ZekeB

 Congrats!

First Concept here.  Was my original thought.  

I really don't know much about Trapeze.  Is there any negatives to using them or positives for the bridge?

3 minutes ago, mistermikev said:

I do almost the sm in photoshop.  It's a dangerous game because I now have some 50+ designs that are all time soaks and I'll never build half of them... but boy is it fun! 

Also, at full scale... using hi-rez photos and hundreds of layers... a project can get very big very fast.  If you have an insight as to how to keep them smaller (other than deletings groups of layers!) I'm all ears.

your design here is really coming together.  looking fwd to seing it realized.

You might try to merge your layers together.  If your rasterize (think thats theword) it will make it smaller typical image versus whatever else the other layers are.  I typically will group things together like screws, etc.  Just an idea!

7 hours ago, Bizman62 said:

Is that the tool you use for designing? I'd like a lesson about that! Or rather something I can convert to the free tools like Paint.Net.

I generally use Inkscape for the conceptual designs.  I actually like it better than illustrator just because the vector nodes are easier to control.  After I have the concept I'll start making layers in photoshop and take picture of timber I actually have to play around with it.  Its a lot of busy work but once you have the foundations set you have a lot of flexibility.  Here's an example where I'm at right now:

So I've uploaded the Ziricote picture I took and started to flesh it out with different hardware and binding etc.  From there you can just turn layers on and off to see the different looks.  Its all about the layers!

Gold:

White theme in the making

So I tried the ideas out and bottom line is I'm sticking with the traditional sound hole.  I think it just fits the theme best.  On to Photoshop!

I get what your saying.  I started with the whole pickguard at the inlay section you were talking about.  I think the teardrop would work.  Ill see what I can conjure up with a little more simple shape

Ok, couldn't help it.  Sound holes.  I laughed after I was done because the 3rd one looks like a wing bone. I'm really liking the top 2nd and last one.  the 2nd the most.  I think it has a sense of elegance retaining that wing theme.  On top of that, its a fairly simple shape and I think it achieves a lot in terms of theme and movement.  I'm liking the last one a lot as well.  I tried to keep as realistic as possible.  I'm pretty confident with my coping saw but those thin negative areas would make me nervous.  Opinions?  thanks guys

2 minutes ago, komodo said:

@ZekeB The pups come in from the right side in the black sheath, it’s coiled vertically just to the left of the volume and soldered RIGHT there. It’s called insanely OCD UltraClean Ridiculous wiring. 
My usual cavities and pedal builds look like a rats nest, so for me this will be a new bar to hit. A kind of masochistic act of penance for my previous wiring sins.

Yeah I'm definitely a rats nest type of guy.  I use to be an electrician and we always left plenty of tail slack for future work.  I guess if you hide it somewhere you can do anything you want.  Please post some pictures of you doing it!  I'd love to see what you do.  

On 11/4/2019 at 3:11 PM, komodo said:

 

I've been thinking about this all day and its driving me crazy.  Where in the world are the tail wires from the pickups?  Were they cut to length?  Also is this called something?  I've seen pickup cavities laid out like this before but how do they come up with the layout?  

Urumiko, I'm looking forward to the pennant for sure.  I wish I could just build all day.  I just cant keep up with all the ideas.

Alright, I think I'm on the same page as you guys.   Thanks guys

I've gone back and forth on the sound hole.  I'll play around with it.  The shape was inspired by a cello which is actually where the idea for that pick guard came from.  

those sound holes look awesome Bizman

Love your detail work.  I can see the patience and focus in your work.  

On 11/9/2019 at 7:28 PM, komodo said:

Tail block work. Ebony is HARD.

 

 

But man does it look good!  I bet that took some time

And on to build #3!  That pick guard's corners on the last one was a serious pain in the butt so I'm playing around with some ideas that hopefully go with the build a little better.  Noticing this is a very curvy build so I was thinking a "wing" like shaped pickguard out of something that would compliment the ziricote that i could also incorporate into the headstock maybe.  Going to have a solid wenge neck on the next as well.  Just ordered it.

Maybe a flat piece of ebony, with a blonde wood or just one piece altogether.  If I stick with 3 laminated pieces I could layer plane them at slightly different height and round off the edges.  that would feel very organic and natural feel and look.  If I have a solid piece it would allow the ziricote the have more presence.  

This won't have a deep carve at all.  The ziricote I have are pretty thin so its going to just a slight contour.  Thinking minimal inlays if any.  The body is already pretty crazy.

Feedback always welcome   

That's a bummer scott.  It's great it sounds good though!  The coloration may be different but I assume when it's near level you should be able to polish the nitro to the same luster? 

Thanks guys.  That's really inspiring to hear Bizman.   I spent a long time going back and forth on this design so it's awesome to hear you like the design specifically.

Scott, I was sweating bullets after the finish process because it was just glowing red.  I was really close to just hitting it with primer and going black.  Luckily, I think the air dulled that glow to something less radioactive looking.  It seems the finish really helped a lot too after it settled for a month.  My eye isn't quite trained to that i guess.

Oh and the pickups are pretty awesome.  The standout is the neck for pickup for sure.  Probably the fullest pickup I've heard.  I'm going to try some kleins on the next one.

Just some pics of the finished guitar.  Really enjoy playing this one.  Really rich pickups.

3 hours ago, komodo said:

I’ve been contemplating the finish (again), and have gone back and forth on dying the maple edge or leaving it blonde to go with the ash. The top will be dyed black/purple, light burst. Kinda like this one:

Problem is, I don’t know how to do  it. I’ve been doing tests, not really close. My guess is that guitar is straight black, sanded back, but when I do it it’s flat and blotchy. Then it looks like either a light trans purple wash or sprayed, and then black burst sprayed. I don’t have an airbrush, so dyes would be sprayed with my gun or maybe tint some nitro?

 

that looks killer.  

That neck against that back body just melts together incredibly well.

That's awesome

Looking great Scott,  You could have no eyes, a little finger and still make a masterpiece.  Really inspiring