Mike- I've never had a problem with using a little block of wood and a hammer to install them but I've always wished I had a better way to remove them. Now if I blow the steps it's all on me because there's nothing wrong with the tool. It is vise grips on steroids Craig lol. The locking part of grips I use as a pressure limit...not sure if that's why they designed it with locks.
 

57Gregy
I really like the inlayed wooden pickguard. I'm surprised no one else has done it.
Great work, as always.

Thank you Greg.
The only reason I posted this build at a luthiers forum is because it was intentionally being built for me. I don't post other projects there. I was surprised too by the reactions. I had never considered it as an original idea and still don't- how would I know? Really don't care about that part anyway- just wanted to do it and just others are liking it. I really enjoy seeing what others are doing with it now.
 
After coming home from the hospital a few days ago I learned that a good friend - we ride our Harleys together often and he's the only local that I've built a guitar for- had lost his nightclub: his wife left him: crashed his HOG on a ride to visit his brother ( an excellent drummer that has played with many "famous bands")  -both the bike and himself left with mostly road rash: and his dog was run over...I'm sure glad we get to spend this evening in my shop checking out this new build together. Life's a trip.

Can we see a pic with the whole guitar please?

Here ya go Bob.
 
Best I could do inside- wanted to get a shot outside but raining.
 
I got glass today so I'll finish the case too and be all done. It was a fun project with so many new things for me to work out.
 

The vintage amber tinted birdseye "pickguard" and fretboard tied together as I was hoping and absolutely beautiful.
Pictures seem to miss but that's my fault.
 
 

clips!clips!clips!

Stunning job Spacey! Thanks for the pics! The flame on that headstock is so beautiful. You make me want to build one, but I know it would end up being crap, and better suited as kindling. Man, you truly are an artist. Thank you so much for letting us share this process with you.

Lucky drummer is all I can say, would have been an experience to learn on a hand made Spacey guitar.
 
Been a real treat watching and reading about this build Space thanks for sharing, again.

As Bob and Doug would say:  Beauty, eh!
 
Tres fab, ol pal.
 

Thank you all very much.
 
After spending time evaluating the guitar and my craftsmanship:
 
The guitar plays and sounds like a Fender except there is a little line noise in 2 and 4 position due to the middle pickup- I didn't RWRP so in those positions the neck +middle and bridge +middle do not function like a HB. The little bit of noise, and I do mean little- it's well worth the tonal difference to me. Even so it's still not as Leo designed- it's wired with one tone so there is tone control for bridge. Along with the treble bleed it's all that I had hoped for. ( I sure recommend the treble bleed. Helps keep those pups clear when lowering the volume- if you notice yours getting muddy from to many highs being sent to ground.)
 
Craftsmanship:  Sucks. I have excuses but they are only that. The flaws probably aren't apparent to most but when one looks very closely...it sucks.
Wood preparation could have been much better. There are very small areas here and there where pores weren't completely filled and even some fine sanding marks. Both just unacceptable. It doesn't matter that it's my first nitro spray finish job...I'm talking wood prep and I honestly believe it is a result from prepping the wood while dealing with health/hospital trips...having the project helped me mentally and physically but the guitar suffered too.
Working with Birdseye for the first time and the finish results have taught me a lot and what to really scope in on.
I can say the same about the Ash. The real hurt was blown prep with the Flame Maple- I've worked it numerous times.
I've never read any writings that didn't mention wood prep as being so very important. My wife says I'm to picky but she doesn't look at details to the level that I do as I expect many of us do...which is understandable.  I say it can't have any flaws so I need to up my game. After all, it's either right or it's not.
Wood prep is the only thing that prevents this guitar from being the best I've done...what a bummer to have blown it. A finish will show imperfections and the trick is to learn to see them before applying the finish...I blew it.
 
I'm not good with a camera anymore but I'll try to get up close with examples.
 
As for the display case: Some may think of it as a display case to display. I don't. It keeps the guitar safe and the case can be in a controlled environment. It can be enjoyed visibly with easy access and the guitar is kept clean unlike those I have in guitar stands. If my wife would let me I'd have all the guitars I keep handy in them covering the den walls. There is just no better way IMO and if I manage to design the right case to hold about 7/8 of them she just might approve. Geeze...now I have to learn how to build furniture grade cabinets! Not sure how that's going to turn out. That is something laughed about at the Luthier forum....their wives believe that since they can build a guitar they can remodel the kitchen lol.
 
Well I've ordered more wood...I have to build another one just like it for me...again. LOL.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

@ Leadfoot     If he starts that until he is happy with them, we all might get one! LOL
spacey   It's the journey not the goal. This is a guitar along your path to greatness.
 
Michael

The thanks go to you for sharing with us who aren't building yet or at the moment or only wishing...
It is quite inspiring to see your results, regardless of your particular disappointments. I won't be building anything for a bit, but I might do some mods to a few of mine. I really want to finish up the 3 CDs I've started, first! LOL
Michael

Sorry John...I've been very busy and appreciate your kind words- thank you.
 
Thank you Michael. Well the disappointments are a good kick in the butt to help motivate me to improve. Always something new to learn. Maybe some day I'll build one that doesn't have one single little thing that bothers me...maybe.
 
 
( now I'm on hold again waiting for parts and wood to arrive)
 
I really didn't want to let this one go but I thought I could always build another one....so I started one but this time I'm going to use Alder for the body.
 
I'm going to use the same vintage style hardware and the same modified wiring as the Ash one - I'm waiting on a beautiful flame maple board and thinking about doing a 3-piece laminated neck...if I do I'll post more about it.
I'll also include a new jig I made- I was wondering how folks without a table router would handle a neck so I had an idea to make a cheap jig that would make some of the process kind of simple.
 
This is my first build using Alder. I like it. Very nice wood to work. I still have a lot of sanding to do but here is how it is now.
 

 
The control cover will be flush when done. Still need to fine tune the hole in trem cover....lots of work left to do.

 
As with the Ash one this too has a two piece Birdseye "pickguard" but I think match-up pretty good. You can see the joint about 1" in below pup cavities.

∞

I love that embedded pic guard idea!

craigb
I love that embedded pic guard idea!

I do to Craig.
It's not that I have anything against plastic, it's just something that offers new ideas. Using different woods that have very cool grains and combinations of. A new fun challenge.
 

batsbrew
i see all of those 'flaws' in the build, as the very things that make it personal, hand made, worthy of 'a story', and give it character.
 

That is a cool outlook Bat.
I'd hate to think that I'm trying to achieve "perfection". I really believe it's just recognizing little things so they inspire me to be better, not perfect but to improve. Not really different to me than playing one. I listen to my recordings and hear things I don't like and things I do.
I read Eric Johnson stating that he was trying to not be so critical about every little thing he plays and not let his "perfectionist" attitude be so bad for his creativity. ( looking for his new release with Mike Stern...three days of them together in a studio...Eric saying it's "baby steps" to help him change LOL)
 
 
 
 

You can also make a router table pretty inexpensively by adding on a birch plywood extension to a typical table saw. I did that to my Craftsman table saw and just mounted the router to the ply extension, upside down. This way you can still use the fence and accessories that come with the table saw as well.