I got wood again...build completed.

...well I have to have something to put all these pups in and I know some here like to see
pictures.
Heres some....
 
This is a thick one piece...out of the same piece
I used for Ruby.
  
This is Zebra and it has a few natural flaws but they are small
and exceptable. It's from the same wood that was used on
Wookies and Grants....the last of it for guitar projects.
    .
These are the neck blocks. Freshly cut and not much
will be done for some time...to see if the wood wants to move.
I didn't use flame maple in the middle...hard clear maple with
Wenge and flame.
I cut the truss-rod slot in one and decided to break...I'll cut
the other before letting them sit.
 
...
 
I haven't decided on the other woods for the body.
 
I am building these with set-necks. I've only built neck-throughs
so this will be new. "Set-necks" are just a little longer than bolt-ons
and usually covered in the back by the body...glued in. Like PRS...most LPs..
I don't really care for bolt-ons. Just seem like a cheap way but I understand
Leo smart marketing ploy behind them.
I guess he saw all the LP heads snapping off LOL. "lets do a bolt on!" LOL
 
Anyway...hope you like the very beginning stages of a couple of guitars. ;0

The necks look super nice!

I'm still dreaming of a custom 4 string short scale bass with a pair of spacey-coils.

;-)

best regards,
mike

Mike I'm getting squared away and I know you just started a new year
for your purchases LOL..so we have time. You're welcome to shoot ideas
and preferences anytime ...I'll keep notes.
I have a 4" steel I-beam that I clamp the wood to. I've had very good
luck with straight blocks. I'll be really surprised if these aren't straight
in a few weeks.


Jon you hit it on the head my friend. It's been a very long haul getting my
shop ready for building and it's been a great couple of days getting back
in the groove.
Getting side-tracked with the interest of pups held me back but I think
it is worth it. Building the pups for the instruments was something I just 
couldn't shake. 
The problem I have to address is that I know how to fine tune a guitar so
I have a lot of work to learn how to fine tune pups. I have faith in those
that are helping me. They have years of experience and knowledge and
they're good souls...they don't mind sharing the information and have a genuine
desire to help one succeed. I'm not going to drop names but if I did one wouldn't
think they'd waste time on a beginner...but I can tell you, they will.
It's much like playing an instrument though...one can show you a chord but ya still
have to make it work LOL.
OH ..the smell....first time I've cut Wenge Jon...it was like a fine pipe tobaco- to me. It's
the best smelling wood I've worked with. Wonderful smell.

Cool another road trip with Spacey at the bars.

Both you and JB are so right about the true givers of this world.

"playable sculpture"

Nice jig.

What's the kerf on the blade?

Did you notch the aluminum or commission having it done?


best regards,
mike

It looks like you use the notches on the "scale" to key up placement on the sled?

Do you have some sort of "key", built in to the leading plate on your sled, that fits in the notch or do you just use your eye balls for alignment?




Either way... very clever!

:-)


best regards,
mike

:-)

I should have read the description!

:-)

I really like Stew Mac.


Many years ago my friend Buster and I were sitting at our work bench and I was dressing some frets on a SG using a draftsman's eraser shield to protect the wood. Buster and I were both former draftsman so the idea wasn't a big stretch for our imagination.




Buster was on the phone with Stew Mac for something else, and as he was a great casual conservationist he came to describe our use of this item and he suggested that they sell them.


Within a year Stew Mac displayed "fret board" shields in their catalog that looked just like the one shown above and now, years later, that product has evolved into this:







I've long admired how Stew Mac gathers ideas from their end users and makes them more widely available at fair prices.


BTW, I haven't used a shield in a while... but it was really helpful when I was young and nervous about placing a file near a guitar. :-)



:-)


all the best,
mike

I decided which top for this one so rough shaped the pieces. (body and neck)
Mahogany body- Zebra top-Maple and Wenge neck

Set-in neck (my first) - I'll be lining the neck pocket with a layer
of Wenge. The set-in will be like a dove-tail joint.

Hope you enjoy.

The neck block has also been cut to thickness for the set-in
    

It's been slow...I've had a hard time deciding on hardware.
I'm building this one for myself and like so many things.
Rainy day...a good day to make my mind up....uh oh...the sun
just came out.

Think a Bigsby would be cool? ...and some P-90s?

mike_mccue


yes and yes.

Yeah.  Of course, you can always create another if you get the itch to try something different!

Sweet

The G&L Korina P-90 Tele copies have been looking real nice to me.

The so called Cabronita bodies that Warmoth sells seem to define an interesting form factor too.



My Wife has a Bigsby, but I don't... hence my perceived need for more guitars with Bigsbys.

I've long recognized that I really like single coils and just sorta like humbuckers... the P-90 is a great choice!



:-)

I had to settle for fabricating a pair of window sills yesterday. Wood working season started yesterday!

:-)

best regards,
mike

The first body I made was a double cutaway. After assembling it
with a Carvin neck I took it apart and decided I should build my
own necks. That's what got me into this.
Still have the body.

I like the G&L. I almost went with a Korina top to match my Strat.

Well I'm sure curious how the P-90s I made will sound....so I should
find out.

Thanks for the links/ideas Mike.
Talking with my wife this morning I mentioned that I was going
to put the cavity in back-go with V-T and blender. Cool seeing
the back of the G&L and seeing that I didn't like the switch but
liking the slant of the controls, which I was considering.

First I have to get the set-in neck right...made a template yesterday
and maybe I'll have the nerve to give it a go this eve. Ya know that
type of building came from violin makers? Like a dovetail. Should be
a great joint. Just a longer center line I guess.

We'd really like to see that neck joint once you get it cut. It's somewhat of an oldstyle joint, before the neck through style and the bolt on neck. The only thing older is a guitar carved from a single peice of wood. I don't think you'll find many of those around.