ShatnersBassoon

Congratulations on the win Zen! Amazing looking guitar! Nothing about it I don’t like

Congrats Nicco! Fabulous looking build and very characterful! (is that a word? It should be ;))

Nice modern design! I really like the headstock. There’s a guy that makes aluminium necks that does something not too far off from that (Alef?) Anyway, really cool so far…will be following with interest

Congratulations Zen! A fabulous looking guitar! Very classy

1 hour ago, Gogzs said:

Ufff, hard month. The Lucifer build is insane in its own way, so is Andys Nemesis... gotta hate being the judge once a month haha.

I especially like the finish. Really shows off the top!

Used Magic Wood quite a few times now. Probably my favourite seller, never been disappointed. 

Superb modern take on the Tele Mike! Congrats! 

Congratulations on the win Jolly! Great entries as always, but it was just too cool for me to resist!

Congratulations on your win this month! A marvellous build! Classy, elegant and yet funky, all in one! Very nice indeed.

Gorgeous as always! There’s something about the bevelling on the edge of that fretboard that really tickles my fancy (she said)

1 minute ago, Bizman62 said:

Anodizing might be an option... Doing at home may not be possible due to the chemicals used not being available for mere mortals but you may find a service provider.

I have given that a thought and do have possible contacts. Just have limited time these days to work on things. We will see

6 minutes ago, Charlie H 72 said:

Whoa, an aluminum fretboard! I say leave it, I bet when you start playing it, it will scratch to a semi-uniform sort of distressed finish. Maybe like a metallic dirty maple fingerboard? 

Well it is a build for myself (at the moment at least) so I may well go down that route

Shaping up really nicely! Definitely got a cool look going on there. Nicely done

Done some shaping of the back and an approximate test fit of the frets. So far so good.

Trying to figure out a finish for the aluminium fretboard though. It scratches really easily. I suppose I could do epoxy. Thought about CA glue too? Not sure that would work but may try out on a test piece of metal. Maybe I don’t need a finish on there at all? Hmm. Suggestions welcome.

Congratulations! A truly amazing looking guitar! Sleek and beautiful

Truly beautiful work! I would be tempted to think of the filled in gap as a feature

Still have a piece of olive wood lying around that I have yet to use. Hmm…

Slow progress at the moment but had a change of plan…this may turn out to have been a foolish plan but we will see how it goes.

I have tipped the neck on each side and filled in the bottom sections with epoxy. Thinning the neck whilst not melting it will be the main concern now.

Saucy! Beautiful work

Looking great! I love Wenge

Congratulations Ash! Gorgeous guitar, but then I wouldn’t expect anything different based on your past builds

Now I am the owner of a Schaller 3D6 bridge, some Perspex/lucite (picked up from the car boot sale for £5!) and an EMG M50 (mini bucker).

Will be making the Perspex the required thickness with some acrylic ‘cement’. This will be on the ‘wings’ of the body. 
 

This is starting to take on a Travis Bean mixed with Dan Armstrong vibe
 

will update soon when I get some more photos

43 minutes ago, curtisa said:

Neat idea! I like the concept of using non-traditional materials, curious to see where you take it and how the end result pans out.

FWIW aluminium will route with regular woodworking router bits, but remember to go super carefully (templates only, no freehand routing!), clamp everything securely and take tiny bites at a time - the closer you can get the workpiece to the final shape using other methods before attacking it with the router the better. Wear will be much faster on the cutting edges too, so expect to throw your bits away after you've built your instrument. You don't get 'dust' as such, more like tissuepaper-like slivers of metal, so wear safety goggles/glasses.

Thanks for the advice there! Great to know. I’ve been quite shy about the idea of moving the router anywhere close to the aluminium

8 hours ago, JayT said:

The talent and imagination of members continues to stun me. This will be something I pay attention to for sure - good luck (not that you need it)!

Thanks so much Jay

Great entries again this month. Ash’s build in particular is beautiful work

8 minutes ago, ADFinlayson said:

That is seriously cool. Am I correct in assuming the aluminium core of the neck means you wont be bothering with a truss rod? What about routing the aluminium and carbon fibre, are you going to be routing it out to get a pickup over the neck tenon? I'm both scared and excited. 

Yes, there’s no truss rod. It worked in the last build so I’m trying it with this one too There’s the fretboard section that is going on top which is another carbon fiber and aluminium sandwich, so I’m not too worried about tension issues, it’s always at the back of the mind but it should be fine I reckon. 

In terms of routing, that would certainly be a lot of work No tenon, it’s just a bolt on design.