jmrentis

On the top. About the post not fitting snuggly, your not crazy, they are actually shy of 10 mm. They suggest you use 10mm but on this site link I will put the guy descibes how to make it snug, but your was already drilled so it's a little late. But don't worry if you place the little post well you shouldn't have any problems what so ever. I ended up needing to drill out my headstock to get them to fit, and I did it as the guy described, by using a bit just a little smaller than the post , then using a tapered reamer to file to size, but I couldn't find a tapered reamer at the time so I used a 10 inch bastard cut file that was similar in size and shape to the reamer. It ended up working great and I got a completely snug fit, no movement at all. Have you drilled the positioning post holes already and put the tuners on the headstock yet? But like I said I wouldn't worry about it, with well placed and snug positioning posts, you shouldn't have any movement. Post and let us know how it's going and if you encounter any more problems and definately check out that website it has good instructions on how to install them, very specific. It worked great for me. Good luck and I hope it works out for you! Jason Sperzels Installing Specs

I am looking for a fixed bridge and saw this one and I think I like it a lot. I had seen it back when I was going to change out my trem on my Ibanez and never put any thought into because it wouldn't of worked without a difficult mod, but today when I saw it again I really liked it. This will be probably be my choice my my project, which will be my first project and I would like to keep it simple and smooth looking but classy. I thought I would just throw it in here with all the other options. Jason Hipshot Hardtail

I do have a trem, but I have blocked it off and it is a snug fit. Could you explain why you think the nut and/or string are the issue? I am in the dark as to why these would cause the problem, I know how they work, but I don't have all the technical knowledge of how they work with each other, I should but I just never put any time into this area. Thanks for your help! Jason

I would have never thought of that! It might work, it seems like it would, but again wait for more responses. Good luck, if nobody has tried that maybe you should try it just to see if it would work. Maybe not on this project, but on some scrap or something, again sounds like it would work but I have no idea for sure! Good Luck! Jason

Do you think one low and one med reversed would be more even, or do you think it depends on the position of your tuners? Do you have a pic of your headstock, I would love to see how it looks. I think it's awsome that you were able to do this, and I really would like to see a small tutorial on this. I do understand how to do it through your posts, but pics and desciptions make a big difference for me. Also did you build this neck, or is it store bought? I was wondering what headstock angle you used and why you picked it? Jason

I was just screwing around but it would make a killer pic. You could do it though in between sanding back finishing coats, but you would have to put in the hardware, eh nevermind dumb idea. Just do it digitally on your computer for an album cover. Jason

Thanks guys, I already have a soldering iron but I thought it might be better to work with, so I am glad I asked as I was nervous that there would be problems with it. Too Bad, it really seemed like a good idea, maybe one day they can improve it with a better version that would minimize the drawbacks. Again thanks for the heads up! Jason

No worries, sometimes my mind just doesn't read things right So switching them to a reversed wasn't bad? Maybe you could do a tutorial for this because a lot of people would like to do this to their guitars. I would like to for my next one. Which two sizes did you reverse? Staggered set right? About the thumbwheel, I don't think any of mine do this but I am very gentle with my tuners, so maybe they do but I just haven't pushed it that far. I hate braking things so I am always overly cautious with everything I own. I can see it happening though, could you put a spot of superglue on the thread with a toothpick, so it would catch just before it would come off? Good Luck! Jason

Someone needs to come out with a fresh design of this with solid tools, maybe someone like Grizzly, someone that has luthiers in mind although it would be handy for most anyone. Thanks for all the info I was curious as I would definately be interested in something similar to this in the future, especially for people like me with limited work space! Thanks Guys! Jason Also I think what he was asking was is it better to cut the wings on a bandsaw before glueing the to the neck, or glueing them on then cutting the wings with a Jigsaw, not a bandsaw. Probably because it would be easier to glue up with nice straight edges to clamp with. In my opinion I would cut them first as this is what I see the most, but I have no first hand experience so others will be of more help. Also I would be very nervous of using a jigsaw that late in the game, you would already have done so much work and if you then screwed up the body it would be a major waste. Good luck though and hope it all works out for you, make sure to get other opinions on this, mine is not to be taken heavily, there are much betters opinions out there. Jason

I keep seeing these infomercials about this products called Cold Heat. Its a soldering Iron and it is cold to the touch until its pressed against the solder and just a second or two after you stop its cold again, you would actually have to TRY to burn yourself and even then it would be hard. To me it sounds like a great idea, but I'm sure there is some downsides to it. Also it's portable, no wires just runs on 4AA batteries, sound like heaven for installing pickups, no wires to get in the way and you could just set it your shirt pocket if you wanted to during installation. Anyways sounds good to me and it isn't expensive or anything, one bad thing is that probably you can't replace tips, but I could be wrong, still it would have to be the same exact tip that came with it, unless they came out with other varieties. So let me know what you guys think of this, would it be worthy of guitar electonics? Or even just day to day jobs? Any cons that you can come up with? I've been seeing it now for a long time and haven't put much thought into it, so time to see what the boys at PG think! Thanks Jason

Ouch! I think your screwed! Pun fully intended! I hope you figure it out, is there any way you would be willing to get a new pickguard? As then there would be many easy solutions. Good Luck!

I agree, I have yet to see anyone do it this way besides that one, which I'm sure worked fine but it seems to me that if you routed two channels one on either side of the truss rod channel that it would be far more effective, as the point is not to stiffen the truss rod which is already made of steel, but to stiffen the neck. Spacing it out like that would probably work better if you were going to go that way, but again is not necessary. Is it going to be 2 parts hard maple and one part mahogandy, or what? Good Luck! Jason

When your done with it you could hang some big heavy chain, from hook/barb to hook/barb and take a pic. It would make it look like the meanest f'n guitar ever. Hang it the same way people do with their pierced ear and nose connected by a chain, except use some chain that is thick like with inch wide links.LOL Sorry my mind is on the fritz right now. Jason

So you have this all figured out then, I just didn't understand why you were loosening the screw in the first place, I understand now that I read your edit and I'm glad it worked out for you. I would like a 4x2 set for my next project. Also I wasn't sure if you had the locking tuners or not, but I assume you do. Good Luck. This make perfect sense and I have been tuning the first way you described all my life and didn't make any change after I installed them. I will do as you suggested to see if it works and I'm sure it will and it makes sense, since it locks down on the string, pushing sharp a little. Thanks for the help. Jason

Thats cool the jigsaw worked for you, I have been using the jigsaw for my template making. It works, but I think there would be some problems if I tried to cut into my 1 3/4" piece of purpleheart. The stuff is like hard as a rock and I don't think it would work, or at least work well. When the blade angles it can cause you to cut to close to the line and will cut into your design, I can see it happen a little on some of the wood I've cut with it, never been a major issue but if you used it on some thicker wood or harder wood I could see where you might have problems. Like most everyone said a jigsaw and bandsaw is a world of difference, but to some people the price can be a world of difference and finding room for it can be a problem. So if you cannot get your hands on a bandsaw, then by all means rock the jigsaw. Just listen to the advice everyone is giving about cutting well outside the line and just cleaning it up with router/robosander or whatever. Good luck with your project and post some pics when you can! Something I just thought of that needs to be designed! A single table that is a drill press and a bandsaw. When one is in use the other can be tilted back safely out of the way or just on the other side of each other, because it would probably be nearly impossible to tilt a bandsaw back.. The table itself would have to be a little bigger than normal, but it would end up saving space by only having to have one machine. Sorry just thinking wildly, either it has already been done, or would be too difficult to build it having good performance. Jason

Which screw are speaking of? I only have a set of locking tuners, is that what you have? Maybe a pic would help or just some more details, sorry I'm not that good with visualizing. Jason

Yeah and you have to really watch headstock thickness, the headstock on my ibanez was about the max thickness that it would work with without having to take off the washers which would cause problems. It's still a little tough getting the high strings through as the posts are smaller there. But I still like them none the less.

This might not work as I don't know if they make reversed staggered sets, if they did you could take one tuner from each of the three heights from both sets and you could do it like that, you would end up being able to do two guitars this way. Again I'm not sure if they have reversed/lefty staggered sets but I assume they would. Just a thought. Also I have one thing I have noticed recently about the sperzels. This could be my guitar, the tremelo, strings or the tuners but I have been having the first 3 strings playing sharp after a short period of not playing, like a day or two. It could be my guitar but I am unsure. Maybe it's something to do with the locking aspect of the tuners as I don't think I have ever had this problem. And why just the high strings? I would figure the wound strings would have this, not the smooth ones. I have heard someone with this problem somewhere as well, but I don't remember who and where. It was before I bought them I believe. Anyone know why? Honestly I don't really care, it's a very minor problem that is completely undetectable if you play everyday. The pros of these tuner far out weigh the one con I have found so far. But I will be testing some schaller minis, and Gotoh tuners I have been informed that these are worth trying. I am always up to trying new and better products. Jason

Fretboard Taper Its a little more than half way down the page! I got this from one of Wes' replies recently, you might have seen it already but it tells you how to figure out the taper for fretboard, but I don't think it will be any different for the neck, you will have to draw it out to scale and then measure to find out, it should give you all the answers you need. I hope. Good luck and it looked like you did a good job on that headstock. Right on man! I'll be doing the same thing soon! Jason

It kinda looks like some wenge and ebony to get some height for the neck, so it would be tall enough over the body. So the string wouldn't sit on the body, just a guess though. Jason

Well you have to ask yourself, is it sponge worthy?

The Hot Rod Drop Top Convertible is what I wanted for the longest time, it's the last few on the link. It is a simple design and looks decent. Although I don't know if I want it anymore, I might just put one on my Ibanez so I can get rid of the tremelo and the wood I use to block it. It will take some moding though. I know someone also mentioned the flamed bridges somewhere, this place has some. Not my bag. Jason Custom Shop Parts

I hear ya. The worst part of building is wanting the best everything, it's so hard to buy something other than what you like because it suits your budget better. I usually will just wait until I can save up for those expensive parts because that kind of stuff would haunt me for the rest of my life I swear! Although it will take me a lot longer than most this way, I just feel better about it. For some reason I didn't realize you were a bass player, I play guitar myself, I was meant to play bass, My friend and I had a band at a young age and at first we were a cappella. We actually got on to a local radio station at 13 or 14 years old doing a cappella. Then we decided to start using instruments, we decided my friend would play guitar and I would play bass, and we already had a friend that was decent at drums. My friend was the first to pick up an instrument an electric used at a garage sale, and I really didn't have much money at that age so finding a bass was hard for me, and my friends mom said she had seen a guitar at another garage sale and wasn't sure if it was bass or 6 string. So I got a $20 from my mom and went over to the place only to find out it was a 6 string. I was upset as I wanted nothing more than to start playing, so I decided to buy it anyways, it was barely in fair condition and she was asking like $35, it was a remake of an SG with two covered humbuckers. I was able to talk her down to $15, I think more than anything she just wanted to get rid of it. So thats how I started playing guitar, and it worked out pretty good as I was good at rhythm and my friend was born to lead, he was amazing just a couple of months after buying the thing. So we ended up getting a bassist and did some small stuff with the radio and at local schools. It was a great time. One of the things that keep me playing is that story of the beggining for my friend and I. If we were given an opportunity at that time I have no doubts we would have been small time successful, but both of us were just stoked to be able to play in front of people and we were very young making anything too big hard for us to do with school and parents. Sorry I got into that a little too much I think, oh well I can always edit most of it out if it doesn't belong here. So like most everyone said either buy another guitar to trick out or build one before you decide to shred into your current one, I have no doubts that you would end up regretting it deeply. As you won't have a guitar to play for a while and who knows if or how it will turn out as what you want to do is very tough. Good Luck! Jason

Wow that wood is impressive, it really does have a great color/figure, reminds me of a melting oreo. How long did you dry it for, or is it kiln dried? Does the color seem to change with time at all? How is weight and density compared with hard maple with that piece? Great stuff and I can't wait to see it as you go and when it's done. Truly a unique piece! Also have you put any thought into how you will finish it? Something clear I would hope! Good Luck with your project! Jason

Thanks everyone for the tips. I really didn't think about that, I'm glad you let me know,it makes perfect sense but I honestly never never correlated the two, good thing you let me know, thats one of the main reasons I posted this so early in the game. So I don't have any mistakes that will make my project less than great. If I went with just a flat bridge, and had a radiused fretboard, would this make it not as playable, or could I adjust the saddles a little to compensate? The gut cut might be a good idea, actually I would like both, I am just trying to be cautious for my first and I was worried about the chambering, but if I take my time and do proper calculations I should at least be able to do the gut cut. I won't be doing binding on the back, so that helps. About thickness, I had previously put a lot of thought into making it a bit thinner, it would be a good idea considering I will probably have the flat top and the heavy part(purpleheart)back would be what I made thinner, so this would shave some weight along with the gut cut. So I will probably make this change thanks for the advice on that. 1 5/8" feels good to you? It seems about right, so you are not making it too small for the cavities and neckpocket, but enough to feel the difference. Also on the rounded binding, do you use the router roundover bit or trim router, or what? This sounds also like some great advice. And I will look into the schaller minis, the less weight the better, and the smaller the more it will show off the headstock shape and veneer. Are they what you usually use? I don't remember off hand but is that what is on your Beast? That guitar should be framed, man that wood was a once in a lifetime looking piece, perfect in my eyes. Thanks for the info, like I said I don't have much experience with most pickups. I recently decided to either put a jb or tone zone/air norton in my bridge for my ibanez. I ended up with the tone zone because I got it brand new in box sealed for $30. I just couldn't pass it up, I like it so far but I know there are others I will like better. The Jb was what I really wanted, I have only heard good things about them and seem like they are perfect for what I want. The 59 I am unfamiliar with, I have read about them some, but never heard it, but it sounds like the warmth I need for this project. So you think that SD are warmer than Dimarzios, thats good to know and I can tell you even though the tone zone is a low end pickup it still has a lot of treble, I think maybe a little too much for what its specs are designed for, a little unsatisfied in that aspect. Also one of my favorite guitarist of modern times Adam Jones plays a JB and a Jazz in the neck. He isn't as fancy as some guitarists but the sounds he makes drive me crazy. Do you know if there is much or any difference in between the jb and the trembucker jb, because thats what I would have needed for my ibanez samething thing as F spaced, wider than 2" total string spacing over bridge pickup. Just curious. Thanks for all the kind words and the much needed help. You have been a huge help to me Wes and I want to say thank you very much. Everyone here has been great Setch helped with out with how to go about chambering and some other things, Rhodes gave me some info, metal matt has been an inspiration for my project, and Rich(fryovanni) has also been a huge help, also he has some great woods for sale, that are really nice looking, which are also easy to work with because it is about the right thickness for most applications when you get it, saving a lot of time,hassle, and money. So thanks all and I hope for more opinions and advice as it all helps me for to make this what I want this to be. A Project Guitar! Jason