MasterOfTheWind

This is my 2nd build and was one of the most challenging project I've ever done. I put a ridiculous amount of time into it. 

On the first day of working on it, it jerked on the router and took a chunk of meat out of my finger and drew a lot of blood, that is what earned it it's color.

I designed this body with functionality and uniqueness in mind.

Body: Ash , Padouk accent (Pickup rings, switch, back cover)

Neck : 24 fret Floyd neck 

Scale: 25.5"

Pickups: Artec

Electronics: 3 way switch, tone, volume

Finish: Torch, Dye, Shellac, Oil

Hope you like it. 

Build thread: http://www.projectguitar.com/forums/topic/48349-my-2nd-build-dopamine/

Pure Awesomeness !!! I like this one a lot.

Thank you guys for the feedback ! 

Norris, I completely agree with you. Apparently the angle on the drill press is off... have to correct it. Unfortunately, once these holes are made its a done deal...It is something for me to pay attention to on the next build...

Here is the duo:

5 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Oh, now then....the others are interesting and innovative design.  This one is a thing of real beauty.  I LOVE the look of this one......

Thank you Andy ! I just finished it. 

Well, most of it, still need to get some knobs and come up with some cool cover for the switch hole...

Prostheta, Good way to put it.

I learned that lesson the hard way, and as SDshirtman said, thanks to my luck, it was only a lesson and not a serious, long term, crippling injury as it could easily have been.

8 hours ago, ScottR said:

Damn! It doesn't take you long to get from point A to point B does it?

Sweet finish. Are you an art major by chance?

SR

Scott, I am not... my sister is. Maybe its genetic ?... lol

And yes I try to move along with such projects... Here is the latest update.

I just finished the neck.

my Cracked Denim finish...

Yep. I learned to respect and feat it, I now take my time with it...Especially the table router. 

With the plunge router I feel a bit more comfortable as I have better grip of the device compared to gripping the work on the table.

As added safety I always use it with a pedal. 

7 minutes ago, ScottR said:

NICE!

Nothing like a bit of sunshine to bring the quilt to life.

I know what you mean about weariness setting in as you race down the home stretch. The hours pile up and you have a NEED to finish if only to let your brain rest.

And then a few days after it's over and you find yourself with free time again........I think, well what the hell am I going to do now?

SR

So true !!!

1 hour ago, kmensik said:

I am more conservative in shapes, but admire your courage. Finish is awsome. And the matching tuning knobs!

How is the ergonomy with the switch and knobs? And output jack?

The ergonomics are great (in my opinion) it is very comfortable the weight is good, the controls are easy to reach, kind of like some older Japanese guitars. I just pushed them a little forward... I assume it would take any musician some getting used to. But it works...works well in my opinion (:

7 minutes ago, psikoT said:

Well, you have your own style, that's for sure... I like your crazy designs.

Talking about neurotransmitter substances... I see you have done some bodies already, don't you feel confident to start making your own neck? You should try, is like an serotonin overdose...  you'll feel like god.

HAHA !!! You nailed it ! "Serotonin" will be the name of the next model I'm gonna build. I need to do some reading and learning on the necks... I definitely would like to do that !!! 

Thanks Kmensik !! I like yoursa a lot !

The only reason I didnt focus too much on the routing under the cover is because it would be covered anyway and not visible, but you are right. It can be done much nicer. Also thank you for all the other pointers (:

1 minute ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I like that feature very much 

Its pretty cool... here are the magnets.

Dopamini

I had a small piece of Alder laying around and decided to build a smaller (travel) version of my previous build; Dopamine. Hence Dopamini... lol 

If you haven't seen my Dopamine build, here it is: http://www.projectguitar.com/forums/topic/48349-my-2nd-build-dopamine/

I am still unsure about the finish...

But here is my progress so far: 

Initial design:

initial cut.

Where it is at right now...

Let me know what you think so far...

HAHA Thanks (:

And it's not photoshoped... lol

6 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I keep looking at the body on this.  I love the folds in the carve.  Maybe just needs a more fancy headstock to match?  I think the shape's fine but maybe a decal or some patterning?

Yeah the headstock is kind of plain, the only reason I didn't modify it is because it this forward direction with a spike like look at it kind of flows the body's "spikes"...

I am still have no experience with inlays or badging. I will try to do something on my next build, I also wanted to keep the body really clean and haven't decided what imprint I want on it and where, that is why I did it on the rear electronics cover... Which is BTW held by 6 super strong magnets...

5 hours ago, ScottR said:

I love all the curves and contours, and the color and the finish.

Were you trying to capture a flame with the shape?

SR

Thank you Scott !! Initially when I started it, I didn't really know how I would finish it, I went spontaneous with it. Once the body was cut, carved and burnt, it just gave me that fiery feel, so I just went with it...

Thank you Andy !!

I used regular cheap wood dye, it comes in a powder and I mixed red with a little bit of yellow to get that fiery bloody color.

Actually, as the wound was healing it went through just about all the colors that are on the guitar except for the chrome... 

I have pictures of it, but trust me, it is not something you'd want to see... LOL

1 hour ago, kmensik said:

Hi. If your first one was decent, the second must be better. Judging from the photo, which is a good photo itself, with Dopamine you made a giant leap. Show us!

(my first is this one http://kmensik.rajce.idnes.cz/DIY_GTR/)

Kmensik, That a great build !!! the link is ridiculously slow to lean, but a great guitar.

Here is DOPAMINE... (just finished it)

http://www.projectguitar.com/forums/topic/48349-my-2nd-build-dopamine/

DOPAMINE

This is my 2nd build and was one of the most challenging project I've ever done. I put a ridiculous amount of time into it. 

This was my first: http://www.projectguitar.com/forums/topic/48345-let-me-have-it-first-build-adrenaline/

On the first day of working on it, it jerked on the router and took a chunk of meat out of my finger and drew a lot of blood, that is what earned it it's color.

I designed this body with functionality and uniqueness in mind.

Body: Ash , Padouk accent (Pickup rings, switch, back cover)

Neck : 24 fret Floyd neck 

Scale: 25.5"

Pickups: Artec

Electronics: Simple 3 way switch, tone, volume

Finish: Torch, Dye, Shelac, Oil

Please let me know what you think, I am still learning about guitar building so any feedback you have is greatly appreciated. 

My brother in law playing it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZePJAPuEWM

Thank you !!! I don't expect any permanent damage, probably gonna have a little bit of discomfort for a while, at least it hasn't stopped me from building...lol

I like to say: "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" but in this case it made me smarter, not stronger.

Almost 2 months after the injury, it is still recovering, although the wound has closed long time ago, there is still discomfort when using it to apply force and when trying to fully bend that joint.

And yes for musicians that could have worse consequences, as I mentioned I built the Adrenaline to learn to play. I did start and took my first lesson. The injury happened 2 days before my second lesson and I haven't been able to practice since...

Andy, That's a nice looking piece you are building there. I am still learning about methods in general - conventional or unconventional.

Excited to see how its gonna come out, will definitely follow your project.

37 minutes ago, Prostheta said:

It might be advisable to either lower the speed of your router so you can feel the pain message or increase the speed of your reactions. 

LOL. I learned how to respect the Router, be extra careful with it and avoid getting my hands near the blades.

Scott, that guitar is a beauty !!! Especially the details and the curves...

Luckily no stitches were needed and it didn't get to the bone. I really, really got lucky. But here is what a router can do in a matter of milliseconds... (not for the faint of heart)

1 hour ago, ScottR said:

Allow me to add my welcome to these as well.

You know, my first guitar has a very similar story as yours. I had never played......in fact not many would call what I do now actually playing. And I wanted my first design to be "more" than anything else I had ever seen.

From an artistic point of view I like the way this design balances and flows and I like the multi-levels. Having this one....and now I see most of another under your belt, I expect you have a better appreciation of "form and function" and can easily see the tweak that would let you put your neck pickup where you want it whilst preserve your design.

That is a very fine first effort, and that sneak peek of the second is quite tasty as well. I love what I can see of the finish. It makes me think of dragon skin. Obviously you've already felt the first grip builder's addiction that we've all succumbed to.

What lessons did you learn from your first that you applied to your second? That never ends by the way. We all still have "holy crap! why didn't I ever think of that before" moments on nearly every new build. I'm glad to see you are using your own creativity for your build designs.

SR

ScottR, You are absolutely right, I am addicted...

The things I learned so far are:

1. Measure 7 time, cut once.

2. Plan and draw all hardware and cuts.

3. Almost any mess up on wood can be fixed (depending on what the finish will be)

4. It is better to take the time and do it right than mess something up and then fix it.

5. Router bits can remove skin and flesh really fast. (especially on a table with the bit completely exposed) 

6. When skin is removed at 30,000 RPM (15,000x2 blades) no pain is felt.

7. With good quality wood, almost anything can be made.

8. Prior to finishing, inspect the work by touch and not just visually.

9. Different woods require different techniques and tools...

Hopefully this will also help newbies like me (:

Please post a pic of your first build. Would love to see it.