Johnny Foreigner

There is, of course, a difference between saying a particular word, and calling someone a name by using that same word. And also important to bear in mind that while the word in question is relatively inoffensive in the US, it most certainly is not in other parts of the world. In the UK if you called someone that in a work environment you'd be fired on the spot, no question. It's the same level as the n-word and the f-word.

I'd never seen this side of Dave before. I'm a little shocked.

Dave, seems like you're pretty frustrated. I personally would miss your build threads. Not because I think you make the prettiest guitars on PG, because I don't. For whatever reason, the woodpron guitars never ever flick my switch like colorful, shiny guitars do - blame it on the fact that most desirable production guitars are of the colorful shiny variety. I vote in GOTM based on taste, which as we know, is an extremely subjective thing. But would I rather win GOTM or be doing steady business building commission guitars for satisfied customers? That's really a no-brainer. If I had validation from people parting with their cash, I wouldn't need it from PGers parting with their vote. And even though your guitars don't necessarily do it for me, I hope you stick around, because your threads are fine examples of excellent, clean building and innovative thinking. Also on the subject of GOTM, I think it would be great to recognize people's work at different levels. If you earn your crust making guitars full time, as far as I'm concerned you have no business entering just another one of your builds against a noob or experienced amateur who's poured their heart and soul into their build. IMHO.

Yeah, I'm happy with it. I pretty much suck as a player, so I don't know that me being happy with it means much!

http://www.amazon.com/E-Z-LOK-Threaded-Ins...9355&sr=8-1 i'm sure you could find them in most hardware stores/home depot, etc also.

Figured I might as well start the build thread on this, even though it might be some time before I get chance to make any progress. I've now moved from a house with a lovely big basement (perfect for guitar building) to a loft in downtown Boston, which does not have a basement. Trying to figure out ways around the problem, but progress will be slow. The watchword for this build is "clean." Frustrated by the imperfections on my first two builds, I'm determined this one will be perfect, even if it takes me a year to finish up. ok, the finalized design: the specs are: limba body with spalt maple cap - superthin with a total body thickness of around 1 3/8" laminate neck of bubinga-maple-padauk-maple-bubinga and I'm contemplating (not on the mockup) throwing an accent piece into the scarf, using a cutoff from my 2nd build neck, which was padauk-bubinga-maple-bubinga-padauk, with the pieces all the same size for their position as in this one. 2 alumitone sc two volume, one 3-way toggle and the first couple of bits done before I moved: limba: spalt: obvious first question: what do I need to do with spalt maple that might be unexpected? any nasty surprises? I've heard talk of using CA on spalt, but not 100% clear on the process or reasoning.

It's on there! Very subtle, but it's there as a 12th fret inlay. That's some typical English reserve for you right there.

if you recessed the scratchplate that could work. if it's sitting above the face of the wood, like on a strat, I think there would be slippage.

I drilled out the threads on the pickups, then used brass inserts and regular humbucker screws: http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.ph...st&p=468069

DC Ross - love this jig. 2 questions: - since I don't have a server rack sitting around, do you have any suggestions where I might pick up some of that t-track...don't remember seeing it at Depot - what would I use to cut it to length? I assume you also had to smooth the edges with something (ok that was an extra question)? I too would love some more detailed instructions on this one.

I had no idea it had been so long since I'd posted anything on this one. Anyways, she's done! Overall, I'm happy, while still very very conscious of the areas that could be improved. the good bits: - the design is something I'm happy with. The jack placement is perfect, I like the shape of the carve, the control layout, etc - the flamy maple looks super cool - the blueness. always wanted a blue guitar, now I have one - overall sound - not that I'm a connoisseur of guitar tone, but it sounds at least as good as my epi LP so I'll take that. - the piezo pickup works well - it doesn't sound like an acoustic, but it does sound like an amped acoustic and deffo opens up the tonal palette - the ntune - best. invention. ever. - that it works, and plays, and is shiny - the $8 bridge. you've got to love China. the not so good: - the finish. finishing is definitely the area where my natural impatience takes the biggest toll. Still, lots learnt for next time - the overall attention to perfectionist detail is simply not there - too many little things that could have been that bit better if I'd taken a little more time and care - the series/parallel pushpulls don't really do enough to warrant their inclusion - the sound just isn't different enough. - grainfilling. i completely underestimated its importance and didn't pay enough attention to how good of a job i was doing of it. biggest lessons learned: - if the wood isn't smooth before you start the finishing, it isn't going to be smooth afterwards - the finish does not fill in the little pits like you might fondly imagine - wood is really easy to ding - slow and steady wins the race and produces a cleaner build - the phrase 'it will do' is your enemy. the only thing that will 'do' is perfection! There was definitely a desire to get this first one done relatively quickly. I think now I've popped my cherry, the focus next time will deffo be on the cleanest build possible - no corners cut just to get a particular bit of the build done and move onto something more exciting - I'm going to challenge myself to be more of a perfectionist.

when I saw the ERO I was pretty sure it would get my vote. the orange lady was also nice, but loses points in my book for not being a 100% DIY job my vote goes to the dimple for the simple reason that the quality for a first build is exception, and the attention to detail is something I'm struggling with so I am very in awe of it. This guitar is nothing spectacular, but very very very well executed.

my word, that's sexy.

oh, I thought it was a deliberate nod to the Parker HS... (with a dash of Ibanez thrown in).

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

I love it when I ask a question and the two people I'm hoping will answer chime in. Thanks fellas - so just live with it, then, and keep the guitar under very yellow spotlights.

Quick question. I have *a lot* to learn about finishing - particularly spraying. I'm using the stewmac waterbase lacquer and I'm pretty sure I sprayed way too heavily, so now my opaque black bits look significantly blue (in daylight only - under artificial light they look as black as pitch). it's only been 3 weeks since i finished spraying - will the blueishness gas off if I let it cure a few more weeks? Or will final wet sanding and buffing help? Or do I have to accept the blueishness and learn my lesson about going easy with the thickness of coats?

only up to a certain point, tho. Above 1000 I switch to little micromesh pads and just use fingers - they're not taking off any significant material so they can't spoil the radius.

hmmm I think the thinness and lightness is a secondary consideration. I think what I really really want is something that feels a little .... *simplified* I think thinness and lightness are part of that, but I'm not trying to build the lightest or thinnest. So I'm going to stick with my wood choices, go for the 2x alumitone sc layout and decide on whether to dye or not nearer the time. thanks for the input, all.

ok, lots to think about. and thank you for all the thoughtful replies - exactly why i put the questions out there so i could benefit from the experience of others and be forced to think about things differently. thoughts on maple alone for the neck? Light enough?

I think I'd rather lose the p/p pots than have to put a pickguard on. Aesthetics is paramount for me, and most pickguards just don't do it for me. So I'm pretty much settled on the 2 alumitone, 2 volume, 1 toggle, nothing else scheme. so... colors?

see, that's the sort of pointless sh1t that gets me all excited. so I guess the conclusion I'm coming to is that I want this to be fairly minimalist. but I think the 1 alumitone makes the neck join area look weird, so I'm going to go for two SCs, probs alumitones, but subject to revision. okay, pickups sorted. any thoughts on color?

Very interesting. I guess I'm asking precisely because I don't yet know what I'm trying to achieve with this build, and as with any creative decision, I find it useful to bounce ideas off people. Even just going through the process of doing the mockups to post up forced me to think through a few things and come to a few decisions. Ultimately I'm not going to design my build around other peoples' opinions, but those opinions - and considerations I hadn't even thought about, not to mention the experience of people who've been doing this a lot longer than me - are very useful in helping me to make up my mind. And this guitar is really for me an exploration of form. I want to take what I've learned on my first two builds and create something that is a variation on a theme. Which brings me back to my thought that what I really want is something stripped back, simple, light and clean. All that said, I think asking for advice on color is PERFECTLY valid. Not all of us are that great at appreciating color, and others (I'm thinking of guitarnut here) have more experience with the science of complementary colors, how different woods take color and so forth. You're right that you need to have a clear vision yourself about what you want in the guitar, but it's also important to remember that objectivity is a hard thing to come by with only one set of eyes.

Yeah, definitely possible, but I think I'm slightly drawn to the idea of something that's thin, light and a little bit stripped down. Fewer bells and whistles than my first build - which also has a half inch carve, ntune, etc. I'm definitely thinking the 2 alumtione SCs is the way forward... some of the aesthetic of the PRSs that come with SCs.

And then there's color. Option one would be to leave everything natural color. I'm not that keen. Option two would be an amber tint on the body to tie it in with the padauk. Option three would be to stay amber on the limba, but ramp up to a red on the top so it's all fairly complementary: and option four would be to ignore front/back clashes and go for something much more interesting on the top. any thoughts?