Bionic Dave

I put fiber glass on it already. It's curing right now. When it's finished I'll cut it out again.

Looks fantastic Grant.

It's not to bad. the stem is the only week part and that will be fixed when I ilay the top of it with White MOP.

That's what the plan is Brett. But I can't carve the under side of the top to final thickness till I cut the feather out.

Why is that?

So you can see the thickness? -- Time to make a thickness gauge...

this is the one example I found quickly. Benedetto shows a nicer one in his book...

Still it is a U with a depth gauge on the front.

yeah it's so I know how thick it is. I can make that gauge easy. But by the time I do that I'll be done.

That's what the plan is Brett. But I can't carve the under side of the top to final thickness till I cut the feather out.

the raven inlay is cool. What way are you gonna approach the feather on the body ?

Started it late last night, using a chopping saw. it's hard work to cutting that hard maple. I might switch it up an use my dremel. what do think?

I REALLY like the inlay!

Chris

Thanks I'm happy how it turned out to.

more update pics.

Things shaping up nicely. I somehow missed this thread and just spent a few minutes browsing through it. Gnarly shoulder wound!!! How did that happen?!?! You may have already stated it somewhere but I guess I missed it.

I was thinking about using those single string bridges on one of my projects. Where did you get them? And do you know if they come in Gold?

Yep they come in Gold, give RestorationAD / Brett is his name he supplies me with my parts.

Got the gnarly wound in the Hospital when I got reconstructive shoulder surgery, I got that because I crash my race bike in a race never the less in Pittsburgh 4 years ago.

cheers.

Proper order. Always keep one for yourself.

its a good idea to have a few floating about for examples, you know, demo models for neck profiles, finish samples etc.

I had 24 at one point for those kinds of reasons. for the benafit of the customer, not for me, i swear to god

+1 to that.

my niece sent me a text asking me if i had any "spare" guitars!!! *** does that mean? what is a "spare" guitar?

I always have some spare guitars, I generally give them to poeple with a spare 2 or 3 grand in cash that they can give to me.

Shitty. Good thing I didn't move home after all.

yea, kinda sucks materials wise here sometimes. On the plus side i found a few hundred board feet of spalted beech, some flamed & quilted aswell. Just gotta store it up to dry it for a year id say.

If the economy was better over there I would head home, but seeing it's in the crapper no point to it. Canada's economy is doing very good still, there wasn't much a problem here if you ask me.

but I talk to my family back home every 2 weeks or so to get the heads up.

Proper order. Always keep one for yourself.

its a good idea to have a few floating about for examples, you know, demo models for neck profiles, finish samples etc.

I had 24 at one point for those kinds of reasons. for the benafit of the customer, not for me, i swear to god

+1 to that.

my niece sent me a text asking me if i had any "spare" guitars!!! *** does that mean? what is a "spare" guitar?

It means one that is broken and requires a lot of time and attention to fix.

Shitty. Good thing I didn't move home after all.

This is comin along nicly. like the neck, but I have to agree with the comment about the good quality maple you canadians get, just not fair. If it wasent for Terance & Philip I think Id just have to hate you all

Don't be hatin the Canadians just because we have the most natural resources in the world.

Terrence and Phillip should have there own show.

That is one Hot Mess... looks like you roughed that top out with a chainsaw....

Jeez Dave did you drag it behind the bike for a few miles.

How thin is the top on each side?

Is it going to be solid in the middle?

Why do I have to ask these questions in the build thread?

The control plate fits nice. The thing you grafted on the side seems to blend in well ( ... thought I didn't see that)

With all due respect I am also upset about the fact you cheba monkeys can walk in somewhere and buy 5 A tops... (no offense Fuzz .. I said with all due respect)

Licking my wounds

It's not even a rough carve yet I just started it, but I might try the bike thing in the future.

Yes It is going to be solid in the middle, despite the some channels I have to cut.

I knew you would see the graft, the Sipo was not wide enough for the wings when I decided to taper the neck thru with the fingerboard.

It's all good.

I personally think you need to re-think your carve style man. It's just not "smooth." It was the same thing I said about the first raven. Now I'm not saying you have to do a full archtop bell carve. PRS gets away with doing a flat center... but they've figured out how it works with their shape. You still need to do this. Currently (and on the last raven) it looks too unfinished.

Chris

Like I stated above it's not even a rough carve yet. I planed the neck angle and put about 20 minutes of work on the top. I haven't even touched the horns yet.

As for the first Raven's carve I have yet to hear anyone say anything bad about it, and in the short time it's been at it's new home in a working studio it's worked hard. It's been used on 6 albums so far and used by close to 50 players and all of them loved the carve. So I guess it's to each his own.

Cheers

Looks like you got the color right. It doesn't photograph well but that is what mine looked like after using lots of stain. It was gorgeous in person... camera never did it justice.

Going to look top notch when the parts are installed.

This thing looks wicked in person. The colour is perfect.

Gotta love ash, Even the plainest looking example can be carved to give realy cool grain patterns,

This thing is looking cool enough to stiffen yer nipples dave

Well I think it got my wife's nips hard. she love's it.

I'll be keeping this one for myself.

That is one Hot Mess... looks like you roughed that top out with a chainsaw....

Jeez Dave did you drag it behind the bike for a few miles.

How thin is the top on each side?

Is it going to be solid in the middle?

Why do I have to ask these questions in the build thread?

The control plate fits nice. The thing you grafted on the side seems to blend in well ( ... thought I didn't see that)

With all due respect I am also upset about the fact you cheba monkeys can walk in somewhere and buy 5 A tops... (no offense Fuzz .. I said with all due respect)

Licking my wounds

It's not even a rough carve yet I just started it, but I might try the bike thing in the future.

Yes It is going to be solid in the middle, despite the some channels I have to cut.

I knew you would see the graft, the Sipo was not wide enough for the wings when I decided to taper the neck thru with the fingerboard.

It's all good.

progress update.

update

started to put the finish on her. Been busy busy busy. none the less I re-carved the top to remove the carving. sanded back and restained the bitch.

Our Souls inc. - "Zulu" Great build here, love how the art work and flee market wood turned out. A+ on that score. however it didn't get my vote.

pauliemc - FREAKY GREEN SATRIANI Great work once again for Paul here but once again didn't get my vote, I'm a wood porn guy I guess. A+ work though.

crow - PRS Custom 22 COPY Fantastic build took a long time to see you get it up here. I love the colour and the inlays to match it. this is my #2 vote.

RestorationAD - Diablo This is it for me This one takes the cake in my book. I wanted it from the first time I saw the neck. and would be the first one I would

pick up in the store. I would buy this guitar without ever trying it. like I said I'm a wood porn guy.

madhattr88 - "the Rascal" Great build, clean work.

avengers63 - MIRRORED ICEMAN this is one of those your going to love it or hate it builds, I don't like the mirrored finish, but thats me and still a great build.

Hitone - The Jazz Skeleton Concept Now this got my 4th place vote, I love the concept but not a fan of the Lexan body I wish it was an archtop made from wood.

Strandberg Guita... - second installment in the Ergonomic Guitar System Cool concept guitars, but for me I wouldn't pic it up based on the fact that it doesn't look

like a guitar to me with out a headstock, Very clean work, just not for me.

NotYou - "Ain't got a Name" killer looking guitar, as Stated above I can totally picture Jack White playing this thing.

Metalhead28 - "GINGER" Fantastic build and workmanship all around. I love this body shape, but the shape has gotten my vote before. I love your neck

thru's. this was #3 for me.

AccidentalChef - Mary Ann I love the use of the woods you used in this build. very good work for your first build. keep them coming.

Great work to everyone that entered. your all winners.

One sexy carved guitar. Great work.

Use a shim then re finish the guitar to blend it in.