ZekeB

Reposting from the design forum since the build started.

Scarf joint glued.  Had to plane down both sides.   Just jigged up two rails with the router base.

Joint glued.  Had to plane down both sides.   Just jigged up two rails with the router base.

Some scarf joint fun.  Actually tried two different methods.   Made a 10 degree routing jig.  For the other I jigged a 10 degree shooting board.  

I'll be honest, I think the shooting board was better.   Infinitely less messy, less waste, and the surface cut was flawless.  It was just as accurate if not more so.   I think for standard practice from here I'll make the blanks the width of my jointer plane blade.

Bit of an update.  I got a nice slab of mahogany that I can use for 2 bodies.  The wenge is milled and ready to go.  Bit of a mile marker on the design front.  Finally able to do interesting contours and stuff.  anyways, decided to stick with a full maple cap and mahogany back.   It just looks better.  I like the dark red hue against the black and I'm confident I can pull it off after my previous bouts staining mahogany. I think the challenge is going to be a satin finish.  Haven't done that yet successfully.

Also found some purpleheart that looks like a giant slab of bacon.  save it for a future  project.  My son and I also made a mallet out of the last bit.

Hey folks,

starting an old/new build.  Been playing & working quite a bit and have the opportunity for a new build.  Been working some other things since the last guitar so looking forward to incorporating some of those things including a CNC machine.  I still enjoy a lot of the handwork so it will be a mixture of hand tools and machines.  Have a few new things I'm aiming for.

1.  Adjustable Height Nut - not an original idea but i've been playing around with a few different types and I think the execution of this one is pretty easy.  I like the ability to transition the action a little higher for different styles of music so it makes sense to be able to adjust the nut height.  The ones on the market are kind of gimmicky so I'm going to use decent nut material with some dog end grub screws basically inset to the nut slot so it doesn't float around

2.   Tenon neck - will create an all access neck joint where the body of the guitar actually forms to the neck transition.  I love my all access neck guitar and I honestly just want to see how it'll effect things.  Fodera guitars do something similar as well.  They call it a dovetail but I think they just use a tenon.  

3.  I want to have a removable control cavity.  My biggest reason is I really hate soldering in my guitar and making it look even half decent for a mortal like me is impossible so I plan on cheating.   The plan is to create a double shielded "black box" that contains the controls and enough pigtail in the cavity to the right to stay out of the way.  I'll probably throw in some quick connects too to make life a little easier.

4.  The last one is the one I'm still trying to figure out.  I want a recallable pots at user predefined positions.  I hate playing a gig, having a great tone and having to lose it when i have to play a lead tone.  I want something I can feel but that doesn't hinder me from doing volume swells.  I've got a few rough prototypes with rosettes and magnets but I need it to be simple and functional.  We'll see how that one goes.  Having a removable control cavity actually helps in this department so we don't have to split atoms or anything.

Will also be using non-traditional materials for the top and if that doesn't work I'll throw on a piece of maple.  Going for an art deco feel.  Inlays and color may change.  We'll see where it goes.

I've really enjoyed keeping up with everyone's builds on here so I'll quit being a spectator for a bit and make some saw dust too 

That's a lot of whittling   Looks great so far.  Love the organic flow of the base

Very cool,  I really dig the unique shape

thanks guys.  Haha, yes its a pretty bench.  I told myself I'd just get it done but I guess I just like pretty things, and I had some oak and its a slippery slope from there!

Hello,

Been a while since I've posted.  I've been behind the scenes watching all the projects.  Always great info.  

We moved and I have a lot more space now to invest in a more ergonomic setup.  I designed a workbench on how I like to build guitars and thought I'd share it since I've spent about the same amount of time on it, lol.

Its a small work surface with interchangeable surfaces on all dimensions so you can alter the top to be what you want.  I really just intended for one originally but it just worked out this way.  It's also adjustable height from about 35" to 60" or so.  I'm kind of tall so its very comfortable to me.  I find myself using this feature more than anything besides the clamping system.  The grid system is based on a clamp for dovetail channels.  Couldn't decide between t-track or this which is why I made the interchangeable surfaces.  Anyways, here she is.

If I'm going to build guitars I really rather make something original.  I think Andy hit the nail on the head.  The encore is a style upgrade on a familiar body style.  Even if people want something unique It seems they are generally very leery of going on that edge.  They just have a hard time envisioning what that would be.

Thanks for the opinions guys.  

I have someone wanting something unique.  They liked the Encore but wanted a single cut or the even possibly the Pennant.  I played around with the designs a little to get some possible contenders.  I have a color scheme on the Pennant I really want to do.  What you guys think?   Encore is the "roundish" one and Pennant is the "pointy" one inspired by a flag.  Nothing unique for the encore headstock yet.

I think I remember seeing a thread about being careful not to make ziricote too dark.  I cant seem to remember where that post is.  Does anyone have any input on that?  Thanks guys

I think I'm going to stick with the pau ferro this time through.  I want to do something with purpleheart or bloodwood though.  

3 hours ago, Bizman62 said:

This forum is way too complicated to use for my skill level. I already typed a reply but apparently did not submit it! This has happened before so I know I have no hope...

Anyhow...

Can't you make both as siblings?

To me the Pau Ferro one looks like a sophisticated aristocrat, discreet in his voicing even when amplified through the mini humbuckers.

The Purpleheart would be his rebellious sister, raging and screaming her PMS through a pair of P90's. I wonder if making the farthest wedge on the pickguard out of Purpleheart would be too much?

Ah I really like that idea.  I think that captures their theme really well. 

Man, I'm pretty sure ive sanded stone softer than ziricote.  I feel like I'm sanding concrete.

So its been a while.  Moving, job, and everything else but I've got a new workshop and ready to continue my new instrument here.  I've been doing some homework and have decided on a few changes and goals.  I'm going to be using 2 klein mini-humbuckers.  I have the timber for two options I'm excited about.  a Pau Ferro combination or a purpleheart combination.  What you guys think? Good to be back!

Congrats Scott!

This is going to be awesome 

Looking great mike

1 hour ago, ScottR said:

I'm eating a piece of chocolate cake with chocolate icing and chocolate shavings.

It looks just like that.

SR

Lol, Death by chocolate.  Would be a good name.  

I'll have to try the ziricote fretboard.  Never thought about that

So I've figured out the wiring theme I'm going for.  It will have 4 knobs,  two tones and two volumes.  The tones will actually have dual concentric pots one for treble and bass.  There will be  a master volume and one for just the neck and bridge.  It will have a few other items but here's the basic positions. 

Still hunting for the right pickups.  Oh and I'm about ready for the CAD part.  I think my concept is getting closer.  Not sure If I have enough meat to make the carve I want.  May just do flat top for once.  Added an inlay to fit the body at the headstock.  The small loop there will have a slight carve to it as well.  Starting to feel like a complete idea.

go for it!

24 minutes ago, mistermikev said:

oh, right on - the freeway.  just looked it up on stew mac.  def some variety there for sure.

when you play it... every pretend yer driving a stick shift (I know I would!).

Haha yes I do!

2 minutes ago, mistermikev said:

as always, nice design.  looking fwd to seeing this come alive.

so three humbuckers... interested in what you plans for electronics are.  lots of coils there... lots of possibilities.  One that immediately comes to mind is the newer strat 6 way lever and simply sending the series link to ground for parallel combos on pos 2/4/6 with six being the optimal 'tele' mode with neck combined with bridge.  just a thought... what are your plans?

I'm thinking of using Pete Townshend's idea. He used two three way switches. One for the minibuckers and one for the humbucker to do one side or the other or full.  I probably won't use two three way switches but those combinations seem pretty appealing from what I've seen and heard.  

I actually got a 10 position switch on my Mako that does exactly what your talking about.  Really fun setup.  Not fun to wire up lol.    

How do you like your 4 pickup guitar?  Any cool combinations with that stand out.

Thinking I'm going to go all black hardware on this one.  Going to follow some advice from my last build and let the wood do the talking.  Also adds an opportunity to maybe do an inlay on the fretboard.  Still pondering on that.  If so maybe monochromatic in gold.

That guitar is gorgeous scott