August 2015 Guitar of the Month

[wokkaboy]

thats ok Arzi, bet you are glad you started building axes !

[bargeloobs]

Hello, this is my first post and entry into the GOTM. I have been building this strat in between beers on Friday nights with the boys at 4D Guitars ! Thanks Wokkaboy and Wayne. Its a standard kit with Tarkine Green stain. Ive gone for a relic worn look inspired by Francis Rossi from Status Quo who has a 50's telecaster with a strat pick up configuration. It also features Francis Rossi's trademark hole drilled straight thru the body ( which he apparently did back in the day to help prevent his guitar lead from pulling out of the jack) The boys at 4D have got me hooked into this guitar building thing and im on my second build but have lost track of the beers !

The black/green combo looks sweet and I especially like that headstock shape, wicked job Rozza!

[ihasmario]

Dang, I'm ready to submit but I forgot to borrow a nice camera from work.

Next month it is, I guess...

[Daveyson]

Fantastic entries from everyone, very nice set of axes and looks like a lot of effort went into them.
Well done!

[adam]

The results are in...

Thanks again to our judges, especially first-time judge Daveyson.

Here's the comments from the judges, in submission order:

Aridas' TL-1

"Love the classic, simple look. Fantastic build!"
"The vision has certainly come together on this TL great result for a first time build, hard to fault really."
"This to me just oozes what a TL should look like. I'm a big fan of the colour and I love the added black hardware . The grain is subtle and brought to life beautifully and enhanced with the black hardware, nice job you nailed it."
"Aridas the blacked-out hardware package you chose makes this guitar extremely sleek. The finish looks like it has been applied well however I feel that a bit of patchiness could’ve been touched up. Dig this build. "
"Good choice of colour goes well with the black hardware."
"Loving the natural finish. Black hardware looks great too. (What happened to the neck pickup screws? We say this often as judges, claim your Headstock!"

Jeff's GR-1SF

"Oh man - just love the stealthy lines on this one! Looking absolutely stunning!"
"I love the look of this beast, a really nice rockabilly axe, I just want to pick it up and play it! The matte black finish, customisation and chrome hardware give this guitar the thumbs up from me."
"A nice job done on the finish, I would be lying if I was to say that Black Satin would be my personal choice for this style guitar but you have executed the finish beautifully, Kind of puts a metal look to a Rock n Roller."
"Jeff, your build diary was great to follow and the matt black finish you have absolutely nailed. Ratrod GR-1SF is something I can definitely get behind. I bet she sounds sweet."
"Well built, nice finish. Looks great."
"Gotta love a 'Silver falcon' . Really nicely finished in black and white. The black satin really suits it. Thank you for claiming the headstock and for the info on it being as loud as an acoustic! "

Rozza's ST-1

"Nicely done. Some great character in the build - great to see some real personality in the build."
"some beautiful effects on the body of this guitar and a well finished neck with unique headstock, very nice indeed."
"A great effort to bring some original extra's to a great guitar. The hole for your lead actually makes a lot of sense and well we all love a green guitar, Great original head stock shape too. Remember to set up your intonation up before you enter (we judges see all)."
"Rozza, great looking ST-1, however the black spot beneath the jack has got me intrigued – was that intentional or a knot? Either way it looks like a great feature. The Tarkine Green Dingotone has come up extremely well and gives the body a really earthy tone – reminds me of moss. I really dig the semi-gloss you’ve built too. Really like this build."
"Looks well built."
"Yes, you can see the Rossi in this but also the 4D influence (or maybe it's the beers) Very interesting headstock of course. Looking forward to seeing your next one. A very good first build."

Wokka's STA-1

"Wokks - you keep rolling these out - they look great - you are the king of the burst!"
"I love the black and gold over the awesome sunburst finish, a stunning looking guitar with great attention to detail."
"I am a huge fan your burst finishes Wokk's which I why I zoom in really close to try and spot faults. Problem is you have now had so much practice that faults are hard to find. The Gold goes well with this colour burst and yet again you have done yourself proud."
"Wokka, a more subtle satin finish from you is great to see. I love the use of black pickup covers/knobs to give it an understated look. The signature veneered stock looks very nice too. Glad you went with a maple neck on this axe – the contrast between the darker tones on the body is great."
"Nice work looks fab."
"This looks really good Woks, amazed you managed to keep it hidden so long. A really awesome tobacco burst and should come with the warning that this guitar could give you gas. One of the nicest headstock veneers too."


And the winner is...

Congratulations Jefff, your GR-1SF in Matt Black was the judge's pick for Guitar of the Month August 2015.



A well deserved win in a small but top quality pack.

One of the "questions" to the judges is, "which guitar would you be drawn to in a guitar store?". Personally speaking, there's no chance I could go past this guitar without picking it up for a closer look and play. It screams "PLAY ME!"

Well done Jeff.

[wokkaboy]

congratulations Jeff, thought your entry would win. Well done the other entrants were very nice builds.
Also well done all judges

[keloooe]

Congrats Jeff! Smaller pack this month but still ripper builds! Personally I'd walk home with ANY GOTM axe now that the bar is even higher!

[stan]

as usual, they are all great, but Jeff, I have to agree, that's a stunner

[KurtSlash123]

Congrats jeef it was a beautiful one!

[Jeff Sheridan]

wow after a long day at the soccer park with the kids this was great to come home to! I was worried about entering the Alohamatic since the standard is really high, plus the guitars entered this month all looked really tight. building my guitar was the biggest eye opener into the world of guitar of which I am super grateful and probably wouldn't have made the attempt without all the available advice on the forum; can we give an award for the best guitar community out there to all the pitbull builders? Im glad to build (and think I benefited) from building a relatively new model in the pitbull catalog, the Gr1-sf model seems to lend itself to playing a bit of a different style than I am used to, that coupled with playing something I had a part in creating makes it a really fun guitar! I also got a call from a former bandmate (Still friends!) and we are headed out to a punk rock show for old times so its turning out to be a great day! Thanks again, Adam, Judges, and fellow builders, Aloha, Jeff