slipperywombat

I've been considering something like this. For my first project, I want to make the body and buy the neck, but I can't find a neck for less than about 120, so it seems like just for the neck and the electronics this would be the best deal. How's the quality of the wood components? Are the fretboards flat? How's the fret work? The nut comes slotted, correct?

This got me interested, so I checked out a few websites. The general feedback seems to be fairly positive, with a few people reporting a loss of sustain over stop-tail designs.

I didn't see anyone mention the gold mounting rings, that's a nice touch on a fancy guitar. I second what several people have already said about the body shape, that SG style bottom horn really gives it a lot of flavor.

Not to be a doubter, but, wow really? I wasn't aware there was such a thing as a TOM that didn't require neck angle. This makes part of my project a whole bunch simpler. I guess when I look at the TOM on my gibson, I can't imagine that being low enough to be the same height as the hard-tail on my buddy's strat, unless I recess it a bit. Can someone who has used one of these source confirm that this TOM requires no neck angle AND no recess?

Go to GC, or open up a Musician's Friend catalog and count the number of V styled guitars for sale, then count the LP styled guitars, then slowly ease your foot out of your mouth. The V is a specialty item that makes Gibbo some money on the side. It's sales are not even meaningful when compared to the more standard models. Incidentally, I plan on marketing my flame tube tuba and my dragon inlaid xylophone coming this fall. Keep an eye out.

People who want new, crazy designes seem to consistenly forget that there are basic human ergonomic considerations to take into account. Virtually every guitar shape needs an arc on the bottom so it can be comfortably played sitting. Sales will suffer without this. The top should also have a curve to it so that the arm can comfortably come over the top of the guitar. That leaves the ends that can be seriously modified, and they still have to be roughly balanced in order to play comfortably. From that standpoint, I think we've explored a lot in the way of shaping. Check this out for a snapshot of how much has been done on this little canvas: http://www.warmoth.com/common/frames/guitarbodies.htm Certainly, the guitar has been altered to an INCREDIBLE degree when compared other insturments. How often do you see a clarinet with keys shaped like crosses and inlaid with birds in flight?

What does the angle of the strings of through the body have to do with neck angle?

About the design: Every time I see an Iceman, I always think that they should have incorporated that little nub on the back onto some other guitars. Kudos for implementing that, I would very much like to see the finished product. For the stringing, are you referring to the way that the strings go through the body at different distances from the bridge? I'm not sure how (if?) the distances affect the tone, but if it did I would like to see someone who knows the physics of the guitar explain that. this is what I think you're talking about... like on this one?

Sweet! Did you route or carve first? EDIT I should be more specific, did you route the pickup cavities first, or carve the top and then route the cavities in? Does it make a difference?

I've been to Guitar Building Templates before, but I was under the impression that all they gave were the outline shape. Maybe that's my real issue, how do I measure the carves on the top a carved top guitar? I was hoping that I could find plans that would tell where exactly the curves start and stop, and give some spot depths. Response to EDIT Hot diggity dang, I'm DEFINETELY going to be using that diagram for measurement checking! Great looking work, too!

The only plans they have are for a hollowbody, which I'm not planning on doing. (At least not for a first guitar!) Can someone with access confirm/deny weather there are plans for a Custom 22 or McCarty style available in the paying members area? ---- Incidentally, I saw someone make reference to a tutorial they had done on carving tops, but I wasn't able to locate in the tutorial section. Is it... somewhere else?

Thanks much! I'll check out the site.

I've been reading these forums for a few weeks, I've searched for numerous phrases and scoured the search engines for it, and it has eluded me. So I'm down to my last resort, open questioning. I didn't really want to start my forum life with an obnoxious topic/post... but here I am. D'oh! Where can I find plans for a PRS guitar? Free is good, at a cost is fine. I can duplicate the shape by expanding smaller images and doing measurements at GC, but I have no idea how to get the dimensions for the top carve. I've already been to stewmac, the main site here, warmoth, etc. Thanks for any help!