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SerpentineGtars

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Everything posted by SerpentineGtars

  1. SerpentineGtars
    Not to be contentious here, but both are much identical to a PRS headstock with "slight" modifications. Id say they are both equally different from each other as they are from a PRS! I mean... cmon... http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/116/1347db8d01024971b1302369a8f3ef75/l.jpg Vs http://www.obmart.com/images/MickEquipment/PRSArtistHeadstock.jpg That aside, the build is looking sick! I see exactly what you're saying, and this is the problem when it comes to designing new shapes. What doesn't help is when you subconsciously incorporate an existing shape that you've seen and like. Well, I'm back to the drawing board now, it's not easy so going to stick with my 6-inline head now - which I've been told looks like ibanez headstock?! ... http://www.serpentineguitars.com/img/800x316/contact.jpg Ok, looks like there's a bit of an issue over my headstock design here... Similar comments were also said on the Ultimate Guitar forum too. Basically, as I explained there, it is extremely difficult to come up with totally original designs nowadays as there are so many already, and in this case, it's purely coincidental and I would have no intention of deliberately ripping off one of Ormsby's designs. Although I would recognise his 6-inline headstock shape, I had not seen his 3x3 shape (of which mine resembles) enough until I Googled it yesterday to consciously copy it. With this coming to light in such early days of me using this particular headstock design, I will be withdrawing it as an option on my custom and stock builds and making my way "back to the drawing board" in an attempt to come up with an alternative 3x3 shape for Serpentine Guitars. Ormsby; if you're reading this, my apologies for any concerns or offence I may have caused. . That is IMHO a really mature and humble responce. Cudos to you! Thanks SwedishLuthier. I have also been in touch with Perry who has been really cool about the whole thing... really nice bloke!
  2. SerpentineGtars
    Ok, looks like there's a bit of an issue over my headstock design here... Similar comments were also said on the Ultimate Guitar forum too. Basically, as I explained there, it is extremely difficult to come up with totally original designs nowadays as there are so many already, and in this case, it's purely coincidental and I would have no intention of deliberately ripping off one of Ormsby's designs. Although I would recognise his 6-inline headstock shape, I had not seen his 3x3 shape (of which mine resembles) enough until I Googled it yesterday to consciously copy it. With this coming to light in such early days of me using this particular headstock design, I will be withdrawing it as an option on my custom and stock builds and making my way "back to the drawing board" in an attempt to come up with an alternative 3x3 shape for Serpentine Guitars. Ormsby; if you're reading this, my apologies for any concerns or offence I may have caused. .
  3. SerpentineGtars
    Serpentine Guitars is now pleased to announce our flexible, interest-free payment plan - bringing your dream guitar one step closer to reality. No credit checks and no finance agreement, simply put; you decide how much you would like to pay and over what period of time. Visit our website for more details - http://www.serpentineguitars.com/payplan.html
  4. SerpentineGtars
    A small photo update/taster of what's (been) going on lately. Basically, the headstock shape (Serpentine Guitar's new 3x3 shape) has been routed and work on cutting/shaping the inlays (15th fret inlay shown below)...
  5. SerpentineGtars
    Started off bit slow this week; the Flame Maple top is now glued to the Swamp Ash body and routed to shape. The Maple still needs a fair bit of sanding, but I'll be doing this once the carve-top is finished... The back (Swamp Ash)... Close-up of the Maple-to-Ash glue join...
  6. SerpentineGtars
    No, and having had a proper look around at what else they have on their site price-wise, it looks like stock's either really nicely priced or too expensive! I wouldn't pay their body blank prices and I couldn't justify spending £200 out-right on neck blanks and fretboards alone.
  7. SerpentineGtars
    Shipping is only £23 to the UK for £200 of goods, so probably not feasible to start splitting up an order getting everyone their part of the order. Good idea if everyone was living in the same area though.
  8. SerpentineGtars
    They're not bad prices either! Would even consider a bulk order if I knew for sure that their stock was good quality.
  9. SerpentineGtars
    Looking forward to seeing the finished guitar now, keep posting yr updates
  10. SerpentineGtars
    I was being serious Customers pay what I pay for materials unless there's extra work to be done on top of the standard build stuff.
  11. SerpentineGtars
    That Buckeye Burl came up nice, how did you find working with it in general? We don't get that stuff here in the UK because Customs don't allow the export of its bark (or so I was told by a seller in the States), but I had a customer manage to get some past Customs when it was sent over for his custom build... I hated it! Had a big void to fill which went OK, the whole thing was then treated with superglue to fill the many smaller voids... but finishing was a nightmare! Three resprays in the end and it still didn't look 100%. What are you finishing the with?
  12. SerpentineGtars
    Exactly the same as I paid... honestly!
  13. SerpentineGtars
    Thanks Prostheta
  14. SerpentineGtars
    Exotic Hardwoods UK Ltd in their Instrument Wood section < Google them. I don't normally like buying milled timber/blanks specifically for instruments like this as you pay a premium, but it's expensive stuff and I didn't want to buy more than I needed. You could also Google hardwood suppliers and find someone that might have some off cuts, but the Exotic Hardwoods stuff was quartersawn and nicely seasoned (I believe it's reclaimed timber).
  15. SerpentineGtars
    Thanks guys
  16. SerpentineGtars
    +1... This is exactly the way I work, spec sheet signed off, email contact (good paper trail if customer claims something's not as requested), changes (where possible) paid for upfront and 50% deposit usually covers everything I pay out to build. Had no problems with custom builds, except a Buckeye Burl top but the customer was actually nice about it when I explained the problems I was having.
  17. SerpentineGtars
    Before I started this build, I had planned on taking full photo sequences of the guitars production. Unfortunately, I did not get the photos I wanted so I will be documenting this build from the point I'm currently at, with the hope of photo sequences for certain "procedures", such as the inlay work that will be undertaken on this particular guitar. So, this build is a private commission for a UK based client with the following spec... Swamp Ash body with Flame Maple top (carve-top) One-piece Indian Rosewood neck (set-neck) Ebony fretboard 25.5" scale length 20" radius 24 frets (Jescar Jumbo Stainless Steel) PRS 513-style Paua fretboard inlays Grover machine heads (Gold) GraphTech Resomax NW2 bridge (Gold) JBE Pickups (T/T neck and bridge, SC middle) Trans Red Gloss finish w/ natural faux-binding (body and headstock face only) Progress so far: The Swamp Ash has been planed, joined and thicknessed (currently 34mm but due to be thicknessed down to 26mm to take the (new) Flame Maple top we're using). Looking at the first picture in this post, there is some Flame Maple laying underneath the Ash, this has since been replaced with a thicker top (3/4" when planed and thicknessed for gluing to the Ash). This Maple top shown is what we'll be using for this build. The neck will be a one-piece affair with 12 degree headstock angle (to which a Flame Maple veneer will be glued) and volute. The face has been planed/sanded flat ready to take the Ebony fretboard and a Truss Rod channel routed. The next step will be working on the fretboard; fret slots and inlay work. I'll be using some stunning Paua shell blanks (imported from Israel) for the inlays, which are based on the PRS 513 birds. I have glued on some headstock ears, followed by a Flame Maple veneer (bookmatched) to the head face... The neck profile has been roughed in - including angled heel (2 degree angle) and volute... The Flame Maple top has been jointed and glued, soon to be thicknessed down to 16mm and glued to the Ash (26mm thick)... Further updates coming this weekend
  18. SerpentineGtars
    Good to hear you found it
  19. SerpentineGtars
    Thanks pan_kara! All finished in Tru-Oil except the Buckeye guitar (2k gloss clear). No, won't stand up to the same levels of abuse as lacquer but easy to fix, refresh or completely refinish. Where abouts in Europe are you? I'm UK based, no problems buying Tru-Oil here (Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil) - try eBay if you can't find it elsewhere. Robbinst and Shelvock; thanks for your comments
  20. SerpentineGtars
    Thank you. I have another carve-top DC (Ash body w/ Flame Maple top, Indian Rosewood neck and Ebony fretboard) in progress at the moment - I'll start up a seperate thread for that soon.
  21. SerpentineGtars
    Thank you curtisa... More to come soon!
  22. SerpentineGtars
    This next guitar is a commissioned build, now with its owner in Switzerland; Mahogany RR-style body, Maple/Black Walnut/Maple neck with Ken Lawrence-style headstock (we won't be doing any of these again), Indian Rosewood fretboard, Schaller Roller (TOM) bridge, Hipshot machine heads and IronGear "Steam Hammer" pickup. The guitar (body) is finished in solid black dye and Tru-Oil...
  23. SerpentineGtars
    Carve-top Mahogany DC with Maple/Ebony/Sapele/Ebony/Maple neck and Madagascan Rosewood fretboard, Gotoh hardware and EMG pickups.
  24. SerpentineGtars
    Another commissioned build; Baritone DC - Sapele body with bookmatched Wenge top, Maple/Ebony/Sapele/Ebony/Maple laminate neck and Madagascar Rosewood fretboard... Complete...
  25. SerpentineGtars
    Our next guitar was a commissioned build; C*nklin-style body (Ash with Buckeye Burl top), Birdseye Maple/Purpleheart (five-piece) neck and Ovangkol fretboard. The Buckeye Burl top roughly shaped, in need of void fills - horrible stuff to work with; smells bad, dents easy and does not take an oil or lacquer finish easily... Mother of Pearl inlays (based on PRS-513 birds)... Headstock blank... Buckeye Burl and Ash body glued up, neck ready for carving... Contouring the back of the body - recessed heel and tummy carve... Clear coated and ready for assembly... Finished... Vowed never to work with Buckeye Burl again!
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