Rick500

Copyright only applies to written material (books, electronic media, music, etc.). Patent and trademark apply to guitars. I think there's a big thread floating around here somewhere on this. As a small builder, I really wouldn't worry about it too much if what you're building isn't an all-out duplicate of another design.

Congrats!

Yep! That's who I thought you were talking about. Just bought a bunch of really nice black limba from him. Nice guy. Wish I lived within easy driving distance... Tell him I said hello next time you visit.

Shipwrights? My dad builds cabinetry for yachts. Small world!

If you just want black plastic, go down to Target or Wal-Mart and pick up a cheap black plastic trash can. Perfect!

Mounting the vise now. First tip: Ignore the instructions. Drill a 5/8" mounting hole, 2" in from the front and 2 - 3/8" in from the side of your bench (optimally). The instructions say to drill a 3/8" hole, 3" in from a corner. (Now why didn't I measure the bolt first before I drilled a 3/8" hole? Grr.) Edit: Okay, had to tap a 3/8" dowel into the hole and re-drill a 5/8" hole. No problem. The jaws on mine close together evenly from top to bottom, so no problem there. Haven't noticed any issues with the bolts or the handle, but to be fair, I haven't really used it yet; just mounted it and played around with it a little. It is cast pretty crudely, and the thick black paint is chipped in a couple places, exposing the metal and allowing a little surface rust. Nothing that should hurt the functionality of it though. If I'd paid $130 for it I would have been disappointed, but at $60, I'm good with it.

Hey! I think I know the guy of whom you're speaking. In Missouri? I get a lot of stuff from him too, although I have to go the shipping route.

Thanks for those tips, soapbarstrat. I'll hopefully get the thing together and mounted today, and I'll see if I have any of those problems. If I do, I'll know how to fix them now.

What did you use to grainfill?

Anyways... Mine just arrived today, and although I haven't mounted it to my bench yet, I took it out of the box and had a look, and from what I've seen of it, it looks to be worth the $60 (incl. shpping) that I paid for it. Edit: Weighs about 32 pounds.

Don't tempt me... I'll start posting pics... I have several racks full of wood that I'll get around to making something from, one day. I can't pass up a cool piece of wood. ...Reading this, it all sounds way worse than I intended.

Cool! Glad you got your pickup straightened out (so to speak).

Graphtech makes the saddles. It's a Gotoh bridge, otherwise. The guitar is made by Carvin; it's a 13-pin synth-access guitar.

I didn't realize the Tele/Bigsby was a trend... This was my Christmas present to myself:

Love the Bigsby on Tele-shaped guitars. Very nice!

Best wishes to you and your family as well, Stu.

Vol. Knob: Honestly, I haven't given the piezo or mag pickups a good workout yet. I played with the synth stuff and then went on vacation. I'll let you know though. Neither jazzy nor rockabilly, really... I'm more of a classic rock guy, but I do like the Bigsby better than any other trem I have played, so far. Dirge: Sure, I'll take some measurements for you. I don't have my calipers handy, but I'll see if I can get it done tomorrow or so.

Just came in to say your subject line scared me.

Haven't had a chance to set mine up yet...

Sorry to hear that. I lost my last remaining grandparent as well, a few months ago. It's never easy. Remember her healthy and happy.

Me too. Thanks. Good deal.

They also just started offering the standard LP control layout on that one as well.

I haven't found it to be lacking in strength at all. It seems very, very similar to mahogany in most respects.

Me too. If I ever decide to replace my current table saw that I never really use, I'll spend the extra money on a SawStop.

My Christmas present to myself just arrived: Carvin SH275B semi-hollow synth access acoustic-electric Love it so far. (Stripy ebony...cool!)