Wow .. what a great idea ... inspiring. I've been thinking about a cigar box type attempt .. this could be awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
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Wow .. what a great idea ... inspiring. I've been thinking about a cigar box type attempt .. this could be awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
Had to post these gals. The guitarist was one of the members of Destrose who were one of the first in the all girl metal bands thing.
I hope you realise you need at least one pair of non functional goggles to play a steampunk instrument
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxxKfGl78Xo
And other. I've seen a live concert of this band, the singer goes off stage and the band absolutely shred without her squeaky vocals, they kick arse. They have been around for a while so they must be doing something right even without non functional goggles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EeYxtAeaX4
Oh wow.. totally missed those posts Deddy, will check out shortly!
*blows dust off build*
Yeah so I've been a bit stuck on this one. A combination of not being totally happy with the design and the challenge involved actually making it happen has stalled me a bit, hence the progress on the Sonicaster. The bridge situation was causing me some concern as well so I decided to go back to using the kit bridge - I'm hoping to fabricate some kind of cover to hide it a bit, I will see how everything else goes.
https://i.imgur.com/ZFJgLKpl.jpg
I've had a rethink and decided to try making just the tentacles in a Victorian(ish) pattern to try and get some symmetry going. It's turned out harder than I thought to really nail a Nautical/Steampunk theme, but I've thrown caution to the wind and started to cut up the brass. After finally getting some payment for freelance stuff I shouted myself the most powerful Dremel I could lay my hands on and an engraving/sculpting bit kit. So far I've just hacked out one set of tentacles and had a play with some of the other tools.
https://i.imgur.com/hbaP3ctl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/O3ijGYvl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xI8hsoql.jpg
It's going to be a lot of work- but I think it is achievable and hopefully worth it for the end result. Depending on how long this set takes I'm hoping to make up some other flourishes for the TRC, bridge and the bottom of the neck.
I've got some stain for the body, but I need to have a bit of sanding bee first. I also had a crack at reshaping the headstock, wasn't a fan of the original, and I'm not sure about this either, I may have taken to much meat off the top. I'll see how it goes once I chop the shaded part out and improved the shape a bit.
https://i.imgur.com/S5KLG5Rl.jpg
In hindsight this kit probably didn't lend itself to the project very well. I only chose it because it was the cheapest :)
Oh well! I'll keep chipping away.
[QUOTE]=Dedman;162484]And other. I've seen a live concert of this band, the singer goes off stage and the band absolutely shred without her squeaky vocals, they kick arse. They have been around for a while so they must be doing something right even without non functional goggles
[video=youtube;_EeYxtAeaX4[/QUOTE]
Heh, both of those were cool. You'll be please to know I am set for non-functional goggles.
https://i.imgur.com/n8CBZLDl.jpg
More viking-biker-punk than steam but whatevs.
Hey Sonic, I found a couple of pics of an air brushed steampunk by “Holdfast custom paint and guitars” thought you might want a look. Might help you out a bit.
Attachment 25776Attachment 25777
Cheers, Yep any reference stuff is good.
First batch of tentacles is coming along. I've worn out all my cutting discs so on hold now until tomorrow. Still getting the hang of the dermal freehand and it did get away from me a couple of times, but nothing too serious. I think its actually going to work pretty well. The thick brass is a blessing and a curse. It dissipates heat well and is rigid enough to do the tentacles, but its a lot of material to cut through for the basic shape. I think once I really get into the details I will be happy to have the extra thickness though.
Did a rough engraving pass
https://i.imgur.com/fRcqMVvl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B6jNH2Pl.jpg
Then drilled holes
https://i.imgur.com/Lqis62Gl.jpg
then hacked out the negative space
https://i.imgur.com/rFPiVDSl.jpg
Too freaking cool!!
I really think its going to work now. I wasn't sure there for a bit - that bit of brass of yours is a bit daunting :) But its' coming along for sure.
Whether I want to make two of them is another story! We will see:)
More progress. Really feeling like I only want to do one set of these, its a lot of work. I am learning a lot though, so if I do the other side hopefully it will go a bit quicker.
https://i.imgur.com/bu2zzNAl.jpg
Looking good mate. It might be a lot of work but i reckon the end result will be certainly worth the effort and something to take a bit of extra pride in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
That’s looking so good, really looking forward to seeing this build progress.
Thanks guys. It's taking a lot of will power to stick with it. I'm knocking off now.. I can barely feel my right hand from trying to control the dremel. Starting to get more into the refinement. I wasn't happy with the free hand suckers so I've drilled divits. I'm hoping to work back into them a bit more with the fine engraving tool to make them look more sucker like. Still not totally happy with some of the curves and transitions. Its a buggerr to get at some areas. If I had been thinking I would have broken it up into seperate tentacles that fit together and done them one at a time.
Live and learn.
https://i.imgur.com/ZKuoNQ6l.jpg
Looking really good Mr Mountain, encouragement from me to do both sides!
sonic you are attempting something incredible here and for mine, pulling it off rather nicely! Great work thus far mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
Cheers FW. I really want to do your generosity justice. I am cautiously excited about how its going.
I know in my heart I'm going to have to do a reflected version so the guitar looks right. I've been looking at it this evening and really I've done a lot in a pretty short space of time. I just need to be patient and keep chipping away.
Loving the maritime theme... very Lovecraftian!Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
Looking fantastic sonic
Maybe do that with the other side?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
Sent from my Moto G (5S) using Tapatalk
You still could cut them into separate tentacles, so they'd match if you did the other side as separate items. Also makes it less painful if you go wrong as you only have to start again on one smaller piece, rather than redo the whole piece.
I did think about it, but now I'm worried I'd mess them up trying to seperate them. I think I will just persevere and do them as one piece. It's taken this long to get to this point, a bit more time isn't going to hurt.
Man, you have done a brilliant job on the tenticles. (Have to watch the spelling there.ha ha.) Can't wait to see the finished product.
Wayno.
This is coming along so well!
Sent from my P01Y using Tapatalk
Tentacles look fantastic, the pain and frustration in doing them will be long forgotten once it is finished, once the RSI has healed anyway......
Thanks for the words of encouragement guys. Finally worked up the energy to start the second set. The first ones are not done at all, but I thought I'd try and get the others up to a similar level before going further with them. I just need to have it out so I can chip away at it, but lately I've had a lot of other guitars in the workshop for fiddling and covering someone else instrument with brass dust isn't a good look.
Anyway, its a start. It will be worth it for the end product, but this is going to take ages!
https://i.imgur.com/XeqrXyRl.jpg
Incremental progress.
https://i.imgur.com/MQzekXpl.jpg
I'm starting to think I need to do a custom bridge for this anyway. The chrome doesn't look right and I don't;' think black or gold are a good idea either. I've had a bit of a look around for manufactured brass ones but can't seem to find any.
So possibly back to one of the ideas someone posted earlier in the diary....
I have a number of 60mm square brass blocks if that helps.
I'll keep that in mind Frankie :)
Yours gratis if you need it.....I may have a wee over supply (Bloody Igor)Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Some more incremental progress. I am finding myself regularly questioning my sanity for attempting this, but I need to get it done before a custom kit arrives at the end of the month.
They are about the same level of finish now, so more or less refining and detailing to go.
Still haven't had any inspiration on the bridge, the chrome looks ok, but I just don't think it suits the theme.. I'm going to go and check out the second hand/recycled timber place this week, they have a heap of brass fittings and handles etc so I should be able to sort out something for the tail piece pretty easily.
https://i.imgur.com/zudQvbal.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/E4tKgpvl.jpg
Looking good Sonic, I like the way you have placed the tentacles around the controls.
Wayno.
Looking awesome Sonic!
Looking very good.
However as it stands, you may have problems getting a knob to fit properly in the first control pot location.
Attachment 26357
You can obviously file the brass away around that location so the knob fits snugly in and it looks like the tentacle is gripping the knob, but this is going to be much easier to do before you attach the tentacles to the guitar. You've obviously got to do something similar to accommodate the bridge, but don't overlook that knob.
I actually have a plan for that knob I will reveal a little later. And yes there is a lot of excess material in the bridge area that I'll trim once I work out what I'm doing there.
Hi Sonic, you could always try a Gold Bridge, maybe something like this...
Attachment 26369
https://www.realparts.com.au/bridges...idge-gold.html
Yeah I've thought about using gold instead. I kind of want the tarnish that comes with brass though. I have found some hipshot brass bridges, but they look a bit modern for this I think. I kind of want to do the drawer handle tail piece and fashion some kind of tunematic style bridge. I've been looking around at various things to make that out of but nothing quite right yet.
Some more tentacle progress. Had enough for a bit now, I can barely feel my right hand.
https://i.imgur.com/NenVebPl.jpg
Some reviews on Brass are not favourable as whilst it provides long sustain it does not provide punch or help to transmit any tonewood sounds. Could end up sounding quite bright and piano like. Anodised aluminium might be the go and a bit of window frame cut to same shape and size as the kit supplied bridge might work and you could always add brass saddles from a F style bridge to keep with same colours.
Still chipping away. This build is really challenging me.
I decided to do some work on the neck and body. Shaped the headstock again. It's better...I think. Gave it a stain, saw a heap of marks I'd missed, sanded it back, stained again. Still some scratches, I might do one more pass before sealing it.
https://i.imgur.com/ot94hmUl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3ZuSYjgl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ot94hmUl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/q17TLUOl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yBFQ1k9l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/D2XvNNAl.jpg
I think I will use the poly again. I learnt a lot on the Sonicaster and its actually improved as its got really hard. Can't decide if I want to do satin or gloss, but I'm leaning towards satin.
I have a couple of road blocks at the moment with the bridge and another wacky idea I've had. But at least there is some progress going on.
I'm still hoping to manufacture my own tunematic style bridge - there are a few ideas on the go for this. I had a mate suggest a bronze cleat might make a cool tail piece. It certainly fits the theme. I just need to get my hands on one.
https://i.imgur.com/bdvx45Ql.jpg