SOLLYGTRS

Mr Kemp,

Do you oil your Wenge fretboards or do you leave them unfinished?

Thanks,

Solly

I ran out of 'likes'. Really inspiring work. I, for one, appreciate all of the pics you are posting.

Here’s some mock ups of the finished necks and body.

I’ve been busy putting poly on the body and neck the past few days.

I kind of regret dyeing the neck now, but it is what it is now. 

The neck picks are without any poly being applied.

28 minutes ago, KempGuitars said:

Just a bit of planning and good prep... And YouTube

I didn't use steam for this... Although I might've considered that if it was a bigger contour (such as that on my non-offset body shape). 

The method I used involved routing some narrow channels perpendicular to the bend direction on the underside of the top (as seen done by a few builders on YouTube). Essentially just taking down the thickness of the wood so it bends easier. I did clamp and apply heat alone before gluing but that didn't really achieve anything.

Thanks as always. I'll go check it out.

54 minutes ago, KempGuitars said:

Nine years building, first time bending a droptop (7mm Flame Maple) over a forearm contour. No cracks  

New custom build (1 of 3 just started) which'll be regularly appearing over the coming weeks...

Did you use the iron on wet wood method to bend the maple cap?

I know its a shocker, but here's another clean looking build. Do me a favor and post a pic the next time you have some router tear out so that we know you are human. Haha

5 hours ago, KempGuitars said:

Thanks Unfortunately not pink this time. I was thinking solid black to white burst. 

I'll take that as a compliment(s), thanks dude. Sorry about the Pinky though. Hey, if you got no issues with a 3 and a half piece body instead of 2 piece, I'd be willing to spray it pink for the right, yet reasonable price. PM me but quick as I'd planned to spray the top coat Friday

It’s definitely a compliment! You do badass work brother!

Sorry man, I wish I could, but that Les Paul drained me. Still though, I’ll keep my eye out. I’ve got you followed on eBay so there may come a time.

On ‎2‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 5:28 PM, KempGuitars said:

Coming together nicely, this custom DC thru-neck is now all glued up, including Leopardwood and Ebony laminated top on Alder body wings, and shaped to template...

Beautiful build. I saved this image for inspiration for my next build. I haven't built a neck through yet. It's so classy. I really like the ebony veneer between the cap. It really sets it off.

True story. I listed my 58 Custom Shop Strat on reverb a few weeks ago just to see what I could get for it. I thought I had over priced it to the point that I would only get offers. The next morning, I woke up with the sold email and the funds. The first guitar I thought of purchasing was your Pinky. That guitar really spoke to me as most of your builds do. In fact, I've even 'borrowed' heavily from you on my current build.

Anyway, I kept watching ebay looking for Pinky and my wife found the money from the Strat. Oh well, I did buy a Les Paul eventually to make up for the loss of the Strat, but man your guitars are so good!

4 hours ago, KempGuitars said:

The resurrection of the "Pinky Dinky"... Part 3

Sealed and primer on... Who would've known?

That’s a great save. Are you going to go with Pink again?

14 minutes ago, FINEFUZZ said:

That's a sexy looking head stock and logo.

I appreciate it. The neck I'm working on now has a lot more flame going on, but minus the knots, I'm curious to see how much of the flame show up once the finish hits it.

The current state of my latest build. I’m hoping to finish the neck off this week.

This one’s going to have a Floyd and DiMarzio Super Distortion and a PAF Pro in the neck position. 

I’m still deciding on finish options.

Now for the one I finished. The unique this on this one is the neck radius. It’s 6.5. I had a 58 Strat with a 7.25 inch radius and though why not try some even rounder. 

This also is the debut of my new headstock logo.

I was lucky enough to get a lot of time in this weekend.

I was able to finish one up and fret a neck I’m working on.

First the fretting, taping and pics

Wow! I'm still very new to this stuff, but the skill that you have on display in that build is insane.

9 hours ago, StratsRdivine said:

You appear to be having fun, and this stage is definitely fun.  Personally,  I would round your body by hand, and round more at the top horn to remove the router dig.  Utilize the dig as a design challenge.  

Next time you take a router to the top, like if you decided to use a larger radius roundover, cut scrap wood to fit around the guitar horns flush with the body face so that the router has solid support and doesn't drop over the end of the horn to dig further.  

 

Thank you for tip on the router! I will certainly do that next time.

The gash on the horn was the backside. I was hoping to leave it on the flat side. I'll put a coat of sealer on it when the time comes to see how it looks. I may carver it out more if it patch-up stands out.

The body carve is almost done now. I didn't mean for it to happen, but it's basically the same carve that's on the PRS S2 Custom 22/24. That's not where I was going with this at all. This was supposed to be a Charvel/Jackson/JEM inspired type of deal, but I just carved too much.

I’ve got my first scarf joint neck progressing. It’s been a little bit of a struggle, but it’s coming around.

The neck has a really heavy flame on the back. I’m hoping to have it fretted by the end of the weekend.

I ordered the pickups for it too. It’s going to have DiMarzio Super Distortion and a PAF Pro. Of course it will have a Floyd too to continue the theme.

The stuff around the nut area is a glue sawdust mixture to hide the veneer I overlayed. It will be sanded off of course.

if you guys see anything I’m doing wrong, let me know. I’m an absolute newb.

On ‎1‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 6:40 PM, KempGuitars said:

I get my inserts and bolts off eBay as it worked out much cheaper. I also got the two components from separate buyers - I couldn't find a supplier that did both insert and suitable bolt. However, just checking my eBay Watch List and the bolts aren't listed

The inserts are here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M2x6mmx3-5mm-Female-Threaded-Brass-Knurled-Insert-Embedded-Nuts-Gold-Tone-30pcs/361483173291?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&_mwBanner=1

I bought a couple hundred of bolts a few months ago so I'll have to sift through my accounts and find a receipt for that last purchase. Sorry. 

Thanks for this! I'm off to find a US vendor. This thread is full of win!!!

One quick question though. how do you attach those types of inserts into the wood? Do you use Epoxy?

I finally finished this one. It’s been at 90% done for the last month, but I was working on other projects. It sounds and plays great, well better than my first one anyway.

Today I drilled out the truss rod channel to help the router.

Then a cut two fretboards blanks. Somebody call the fire dept because I see flames! 🔥 

A little sawdust and Titebond fixed up my goof.

I’ve actuall thought about this a lot recently. I just sold a 58 Strat. I was going to replace it with something, but now I’m to the point that, I’ll just make it myself. 

I do like those Kemp guitars though. We seem to have the same style.

... then I got in too big of a hurry and tried to use the router to round off the edge on the back without clamping ( no router table yet)...

.... NO GOOD!!! Oh well a quick sawdust and glue mix filled it in, but now I guess I going to try my first burst finish on this one.

Well, the day was progressing seamlessly with the completion of the top carve....

Thanks guys, that’s what I was thinking but I wasn’t sure.

I got some work done this weekend. I finished up my 2nd neck and I did some carving on my body. 

The neck is wormy maple. I love the knots and colors that the worms make. I did have to fill one hole on the back of the headstock. It’s going on a tele body someone gave me.

The body is ash, but it seems to have some slight flaming in places. I’ve never noticed this on ash before, but I’m new to this stuff so I’m sure you guys will enlighten me.

I did a little carving in it, but I had another question. Do guys that build these types of bodies do a round over on the edges? Maybe 1/8th?

If there is one word that exemplifies your builds in my mind, it is clean. Every thing you build just looks so clean and fresh.