Xanthus

Thanks for the advice on what inserts to buy, Keegan! I asked a similar question in a thread I started:

http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=40561

along with a few other queries, if anyone could help me out

Yeah, I do realize I just plugged my own thread *facepalm*

Hey all, it's graduation time and I can't wait to get back to building the latest creation! I've been doing some brainstorming and decided that I wanted to try a bolt-on with my latest build.

I'm doing a typical RG body (if it ain't broke...) and have plenty of space left on the neck tenon to extend it under the neck pickup. Why not, eh? I wanted to use neck inserts with the four screws in an AANJ format. BUT, I'm putting a 1/2" bevel around the front and back, METAL_MATT style, which will move the position of the screws back and therefore, under the neck pickup.

With the 1/2" bevel, the meat under the neck pocket will be no more than 5/8" (I want a smooth-looking transition), which means a 1-1/8" route. I wanted to direct-mount the pickups, which means a cavity depth of 3/4". When all is said and done, there should be 3/8" of neck wood under the pickup, where 2 of the neck inserts will fall. This seems like mighty tight quarters to me. Anyone else?

All this because I wanted to play it safe if something happens to the neck...

Got to say I love your work, Blackdog! This is no exception. Looks like you've got an unfortunate chip on the fretboard, 23rd or so fret Hope the fix is seamless!

I'm curious as to how the pickups sound, being straight on a fanned fret guitar. The bridge pickup on the lower strings must sound more like a middle pickup, no? Which would be great if you were doing a baritone build, but I'm not so sure on a regular guitar.

That's really the only thing preventing me from building a fanned fret - having to make pickups that follow the scales instead of getting straight pickups.

ooooh that sounds fantastic! Hopefully the back and sides are going to be clear...

Now lemme get this.. You got side-grain veneer? Do they even make that? Or is that part of your secret method....?

It's going to look great, Chris, can't wait to see it done. Any other specs that are a definite?

With some paua binding this thing will be STUNNING.

Well, more than it already is.

Natural light pics, please!

The body itself looks a bit thin. Is that 1-1/2" thick?

That fretboard looks like you have a little chip in it. I hope it's still playable.....

I was really ambivalent towards the build in its first stages, but the color makes the piece great, and you can't beat EMGs and no pickup rings.

On a side note, who the hell is Vinnie Vincent and why does she have a man's name? (Read: I am a product of the 80s in a very literal sense)

Black hum with chrome polepieces.... drool....

I have to say this through gritted teeth, but I like it. The finish/assembly/color scheme is really great, and I like the travel aspect of it. Nice job!

This looks like a fierce beast! Great looking build, love everything about it. Of course, my favorite question: any progress pictures?

I'm going to try and not sound mean here, but if you've ever been to an Ace, you know they sell sanding blocks. But you want a GOOD sanding block, a damn near perfectly flat block. Check a guitar supplies website.

As far as your second question, I'm taking it to mean that you're thinking of putting stain on your fretboard. Question 1) Why? Question 2) It's called STAIN. It's going to stain the wood.

I really suggest you use the resources on the main site as well as the search feature on the forums to find your questions and even questions you never thought of asking answered many times over.

Actual carbon fiber runners... that's quite interesting. I personally would change the shape of the lower horn to better match the upper, but this is a pretty cool build. And pics of the back?

I could've sworn chisels were extinct by now. Epic job for whoever carved that! Although, putting such a huge amount of mass on an LP headstock, that to me sounds like it's begging to do a nosedive.

Pic rules are 4-per post in this section; The rest should go into links.

One thing I forgot to add was a block with the correct radius for your fretboard, as well as a flat block for doing the body sanding. The more accurate, the less headaches.

Can you explain the knob selections? Man, it just seems -so- busy.

Taking a stab....

2V

2T

pickup 3-way

piezo volume

piezo 3-way

Not complicated, but I agree, knob-heavy. It might be worth it to pick up concentric pots for the pickups, or move the LP 3-way to its usual position. Or both?

Loving the mockup 2.0!!

Radius?

Please don't mix gold and silver hardware. It just looks awkward, like it should be in a jewelry case at Tiffany's or something.

That's the actual piece of myrtle? Very nice! Curious as to how it's going to sound, seeing as it's a softwood. It looks like a burl - will you have any inclusions to fill?

You have an ebony fretboard. 99 times out of 100 it is played natural, because it is an oily wood and doesn't take lacquer well.

Aside from the body shape change (I don't know if recarving the horns looks all that spectacular...) I don't think this rebuild is hard to do. Basically, what I can gather is you want to throw a maple veneer on the bass and stain it blue, adding dots to the fretboard. Well, you're going to need some tools, eh?

drop top:

-maple top

-router for pickup holes

-drill press and bits for bridge and controls

-lots of sandpaper

stain:

-different types of staining supplies

-practice

(I would stain the headstock too, for consistency, and possibly paint the back and sides black)

dots:

-dots

-VERY accurate straightedge/ruler

-forstner bit

-sandpaper for sanding flush

Looks great, Matt! How high is your fretboard off the body? I'm thinking of buying the same bridge as the one you got (or the hipshot one...), but I like my fretboard 1/8 or 3/16" off the body and I don't know if the saddles would allow for that much clearance. Thanks!

Some of them stringers have some BIG knots in them... I hope you didn't pay for all that unusable wood.

This might be unnecessary to note, but make sure to add in a block of wood in the neck joint to run the router bit along, since your template doesn't have one.

This sounds very interesting! Do you have any articles or pictures you could direct us to, Ola? And do you do this to the whole guitar, or just the neck?

I've never seen or heard a guitar made out of high-grade spruce, and the guy has a point that spruce is used in piano soundboards. Might sound nice!