Series 1 Scratchy

[kells80aus]

yeah yeah I am still alive. a lot poorer these days. Thanks IBM for the redundancy.

Be warned, this build is going to be a labour of love and will take a rediculously long time

Ok I am going to build another scratchy. For non Aussie builders this is an Aussies manufacturer's 1968 guitar,
It is one of the Byrd series they made.

I have already built one copy that I drew out by hand from an A4 sized pamphlet. That build was pretty damn good for what was a freehand drawing.

Well a few months back an original one of these guitars was sold on eBay. I managed to talk the owner into doing a trace of the body(see pic below). Well I've finally got hold of the trace and am currently building an inventory of bit.
I've got the tracing, and am about to make a template. I've also got the Blank, all be it a 3 piece Basswood blank.
The original was made from Mahogany, but thanks to IBM I just could not spring for a mahogany blank.
The neck is on order from my favouire Chinese ebay supplier(superistore). this is a Maple neck witha maple fretboard, and MOP dot fret markers. The headstock is a paddle style, but in the Fender layout, not scarf jointed

The pickups(hopefully) will be gretsch style Humbuckers with the H cutout, while this is disimilar to the OEM, It isn't my intention to make a direct copy. If I wanted to do that I'd spend $1000 and buy one complete from eastwoods.

The escence of this build is the shape of the guitar, not the electrics, which in the originals was a little thin ans sharp.

I have deliberately not named the specific model of this guitar, but those who know it will openly smile at what I am about to do.


Cheers Paul Kelly
Melbourne

Oh, I did own the OEM Build number 27(serial 127) of the original series 1 of these under rated guitars.

[dave.king1]

If the model starts with a F the lead player in one of my very early bands had one, he remembers it fondly

[dingobass]

Nice one PK.
Will be following this build with great interest

[dave.king1]

While we are on the subject of recreations and restorations does anyone know where I can get a couple of Maton L202 pickups or close lookalikes

[kells80aus]

If the model starts with a F the lead player in one of my very early bands had one, he remembers it fondly

Hi Dave

it's not the 'F' model from the Byrd series. that would have been the Fyrbyrd, it was the other one, and the bass Byrd being the Ibis, and It's not that one either, although I did think to build this as a bass, but felt it was just a bit to hard to do the neck for it. I think there were about a dozen Basses built compared to the 100 6 string guitars.
This is my fave the 'W'.

I don't know where you will get original pickups for your Lute from other than paying Maton a couple of Megabucks to make one for you. I have read of people getting Maton pups made up,
Best bet would be to contact them direct
MATON GUITARS
http://maton.com.au/

6 Clarice Rd, Box Hill
Victoria, Australia, 3128

Telephone: +61 3 9896 9500
Fax: +61 3 9896 9501

Cheers PK

[dave.king1]

Thanks PK, I've contacted Maton in the past to try and find out what the neck finish is and sadly it wasn't a hugely successful exercise probably because my mind was elsewhere trying to get a massive project over the line before I retired.

I'll give them another go and report back.

Edited to add: Looking at the tracing I am now thinking I have the right brand but the model name starts with a W ( one of the rarest of the breed )

[kells80aus]

Thanks PK, I've contacted Maton in the past to try and find out what the neck finish is and sadly it wasn't a hugely successful exercise probably because my mind was elsewhere trying to get a massive project over the line before I retired.

I'll give them another go and report back.

Edited to add: Looking at the tracing I am now thinking I have the right brand but the model name starts with a W ( one of the rarest of the breed )

I'd say you're right on the money with the 'W' model.

Cheers PK

[wokkaboy]

good to see you back on the forum PK, sounds like a cool build you are planning. Good luck

[kells80aus]

good to see you back on the forum PK, sounds like a cool build you are planning. Good luck

Tks Woks the hardest part of the build will be getting the headstock right as it's not simple six in line of 3L 3R, well it is 3L 3R but the 3R the tuners are basically acoustic style through a slot.
First problem is getting a suitable headstock template made up. I don't have a tracing for that part, so might have to beg someone who has one for some measurements.
Second problem will be sourcing the right tuners


Cheers PK

[wokkaboy]

well as you say PK you are in no hurry so sure you will source the tuners and dimensions of the headstock