Stavromulabeta

Hi Stu, thanks! I'm really excited with how it's turning out. I'll be sure to give you a shout if anything comes up . Ah, the neck angle... After much wailing and gnashing of teeth I went for a shallow 1.5deg angle. Having started out with fenders and floyds, I always feel a bit uneasy with those high TOMs and big neck angles. I was a little unsure if this was a good direction or not though. From drawing (and re-drawing a lot!) I think I can just recess the thumbwheels and have the bridge itself a fraction off the body - I guess it does just come down to preference really.. [On the drawing front, I'm an engineer now, so the idea of leaving home without a plan and at least a little maths done makes my skin crawl, haha.]

Hi all, I thought I'd start a build diary for my latest creation and see what people think! I've been messing around with guitars for a while now and was lucky enough to have some help from my dad in learning a bit of woodworking when I was still in school. He helped me through a couple of builds back then and I've done some kits by myself. Now though, it's been 5 years since the last one. I've moved out, got a job, and it's time to go it alone! Anyway, this is number 5. I've wanted an explorer of my own for years and thought it a good place to start. I'm a bit late starting this blog, so there's some catching up to do.. So here goes! The plan. I really liked the idea of the through-neck showing in the body. I went for a three-stripe neck, with some additional stringers down the sides for accent. I drew out accurate, full-scale plans as I wasn't quite sure on the design process here. Here's the body one, just to give an idea of the whole! Details-wise, I wanted to get something a bit different from my other guitars - all 25.5" scales with floyds. I decided to try out a slightly shorter, PRS-style scale-length at 25" for a more bluesy/classic vibe. After years of tuning/action frustration with the floyds, I'm also really looking forward to having a TOM bridge. I found a lovely little roller-saddle unit on axesrus (fantastic UK-based site). Woods I sourced all my wood from a great place in Surrey (Surrey Timbers). Really helpful and some really incredible looking stock! Heartily recommended for those of you in the UK. Here's everything together, I got enough for a couple of projects here and probably only spent £150. * Curly maple and Bubinga for the neck laminations (neck core shown made up here) * African rosewood for the body wings * Purpleheart for the body stringers * Curly cherry for the top (body and headstock) Here's another pic which shows off the African Rosewood a little better.

Great, thanks! I'll set something up after tonight's garage session! Going to be cold out there tonight though! I've always fancied doing some CNC. I guess it spares quite a bit of time on the shaping front. I've seen some pretty cool stuff with homemade kit(!). I'm an engineer by profession and I did some bits with stepping motors and motion tracking at uni, but that's a hobby for a time with fewer working hours and better pay (if such a time ever even exists!)

Haha, yeah this is true. I've definitely been changing my plans as I go along! It's taken me a while to even get started on this one as my job took me abroad a lot in the summer. I'll set up an album once I've got to my allotted 10 posts to show how it's going. You still seem to get quite a few done despite the breaks, Prostheta!

Hi guys, thanks for the welcome! Haha, will do! I'll try to get something up before too long - although between work and making the thing, there's not much time left!

Hi everyone, I just thought I'd write a quick post to say hi and test out the forum. I've been a lurker on Project Guitar since the old site, but have finally got around to joining. This is a fantastic site which got me and my Dad off the ground with building back when I was 16 - so thanks to you all! I'm now 23, post-university, moved out and going it alone on my first full build all by myself! So, number 5 is going to be an Explorer through-neck, (3-piece curly maple and bubinga) with an african rosewood (curly cherry-topped) body and the standard-issue indian rosewood fretboard. I've gone for a slightly shorter PRS-style (25") scale on this one. I'm aiming for an electric-bluesy/classic rock feel. I'm up to the final stages of neck construction, so hopefully I should be able to put some pics up as the build progresses. I can't wait to see/hear it in action! Thanks again for all the help and inspiration so far, I look forward to meeting a few of you as things progress! Dan