• Guitar Project no.6
    224 replies, posted
Wow, these are starting to get old, aren't they? I'm still using a crappy guitar I made in highschool for myself (see project number 2), so I'm making myself a stratocaster that will become my new guitar for playing on. It's a pretty basic strat-style guitar, 1950's style contours, but the highlight of it will be an early (PAF) brass kahler trem. [U][URL="http://img411.imageshack.us/i/kahlertremolo.jpg/"][IMG]http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1793/kahlertremolo.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/U] It's got a thick Red Juniper top, and Basswood back. I've searched the internet thoroughly, and have not heard a single word about any guitars made with red juniper, so this is going to be interesting. The neck will be Padauk, with either a rosewood or ebony fignerboard (not sure which). I'm thinking of a black pickgaurd this time. The wood will be a light pinkish/red color, and I think a black pickgaurd would look awesome with that. I'm thinking of just getting a cheap pre-wired pickgaurd from stewmac that I've heard good things about. I'll probably change out the bridge pickup for either an EMG select, and maybe at some point change out the neck pickup for a nice (maybe Lindy Fralin) alnico pickup to try and get a vintage-y hendrix tone. I'm trying to make this guitar as versatile, maintainable, and moddable as possible because I want it to be my main guitar for a long time. Anyways, without further ado, here's the first shot of today's work. [URL="http://img43.imageshack.us/i/1000495k.jpg/"][IMG]http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7981/1000495k.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Feel free to give me suggestions on the pickgaurd color or fretboard material, but I'm still not sure about those.
These aren't starting to get old at all, I love these so much. Ooooh, a strat. Also if you're trying to get it versatile wouldn't it be better to have a HSS setup? Also take a look at Dimarzio velvets for pickups. They're amazing.
Call me shallow, but I just don't like the way HSS looks :geno: The EMG select pickups are mini-humbuckers, dual coil and noiseless so they do give a slightly fatter tone. I also considered getting an EMG HZ, but I have a bunch of spare EMG selects that I'd like to use.
[QUOTE=hypno-toad;21201860]Call me shallow, but I just don't like the way HSS looks :geno: The EMG select pickups are mini-humbuckers, dual coil and noiseless so they do give a slightly fatter tone. I also considered getting an EMG HZ, but I have a bunch of spare EMG selects that I'd like to use.[/QUOTE] I'm doing mini-humbuckers for my current setup I think. I kinda agree about how HSS looks but Its a diverse range of sound
HHH With a split, Parallel and series switch on each pickup, with LED lights under the pickups to show the state they are in - Hell why not put in a half-normalizing jackfield in there for each pickup set, split off a send to a different amp for each Humbucker Put on an XLR5 connector for power and signal with a nice piece of multicore and a breakout box - about as versatile as It could get? ;)... maybe just a tad mental. One day I will get round to creating this "houstoncaster" - with more switches, knobs and lights than.. a switch, knob and light demonstration? Love the wood.
[QUOTE=killerteacup;21202093]I'm doing mini-humbuckers for my current setup I think. I kinda agree about how HSS looks but Its a diverse range of sound[/QUOTE] Yeah, but I more want diverse in terms of tone, not really the qaulity difference between Humbuckers and Singles. I'm using the EMG for high gain, The alnico neck for Gilmour/Hendrix type stuff, and the middle pickup for making whammy farting noises because that's all middle pickups are good for :v:
Got the Kahler cavity routed, as well as the cavities for the pickgaurd. The neck joint is mostly done, but will need a bit more work tomorrow. Still need to route the output jack cavity, which will be done tomorrow also. If all goes well, and I can get the final sanding done, I'll be able to start spraying the body. As a change of pace this time, I'll be using acrylic lacquer instead of nitrocellulose laquer. I've tested both on the same peice of wood, and the differences are fairly miniscule. A lot of people will tell you that there's a tone difference.. but quite frankly, that's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard in my life. One benifit of the acrylic is it's ahrder and shinier. Downsides are that it takes longer to dry to the touch, and it doesn't penetrate the wood as well as nitrocellulose on the first coat. [URL="http://img33.imageshack.us/i/1000504p.jpg/"][IMG]http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/136/1000504p.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[IMG]http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/746/524/81/38dd_1.JPG[/IMG] Use something like this.
Would you ever make these and sell them?
Birdseye maple fretboard, would look beautiful if you get hold of one.
[QUOTE=Nonikai;21211613][IMG]http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/746/524/81/38dd_1.JPG[/IMG] Use something like this.[/QUOTE] Not really available to me. I don't make my own pickgaurds :frown: I'm thinking black pickgaurd, then dulling the sheen on it with some fine steel wool so it is a matte finish.
Use the standard non reversed Stratocaster neck...
I will be on this one because I want it to look more like a traditional stratocaster (with the exception of the Kahler). [editline]01:27AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Splungey;21213977]Birdseye maple fretboard, would look beautiful if you get hold of one.[/QUOTE] Refraining from using maple this time. You have to finish maple because it is a light colored wood. I want to use rosewood or ebony because I like how they can be left unfinished, then be cleaned with mineral oil. ---------- Started applying finish to the body today. [URL=http://img683.imageshack.us/i/1000510g.jpg/][IMG]http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5724/1000510g.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Is pine good for a guitar body?
I say the next guitar you do, don't do a natural wood finish. Experiment with paints and colors.
His natural finishes are awesome though, wish he could finish a strat in a cherry SG color
Just looked at my strat and the bottom of the body looks really flat and large. [editline]02:38PM[/editline] on yours that is
[QUOTE=TheWiseTruth;21221882]Is pine good for a guitar body?[/QUOTE] Yes, ish. Should probably try to find some straight grained stuff. Spruce is another good one. Wouldn't recommend either of them for a neck, though.
Friend of mine made a giant bookshelf out of pine. Tore it down to make a guitar out of it because he wants to get into guitar-making. Any advice?
Please make a bass next :(
I think you should give painting one a go, the varnished woods are nice and all but everyone needs variety
Yeah variety is mad. Also use ebony imo.
Ever think of making the neck set instead of bolt on?
Wow awesome, I also want to create my own acoustic guitar someday. I'm just wondering, but with what tools did you make that body, or did you buy it?
You know the pretty colours oil spilt on the road makes? Would be cool if you could paint a guitar like that but translucent so you can see wood grain through it. Probably can be done I have no idea.
One question: Why not make something unique? You always use a standard model as a base. Why not experiment with some unique bodyshape?
[QUOTE=hypno-toad;21201422]Wow, these are starting to get old, aren't they? I'm still using a crappy guitar I made in highschool for myself (see project number 2), so I'm making myself a stratocaster that will become my new guitar for playing on. It's a pretty basic strat-style guitar, 1950's style contours, but the highlight of it will be an early (PAF) brass kahler trem. [U][URL="http://img411.imageshack.us/i/kahlertremolo.jpg/"][IMG]http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1793/kahlertremolo.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/U] It's got a thick Red Juniper top, and Basswood back. I've searched the internet thoroughly, and have not heard a single word about any guitars made with red juniper, so this is going to be interesting. The neck will be Padauk, with either a rosewood or ebony fignerboard (not sure which). I'm thinking of a black pickgaurd this time. The wood will be a light pinkish/red color, and I think a black pickgaurd would look awesome with that. I'm thinking of just getting a cheap pre-wired pickgaurd from stewmac that I've heard good things about. I'll probably change out the bridge pickup for either an EMG select, and maybe at some point change out the neck pickup for a nice (maybe Lindy Fralin) alnico pickup to try and get a vintage-y hendrix tone. I'm trying to make this guitar as versatile, maintainable, and moddable as possible because I want it to be my main guitar for a long time. Anyways, without further ado, here's the first shot of today's work. [URL="http://img43.imageshack.us/i/1000495k.jpg/"][IMG]http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7981/1000495k.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Feel free to give me suggestions on the pickgaurd color or fretboard material, but I'm still not sure about those.[/QUOTE] Try a bloodwood or purple heart fretboard
I'm not gonna like. That guitar looks really nice already.
[QUOTE=TheWiseTruth;21222819]Friend of mine made a giant bookshelf out of pine. Tore it down to make a guitar out of it because he wants to get into guitar-making. Any advice?[/QUOTE] Wood has to be quarter sawn, so if it's used for a bookshelf it'll probably be too thin and won't be a suitable grain.
Doesn't need to be qaurtersawn. For neck wood, that's preferable, but not necessary. For a body, it's certainly not required. It's likely to be thin, but it can be laminated. He's best off just buying some new stuff, though. pine (even the good stuff from lumber suppliers) is quite cheap and it'll be far better than stuff from a bookshelf. Something that seems popular is taking the pine beams from old barns that are getting torn down, but that's different because that stuff is usually very old so it has value to it. Also, can't do purpleheart or bloodwood. I don't have the tools to slot my own fretboards. If I get around to making a bass, I can do a fretless one, because I do have the tools to radius a fretboard. As of now, I get pre-slotted fretboards from stewmac. Limits me to ebony, maple, or rosewood.
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