GR-1SF Rocker-Billy

[Scott J.]

Some of tips for anyone else who might also be crazy enough to consider cutting their binding channel by hand:

- tape up the working face of the timber that the cutting face of the tool runs along – it’ll save any small scratches or timber bruising
- be sure to work AWAY from the grain, not into it – makes for an easier job of it and prevents any accidental over-cuts or tear-outs
- make sure you've got sharp blades (which they should be when new and be careful of them) ... otherwise you may as well use a butter-knife
- take your time with it and enjoy the “zen” of repetitious motion – it’s not a quick task and trying to rush it will only result in a shitty job

[vh2580]

Scott that will look cool.
Thanks for the description as have seen the tool on stewmac and been keen to bind a headstock or two to match bodies.
So now will have a crack.
As far as Zen raking pebbles get plenty of that from a dog that is trying to become a mid tier open cut coal miner in the backyard.

[Scott J.]

get plenty of that from a dog that is trying to become a mid tier open cut coal miner in the backyard.

At least if he's digging for burying bones, think of all the great nut's you'll be able to cut from them once they've cured!

[Scott J.]

Update on Fitting Hardware to the GR-1SF ...

After a query from Adam, I did a quick check and found that the p/up cut-outs on the current model are bit misleading - when you measure the width and length of the cut-outs it'll look like they'll fit any pick-up of the same size ... but it aint necessarily so.

I'll be putting traditional Filtertron-style pickups on this baby and I found that while they should fit ... the actually don't - almost but not quite.

While the pick-ups are up to a couple of mm smaller in both directions than the cut-outs for them (so you'd think they'd fit nicely), the problem actually lies in the corners ... the corners of the pick-up covers are quite square (with a radius of around 2-3mm) but the cut-outs have a corner radius of about 6mm which end up fouling on the corner of the pick-ups. Its a pretty simple fix and quickly done - a minute of two with a small round file will knock off the bare mm or so of the cut-out that the p/ups will need to fit in.

I don't think this'd be a problem if you're using uncovered pickups as you wont have the square corners to worry about (in fact it looks as though the cut-outs were actually measured against, and cut for, an uncovered pick-up)

[gavinturner]

Nice work on the binding channel Scott!! I have contemplated binding myself a few times and am still too scared to attempt it, even with a router or dremel. With your success I'm a step closer to seriously considering it . Your build is looking more awesome by the post!

cheers,
Gav.

[gavinturner]

A quick question Scott, what is the difference between traditional Filtertron pickups and standard humbuckers? I've never been able to work it out. Looked at TV Jones before and they have so many mounting options it makes my head spin. Any idea? Sorry for the noob question.

cheers,
Gav.

[Scott J.]

A quick question Scott, what is the difference between traditional Filtertron pickups and standard humbuckers? I've never been able to work it out. Looked at TV Jones before and they have so many mounting options it makes my head spin. Any idea? Sorry for the noob question.

You know, Gav, that’s certainly not a “noob” question, it’s a damn good one! … Easy answer? There isn’t one!

To be honest I don’t know the difference in specs between them but they DO produce such different tones!

I’ve invariably heard the differences described as …

FILTERTRONS
Thinner, tigher, brighter, more clarity, “jangley/twangy” more punchier bottom end … they seem to handle distortion more like a single coil … arguably the best p/up for rock rhythm guitar … think of the sounds of Brian Setzer, Malcolm Young (AC/DC), Chris Cheney (Living End), Rev Horton Heat … even Chet Atkins!

(PAF) HUMBUCKERS
Darker, thicker, fuzzier, “flute-y/violin-ey”, greater sustain … arguably the best p/up for rock lead guitar … think of the sounds of Jimmy Page, Gary Moore, Tony Iommi, Slash, etc. etc.

… I’m sure the above hasn’t helped much if at all … but I think they look really cool and just love the sound of ‘em … and absolutely nothing suits a Gretsch-style axe better than ‘trons!

[andrewdosborne]

Scott, this is coming along nicely and great work with the binding thingamajig. Do you think this tool would work well around a guitar body? I have a scratch tele body laying around that I use for experimentation purposes - it is calling out for some binding!

[Scott J.]

Scott, this is coming along nicely and great work with the binding thingamajig. Do you think this tool would work well around a guitar body? I have a scratch tele body laying around that I use for experimentation purposes - it is calling out for some binding!

Absolutely! (its designed for both) ... actually, it'd be a hell of a lot easier working it on a body than on a headstock ... easier, wider curves on the body than the tight little suckers of the curves on the headstock!

[DrNomis_44]

Even without any finishing on the body and neck, the guitar looks nice, I got the chance to play a Gr*tsch with a Bigsby trem on it last year while at uni, the uni's contemporary music department had one amongst all their other guitars, it was black with silver hardware and shaped somewhat like a Les Paul, at the time I was giving it a bit of a checkout after fixing some tuning issues due to some seized string-saddle rollers, Gr*tsch guitars have a certain tone that I'm actually starting to appreciate.