ZekeB

That looks pretty darn good to me, Norris Lines up perfectly. 

7 minutes ago, ScottR said:

With the exception of a couple sets of Seymour Duncan's and a couple sets that Restoration AD made, all my builds have gotten Kleins.

https://www.kleinpickups.com/

I've used '58, '59, and wicked PAF's, several combinations of P-90's and Tele sets and the Jazz Cat strat. And I've got a set of Hot P-90s and a custom wound strat middle wound hot enough to keep up with P-90s ready to go in this current build.

Did you say Ash owns Oil City?

SR

Ah cool.  Looks like they have quite a few options.

Yep, Ash is the owner.  Incredibly helpful and knowledgeable guy.   He does custom windings as well.

4 minutes ago, ScottR said:

Sweet. Those sound like they'll be killer. I just listened to an Oil City P-90 demo that was indeed killer.

What models are you getting?

I'm a big fan of Kleins (made here in Texas). Have you tried them?

SR

I'm getting 2 blackbird humbuckers.  Ash is the owner and he pointed me in that direction.  

I've never heard of kleins.  I wonder if they have some minibuckers for my next build.  What kind of pickups do you usually use?

Thanks Scott.  Just got word my pickups are done.  Really excited about them.  Hand-made from a guy in london Oil city pickups

Fret wire installed and dressed.  I'm a new believer in micro mesh.  That worked very well.  

1 minute ago, ScottR said:

Thanks!

It seems like every one I make becomes my favorite... until I make another.

SR

Haha, that's true.  Those will be some lucky hands to play that guy.  This is everything I love about custom made guitars.  Beautiful unique instrument

I think this is my favorite guitar you've done scott.  Incredible

Those inlays just shine.  You have a fantastic eye for putting different variables together.  Such great combinations.

that headstock design is beautiful

Reworking the back for more aggressive contour.  Also put the frets in.  Still need to go back and dress the bottom side a little bit more.  The way I went about was lining the top up with a straight edge and  I'll dress the bottom side until its where it needs to be.  There's actually only one or two which surprised me.   

So I've always liked the semihemispherical fret look.  I did an ok job on the last one but i feel I finally am on the right track.  I experimented quite a while on different techniques and finally found one that works for me.  I think I could've done it after pressing the frets in but I wanted the extra length to play with.  

Used a dozuki saw to cut a slot in a piece of radiused board.  I cut the tang and file it down (carefully).  I used my fret guru end file to round the end on 90 degrees and then transition to my z-file and run a few passes starting at a steep angle and working it back.   Then I hit it with a foam 220 sanding block and I have micro mesh sticks to get them polished up, (thanks for that idea scott)   heres a pic of one after the 220.  I look at the bottom to even it up and then round over the top. 

This has always been a hurdle for me so maybe itll help someone along.  Heres some pics.

Fret bender alert. 15 bucs, a coping saw, and a drink

1 minute ago, Bizman62 said:

Dang! Should I add another veneer? Now that's clever!

If you have templates of your inside cavity you just trace both and transfer that to a veneer you can easily cut.  At least that's the way I imagine it

20 minutes ago, ScottR said:

I've had the cover magnets pull the body magnets out, if I don't have a thin layer of CA over the surface of the magnet.

I glue the body magnets in first, then test the polarity of the cover magnets one at a time just before adding glue.

SR

That's similar to what I did.  I tried to mix some wood dust to camouflage them as well with epoxy but that doesn't work too well against the shiny surface of the magnet.  I think next time I'll use a small dowel or make a veneer cover.  That way it looks cool too.... though no one will see it

That would work.  Maybe use a  piece of wax paper in between and stick those those guys in there to avoid accidentally gluing your cover too

I use another magnet.  It seems to be a strong bond.  Just make sure the poles are lined up right.  Otherwise you will have a solder story too

Yes I had to change the position and hit them with a soldering gun to loosen the glue.  I noticed when I had them both in my hand they didnt fly to each other.  They lost everything.  Crazy

Their so strong I can put one on one side of my finger and the other on the other side.  Great magic trick for my kiddo lol

2 hours ago, ScottR said:

I like the way this is going Zeke. I like to round the edged of my control cover and cavity a bit as well. It helps even out the look of the seam between the two and Sharp edges are too easy to sand through when leveling finish.

do you think the cover standing proud like that might make it more susceptible to catching on your belt buckle when playing?

SR

Thanks Scott.  It for sure might catch.  I have a lot of meat to carve with on that cover to play with.  I'll end up bringing it in but I wanted to play around the idea of incorporating somehow.  Maybe rounding the edges so its like a spherical piece nestled in the cavity or something.  I'm not sure yet.  I've been sketching on my notepad all day playing around with it.

What really hit home on yours was how it became part of the shape.  I really like that. Or how bizman made his cover part of that shape inspired from crimson.  I feel it's a missed opportunity just to call it a cover and be done with it. 

Whatever it becomes it for sure needs to functional first, then fit the theme.  Oh, and I found out magnets lose magnetism when heated up.  Never knew that!

Thinking and looking at it now I may take it a little more aggressive to accent that shape.  I'm starting to really dig it.

So I had a router accident on my control cavity.  I put an edge on the inside of the edge to even it out.  I still didnt like the balance so it lead to the back carve wrapping around.  I was looking in the forums and found your back carves, Scott, which inspired this one.  It's just a lot less aggressive on the carve.   I still need to even it out and sharpen edges a little bit I think it's going the right direction.

I actually left the cover just slightly proud.  There's something I like about it.  I just can't figured what it is yet to exploit it more.  Maybe round the edges a little more or something.  I'll ponder on it a while.

Really dig that cover

I used a shinto rasp to even my surfaces after chisels.  Really useful tool

Brought the heel way in decided I'd use the "3rd finger rule".   I ended making it fit just the inside of the palm of my hand.  Took off some body area as well to make that transition more comfortable.  

I think I agree with no f hole.  I love that back shoulder showing off the burl.  I think the hole would be harsh against the smooth movement you've got going on with your sculpt

Last one.  Dialed back the black.  Feels a lot more natural