JayT

Has anyone ever seen a Strat style output installed on the side of the body rather than on top? Any practical reasons this wouldn't work if in the right spot?

Loving this, so much cooler than a normal V!

@ADFinlayson was there any thought to making the ramp an actual part of the body?

Beauties, both of them! Excellent work. What do you mean by ramp? EDIT: nevermind! I got it ...

Judging by the paper bridge template is this going to feature string through? I don't think I've ever seen a PRS with string through- should be very cool!

Amen! Looks great to me

Same here, only not only abbreviations ... regional vernacular & terminology can often leave me scratching my head. What does @Prostheta mean by "appointments"?

Great start! I'll be using your method for an angled headstock- I was leaning towards using my tablesaw but this way seems more up my alley. Question, I'm guessing the band logo will go in the circle -- is it going to be relief carved, painted, or something else?

All great entries, but gotta pick one. I'm a sucker for uncommon/unique body shapes so @Gogzs narrowly got my vote over @Andyjr1515 ... cheers to all! Beautiful & inspirational work all around

Fantastic looking guitar- love the headstock along with the whole package

I've finally finished my first two builds, done simultaneously...it took just over six months and I'm happy with the results. Named them 'The Teetotaler' 1a & 1b. The design is my own but the overall construction & specs are based on the modern Telecaster (I thought that would make things somewhat more achievable as a newbie), but with a chunkier neck and a mini-humbucker at the bridge. 25.5 scale & weigh 7.8 lbs. The electronics & hardware are all inexpensive imports as I didn't want to break the bank on this first attempt. I started with mostly common household tools and I bought specialty tools as needed (or found work arounds), most of the work was done in my laundry room unless it was nice enough outside. Body is made of poplar finished with Rust-oleum semigloss spray paint, the finger board is wenge. The biggest difference between the two (besides color) are the necks. The white one is mahogany while the black one is limba - both are finished with Tru-Oil. The link to my build thread:

I'm a little disappointed at the shortcuts you've taken ... I mean, you didn't even smelt the metal yourself. Obviously that's sarcasm born from the awe I'm in from the various skills showcased in this thread. Seriously though, did you smelt the metals?

You're not kidding about an early stage! But my next build is at an even earlier stage:

So gorgeous, I envy everything about this. Super well-done!

I did notice the ribbon shape/impression but that was accidental...the truss access cover design was extended to cover the long gouge that the extended drill-bit caused. Maybe Fender or PRS will use something similar for guitars donated to charities and I can sue them. It's the American dream! In hindsight I'd say mostly short sightedness. At the outset I wanted to make 2 exactly the same - I learn best in two ways: by doing and by repetitiveness. If I were to start over I'd mix it up a bit more. Yes, the black one sounds less crappy than the white one Actually neither has been set-up well enough to really play yet -- but they sound very similar at the moment - except the white one has high 8th fret wire that buzzes. The only difference is the neck wood, all the other wood is not only same type but also from the same boards. So once these are set-up I'll for sure compare

Oh, and some pictures of the pair together... done and done. I've always called l these my "Teetotaler" design ... I was watching a documentary American prohibition when doing the first napkin sketch and that word just sounded good to me (but not actual Teetotalism!) --- although my daughter calls them the 'Yin Yangs" either is better than "the white one and the black one" or "1a & 1b" I suppose

Wiring of the 2nd one went waaaaaaaay faster, to be expected and the point I guess Then all that was left was assembly... Even though I still have to set these up and do some small tweaks I consider builds 1a & 1b to be finished! They took 6 1/2 months to complete but I had a great time doing this and learned so much. To all the members here that gave advice, tips, tricks & resources I can't thank enough!!! Maybe now I'll have time to actually practice guitar a bit

Well, 3 hours + trying to figure out the wiring (imported 3 way switch took a few trials/errors) --- there's a bit of a buzz in the neck pickup that I still have to sort out, and it is in dire need of a set-up, and I may need to redo the nut --- but the switch and knobs work and it doesn't electrocute me or anything. That's a win! I'll have some proper pictures once its all polished & step up - and the white one is wired-up too, but here are some quick snaps of where it is now:

@Bizman62 thanks, that's some high praise and I appreciate it! I did spend a bit of time trying to design a body as unique as possible while still recognizable & functional as a guitar. But as we all know there's really 100% nothing new under the sun, and after I settled on this shape I came across the Ernie Ball Armada which is similar in body style anyway, Going to wire up today - another first for me...crossing my fingers

Yellow alert! Shields up! Ugh that was a bad Star Trek pun...

C'mon, 15 days? Show off... Such great results! Ballsy to cook the thing I might add. That wouldn't have went well for me

Why not just make wood plugs? like rounded off caps wedged in there to cover the screws? Anyway - totally awesome build, that's an understatement too

Good one, wish I had a zinger comeback -- but as an American I don't know much about Finland...unless the 'Helsinki Formula' counts? Kind of related funny anecdote (geographically I guess) until recently my wife didn't believe that Estonia was real country...she thought it was made up for the movie 'Encino Man'

This shape is very cool and interesting. Maybe it's just me but I vaguely see the continental USA there...if I squint a little Curious as to why you did this at all ... educated me!

I ended up only using aluminum foil for the back of the pick guards/cavity covers. I tried many times to make a 'cup' but no matter what I tried I either made a tear in the foil and/or scuffed up the paint. I ordered some conductive paint that'll be delivered today which hopefully will be worth the $14 USD and I hope 12 ML will be enough