Posted for member Ali Kat
The Ali Kat Rockabilly Kustom
For nearly 30 years I have been involved with the Rockabilly and Rock N Roll scene, both as a Rockabilly DJ and a Photographer. By trade I am a sheet metal worker, working in all metals, I have many welding codes including Nuclear welding to 100% x ray standard.I have always wanted to make an all aluminium double bass, and finally got to do so in September this year and just recently finished a second oriental themed double bass. However the Key instrument in any Rockabilly band has to be the Guitar, and those Kool Rockabilly , Brian Setzer riffs we all wish we could play. So not satisfied with just making the bass, I wanted to make a guitar that said Rockabilly both in looks and in sound, and I believe I have achieved that, and to see it being played (as i don`t play) is really something, a proud moment each time some one plays it. Hope you enjoy looking at is as much as I do.. you can hear and see it being played on www.alikat.com.au
The Body has been cut, welded and sanded by hand from 2mm Aluminium, The effect has been done with a sander, then a coloured lacquer added before clear coating. and finally pinstriped by hand, another symbol of the rockabilly kustom kulture scene. As is the 1950s pin up pick guard.The neck is maple, with a Rosewood Fingerboard. 624mm scale length. 22 Frets. Medium fretwire used.
The pickups are GPA Memphis Specials.(Made by Guitar Parts Australia) NOT GFS Memphis pickups. They are alnico V pickups. Neck pickup is7.93K Ohms and bridge pickup is 8.48K. The pots are 500k Ohm GPA pots. Bridge and Tailpiece have been sourced through GPA.
I have experimented with light and medium strings, the light strings produced the best acoustic nlues sound, so good I am in the process of finishing an Ali Kat Acoustic Blues guitar.