Our Souls inc.

There's a certain satisfaction n doing things "the hard way". It really makes you feel like YOU did it, not just guided the tool.

That being said, there are a lot of things I'd never want to do without a power tool. EG: thickness a board, resaw, hog out a cavity (pickup, control, body chamber, etc)... None of that would give me anything but a sore back. I'd much rather put the time & effort into paying more attention to the small details or doing some ridiculous inlay work.

John, Using a chisel to cut out a pup cavity is easier than you think. I did it on my latest project, just to do it. Not as hard as I thought. There is something relaxing about chiseling the cavity out. To be in a hurry would make it torture, while taking the time to place the chisel just right and cut 'curlies' out of the wood is somehow calming.

@ Muzz- the Sm slotting jig is kinda pricey for a home-builder. If you made necks all the time, I could see it , but consider the cost before you buy it.

I'd roll with 22 frets ( if it were mine ) and dull the bottom point just a tad to match the top horn.

Looking neat so far.

Love the double carve on the back.

The airbrush work is clean and comes together well.

I like it ,it looks very pro.

Guilty of being a silent follower.

You're making a unique guitar, can't wait to see it finished!

Scott...... that fretboard.......

Wow.

Looking incredible so far!

I too love the handmade stuff. I slot my frets by hand and eye, no miter box involved.

Double n triple check ur measurements on the upper frets. intonation becomes critical when the spaces are so small.

P.s., I love how you can make a 5 page thread and still not have the body cut or the board slotted.

That .

Nice job ! Looks like a ton-o-fun!!

Excellent job of saving that stereo from the dump ! Thats a cool ,retro -custom stand you have there !

Let me know when you get the single coils done, I'd be interested in getting some for my strat.

I bought 3 of Rad's SC's for a friends build. I am AMAZED at how great they sound. Rad went for a certain tone I was after and nailed it. ( )

Nailed it.

I put his pickups above Duncans and Dimarzio's in the tone dept.

I own and use all of the above, but future builds will mostly get Guitar Logistics pickups installed.

Budget pending.

Fantastic build.

Congrats!!

Posssible sure, but you may need to do some routing. IDK if EMG's will fit in the stock passive pup rout. And you may need a battery compartment if there's no room in the control cavity for a 9v.

I would beg to differ. As long as the structural integrity isn't being modified then you still get all the sound. If the changes don't modify the way the strings are free to vibrate, it will sound the same. Glue a guitar to the planet and the sound doesn't change from the increase in mass.

I would beg to differ as well. Changing the mass of the guitar WILL change the way/amount that the strings vibrate. Strum an unplugged electric then touch the headstock to a dresser, the wall , i don't know about the earth- its kinda 'thuddy' , but contact other objects that transfer vibration and it will certainly effect the guitar.

Whether or not that translates to different plugged-in tone I don't know.

Chambering the back will effect the overall tone Vs. not chambering , but noone can say whether its for the good or the detriment of the tone.

To the Op - I say chamber it if you'd like, then add a cover if you need to.

Congrats on the new workspace !!

You call it ambitious. Pssh. I think you're doing amazing thusfar. That thing looks incredile. Cant wait to see it all polished up.

And in it I found a trad whammy,

I haven't used one of these before

Muzz - is Trad a brand name ? I've never heard of a Trad whammy.

That particular type of tremolo is a "end of the last song of the night" kind of deal for me. The tuning stability is pretty bad so expect to re-tune the geet after using it.

Or , wipe it down and put it in its case.

Also -knobs that go to 11 only really work if your pots go to 11 too.

Have fun with it. I'll B watching.

That bridge looks like a good alternative to a TOM for you. It's adjustable for spacing and radius, so it's very versatile. You might (maybe) need to make a flat spot on the body for it to sit on ?

As for TOM's - yes. They do come in varis radii and spacings. Jackson uses a 20" radius on theirs and i think Tele necks are a 9.5" radius, which would make your outter strings higher off the fretboard than the center strings. :/

That Schaller you linked to looks like a great ( safe ) alternative to a TOM.

Good luck with your project.

String spacing is one concern , correct radius is another. Make sure the TOM and the neck are the same in both cases and you'll be fine.

Could you tint epoxy to color the wood,then scuff it and add the material with another epoxy coat?

...and is that a blow-through on the corner of the treble horn tip or a reflection?

Nice sound clips !

Plywood body be dammed, your guitar has great tone. To my ears at least.

Congrats ,sir.

I like the idea of doing your initials ,like you did on the back of #3.

Then it would be an S hole.

**** it - i promise to build a corvus style instrument most people that actually play guitar (or bass) like within the next year. i think its possible,, i think its definitely conceived - its just a case of putting a working design out there!

if i dont, please call me a twat - it is within your rights to do so!!!

Been almost a year Wez. Hows that build coming along ??

On a side note- the guitar made its first year with no ill effects from not having a truss rod. The upper arm , or String Tension Forgiveness Unit has shown no deflection at all.

any way to post some sound clips ??

You can always 'relic' the finish a bit to match the accidental drop. 'long as it sounds good ,thats the important part.

Bout time you whipped up another guitar.

Far be it from me to give YOU design advice, but I think a more 'even' F hole shape would compliment the build better.

Love the epoxy 'save' too . you may find more surprises when you carve, but you know that.

Will be watchin this one.

Linky's. Danke kindly.

Well , any answer is better than none so here is my opinion. ( I have 0 experience with oil paints- )

Anyone who does a swirl paint job is painting with oil based paint.

Seems like its a proven way of painting .

To my inexperienced self at least.

Ahhhh .the kiss of death ,lol. I already have them, but haven't started routing the board yet.

It'll be cheaper to get a new set of inlays than a new board ,nut and bridge. :/

I can save these for a 16" build in the future,I guess.

You live, you learn.

Thanks.

FWIW , to me , getting advice from someone on your level of inlaying is like getting to talk with the wise man on the mountain without having to make the climb. That rocks.