Holy dooley, this is shaping up to be a tough month. Seriously awesome axes here. Not a stinker among them.
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Holy dooley, this is shaping up to be a tough month. Seriously awesome axes here. Not a stinker among them.
I wouldn't say no stinkers. Mine smelled like rusty vinegar for a couple days... The guitar and the apartment...
sure it was worth the smell Ken !
OK, with some trepidation, I am throwing my hat into the ring, so to speak. Constructive comments welcome. Let me add I haven't had this much fun, even when frustrated with non working capacitors, fret buzz and other things, get in your way, for a very long time. This guitar has been very much a journey for me. But the best bit of advice I got from this forum was that "There is always a workaround for glitches, mistakes and other Guitar building gremlins...". This really got me through. Thanks DB. Now for the guitar - it does have mods ie:BJM kit, trem weight and pick guard from Guitar Fetish and small parts from eBay ie:string tree and silver knobs, plus Entwistle pickups along with DB clear neck finish, bought proudly from the Pitbull website. Now, I hope I just got the right photos ;) PS: Intonating was especially fun - what a surprise it was to Adam rocking out on the TL-1!Attachment 6028Attachment 6029Attachment 6030Attachment 6031Attachment 6032
And here's the headstock detail...FYI - It's a swan head.Attachment 6033
Love the color and the antiquing on the finish. And that hardware is sick!
Nice one nDR01d and subtly reliced. Like the headstock!
Is that "Red Special" wiring nDR01d?
nice work droid, some cool customs bits, love the neck plate and you need to tell us more about that wiring!
Fretworn and Stan, yep. That's right, BHM = Brian May wiring (although I think my finger slipped and hit the J next to the H key in the original description). It was a rather large bite to chew on for my first build let me tell you. But in the end, with tips from a few of the gurus (looking at you Wokka, Stan and esp. Rabbitz) I was able to get the thing making some noise. =D It sounds so beefy just on a clear channel, and then you flick a few switches and she sounds like it's made of (dare I say - Bohemian) crystal.
Looks sik nDR01d, definitely must have been a bit of a pain with the wiring!
lol. I don't think you have any idea Kel! But honestly, I think I'll just stick to easier electrics for a while - micro dpdt switches are just a headache.
Could have routed out some of the body and even made up your own PCB with screw terminals so its just a plug and play system!
Now you tell me! ;) Maybe next-time I'll be pm you for your help!
Note 24th October: I have updated my photos to show that the bass has been intonated, and string tree and strap buttons have been attached.Attachment 6106Attachment 6107Attachment 6108Attachment 6109
Hi Dave, that 's a great finish. I'm attempting the same on an ES 1. Mind sharing how you achieved it? thanks
Man that is stunning.
Nice job there Cambo76
Holy cow are there some crackin guitars in this month.
good luck judges this month is certainly a fantastic collection of axes
Well just got this SG-1 finished so may as well post a few photos right?
First guitar build and first time using an airbrush but overall I think it turned out pretty well. Not much in the way of mods other than etching a truss rod cover plate using a technique I use to make simple circuit boards. Nice cheap investment of a piece of paper, laser printed image, a piece of aluminium and some hydrochloric acid to "do the work". I should have etched it a little deeper as it can only really be seen from specific angles. It does however work in nicely with the silver lines on the headstock and body, which also slightly change colour/intensity depending on the lighting. A bit of lemon oil on the fretboard brought it up real nice too. The only thing missing is a pick guard which I'll make out of a clear laminate or something.
The only casualty of my first build was my jig saw. Broke it while shaping the headstock :(. Oh well. These things happen. I'll just have to fix it before doing the next build :cool:
Now I just need to figure out how to tune it and learn to play.
Wow, looks great. Sure you haven't done this before as for a first build this is stunning.
Nice one Rainsy. Airbrush work almost gives a quilted appearance and great burst. Headstock also good match with the body horns.
Rainsy - this is stunning. Well done.
Nice work Rainsy great first build. Some cool personal touches and love the head stock shape pretty original. You must be proud and you will have to learn to play now
That is a sweet guitar! Can you provide a little more detail on the etching process you used or a link? That sounds very intriguing. Good luck learning to play! I'm in the same boat.
Okay you've got drooling over your headstock shape, that is just truly beautiful, if I were judging, I'd have you win on that alone :P
Very Nice Build Rainsy, And agrre with Kurt on the headstock an awesome shape
Nice one Rainsy. This is turning into a mega-month!
Thanks for the positive comments guys. It usually takes me three goes to get something the way I like it but I think I got pretty good on the first one in this case. Already getting ideas for the next one.
The judges are definitely going to have fun this month. So many different designs and unique in their own way.
kenfu, I may make a tutorial if there is enough interest in how to etch aluminium like this. Photos being worth a thousand words and all.
Hi everyone
Have finished my RC-1 and my homage to John Lennon.
I finished my Pitbull Rickenbacker in Black Burst with custom made Truss Rod Cover.
Replaced the nut for a lower action and replaced the switch with a Gibson switch and it plays really well.
Did the set-up and sounds great with a Capo now. It has a lot of scope in the sound.
A special mention to my hubby Glenn who taught me to solder... was a lot of fun...
I think I'll be doing another guitar at some stage...
Ciao Janet
killer sg Rainsy, best headstock version for a 3x3 i've seen, unique and cool
welcome Janet,
the November GOTM competition has closed but if you want to enter your RC-1 read the rules first post of the thread and submit 4 photos in the December GOTM thread.
Best of luck !
The results are in...
In submission order:
Ozzbike’s ST-1
“Everyone loves a green ST and this is no exception! Gold hardware and pearl pick guard just scream Surf rock. Nice clean job and a real eye catcher, when can I pick it up.”
“Loving the combination of colours. That green/blue is a nice change on a strat and matches perfectly. Gold hardware and some nice decal and headstock work makes this look shop ready. Gorgeous.”
“Loving the combination of colours. That green/blue is a nice change on a strat and matches perfectly. Gold hardware and some nice decal and headstock work makes this look shop ready. Gorgeous.”
“Nicely put together. The gold bling does give the impression of something a bit more high end.”
Dave Easter’s ES-3
“Great work on the head stock and the natural finish on this model with the coloured sides just suits it to the ground. This screams Jazz guitar to me, pure class.”
“Great natural finish on this one. Love contrast on the sides too. Props on the headstock shape and inlay - we're starting to see more inlay work lately. Lovely. Only point of criticism is the truss rod cover + inlay is a bit busy for me.”
“This guitar exudes class. Clearly a tremendous amount of vision and skill have gone into the headstock, and the hardware selection is spot-on. I could easily be convinced that this is a guitar that has been around for decades, it commands attention, and it instantly makes me want to play it. The grain is extremely-subtle. I think it works, and the body has become a backdrop for the high-quality hardware and the extraordinary headstock.”
“Classy and beautifully elegant. Understand about the choice of truss rod cover - maybe a black one to match the pickguard?”
KurtSlash123’s LP-1
“What a great coloured LP-1. Black hardware suits it nicely and I love the name Princess, more like Evil Rock Witch with those aggressive looks. Would love to see it under neon lights, great build.”
“Green machines are pretty rare on the forum - nice to see something different. Green and black is a classic combo and works well on the LP. The fade is a bit too harsh for me and it looks like there's a few dings in the finish but other than that a sweet looking axe. - i'm sure it'll shred with a good set up.”
“I think when this vision for this guitar was developing in the builder’s mind, the black hardware, and a black-green burst was being weighed against wanting to highlight the beautiful grain of the top. All in all I think the vision was realised. This guitar has got all the makings of an absolute stunner. When an emerald emerges from the ground, it has an underlying beauty, but actually requires a spectacular amount of work to reach its full potential. I think that this guitar needs just a bit more time spent on the final finish; the gloss intended has not been fully-achieved.”
“This looks truly stunning - you've done a great job! Black bling totally rocks!”
Ejay’s IB-5
“Well hello there “how you doin?”
This just oozes appeal, You have chosen your colour well for this PB model and the grain is just popping out . Great photos of the beast too but I feel I really need to play this to really appreciate it , You have done a nice job you should be proud. To be honest I don’t think I could just walk past it if it was hanging on the wall in a shop.”
“First of all, props on the amazing photography. Super nice. Not much to say on this one. Classic colour, classic finish, classic headstock shape. Everything just looks flawless on this one. Would love to have a jam on it.”
“This bass is inspiring. The preparation, the choice of stain and the assembly is unbelievable. The photography must also be commended. I totally understand the “rubbed finish” intent, and you are absolutely on track here, the final result has been magical. It is of course a matter of preference, but I would have loved to have seen the grain filled before the shellac went on, which would have still given a “hand-rubbed” appearance, but would have given it such a smooth appearance, like a walking stick that has been handed down over the generations. You nailed it on the neck, but that smoothness would have been incredible on the body. To complete that theme, the rear covers would need to be flush-mounted. Despite this, I am awe-struck looking at this work of art.“
“Colour choice - amazing - totally loving the look of this IB!”
Kenfu’s LP-1S
“Loving the logo and the way that the spalt and flame have come out in this one!”
“Loving the headstock picture. You have put a lot of effort into this build and frankly it does show. The Spalty goodness is always an eye catcher and the pick up choice I’m liking a lot. little more sanding around the headstock would have given a more professional precision look but none the less be proud of this beast.”
“I've loved watching this build develop. Acid finish has really popped that spalt and with the clears it has just come up amazingly. Some hot Seymour Duncan pups and she's ready to sing. You received some criticism on the stock but I personally think it goes well with the theme of the guitar. Really well done.”
“This spalted beauty has really been well conceived and well-executed. The creativity with the staining has resulted in a grain that reveals new complexity every time I look at it. The builder knew that the spalted top was the main attraction, and everything was done in respect of this. The headstock details, the hardware, and the final ‘balance’ of this guitar are extraordinary. I note it’s perhaps not intonated, and despite its near perfection on the clearcoat, there is minor orange-peel in the top. Picky perhaps, but on this guitar, the clearcoat is the glass frame above the work of art, and it must be flawless. “
Cambo76’s MMB-4
“Oh wow love the idea’s you have put into this build to make it original. Great black/red burst and a nice finish to match. This has “Slap Dat Bass “ written all over it. Great build and some great original well thought out ideas.”
“Great looking build Cambo. Classy trans-red finish came up a treat and your finish is quite flawless. Love the photographs that have been included in the back of the guitar too. Some nice touches.”
“Of course what jumps out at me initially with this bass is the fantastic use of the print on the back. This has been so expertly-applied, and adds so much character to the bass. The rest of the build is solid, well done, with a professional factory-feel. There seems to be a finish issue around the 1st string machine post at the headstock, some clear-coat lifting? This is a bass that needs to be played on stage, it’s wonderful.”
“Cool way to bring through a concept! Loving how the headstock really reflects the feel of the rest of the guitar.”
nDRO1D’s ST-1 relic
“Man did you drop this thing several times on the way to the photo shoot. To achieve this look without looking like you just hacked at a new guitar is not as easy as it looks!!! Frankly you nailed it..... well everything but put nails in it. I’m not one for relics unless it is a relic but I am drawn to this one because it does look like you have been gigging with it for 20 years. Great job.”
“Crazy wiring, crazy headstock and a relic - I'm sure this one will split the panel. I'm not one to instantly hate a relic and I think you've done this one with a bit of restraint which is nice to see. Not too sure on the headstock for my own tastes though. Would love to see some pics of the wiring.”
“This guitar made me smile. That headstock, those switches, the relic treatment, it’s a statement, a departure from the every-day, and a ballsy-entry. At the end of the day, the relic treatment is believable (except the very flash neck plate), the actual fit and finish is very good, the electronics certainly look exciting. The headstock is the sort that you either love or hate, but it’s unique.”
“Great ST - love the wiring effort!”
cont....
Cont...
Rainsey’s SG-1
“Ok people know I’m a sucker to the airbrush so how can I not love this entry. Headstock design is miles away from what is normal for this guitar and to me that's a great thing. I can see this being played in a psychedelic 70’s band. Great work”
“Big effort for a first build, particularly on the sprayed finish. Blue is very bright and this thing will have stage presence.”
“This guitar is a good solid build, everything is where it should be, it’s got an interesting headstock and I like the base colour combination. It’s really about the air-brushed detail, that's what sets it apart, and what makes it unique. I like it, and it would have a lot of stage presence.”
“Nice airbrushing and etching - has really brought new character to this SG!”
And the winner is...
Ejay's IB-5
Attachment 6369
Congratulations Ejay, this bass looks amazing and I don't think anyone wouldn't want it in their collection.
congratulations Ejay a really nice build. Well done all other entrants anyone could have won.
Well done judges on another tough month !
Congrats Ejay and great job. Spectacular guitars all around!
Good job Ejay! Congrats on the win!
sensational bass Ejay, a good win in a tough field, all very nice guitars
Firstly - congrats Ejay. That's definitely a bass I would love to own! Secondly - Thanks to the judges on doing such a tough job this month and thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.