Hey Guys i though that after all the S*Bomb i got about it being a kit id but up a thread showing some photos of how i made it.
The idea for this project probably started just after I started playing guitar. I had the idea that it would be cool to make my own guitar. I had always had my eyes set on an Ibanez JEM 777VWH.because I liked the way it looked. Later I found that this guitar was also a very good instrument.
Unfortunately this guitar’s production ceased 30 years ago (1977) and even when they were in production they retailed for alot.
To tackle such a project is quite a learning experience. I think that more then even skill, your patience gets exercised to the limit. It's very time consuming and trying to see quick results will usually cause setbacks.
It takes a lot of time to plan the project and to just even figure out what kind of guitar you want. I wasn't really sure at first and was leaning toward making a V style but eventually gravitated to a JEM style as that is what I have always wanted.
Originally I wanted to have white and gold Dimarzio Evo 2’s set (3 pickups) because that was the pickups used in the Ibanez JEM 777 VWH. But after about a month of constant research I found that the pickups could only be special ordered at US$300 each (that’s US$ 900 all up for just the pickups).
Instead I decided to settle for EMG pickups which are an active pickup (the magnet is an electro-magnet, this helps to reduce buzzing)
EMG 60A is in the neck position because this pickup is made with alnico magnets apposed to ceramic which give it a fatter, deeper sounding tone (old style jazz and blues).
EMG SA single coil pickup is in the middle position because this pickup gives a vintage Stratocaster sound (think Eric Clapton) which heavily contrasts the bass sound of the EMG 60A with a more pronounced middle and treble tone.
Last but not least I chose to use an EMG 81 in the bridge position because this pickup delivers high output pickup designed especially for the lead guitarist. It has a razor sharp attack, and incredible sustain.
Body: Brazilian Mahogany
Neck: 5 Piece (rockmaple/ebony/rockmaple/ebony/rockmaple)
fretboard: Madagascar ebony ( upper 12 frets are scalloped)
Pickups: neck=EMG 60A Mid=EMG SA Bridge=EMG81
Bridge: floyd Rose original (gold)
tuners: grover locking tuners (gold)
Pickguard: custom
natural finish
i will add more photos when i get a chance, but with dial up internet its a slow task.
cheers, i hope to get some constructive feed back