Stunning guitar well done
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Stunning guitar well done
Grant, I dont think it is fair that you buy a factory built guitar, pull it apart and post the pics in reverse order and claim it as your own build.
seriously mate, this is epic, well done
Thanks Tony and Stan.
(Stan, don't let the cat out of the bag :p)
Absolutely incredible, show room quality!
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Just an outstanding looking instrument Grant! Really beautiful finish. What pups did you install there?
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Spectacular Grant. Absolutely stunning job. GOTY hands down.
Cheers,
Gav.
Took me a minute to get my jaw off the floor. That is stunning!!
+1 from all of the above comments from me too.
If I could offer one bit of criticism, after being really, really nitpicky, I don't think I could.
This is a stunningly gorgeous guitar - bravo!
Wow... That's one hot guitar
incredible build Grant you keep raising the bar each build !
Thanks Andrew, Damo, Gav, Tony, Waz, Swanny, Dave, DB07 and Wokks.
Damo, I went with Toneriders for the pups. The plan was to go for the AC-2s but when it was time to order them, I noticed the Rocksongs were the same price and used the same magnets just the bridge is hotter. Not exactly 'jazz', but hey, guess it was a Tim the Toolman moment (if anyone remembers that show).
Swanny, I'll nitpick for you. If you look close on the side of the neck, tried to match the burst on the body but brought the red too far down, doesn't quite line up. Same pic as before.
Attachment 9650
Not too sure about this bar-raising stuff, just happy to try and keep up with everyone else.
Grant
This guitar makes me cry its so beautiful. I want to hear someone playing Herb Ellis/Joe Pass runs on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTnIM5TlfAM
Mate I can't wait to hear those rocksongs sing!
BTW where did you get the colourtone stains from? Oz? if you got them overseas was there any difficulty getting them in?
You ARE the king of bursts. Another spectacular edition from neverwas-butalwayswillbethebarsetter.
I hate the tuners. Sorry.
Are you kidding me, those Wilkinson Imperials are awesome [I didn't know they existed till I saw them on this build ] very D'Angelico New Yorker look.....got to get some for a future build.
It seems Neverwas and I have similar design ethics.
I think I'm going to have to get the same sort of tailpiece as you have fitted to my ES-3 build : neverwas.
I bought a Gold version of the one supplied with the kit, underwhelmed would be my response to it's appearance, structurally it's fine...I just don't like the look of it...... If I could find out what it is made out of, I might be able to patina it, but it seems a none discript alloy that even if I engraved it, and filled the engraving with media, I doubt it would hold for any length of time.
I was looking at getting one of those Finger tailpieces originally fitted on super 400's
Attachment 9725
But the price, even for a replica, is just not worth the outlay . [close to A$350-400]
Tasty build...hopefully I can match it.
I have gone down the route of no return though with my neck ...... You'll all see when I update my build diary.:rolleyes:
Cheers Fretty, maybe I should warn you next time there are new pics :p . I also would love to hear those sounds come out of it, but waaay beyond my ability. Need to find someone to give her a proper run through.
Thanks Andy. Got the stains straight from stewmac, delivery from the US was pretty quick, only 'difficulty' was the exchange rate.
Thanks Muzza, don't be sorry it's down to personal taste. All good.
Thanks Tweaky, sounds like we are on the same page design wise. I did come across the finger tailpieces and just about fell off my chair when I saw the price, but they do look a bit special. Have you thought of the Kluson tailpieces, same as Jarrod used on his ES-3? (currently on page 18, haven't got the hang of doing links yet). They are around $80-90 AU last I looked.
"route of no return", sounds like you went for a headplate after all, just a guess, look forward to your update.
Grant
Not a headplate ..... I sort of ..... well , ripped the frets out and dyed the fingerboard black with Indian Ink.
I had already taken the original inlay out..... I had cut Gold MOP to fit, but I thought..... well that looks stupid.... the inlay only goes to the 17th fret, two frets are missing inlay..... stuff it, let's to this properly, and cut inlay holes for the 19th and 21st frets.
To do that properly needs me to remove the frets around that area.... if I do that, I might as well do a total re fret with fret wire of my choice..... news alert, new Gibson fetwire is very similar to that fitted as standard to thses kit's.
Only difference is the new stuff is taller and has more nickel content [or less copper] anyway, the new stuff isn't as soft as the fret wire fitted [ I could, in all honesty, re fit the original frets, as they came out without any damage, and could be put in again to work perfectly well without any problem]
Wow Grant, just wow.
If that was in a shop it would have its own display case.
Look forward to your updates Tweaky.
Very kind, Robin. I think your fretless would have pride of place though.:)
Just a tip for anyone upgrading to Bourns pots and wanting extra nuts to adjust shaft height, Jaycar sell a pack of washers and nuts to suit their 24mm pots which have a 6.35mm threaded shaft - same as Bourns. Catalogue no. RP3500, $3.50 for 12pk.
It is finished, short of some minor tweaking, been waiting for some D'Addario Chromes to be delivered.
I'll go through what I've been up to, I type slow so this could take a while and a few posts.
Made a pickguard from scratch. Drew up a shape, cut out a template from MDF and routed some 2mm acrylic to get the main part. Then glued on purfling and binding.
Attachment 10979
Seemed easier to have rounded corners on the stepped side so could use continuous pieces and avoid joins. Scraped down the binding and sanded flat to 600, then up through the grits and polished.
Attachment 10980Attachment 10981
Couple of oopses, broke the end off the purfling at the top point, glued a piece back on, looked OK at the time but when cleaned up it is noticeable. Also didn't allow for the width of the binding when I made the template and it doesn't line up with the bottom edge of the pup ring, probably won't annoy anyone but me.
Attachment 10982
Cont..
Going a little overboard, made a TRC from a large piece of Mother of Pearl.
Cut and filed to shape then sanded edges and top to 800 grit.
Had a go at engraving. Got some dremel bits and practised on the acrylic offcuts and realised I would need some sort of guide. Printed off a suitable font and glueit on with pva. Took a deep breath and started engraving. Bit wonky in places.
Attachment 10983
Then used a scribe for the straight lines.
Attachment 10984Attachment 10985
Mixed epoxy with black stain and lay a coat all over. Sanded off to 800 again.
Attachment 10986Attachment 10987
A few spots to touch up. Wasn't all that happy at first but it's growing on me.
Cont..
Final bits were to fit a brass nut and file out the slots to suit the strings. Also had to file the v's in the saddles to keep the strings from pulling out, the tailpiece has a narrower string spacing than the bridge.
Intonated and adjusted pup heights. Rocksongs sound great, need to find someone who can do a proper sound demo, my playing still sucks. Here's lots of pics...
Attachment 10991Attachment 10992
Attachment 10993Attachment 10994
Attachment 10995
Cont..
man, that is gorgeous.
Used a finial from a brass hinge to go in the top of the HS. Had to glue it in and it ended up off to one side a bit.
Attachment 10996Attachment 10997
Something I was keeping to myself, added a piece of timber to the neck heel and put an inlay in that as well, just coz I could.
Attachment 10998Attachment 10999
Cont..
Cheers Dedman
Grant
+ 1 on that, sweet looking guitar.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dedman
Guitar of the year, right here.
Grant that is an incredible build, amazing results. If it plays as good as it looks it's would be pretty close to GOTY
Dear god! its beautiful!
http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/...psad0vazdx.gif
My god man that thing is art!
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Pure awesomeness! Love it.
That is awesome, I don't think I have seen an axe here with such attention to detail in a more traditional style, you've just won the forum
Guitar of the year!
Attachment 11043
Dude, like, just, DUDE!
That build of yours is looking incredible, well done.Quote:
Originally Posted by neverwas
I put a extension on my neck heel as well.
I doubt I'll inlay it though, the wood I used is incredibly hard, I'm not sure what it is, it's a very similar colour to maple....probably Palm wood.
I had wanted to have my guitar all blonde shellac,including the neck, but with the filler and different wood on the heel block it wouldn't now work, so it's going to end up "Burst" at heel and headstock like yours
Is that just MOP as the truss rod cover without anything backing it?
I planned on doing the same sort of thing, but by inlaying a 2mm bit of maple headstock veneer, I'd be too worried about breaking it if just MOP, especially on a new build which is when you are most likely going to be doing fine adjustments to the truss rod as everything settles in.
Interesting choice of a Brass nut, it can make a guitar sound dark and bassy depending what strings you put on it, my Gibson ES-347 has a Brass nut.
I've been extremely slack with my build, mainly just been testing different things to see how they might look / work.
While cutting MOP for my neck inlays [I removed the originals and frets] I decided to try making some Tune O Matic string saddles out of Ebony, that worked out OK
I've plugged the bridge post mounting holes on my build, changed the bridge to a floating Ebony one, which needed a different Tune O Matic bridge so it could mount on the floating bridge, it's a Gold GOTOH one....I went to unscrew the bridge saddles from it to put the Ebony ones on and the little nuts won't budge, from internet searches it seems Gotoh puts Loctite on them so they won't move, and I don't know which type it is to remove it, so I can't fit the wood strings saddles...bummer.
That's a great looking ES, Neverwas. I hope mine turns out well. I love the inlays,you're a true artist.