MiKro

11 hours ago, Bizman62 said:

That's exactly what I meant. The quilted maple is too pretty to be hidden any more than what is really needed to hide the damage. Which makes me think if you could make the EIR stripes narrower than the center one... 2/3 of that width maybe? Sort of a Golden Ratio thing, like EIR + quilt = curly.

So now you have me thinking again. When I add the outer stripes I will loose a lot of the quilt. So maybe it would be better to make a wide Curly maple stripe with a smaller edge stripe of the contrasting wood? Basically take the original fix and make it bigger now and add an accent on both sides. Man this is tough choice to make, I may just say screw it and mill it all off and put a new top on it.  John @avengers63may be correct on this one, time to take the loss and move on..

MK

More like this instead?

9 hours ago, henrim said:

Ouch. If you have some leftover pieces of that quilted maple I think it would be worth trying to find a piece that matches the pattern. With that strong irregular quilted figure I guess it could be possible to make a pretty indistinguishable patch. If that doesn't work you still have the option to go on with the stripes.

Thanks for the Idea Henrim, I had already looked at that and the grain pattern is way to tight to try and make something that would look okay.

mk

10 hours ago, Bizman62 said:

That's exactly what I meant. The quilted maple is too pretty to be hidden any more than what is really needed to hide the damage. Which makes me think if you could make the EIR stripes narrower than the center one... 2/3 of that width maybe? Sort of a Golden Ratio thing, like EIR + quilt = curly.

Unfortunalety I cannot make it smaller. as the cut problem is about 0.875" the center stripe I currently have is 0.75"

MK

1 hour ago, avengers63 said:

I don't know.....  There's a point where it just fights back too hard and you're just as well ditching the whole thing. It's harder to do with a pricey top - I get that. Still, it just does NOT want to be done.

I get that John, this one has fought me since day one. LOL

mk

Maybe something like this. I know the colors are off but the idea.

mk

9 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Straight stripes are always classy, there's the continuity with the neck etc.

As there's already a broad center stripe of maple which binds it to the neck, stripes matching with the fretboard sound like a plan.

I agree that is the direction I am heading now. Simple and looks good. I have plenty of EIR to match the fret board so that is easy. I am thinking though use the existing center stripe and then adding two EIR stripes. leaving some quilted maple in between them

mk

36 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Well... I do remember that I abstained from advising you, but: EVH has already been done in so many ways. I'm sure your imagination is capable of creating something original!

Yes I agree,  I want this one done ASAP though and this is an easy out and fix. LMAO!!! I will continue with ideas though as it is not set in stone yet. Maybe some Tribal Art instead.  How about a plain racing stripe, EIR on the outer edges and curly maple inner stripe.? I could do that at an angle as well?

mk

So an EVH style will solve the problem. Now to decide on the wood choices.

First idea of EVH style.

mk

9 hours ago, Bizman62 said:

Ouch! That's the type of accident I don't like as there's no one to blame, not even yourself!

As you already know how to make inlays to make flaws to features I won't provide any advice. I strongly believe that the patching will be something gorgeous!

Thanks man, and yes it is one of things that happens.

Here are some scraps for color contrast so I can see what will work best in an EVH style to fix this issue on the top. I have more choices, these were just handy at the moment.

MK

So that went well until I started the pickup routes. I had a stepper coupling fail on me. I went to the type I use now for that reason years ago trying not to have failures. Oh well it happens.

It looks as though an EVH approach with some wood inlays will salvage this, just not as extreme as his paint work.

So now to decide if I use only curly maple as the new EVH type accents or go for some EIR, Pale mun ebony, black ebony, Snake wood maybe. Lace wood as well. Maybe add some pink ivory or purple heart , also some canary wood. Bocote or maybe some burl wood? I have a lot to choose from, so this should get interesting. LOL!! INPUT from the group is welcome

mk

Having to do the top finish carve again so as to have a good reference point to start the other 2d pockets for the top. So I am removing 0.010" here for that.

MK

@Fhuytufty, this is Black Walnut and the control area is Pale Mun ebony. All natural color.

I think you will be pleased with the Claro/Pale mun combo.

mk

Since all of the Shop mess over the past few years while I  was dealing with my health issues, the bass has had some issues come up. The location/pin mounting ears for CNC  have either broken on a part or moved some due to time. The next thing for me to do is fix that before I can move forward.

So today is that day of fix it. I hope I don't screw this up as it has been a while since I have used my CNC and I am rusty so t speak. LOL
MK

38 minutes ago, mistermikev said:

i hate to hear you struggling mike, but know I'm right there with ya brother!  good to see you striking while the iron is hot and I look fwd to seeing what sort of body goes with this neck and what sort of mikro signatures end up in it.  rawk on!  

@mistermikev, I will be using the bass body that I started a few years ago. at the begining of this thread

MK

8 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Well, if you choose one-sided tuner layout there really is not too many options for the shape. The eye-friendly shapes have already been invented, a notch here or there usually looks just like trying to avoid lawsuits.

And even if you build the neck from scratch there aren't too many variations: One-sided, same reversed, two sided symmetrical/asymmetrical, sunk or slanted for a string break angle. And the hollow type like in the violin family. Some of those can be combined, some can't.

I agree, This was simple and gets the job done. LOL!!

It won't look out of place on this build so It is what it is.

mk

It has been awhile and many health issues along the way, It is time to try and get this one done before my body totally revolts on me again. I have forgone the idea on this one to make my neck for it and opted to use a Warmoth neck for sake of getting this one done and out of my way.

The neck from Warmoth, is here and I have redone the head stock , (I am not a fan of Fender Head stocks ) LOL ,Not much can be done though with using that shape as a base to work with though so not an original idea as far as the look of the head stock.

My shop is coming along at a better pace now as far as the redo and I  should be able to move a little faster on this again, barring any health issues cropping up.

MIke

Looking good John.

Mike

So after revisting my design  I plan to start the build tomorrow finally.

MK

If it is done then enter it in GOTM.

mk

On 4/7/2022 at 5:22 AM, Invader Zim said:

Where is the thread with all the various guitar plans? 

I feel inept that I can't find it.

Go to the top and select resources.

mk

5 minutes ago, avengers63 said:

The wife verbally poked me in the eye earlier, telling me what I needed to hear. This led me to look for art nouveau inspiration for inlay work on the top. Then I found this. Now I just wanna quit.

It's okay John, we all have been there.

Glad I could help with the bending .

Mike

@SentencedToBurn,

Sounds like you have been trolled before on social media and are shy from that.

Here, things are a little different. We don't judge so much or throw you under the bus unless you do something that is deadly to you or someone else. Then you may get chastized for your own safety.  LOL.

What you will get is good solid critique of your work as you progress, including where you can improve and how to get there. Sure once you have been around for a time there may be a jab or two in jest but that is because we are like a family and is usually because by that time you should know better.

So bring it on and let people help you get where you are going. Keep your thick skin to yourself though. LOL!!!

Mike

2 hours ago, avengers63 said:

So a couple of things here...

1) I might be focusing in on the pickups more. Mojo Pickups makes the most reasonably priced Charlie Christian pups I can find. A set of three of these with a tom/stop would be pretty sweet.

2) I have forgotten how I bent the cutaway for this mold.

It's a pretty harsh bend, so I know it'll need time & patience, but I've done it before, so I know I can do it. I just don't remember how I did it.

So if anyone has experience with bends this tight, PLEASE school me.

It's too thick for the type of bending you are doing. YOU may try using a steam box on that first though. I mean really steam it until it is almost soaking wet . then it may get pliable enough to do what you want. Also make it oversize so you can then cut to size after it has dried for a few weeks.  Otherwise use thinner material and laminate it.

mk

17 hours ago, Gregore said:

This is a BEAUTIFUL design. I like that the points are more severe than some of the other star shaped models from the 80’s. The guild flying star 84 was a cool one too! Do you sell these bodies? Or would you happen to have a template for this design. I would love to build one like it!

@R'lyeh,  Zombie post most likely you will not get a reply.