JR-1 semi-scratch build

[neverwas]

Thanks H


Grant

[Dedman]

Will try to do a scratchy when I can source some affordable wood and decide on a shape/style, and then there's the neck. After looking at Simon's amazing builds, would love to give it a go, just seems like a big step.

yea, learning to use a router is one thing (first time I touched one it almost killed me, which is why I don't have one LOL) but the neck....na, I don't have the precision .

[Andy40]

Love that string through!

[wazkelly]

Interesting colour where the pics look more aubergine than beetroot. Maybe another stain coat on the back might deepen the colour if that is what you are chasing.

[neverwas]

Thanks guys. The satin poly coats are going on and the colour looks close to what I had in mind.
Thought I might have another go at an inlay to go in the headstock, different to the ES-3 but tried to keep it in the same style.
Started by printing out the letter and glueing with pva to a piece of abalone shell. Drilled some pilot holes and used a jewellers saw to cut out the inside edges.

Then cut around the outside, soaked it in water to get the paper off and cleaned up the edges with needle files.

Next were three pieces of white MOP, the centre section is slightly wider than the outer two. To make sure the curves on the bottom end of the outer pieces were the same, clamped them together and filed and sanded them as one.

Inlay mock up

[neverwas]

Got a 2mm chisel from Carbatec to cut the recesses for the inlay and followed the 'cut to cut' method of using a scalpel to mark the outline of each piece and then the chisel to cut the rebate (the shell pieces are about 1mm thick). Held the individual bits in place using clear double sided tape. Also this was the perfect time to use the articulated magnifying lamp to see what I was doing (got that from Jaycar, comes in handy when doing wiring as well).

Cut outs a bit wonky in spots but I kept some sawdust from when shaping the headstock to mix with titebond and fill the gaps around the shell.

Glued in and filled around edges. Between the pieces not being cut perfectly even widths and then glued in slightly off, the gaps aren't as good as I would have hoped for. If I try to 'fix' it there is a very good likelyhood of making a bigger mess so it is staying as is.



Grant

[Simon Barden]

Great work.

Just a thought, but have you considered shaping the top of those three straight pieces of abalone so that they match the curve of the bottom of the B?

Edit: Ah - too late!

[neverwas]

Thanks Simon.

Yeah, the original 'B' I had in mind had an even curve on the bottom end and the top of the side pieces would have also curved to follow it, then reality set in and ambition would have exceeded ability to cut the letter itself, let alone the recess.

Just try to think of the MOP pieces as a plinth for the B.

Grant

[Dedman]

a fair bit neater than mine Never. This is gonna look a million bucks

[neverwas]

Cheers Dedman.

Yours looks fine from what I can tell, and your supervisor seems to approve.

Have also replaced the fret markers with shell replacements but don't have a clear pic to put up.

Grant