SG Aussie timber scratch build

Well covid lockdown and post painfully slow from WA, has finally prompted me to get started with this build.
The neck is QLD maple, I've done a scarf joint to accommodate the 14 degree head angle. 2 way truss rod, rosewood fretboard, set neck.
The body is laminated quarter sawn Tassie Oak courtesy of Bunnings. I've got a book matched 4mm Blackheart sassafras laminate for the top.
I'm thinking it will have a tunomatic and stop tail but that's not set in stone as I have been toying with the idea of a Floyd rose.

Nice. Will watch with interest.

Watch out for splintering and blowout with the Tas oak while routing. I’ve had mixed results with it. Lovely mix of timbers, can’t wait to see the progress shots!

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Watch out for splintering and blowout with the Tas oak while routing. I’ve had mixed results with it.

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Yes, I think I recall seeing photos you posted of tear-out.
And was it you that had a body go airborne whilst routing, FrankenWashie?

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Originally Posted by FrankenWashie

Watch out for splintering and blowout with the Tas oak while routing. I’ve had mixed results with it. Lovely mix of timbers, can’t wait to see the progress shots!

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Especially around the end grain. I actually don't find it too bad to work with, no where near as nice as the QLD Maple to shape, but not terrible. Sharp bits and lots of care and you should be right. Minor splintering is easily fixed with some CA.

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Originally Posted by McCreed

Yes, I think I recall seeing photos you posted of tear-out.
And was it you that had a body go airborne whilst routing, FrankenWashie?

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I’ve not unintentionally launched anything in the lab that I can recall? There’s a strat body that might get ejected shortly.

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I’ve not unintentionally launched anything in the lab that I can recall? There’s a strat body that might get ejected shortly.

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Hah! Must have been another member or possibly even another forum. (I don't stray too far from here these days though)

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Originally Posted by FrankenWashie

Watch out for splintering and blowout with the Tas oak while routing. I’ve had mixed results with it. Lovely mix of timbers, can’t wait to see the progress shots!

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Thanks for the heads up, I'll precut the margins with a sharp marking knife, hopefully that will give me a clean cut.

Ok, got my body cut out and my Blackheart sassafras laminate joined and roughed out.
Next step is to jury rig a press to glue them up.
Hoping my 4 mm laminate will prevent any tas oak blow outs when I rout the top!

That would be me that had the large tear out and broken guitar body with Tas Oak haha. Never again will I use that timber.

Power tools also leave burn marks easily in it.

In regards to the tailpiece surely the Vibrola has to be a consideration?

Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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That would be me that had the large tear out and broken guitar body with Tas Oak haha.

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Ahhh, thanks woltz. I was beginning to think I imagined it, which is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Well, I've glued the laminates on front and back, precut the hatch cover on the back laminate, which was challenging without a scroll saw (next purchase). So far so good with the Tassie Oak, I'm hoping the laminate will stop any edge blowout on the routs, I'll rout the neck pocket and neck pickup next before I profile the body. Then deal with the bridge pickup once I've decided on bridge/tailpiece set up.

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Originally Posted by Woltz

That would be me that had the large tear out and broken guitar body with Tas Oak haha. Never again will I use that timber.

Power tools also leave burn marks easily in it.

In regards to the tailpiece surely the Vibrola has to be a consideration?

Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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Yeah, was considering a vibrola and it would be "correct" but am leaning towards trialling a stetsbar, expensive but interesting design. The standard stoptail set up and roller bridge with a Les trem is also an attractive option.
I was toying with the idea of a Floyd rose but decided that might be pushing my luck with the Tassie Oak a bit to far.

Well it's been a while since my last post, been playing with my new toy an evh Wolfgang. Nice axe and my new standard of playing excellence.
Ok so here goes.
Body laminates are on, neck pocket routed, neck roughed out and joiner shoe is set. Scale length has been measured and neck alignment is set. Fretboard has been measured to length but rebate set and frets preslotted with a .01mm saw prior to inlay and slotting to depth with a .05mm fret saw. I find doing it this way I can run my micrometre along each consecutive slot and mark the next fret.
Inlay comes next. Maltese Cross paua shell .

I'm enjoying this build very much

Coming along nicely.

Well winter has hit and snow has slowed down progress, but I've made a bit of progress, body is shaped stained and sealed, neck has been final shaped and fretboard inlayed.
All measurements are spot on. So things are starting to take shape.
I've also got a SV jem and a evh Wolfgang scratch builds started, will add build diaries for them when I get a chance.

gorgeous!!!