mistermikev

17 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

I don't know about current programs but I know that some printers used to have a poster mode back in the late nineties. The image could be split to at least 9 A4 sheets with aligning marks and gluing frames and the results were seamless.

If they could do it back then, they should know how to do it now. Or else we've gone backwords in technology.

adobe has a poster mode... just haven't bothered trying it because I'd have to convert to pdf first.  Perhaps I should do a proof of concept and see... it'd be nice if there was an option that didn't require that.

so I freq use photoshop to create drawings... send them to my laser printer on 8.5 x 14 paper, and piece them together using hash lines.  works ok, but freq I'll be piecing them together to notice that lining up the ctr line won't allow for perfect alignment elsewhere (like of the outter body line.  This isn't an issue with software... I'm not scaling or anything... actual size... and it is very small distortions (a hair less than 16th inch) but it drives me crazy. 

I know I could send stuff to kinkos... and we actually have a lrg format printer at work, but I like to be able to print/re-print stuff at will when i'm working.  what I have works, but I'd like to improve it so interested to hear if you have experienced similar.

I know there are programs that automatically split your drawing and send it to the printer in pieces... and they advertise that they correct for little inconsistencies typical when doing so.  Was wondering if anyone can verify if this resolves that issue before I waste time/money on something that may not improve things?

that finish is inspiring.  I have not really been a big fan of the black/grey quilt thing but you've got the best variation on it I've seen.  nice work.

emg was making a lot of passive models at one point... they did not go over well.  For so long they dominated the marked among all metal-heads and as such commanded top dollar... but never really used it to try to innovate.  Now that the tide has turned and folks just seem to hate on EMG (not for bass so much) you can get their stuff for much more reasonable prices.  What I'm getting at is I bet they are great... but I bet they won't be all that well received because the timing is wrong.  I hope they redeem themselves with much more innovation.  I'd kind of like to try a set as I've read about these and thought they might be interesting.  You'll have to let us know how you like them. 

2 hours ago, Norris said:

No, it's completely natural and flat. Just a quirk of the wood

It is slightly knotty in nature. The oil didn't soak in as much there

it's a really nice finish. nice work.

26 minutes ago, Norris said:

Last night I turned the guitar into a golf course by drilling 18 holes in it. Tuners, pickups and strap locks. Then sand, sand, sand. That's the last class for this year, so any more short term progress will involve cashing in a few brownie points with the missus.

So...

Tonight, after having been quite pinkish for many months...

... it turned brown 

First coat of Tru Oil still wet before buffing. It's got some lovely chatoyance as it catches the light. It should look lovely if I can get a gloss on it!

This first coat will probably be sanded off again as there are inevitably areas needing a little more detailing 

ow wow, that looks really nice with some color on it.  I esp like the little warble over there by the tone knob... I love little natural features like that.  I'm guessing this was filled with dark brown or black filler then clear? 

love the detail of the 3 pearl drops... but it keeps reminding me of a zz top song for some reason (hehe - I'm sorry, I'm very juvenile).

wow, some beauty wood and an ambitious project.  me loves anything hollow so... will def check in and look fwd to watching it grow.  cheers

i was promised pic and I see no pic!  refund! (seriously tho, where's the pic?)

I feel the need to apologize that I could only vote for one.  some amazing builds and I would love to play any one of them.  y'all are somethin' else.

2 hours ago, ZekeB said:

Looking great mike

thank you sir.  I appreciate your support!

29 minutes ago, ScottR said:

That has happened to me from time to time.Usually the next day everything is as it should be and the pictures that didn't load in fact did load.

SR

roger that... was thinking perhaps I was being punished for posting too many pics (hehe).  thank you for the reassurance!

got to work on the tuxedo...

finally broke the 5lb barrier with the back trem route:

the les flaws weigh in...

the current state of affairs:

apparently something going on with my initial post... i don't know if this is like this for anyone else... but the last few images won't load.  not sure what's going on there but it's making me really sad.  can't update that post anymore either.

5 hours ago, killemall8 said:

It was actually something ive been trying that is a little different. Well, kind of.
Instead of using a black or straight green stain for the quilt popping part, i did more of a dark, aqua/ bluegreen stain, then sanded back. The dark blue really makes it have a depth and different color once the tinted green is applied over it.

very much appreciate you sharing that and your work in general.  storing that info for later.  

8 minutes ago, ScottR said:

Nice joints on the tops. Invisible glue lines are way up high on the list of things that give me satisfaction......guitar build wise.

SR

getting better all the time.  maple really shows it if you've got a glue line that's for sure.  the body glue line is turning out just as good so... thankful.

that green top is about as beautiful a top as I have ever seen.  reminds me of carvin at the height of their game.  I wouldn't blame you if you don't share but would love to know what you did there.

cheers

some quality work there... looks great.  the headstock is lovely... if you do walnut binding on the body I think those stringers would tie in nicely - just a thought.  rock on.

...and basically sm update but set to some of my music...

rock video

hogged out some smugglers route and got down to 6lbs 0.5oz

in the cleanup looks like we eliminated another 6oz for a total of just under 12oz removed.

cut the join for my les flaws top...

glued it up

my join turned out really nice - more due to the extra time taken to ensure a flat edge with shims and some hardwood with notches that were sitting underneath.

here's the bottom - hand sanded for less than 5 mins to get it clean so must've done it right.

did a wire channel in the body for the pickups/toggle but the neck tenon will close this up partially, will have to reroute that section once the neck is on.

hardest thiing I've done so far... not that it's spectactular or anything... but getting this right really challenged me and too a long time!  alternate headstock shape for the les flaws.

really pleased with this top.  this is one I got from downhomewoods and have had it for quite a while... just realizing now it's actually quarter sawn.  not sure how easy it is to see... but it's got some really cool shimmering fleck.

34 minutes ago, Mr Natural said:

you def got the build bug.

looking forward to these. 

I have a hard time getting started... then once I'm going have a hard time stopping!  thank you for the response mr nat.

glued up my top today... in about 2 hrs I'm going to plane it down and start working on putting it on the 'les flaws'. 

just ordered a flamed maple fretboard... on that note: anyone have a good source for radius'd and slotted fretboards?  I'm aware of lmii, stew mac, and allenguitar.  few do flamed maple or other interesting boards.

37 minutes ago, curtisa said:

Well, you better get yer skates on, 'cause I've just opened the poll.

And apologies to @verhoevenc - I couldn't find a name on your entry post, so I've titled it "Mustaguar". Rules is rules...

note to self: in need of a cool name for your next build?  curtisa has your back.  love it. 

4 minutes ago, komodo said:

Three at once. I’d go insane!

well, I've found that I spend a lot of time setting things up that can be consolidated.  esp when doing up the blanks.  also, once I start finishing... garage is pretty much unavailable for anything else... so it just seems like the sensible thing to do.  It is pretty challenging having to 'hold on' to so many disparate details but I'm pretty scatter brained anyway!

so almost done with all my templates, but waiting on some 1/8" straight bits for headstocks, fholes and other detail items. 

here are my three body blanks weighed in at the start...

first up the baritone 'les flaws'.  I bought this body on craigslist for $40... it's solid quilted maple and was already hogged out.  needs a little tlc on the shape and the centerline is about 1/8" off.  Thought it'd be ideal for a baritone as the maple is hard and bright and lower notes will benefit in tightness.

this one will be the 'tuxedo' blank. 

and finally the broadchaser blank at 1 15/16 weighing int at a hefty 8lbs 6oz.

here is a blank I made up of a wenge center with flamed maple outters.  both the les flawes and tuxedo necks will come out of this piece.  below that is a heavily flamed piece I'm using for the broadchaser.

here are the 'les flaws' and tuxedo blanks cut apart and planed down rough.

"If they don't find you handsome they should at least find you handy" -redgreen.

Started working wood last night on my "broadchaser".    So with that in mind I hope to learn something here and perhaps someone else will find it useful.  How much weight will I reduce by doing 'x'.  So below is a series of picks detailing my tele body weighed at differing points.  My ash isn't as light as I thought (apparently my estimate was off a bit) so I figure I need to get it down in the 4-5 lbs weight range at the most.  taking off 1/4" of wood dropped it down from 8lbs 6oz to 7lbs 9.4oz.

cutting it to shape took me from 7lbs 9.4oz to 6lbs 12oz

cut my pickup and control cavities to 1 1/4" depth... in hopes of removing as much weight as possible... that took me from 6lbs 12oz down to 6lbs 6.3oz

I could still remove a little off the back and get down to 1 1/2", and I think I will, but I'm guessing that isn't going to remove enough... so now I have to build a template to make a smugglers route.  Since I have to do that anyway, I've decided I'm going to go back to a single coil in the neck and do a 'hidden' coil just under the pickguard and just in front of the bridge so I can keep my wiring interesting.

looks like it's going to be tough to get this under 5...even with a deep smugglers router still at 5lbs 10oz.  going to plane another 3/16 off the back... probably do a substantial belly cut... and end up right near 5.

i use photoshop but gimp is an equiv freeware version.  there's a learning curve but once you get past it - very powerful.

2 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

- I still get a kick when, against all my expectations, what I've built sounds tangibly better than a bit of string pulled over a baked bean can

 

that is going on your greatest hits album right there.  cracked me up - thanks for that.

I like the matching pinstripes... nice detail imo.  that top is really coming to life with the sandback and next coat. 

suggest you sleep on 86ing the glow stars... i really like that.  at the end of the day - you know what's best for you.

cheers