gw_guitars

Hi, Yes I know, I shoudn't glued them but I'm the kind of guy when I screw/hammer/nail etc I want it to be there forever. When I'm making something like a table for instance I glue and screw. I think that's working againt me now Thanx, Gerard

Hi, I've made a stupid mistake. Not the first one and probably not the last one either. I'm building a neck thru explorer. But there's no neck angle (just like a stratocaster). It has a tune o matic bridge which I got for free from a friend. It's a bridge from an Ibanez artist. So I routed a space for the TOM bridge BUT not deep enough. The problem is that I can't get the studs, I think that's what there called, out. I've drilled a hole, glued them with epoxy and hammered them in. I want to get them out so I can route a little deeper. (With studs I mean the threaded devices that sit in the body and you screw the bridge on) Hope someone has a tip Thanx, Gerard

Hi, Finally in the process of fretting but what's haunting me is: should I scallop the upper frets? I've done a search but couldn't get a satisfying answer. Why scallop: 1: It looks cool 2: Steve Vai has it 3: Ritchie Blackmore has it 4: None of my other guitars have it 5: There must be a good reason for it 6: It looks extremely cool (did I mention this?) I want to scallop from the 14th fret up to the 24th What is the main reason for a scallop? I don't think it's something tonewise. I think it's all about playability. Please your opinion Gerard

Hi Guy's I've finally had the courage to make the fret board ready for fretting. Look here I've marked the lines for the frets. Placed the position marks. Inserted them. All I need to do is radius, resaw, and hammer the frets in. Here comes the question: It's a rosewood fretboard which is not to be laquered (I think) but when I clean it with a damp cloth after working on it, it's get's the most beautifull deep dark colour I ever saw on a fretboard. This is what I want. How do I get this when I'm done fretting? Greetz Gerard

Can't you glue them in with epoxy or some kind of glue? Gerard

Hi, I've read all the topic's about staining and the stew mac trading secrets about staining. I'm specially charmed about the guitars that Drak built. I know they use quilted maple but can you use some other kind of wood? My guitar (still in the making) is a one piece maple neck with "wings" of zebrawood. It's obvious that the quilted maple has a unique kind of look but the look I'm after is just enlarging the difference between the light and dark parts of the wood. So my thought are to stain the wood in a kind of 'honey' color and finish with clear. When I spray water on the body I get almost the look I want but I want a 'deeper' look, just like the quilted maple look. I hope somebody understands what I mean cause it's a little bit difficult to put your thoughts in writing Gerard

You should check out the website by one of the Project Guitar members His PG name is AlexVDL He has his own website AlexVDL Maybe this will help He aged a stratocaster Gerard

Thanx guy's Mr.Alex Stay calm is a good advice (the beer also) unclej I think you made a helpfull point Not just one centreline I will be going to draw two lines, that way I can check if the fretline is square Anyway I'm a bit scared to do it cause I like what I build so far, so I'm affraid to ruin it. I'm going to continue anyway Thanx Gerard

Hi Guys, I know it's been a while since I've posted. I've been around as a "guest" though. Been a little busy with different things. Anyway here is the problem: I am building a neck through explorer. All was going well. I had the body almost ready and the neck part was fretted and I was going to install the top nut and was thinking: just string it up with 3 strings to check the intonation. Well the guitar was completely in tune but then the problem arrised. Between the top nut and the first fret I couldn't fret a note, it rattled on the second fret. Not only rattle but I couldn't get a note. So I took the strings off and tried to make the fretboard/frets flat. I got it flat but destroyed the first two frets. Then I replaced fret #1 and #2. The problem came back. After checking I found that the fretboard (actually not a fretboard , but a one piece maple neck) was a tiny bit too high in that region. (I think the wood started working) That was a problem, cause I had a rather nice 'sharkfin' inlay made in the neck. In my oppinion there was nothing more to do so I routed the neck flat, sanded it flat and wanted to place a rosewood fretboard. At the time I made the fretboard (the new rosewood, that is)flat and up to size to fit the neck, a piece of this fretboard chucked away. Then depression sets in. Just sleeping over it I decided to try and fit it with the piece missing and fortunally it fitted, but I was to scared to try and make it up to size so I glued it immediatly. No problems. The fretboard is absolutely flat (but not radiused) But now I have to fret it. I think I know the solution but I need to know off ANYBODY knows some tricks to make it easier. I think the solution is to draw a new "center line" and work from that. But I'm a little affraid that I will make a small mistake and one (or more) frets will go crooked. Do you guy's have some tips or tricks to make an almost finished guitar easier to fret! Thanx in advance Gerard

This month was terrible. So many beautifull entries I love the doubleneck strat but I went for the bass of Phil. I just think it's beautifull and I really like the fact that even the pickup is handmade Gerard

I just had to vote for the V I love that laminated neck, actually I love the whole guitar! Greetz Gerard

I voted the V Simple because I think it's beautifull Gerard

Thanx Guys, Executioner606 thanx for the Warmoth link. Seeing the screws makes it clear to see. Gerard

Yeah, the part about the screws I understand but where are they screwed in? Where will the springs be? I mean; there must be a way to change the height of the pickup? Gerard

Hi Guy's Here is a picture of the two p-90 pickups. They were a gift but I have the feeling that there not complete. How do I put them in? I mean they don't have mounting rings, so they must have another system but I can´t find it. Thanx Gerard

What I forgot to mention: The fact that it is not an inlay is done on purpose. When the guitar is finished (transparent) it will get a little 3D effect (I hope) Gerard

Hi, I know this guitar takes a long while too finish and I also know I'm not as good as Clavin for instance but I'm so proud of my spiders web (if that is correct English) that I just wanted to show you. It's a neck-through explorer Maple neck (one piece) Body sides are zebrawood The spider web is veneer (forgotten what kind) It is not an inlay but it is glued on top and will be sanded a little flat. Every web is a one piece veneer. After seeing inlay's by Clavin you probably think that this is children's work, but I'm so proud of it! (the clamb's are holding the last fret to it's place. hammered and glued) Gerard

Hi guys, This is my first attempt at posting pics, so please tell me if they work! You should see a picture of my neckthrough explorer in the make front and rear. Gerard

Spalted maple strat

Voted for LGM. Gerard

Just had to vote for the blues axe Gerard

By the way; Coen, can you give me the dutch brand name of the nitro lacquer you're using? Gerard

Like it!! Like it a lot!! Gerard

Hey Coen, Beautifull guitar man, love it. Jan Akkerman used to have an old Gibson Les Paul with a kind of crackled finish I think that is beautifull Also my father has an old Levin acoustic guitar with such a crakled finish. You should do anything about the hardware it will wear off when you play it. I think it's perfect this way. Toppie Gerard

I forgot something The trick should be that the dummy should be invisible. I mean not visible, for instance in the cavity of the volume knob Gerard