Right-o, back with them pictures I promised!
The work so far: bubinga set-neck with flamed maple stringers, rosewood fretboard 25.5", and the test body
headstock with great grain from cutting across the bubinga blank. Traditionally this would be concern because of runout, but the sheer strength of the bubinga and the fact that it's a 5pc quartersawn blank make me laugh.
I WANT to keep the great looking grain on the headstock, but I'll need to add just a bit of wings (under .5" each side). Not sure how to get the grain to match up well enough to not use a headstock veneer. Watched the Perry multiscale video endless times. I have the wedges that I cut from the headstock, so I'm looking for matching pieces there.
Also, I've been toying with the idea of a reverse headstock. Thoughts? I've never played one. It's a little more radical than usual, just didn't know the general consensus.
3/4 shot with the fretboard held on. used a 1/16" bit in the first and last fret to attach it to the board when I glue it up tonight. Worked like a DREAM!
one and two, mockups with the test body.
Here's where I've been mulling things over, and would really like the opinion of the Academy. I generally get my wood from HERE. It's right down the street, lots of choices. Being inspired by Drak's recent work, I was toying with the idea of doing a topped RG. I just don't know what woods to use. I wanted to use a nice chunky, warm wood like mahog - which is still the go-to plan - but wanted to change it up a bit.
I was thinking about getting black limba, if only because it's more interesting to look at than mahogany and would look great, presumably, with the 1/2" bevel, but this place only has it in 3/4". Then I was thinking about doing a black limba top with mahog back. Would this be moot, seeing as the two woods are very similar? I know some people, like Myka, like limba far more than mahog.
I could go back to the place I got the neck blank for and get more bubinga, but I feel it would make the tone too sharp.
Lacewood might be nice - would have to look at what pieces they have. A bit more expensive than I'd like to spend though.