder of instruments, but I long to be one. I am a huge fan of maples from Up North (having grown up in Michigan). I was watching a show on cable a few years ago, and the elderly couple who go antique hunting were in Bouckville, NY at the Bouckville-Madison Antique week, and they came across a furniture maker who made Shaker style, and Mission style furniture from reclaimed barnwood. All of it was from a single teardown barn from upstate NY, and all was birdseye, flame, and quilted maple. He'd said he bought the whole barn for $300 and tore it down, and every stick of wood when planed was solid 100 year old killer maple. You're in the right part of the world to make beautiful reclaimed wood things. (PS - I used to live in Vernon Center, NY). I wished I could've secure a fretboard piece - I'd like to build a knockout Telecaster-ish guitar. Thanks for showing and sharing. Peace. Mark
  5. Hey people: I have an older Yamaha SBG-2000, and it is serial number 078976. I bought it in Nashville, used, about 1985 after the '58 goldtop LP got stolen. Anyone know the age of this guitar? Thanks. Send me an email to tell me, or post answer. Great guitar - feel like the old LP, but with built-in coil taps, and I added a phase switch to get the funky Strat sounds. Mark
  6. Very very cool. Patent the system man, before someone graps the idea and runs with it. In the US you can send your self a seal parcel of drawings and take them to the post office and have the postmaster sign and date them. As long as they're unopened, you can fight an infringement on your system if you can afford to take a violator to court. I don't know the legalities of your country, though. And only processes are patentable; not ideas. Check with a patent attorney. Great concept. I had a simple idea for a backpacker that would allow it to fit on my bike panniers easier. No wood shop though to try out my ideas.
  7. Thanks everyone. I knew I could count on you'z guyz. The Seymour Duncan sight has so many configurations, I'll study those options to figure it all out. The Jimmy Page option looks like what I'll do on my 2001 LP Gold Top. I don't think I agree with the complexity of that one though. All for tone and volume pots as push-pulls? Seems too complicated. I had an old ('57 LP Goldtop - now long gone and stolen), that I had a really powerful Pyramid hot rails pickup installed at the bridge, and the original HB on the neck, and Pyramid Guitars re-wired it with split coil taps, and a small micro toggle between the 4 knobs for phasing. Man would that beast growl, and then get the funky strat-like sound. I've been crying for nearly 25 years since it got stolen. I could buy a real house for what those '57's are selling for now. And I only had a total of $325 in it. Boo-hoo.
  8. Look inside the body, and on the end of the neck block Martin stamps a serial number, and a model number. With the serial number there are charts on the internet that will nail down when the guitar was built by year; and then of course you've got the model number. The other determinating value factor is supply, demand, and condition, condition, condition. Demand sometimes weighs out over condition, but if it's playable, and sounds great, and it's a Martin there's always a customer out there who'd pay for it. Here's a link to a serial number chart: http://www.maurysmusic.com/martin_serial_numbers
  9. I've purchased a Xaviera ES-335 wannabee a couple of Xmases ago, and it has come equipped with push-pull split coil tap tone knobs. I'd like to replace the lowest volume knob for a push-pull type, and use it to phase switch for when the guitar is in single coil (both p-u) mode, and middle toggle switch position to be the funky Strat-type Clapton-esque "Bell Bottom Blues" sound. I've had this done before by a local luthier, but I'm too poor now to pay someone to do the work. Can someone diagram this? and post it, or email to me? Thanks ahead of time for a great website, and all of the help that is available here. Mark in Smashville, TN
  10. Try Rhino 3.0 or 4.0. The best 3D solids modeler I've used, and I've been doing CAD for 27 years. It'll do stuff in Rhino 4.0 to make your head spin, and then you can export to any g-code generator with *.stl files, or some machines will read the Rhino *.3dm files directly. I've used it now for 2 years, and it still amazes me what it can do. Costs about $800 for a full commercial single user license, but educational releases are identical (but not transferrable) for about $200 US. And the companion rendering software Flamingo is really great also (also about $500 or $150 educational). Rhino can import just about anything in the way of file types (*.dwg, *.dxf, etc.) and is the best going. If I could figure out how to post photos on this forum, I'd post samples of CAD files I've used to make guitars out of sterling, and gold. Exact down to the tuners, but only 1.5" long!!!!!!!! Very cool, indeed. MG
  11. I just make scratches on the metal parts, so you don't have to! M.G. DESIGNS - Hand Engraving, etc. http://www.mgdesigns1.com (under construction - but some info is there...)
  12. I'm a newbie to this forum, but I am a hand engraver, and a gemstone cutter & jeweler. I have done custom Hand Engraving for the Gibson Custom Division (notably the "Statue of Liberty" Les Paul, note my avatar IS the headstock inlay for the same), as well as hand engraved parts for custom banjos by Huber, Heartland, and Bishline. I am interested in continuing this endeavor to other custom builders, and can quote prices for this service to your parts. I have local platers here in Nashville, TN that can do exquisite triple gold plating, nickel plating or stripping, re-plating and chroming as need be. If anyone is interested in seeing examples of my workmanship, email me, and send out a photo sampler. I try to be quick, but speed is not the primary concern - A Great Look IS. I usually digitize the parts to be hand engraved, so I can layout a preliminary design, then create a transfer to the metal, and hand engrave through it. That way I can send a copy of the idea to the customer for approval beforehand, and the customer knows what to expect, and there are no suprises. EXCEPT the Hand Engraved item looks even better than the drawing. VOILA!! Email any requests. And Thanks - I hope to hear from you soon. email me: mgdesigns at yahoo dot com (is that cryptic enough?) OH - Another note of interest: I was at the Guitar Center of Nashville, TN a few weeks ago, and lo & behold - The 2008 Calendar for Gibson Guitars Feature the hand engraved headstock I did for the 50th Anniversay Les Paul Custom. It is photographed and placed on the inside cover of the calendar, as well as the front of the display box. Check it out: http://gc.guitarcenter.com/guitars/2008-gi...x.cfm?tabgray=2
×
×
  • Create New...