Ok, I've pulled the trigger and got something in the works. No build diary as I've outsourced the build.
For those curious about the design:
I've ordered a custom GS-2Z.
Bone nut
Gold hardware, Grover tuners
Plan was to keep it simple and hit it with a walnut stain all over.
Requested a larger control cavity route, no neck binding and a bolt on neck.
The request for no neck binding was merely a consideration for future fret work. I hear it's a pain to re-fret or even file fret ends if there's neck binding, and chances were pretty good there would be fret issues at some point if not straight off the bat.
The bolt on neck was because I figured it would be easier wrangle if there were issues.
I figured bright pickups in a mahogany body should balance out the sound nicely. "Plan A" originally included a proper soap bar P90, but they're a fair bit wider than the other pickups, and it was just ridiculous from an aesthetic point of view. Speaking of aesthetics, all gold pickup covers to go with the gold hardware and contrast against the dark brown/walnut finish.
I wanted to make sure the pickups are separated as much as possible. To that end I've asked for a longer scale length and fewer frets which should maximise space between neck and bridge.
Tonal versatility/separation is the main point of this guitar, so I'll utilise a tone pot for each pickup, and one volume pot to rule them all. A five way switch should hopefully help get:
meaty chunk out of the bridge position
some fairly playful overdriven sounds between the HB and P90
something in the ball park of the middle position of a dual P90 guitar in the middle
with volume and both tone pots backed way off, a nice vintage jazzy tone between the P90 and the neck
somewhere between a strat and tele neck pickup in postion 5
So, the kit has turned up. They've given me a quilted maple veneer instead of Zebra Wood, and the neck is bound. As usual Adam was a total champ about it and offered me a substantial discount.
I've taken it to a local luthier who had advertised he was still open for business so long as social distancing was observed.
On his advice I'll be getting a bit of a burst around the edges due to the veneer not quite meeting the binding all the way around. He suggested an acrylic finish which I've blindly agreed to. Neither of us are fans of Nitro and he was sheepishly backing away from using poly for some reason. He went from poker faced and business like to having his spirits visibly lifted when I asked for a satin finish. I take it that's quicker/cheaper/easier than a gloss?
He's pointed out some frets aren't seated properly and most need filing (sliding my hand across the bottom of the neck was like reading braille). He's confident the binding won't present too much of an issue.
We'll be throwing in a coil split switch on the humbucker just because we can.
I have high hopes for this guitar. It's a decent slab of mahogany with some decent pickups being put together by someone who knows what they're doing.
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