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Slothy
03-11-2016, 07:46 PM
I had a big long first post mostly typed up when my phone decided that was silly and lost it all so I'll keep this a little brief and explain more as i update.

I've got the guitar building bug. I plan to do my first full scratch build soon but for now I'm building a fanned fret neck for one of my Guitars. Each fret will be angled aside from the ninth so it'll hopefully be more comfortable to play. Here's the progress pics so far as i just started.


http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160311_124404_zpsuulrdysn.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160311_124404_zpsuulrdysn.jpg.html)
Here's the fret board i plan to use. It's plain maple but the grain patterns going on are insanely nice. You can see a bit of it here. It'll look even better when it's oiled and waxed at the end so the grain really pops. Assuming i don't screw up the whole thing of course. :exdee:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160311_124417_zpsvulnxmpt.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160311_124417_zpsvulnxmpt.jpg.html)
This is the neck blank I'm going to use. Also maple with some birdseye figuring in it. Not the most amazing board ever but looks nice enough for use on my own guitar. If it were something i was going to sell I'd want something with more figuring.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160311_123801_zpsd8teqdaf.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160311_123801_zpsd8teqdaf.jpg.html)
Here's the template i made up for the fret layout. After i triple check the measurements I'll cut it out to lay it all out on the board. I screwed up and made it slightly too short but i can lay out the last few frets on the board now that i have my process worked out. Each fret is marked accurately to within half a millimeter. Not sure you could get more accurate without doing it by machine.

That's it for now. I'd like to start getting the fret board slotted and maybe start to sand it tomorrow. Still waiting on some hardware but i can get that part finished for now at least.

Freya
03-11-2016, 08:24 PM
ooooooo i'm interested in seeing your process!

Bubba
03-11-2016, 09:20 PM
This has me very, very excited. I'd love to do a project like this with James when he's old enough. Give us regular updates!

Slothy
03-11-2016, 10:20 PM
There will definitely be regular updates. No worries there. There are only two parts I think will be very difficult (aside from making sure the depth of the fret slots is good and they're right where they need to be. I'll be measuring a million times and cutting once): making sure the neck heel is the right size for the pocket in the body and cutting the truss rod channel. I'm planning to get a router to make both a lot easier but I'll do a lot of test cuts first to practice. Might even buy some more wood to practice on. I've already got a four foot maple board to practice construction techniques on, but you can never have too much practice.

Even if they're not bang on it's not the end of the world. It's a bolt on neck so I can shim it and you can help fix the truss rod in the slot by siliconing it in, but I would prefer to be able to get it perfectly. This is actually what I want to do for a living so money allowing I'm going to hold myself to some insanely high standards as I go.

And I completely support doing this with your son someday if he's interested Bubba. Maybe make him a nice 3/4 scale guitar when he's still a youngin'. If my girlfriend weren't so damn set on learning on her full size acoustic I'd actually make her a 3/4 electric. Not because she's a girl or anything though, she's just 5'1" and has tiny hands. I can barely stretch for some things right now (I'm still very much a beginner guitar player) and my hands are huge by comparison. Not sure how she'll manage as she improves. Mind you, my issues with my left wrist don't help. Hence why I'm making a fanned fret. They're supposed to be easier on the wrist and those days where my wrist is really acting up I'll have something I can play comfortably.

PS: apologies to any non-guitar players who are confused by any of this terminology. I'll be explaining it all and the anatomy of a guitar neck as I go so don't think you'll be lost every time I make progress.

Pheesh
03-11-2016, 10:35 PM
This is pretty cool. I'll be interested in seeing how it turns out. Maple is probably the most comfortable wood to play on, even if it's never been my favourite to look at. So will the neck be one piece without any top for the fretboard?

I don't know too much about guitar making so this might be a dumb question, but on that sketch of the neck why are their only 19 frets, are you wanting to make it a smaller scale than usual? Also, the frets don't seem to get as small as I would expect way up at the base of the neck. Usually after about the 12 fret I'm used to seeing the frets get pretty small, but it could just be the angle of that picture making it seem like there's not too much difference between the 1 and the 18.

Slothy
03-12-2016, 12:01 AM
I'm doing the neck and fretboard as two pieces. Les Paul style as opposed to typical Fender maple neck style. It's just going to be a lot easier than trying to make the filler strip for the back of the neck with the tools I have at hand.

And yeah, I think I mentioned somewhere that I made the sketch too small so I only made it to fret 19 on there. I'm going to do 21 minimum. 22 if there's enough room on the fretboard I have while angling these things. And I'm going to check my measurements a few more times tomorrow just to be on the safe side, but I think part of the reason the lower frets look pretty big is a combination of factors. The angle makes everything look a bit strange, and it's thin pencil marks on bristol board right now as opposed to actual frets which would be wider and close that gap a bit. There's also not much there for size reference making the whole thing look huge in the picture. Up close and personal it looks closer to normal.

Plus the scale length is fairly long. 27.8 inches on the bass side and the standard Fender 25.5 inches on the treble side. Like I said, I'll be checking my measurements multiple times just to be safe though. I made a few mistakes while laying this out at first that I had to go back and correct and I'm a big believer in the mythbusters motto that failure is always an option so I don't count errors as being out of the realm of possibility until I've verified my measurements plenty of times. Measure twice and cut once is for professionals. We amateurs measure at least five or six times. :D

Slothy
03-12-2016, 06:31 PM
So I actually did make an error in the way I was measuring on my template that didn't occur to me until this morning. Not sure if it resulted in an error in the overall placement of the frets, but I figured if I was going to have to do the work of redoing it all again to be on the safe side I'd just lay everything out right on the fret board.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160312_124228_zpsrmo8kry3.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160312_124228_zpsrmo8kry3.jpg.html)

So there we have the fretboard all nice and laid out on the kitchen table. I will say that laying out a multiscale like this is a pain in the ass to do by hand. Someday I'd like to have a small CNC machine to do this shit for me. Fewer headaches and less stress over wondering if you're going to fuck it all up.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160312_132512_zpsjd65fyxe.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160312_132512_zpsjd65fyxe.jpg.html)

That out of the way I took it downstairs to my workshop (bedroom). Clamped it to this shelving unit I have for storing tools and things in and proceeded to carefully score the wood with the utility knife here before starting the cuts with my fretting saw. Not to be confused with a fret saw that is an actual completely different tool that has nothing to do with cutting fret slots for guitars.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160312_132524_zps6osqztqr.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160312_132524_zps6osqztqr.jpg.html)

And here I have the fret slots started on the board. I'm waiting on the fret wire I ordered for this to arrive so I didn't go deeper than necessary to get the slots started. I'll cut them to their final depth once the wire is in hand. This is yet another part made harder by going with a fanned fret neck. I had to be very careful to start these slots straight. On a traditional neck you could use a miter box made for slotting fret boards since it's just a straight cut across the board rather than angled. This had to be free handed which I've never really done before. Taking it slow is your friend here, and I very carefully used the saw to cut into the scoring marks I made with the knife. All told the layout took me probably an hour and the cuts took me maybe 20 minutes. Those were some of the most stressful 20 minutes I've had in a while.

There are a couple of spots where the saw started at kind of a bad angle as I got the hang of things and I had to correct. Luckily the will be sanded down to give it the proper curve I desire and none of those mistakes were too deep so they should come right out in the end. I'd like to sit down and trim the sides of the board so it's a little larger than its final size later (it'll get sanded down the rest of the way once it's on the neck so their edges will be flush). If I get the chance I'll try to start laying out the neck shape on the blank tomorrow, but I'll be at my girlfriends most of the day so we'll see if I get to it.

For the times I don't have much to update though because I've had little time or I'm waiting on parts, etc. I have been fixing up a guitar for a friend for a while now so I may throw in some pics and updates on that as I finish it up here.

Pete for President
03-13-2016, 10:23 AM
YES! Awesome project. I don't think I've ever seen an angled fretboard! I must've been living underneath a rock :0

Slothy
03-14-2016, 01:53 AM
Fanned fret Guitars are becoming more popular in the last couple of years from what i can tell, but they're still pretty niche. Ibanez is the only major manufacturer that comes to mind that produces any right now, but they don't do any 6 string versions. Supposedly they intonate better but the main reason i want to try one is because they're supposed to be more ergonomic and easier on the wrist. We'll see in the end i suppose. Wrist case scenario i still have two standard Guitars and have gained a bunch of experience.

It's late tonight so i didn't get a ton of stuff done but I've started laying out the template I'll use to rough cut the shape of the neck. Tomorrow I'll take exact measurements of the neck pocket on the guitar body and work on exactly where it will be positioned. It's worth taking my time here since i need a thought fit and that neck needs to be dead straight.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160313_214242_zpssfllyibw.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160313_214242_zpssfllyibw.jpg.html)

Pheesh
03-14-2016, 02:10 AM
What radius will you be going for on your neck?

Slothy
03-14-2016, 02:28 AM
I was planning on 16" I think. I want more of a shredding style thin neck out of this. Plus I have a telecaster and an epiphone les paul already so I've got 9.5" and 12" radii already. Might as well add something different.

Pheesh
03-14-2016, 02:39 AM
Sounds good. Should be an extremely player friendly guitar. And even though the neck and fretboard are in two pieces you are doing both in maple, correct?

Slothy
03-14-2016, 11:56 AM
I am indeed. One of the nice things about living in eastern North America is quality maple is easy to come by at low prices.

Bubba
03-14-2016, 01:07 PM
I watched a video of someone making a guitar on Youtube yesterday and damn does it look complicated.

Slothy
03-14-2016, 02:36 PM
There are definitely a lot of steps. And if you're doing it often you'll end up making some complicated jigs to streamline things.

But i don't think it's out of the realm of an amateur builder to accomplish. It just requires a lot of planning, patience and care. I've actually seen at least one guy build a les paul with nothing but hand tools. There were no complicated jigs to speak of and not a power tool in sight. One of the more impressive things I've ever seen. Not sure I'd have the ability to tackle a set neck like that with hand tools just yet.

Slothy
03-15-2016, 12:28 AM
The work day felt pretty long and took a lot out of me so i decided to skip some more neck template work in favour of something a bit simpler. I'd previously removed the finish from the guitar body I'm using and started filing in the body cavities under the pickguard that i don't need (I'll be using one humbucker only) and modifying the shape some. It's far from done, but now that I'm building a fanned neck the tremolo bridge it came with won't work for me. It'll be replaced with a stationary bridge that'll allow for the different lengths of each string.

That leaves me with more body to fill. Today i filed in most of the cavity for the tremolo springs. I'll use some scrap maple to fill in the hole through the body for the old bridge.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160314_201234_zpsnbydoirm.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160314_201234_zpsnbydoirm.jpg.html)

I'm not sure about the tonal properties of bondo, but the stuff is malleable, fills small holes and cracks well, and hardens quickly. It's reinforced with some nails in the body much like rebar in concrete. It's not pretty, but it'll be painted in the end and there's only so much you can do to fill a body like this. Maybe I'll build a new body eventually but it does the job for now.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160314_201522_zpsi35plnwo.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160314_201522_zpsi35plnwo.jpg.html)

Pete for President
03-16-2016, 09:47 PM
Best thread Ciddies summer 16! Loving the updates! What style will the head be?

Slothy
03-16-2016, 10:25 PM
Planning an ibanez style inline headstock i think. It's going to be slightly angled so i don't need string trees.

Going to take a break from things tonight. I'm off for the next four days ago in going to rest up tonight and try and get some significant progress done. I wish the package with the truss rod would show up already so i can get the channel cut and glue the board on so i can just pound out the neck shape from start to finish without having to stop and wait part way through.

Edit: based on the tracking info the package may come tomorrow actually. Fingers crossed.

Slothy
03-17-2016, 03:02 PM
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160317_104343_zpsnbwr9afc.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160317_104343_zpsnbwr9afc.jpg.html)

My truss rod came with some extra stuff. I wonder what it's all for? :confused:

Bubba
03-17-2016, 03:46 PM
Had a look at a few guides online. It looks so complicated! Maybe I should start with something simple... like a drumstick.

Slothy
03-17-2016, 06:20 PM
Drum sticks wouldn't be too bad with a lathe. Without one? :erm:

Been working part of the afternoon on guitar things. No real progress on the neck worth sharing so here's a guitar I'm fixing up as a favour to a friend. It's nothing expensive or impressive, but it was the first guitar he ever bought so there's sentimental value there. I never did get pictures of the body before I started refinishing it, but it was in worse shape than the neck in some ways so use your imaginations.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160107_234242_zpswlds5hvi.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160107_234242_zpswlds5hvi.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160107_234233_zpsk4injubs.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160107_234233_zpsk4injubs.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160317_141137_zpsmdu3icua.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160317_141137_zpsmdu3icua.jpg.html)

The only two things I'm not happy with are the finish on the body and the slight colour difference from body to neck/headstock. The latter is because the spray primer I used on the body gave me tons of problems: the wood of the body literally soaked it up like nobodies business. A can that should have been able to prime a few guitars worth of surface area was barely enough for one. I switched to some different stuff that covers better for the neck but it was greyer and apparently the paint I used was more transparent than I realized. Doesn't really look bad, I just would have preferred a match, but at that point, redoing either would have been an incredible amount of work and my friend doesn't mind it.

The finish on the body was also no fun. I tried using a brush on lacquer but ended up with all sorts of drips and runs. Then when I was wet sanding to try and level it I managed to burn through the finish into the paint and the stuff still wasn't level. Fixed it as best I could, but I'll never use a brush on lacquer again. Not so long as I'm allowed to use the spray room at work. I did the neck there and it was a night and day difference. Done in two days and the finish lay nice and flat without even sanding it. I decided to leave it as is actually. At this point I'm not tempting fate by wet sanding and polishing it. I'm done. This thing has been the bane of my existence. :lol:

Going to cut out a pickguard this weekend, drill holes for the new bridge I'm putting in (I'll be sure to share some pictures of the old one. It's... interesting), holes to make it a string through body, and get a new nut put on. Then it'll just be a matter of wiring it up and stringing it.

Pete for President
03-17-2016, 07:41 PM
SG cut with a Strat head? That is interesting! Loving the stripy design : )

Slothy
03-17-2016, 10:38 PM
Thanks. That was his idea.

Today has been a good day for deliveries. Got my fret wire and guitar bridge at supper time.

sharkythesharkdogg
03-18-2016, 09:47 PM
L.O.L.

Stop trolling. Even I know the Canadian post doesn't deliver anything.

Ever.

Good luck with the project. I know someone else who enjoys woodworking, and decided to make a guitar. From what he told me, the first 3 months or so he just made different jigs, and focused on keeping the humidity in his shop at a stable level. Sounds pretty difficult.

Slothy
03-21-2016, 01:57 AM
Girlfriend was visiting this weekend so I didn't get a lot done while I was introducing her to the wonders of season 1 of daredevil.

I did get the nut made for my friends guitar which was easy since it's one of the only Guitars I've ever seen with a zero fret so as long as it was shaped well and the slots are deeper than that fret you're golden. Also installed a new zero fret using some jumbo fret wire since the old one had string grooves in it. Some small fret board chips came out with the old one showing me the rosewood was just a veneer on a plywood neck. Glued then back in place to keep the illusion up. :D

Also started drilling the holes for the new bridge but need a larger bit than i own to finish it so I'll get one tomorrow. Once all of that is done I can probably wire it and i still need to get the pickguard cut out.

Since there's not a lot of picture worthy progress, here's a link to a guide on shaping guitar nuts for anyone interested in taking a stab at some diy. Some specialized tools are required, the files mostly but others make the job a bit easier, but it's a pretty straightforward thing to learn and definitely worth it. Not all guitar nuts are well shaped from the factory and could use modification. Our you can replace a cheap plastic but with something better. Sure, you can pay someone to do it, but if you think you'd like to try it yourself to four it. Like most diy it'll cost five times as much and take just as long or longer, but it's fun and satisfying.
http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Learn_About_Guitar_Nut_and_Saddle_Setup_and_Repair/Making_a_Nut_Step-by-Step.html

Skyblade
03-21-2016, 04:43 AM
This is nifty. Looking forward to the finished product.

Midgar Mist
03-21-2016, 05:09 AM
That guitar is starting to look bitching :dance:

Slothy
03-27-2016, 11:25 PM
Slow progress this last week but got a bit done. My friends guitar now has the bridge and tailpiece installed. The bridge is a roller bridge to replace the utter piece of crap that came in the guitar. The tailpiece is what came with the guitar though. It looks cool enough that we decided to keep it on there.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160327_141946_zpsj3nvyzl9.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160327_141946_zpsj3nvyzl9.jpg.html)

And here I've started trimming one side of the fret board. Hard to get a straight cut with a coping saw so I stayed well back of the line i want to cut to, have sanded it a bit more level, and I'll finish the job with scrapers and sanding once it's mounted to the neck and I'm shaping everything. I've started cutting out the neck but the hand saw i was using just isn't up to the job. Going to bring the stuff with me and use my girlfriends dad's bandsaw when i bring her home tomorrow.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160327_185137_zpsmkwcylor.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160327_185137_zpsmkwcylor.jpg.html)

Slothy
04-02-2016, 05:09 PM
So this is my new best friend:http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_121615_zpsiwsxanfo.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_121615_zpsiwsxanfo.jpg.html)

A Japanese style pullsaw. Ryoba is what they're called if I'm not mistaken. I hate traditional style handsaws that cut on the push stroke. Never been able to use them well. This thing cuts a lot faster and with less effort once you get used to it. This thing saved my ass (and arms) when it came to sawing the neck blank to its rough size.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_123008_zpsriqyhnid.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_123008_zpsriqyhnid.jpg.html)

Still staying back from the final size when i cut off course. With practice I might get more confident in cutting more precisely.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_123019_zps5rqwpgi1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_123019_zps5rqwpgi1.jpg.html)

The picture is a bit blurry but you can see where I cut with the pullsaw on the left and my attempts with a carpenters saw and a coping saw on the right. The pullsaw cuts are a lot better and a lot cleaner. Very happy with this new toy.

I'm going to layout the slot for the truss rod later and start cutting it. That should be interesting since it'll be cut using a small router plane and some chisels. So another first for me to try. I've practiced a bit so we'll see how it goes.

Slothy
04-03-2016, 03:12 AM
A few progress pics from this afternoon. I marked the truss rod slot and used a hobby knife to score the lines a bit. Then i went in with a chisel to start cutting the wood along the lines i marked. Thinking about it now, something like my fret saw might have done a bit cleaner a job but i only have the one and don't want to dull the teeth on other things unless necessary. It's a lot easier to sharpen chisels. The first pic is of my router plane in using to cut the channel. You basically shave away the wood until it's deep enough. Shave the channel, adjust the blade a hair lower, shave some more, repeat. Actually goes pretty fast for the most part.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_185027_zpswxfxfyfx.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_185027_zpswxfxfyfx.jpg.html)

Next is the channel where i left it. It's a bit rough looking at the top because my initial attempts at chiseling and planing weren't perfect, but once you've got a bit of depth going and the channel is straight it practically cuts itself.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_194916_zpsnuzefrjf.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_194916_zpsnuzefrjf.jpg.html)

The ends of the channel aren't at the same depth as the rest yet so the rod doesn't sit quite at the bottom yet but I'm at about half the needed depth and setting it in confirms the channel is straight. I stopped her because it was starting to get hard to pull the plane through so it needs to be sharpened. I'll get out the water stones tomorrow and bone is edge so it'll shave like a champ again. My chisels could probably stand to have their edges honed again as well for that matter.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_195027_zpsckoebjxg.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_195027_zpsckoebjxg.jpg.html)

And anyone working with tools that are meant to be sharp, make sure you keep them sharp. I nicked myself with my 1/4" chisel today. Stung a bit and bled a little, and it did cut me fairly easily because it was sharp, but the wound is also completely closed now and will likely heal up without a visible scab or anything. Give me a clean cut over the alternative any day.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_190150_zps6slluitv.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160402_190150_zps6slluitv.jpg.html)

Bubba
04-03-2016, 03:24 AM
This is going to be EPIC.

Slothy
04-08-2016, 01:24 AM
Thanks Bubba. Just found out the other day (thanks Facebook!) that my friends birthday was a few days ago and he's having a party Saturday night. I'm going to buckle down tomorrow and Saturday and get his guitar finished for him. Shouldn't be too hard from where it's at. I probably won't get many progress pics because I'll just be going full tilt with that and some other things, but I'll definitely share pics once it's done.

Slothy
04-09-2016, 03:04 PM
Literally just have to wire my buddies guitar, slap the pickguard back on it, and make him a volume knob and i can't find the solder or soldering iron. Can't buy more until i get paid on Friday either.

Fuck.

Slothy
04-09-2016, 06:58 PM
Found it.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160409_145343_zpsh40qa5af.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160409_145343_zpsh40qa5af.jpg.html)

Knob i made for the guitar. Normally I'd shape and bevel the edge more, but i was rushing and drilled the hole too big so i wouldn't be able to fit it on my drill. Did a quick hand sand to soften the top edge and it still looks good.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160409_145352_zpsa02z04yw.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160409_145352_zpsa02z04yw.jpg.html)

Pete for President
04-11-2016, 09:34 AM
That guitar turned out so sick! I like the colours, and the big pickguard gives it a vintage look which is a really cool subtle contrast with the more modern type paintjob. The split-coloured knob is awesome too! It's the small details that make the difference and it really brings the look of the guitar together. I'm very impressed! Keep up the awesome work :)

Slothy
04-14-2016, 01:00 PM
Yeah, i want actually sure about the pickguard myself at first. It needed to be big to cover the cavities routed into the body completely but it did turn out well. I probably wouldn't have gone with it myself in the planning stage but it was what he wanted and i think it works.

Rocket Edge
04-14-2016, 01:36 PM
The guitar turned out great. It looks very smooth and polished. Well done. How does it play?

Slothy
04-14-2016, 01:44 PM
He seemed to like it. Plays better than it used to go be sure. Only issue is I'll need to make a new nut for it. The spacing is off enough that the low e string sits very slightly closer to the fret board edge than it should. Enough to notice while playing but literally only off by a millimetre so i didn't notice until it was strung. Easy enough fix though. It'll only take me about half an hour to make a new one.

Slothy
04-22-2016, 02:47 AM
My own lack of progress is driving me nuts. I'm putting my neck on hold for a little bit because having the materials to start a guitar just sitting there was driving me nuts. I've got the plans for it 99% drawn up. Just going to double check that I'm happy with them and start making mdf templates for the body, neck, and headstock tomorrow. Might take a bit of time but I'll get as much as i can done this weekend. I want to get the whole thing done as soon as humanly possible.

There's a theme to the guitar i think most everyone here will appreciate, but I'm not saying what it is until it's done or someone guesses it along the way.

Slothy
04-23-2016, 03:39 PM
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160423_113430_zpsgafhgzrt.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160423_113430_zpsgafhgzrt.jpg.html)

Templates are roughed out. After my guitar lesson this afternoon I'll sit down and shape them a bit more closely to the paper guides and make sure everything is smooth. I'll be using them to route the edges of the body and neck when the time comes so they need to be perfect.

Pete for President
04-23-2016, 09:06 PM
Looks fairly hardrock/metal-ish! But maybe the template makes it look more pointy? :p Either way keep up the good work!

Slothy
04-23-2016, 10:33 PM
Yeah, sharp on paper but I'll round it out a little bit in the final shaping. Don't want anyone losing eyes. I was trying to do the final shaping with a file but mdf is surprisingly hard to file apparently. Going to get a router bit tomorrow to route it most of the way and then just sand it smooth. To hell with doing it the hard way. :D

Slothy
05-20-2016, 04:17 PM
Total lack of updates for almost a month! What could be going on?

Actually rethought my plans a little bit. My wrist issues were making playing the guitars I had almost impossible without pain. After trying all of my dads guitars (he has a few) I found that I was pain free on things with a chunkier neck. Chunkier than I probably could have gotten the neck I was making for myself. So I went for the obvious solution: I sold my telecaster and my epiphone les paul and bought the wood and hardware to get started on building myself a replica 1959 Les Paul. The neck, including the fretboard, on this thing will be nearly an inch thick when I'm done.

I've just been waiting until I recovered enough from surgery to start doing some light work but it's been a week, I'm feeling pretty good, and all of the wood and most of the hardware have arrived. So I've got the plans, the supplies, the tools, and some routing templates. Time to get to work tomorrow.

Slothy
05-21-2016, 06:20 PM
Got started this afternoon. The wood I'm using for the neck and body of this guitar is black walnut. I know most les Paul's use mahogany, but this looks nice, has a similar density and was easier and cheaper to come by. Plus it has a wonderful smell which is nice when you're sawing it.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_133009_zpsgjrv545j.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_133009_zpsgjrv545j.jpg.html)

It's pretty much impossible to see because the wood is so dark but i drew a rough outline for the side of the neck here and am cutting the excess behind the neck. The blank was just slightly too short to make the neck and headstock in one piece so I'll cut am angled scarf joint at the top of the neck and use the cutoff from the back to make a matching headstock. It'll actually be stronger in the end that way so win win.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_134351_zpsqmiikuoj.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_134351_zpsqmiikuoj.jpg.html)

Here I'm cutting the angle for the joint on the neck. I clamped the cutoff to the side to use as a rough guide for my saw.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_135335_zps1diuu0m3.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_135335_zps1diuu0m3.jpg.html)

Not that it matters because my cut drifted anyway. It started fine at the top of the picture, but i didn't cut enough off towards the bottom. Not a problem really though since I'll have to take my plane to this and the headstock joint to make sure they're perfectly smooth and level before they ever get glued together. Cutting off less than intended is the kind of mistake you want to make of you have to make one.

Anyway, after two hours of dating by hand my innards were telling me to take a break. I don't know if I'll get much more done on the neck this weekend. I think if i do anything tomorrow I'll get the fret board slotted. It's a bit easier on the body. I'm going to try and get the body blank and the top glued up later tonight though. The top in particular is a gorgeous piece of flame maple. I don't usually go for flame personally, but seriously, it is gorgeous.

Slothy
05-25-2016, 05:44 PM
But more progress.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160525_132955_zpsmhxt0yas.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160525_132955_zpsmhxt0yas.jpg.html)

I'm making a jig to clean up the headstock joint in the neck. The angled pieces are at the appropriate angle i need, and the router base will sit flat against those and with the appropriate bit cut the joint perfectly. Waiting on said bit to arrive.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160525_133018_zps51egntlu.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160525_133018_zps51egntlu.jpg.html)

Also realized I'd need a jig to help me plane things level since using a hand plane is a skill I've yet to perfect. Same idea, once i level the sides and ensure the surface is also level I'll be able to use a router bit through the slot to level anything i need to like the neck face, fretboard, etc. Might need to make a bigger one if i need to do any leveling of the body for example but I didn't have any pieces of mdf left over that are that large.

Now that I'm feeling better from my surgery I'm hoping to get more done soon.

Bubba
05-25-2016, 11:07 PM
A very promising start! I'm hoping your little creation inspires me to give this a go. My experience in such things is severely lacking. I'm honestly not hugely knowledgeable on parts of an electric guitar. I just enjoy playing them! If I ever attempt this with little Bubba I may come to you for advice, Vivi.

Pete for President
05-26-2016, 12:50 AM
Still a weird thought that these big chunks of wood will make a sweet guitar and produce sound one day! Keep up the progress ;D

Slothy
05-26-2016, 02:38 AM
Well depending on how much i continue to learn through failure it might end up being different chunks of wood that make a guitar one day. :exdee:

Thought I'd share one more picture today. I didn't make these templates for the body routing. They're made by the same company that sells the les paul plans i have. Bartlett Guitars in Ontario if I'm not mistaken. The plans they sell are quite well respected and frequently used by amateur builders like myself and these templates are sized based on those plans and probably even cut a bit more accurately than I'd manage on my first try. I figured I'd save myself a little effort and be able to focus more on building instead of template making for this one. The next one will be all my own templates which i already previewed for you guys, plus these will be nice to have as a reference for things like scale when creating my own shapes to be honest.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160525_212048_zpsisqkyxii.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160525_212048_zpsisqkyxii.jpg.html)

If you're interested at all Bubba i could do a post on a lot of the free building resources out there, books I've been reading. Even for simpler stuff like repair and setup if you think you'd like to dip your toe in the water a bit slowly at first. :D

Slothy
06-10-2016, 07:17 PM
I don't always hand plane neck joints in my bedroom. But when i do i make an awful mess.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160610_151259_zpsd0gbmxu4.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160610_151259_zpsd0gbmxu4.jpg.html)

Bubba
06-11-2016, 12:09 PM
If you're interested at all Bubba i could do a post on a lot of the free building resources out there, books I've been reading. Even for simpler stuff like repair and setup if you think you'd like to dip your toe in the water a bit slowly at first. :D

Yes please, that would be great! Baby Bubba is already showing a keen interest and he's only 10 months. I'll definitely need to brush up before attempting anything together. Cheers Vivi :D

Slothy
06-11-2016, 07:55 PM
So for free building resources online, I'd recommend the forums at tdpri.com. Particularly the DIY section. The place can be Telecaster-centric, but you'll find guys building all kinds of guitars there of many different types and there's always something to learn from how other people are building theirs, even if you're going for a different style. I was probably lurking around that place for a year or two before even attempting my first parts guitar build so it's a useful place filled with knowledgeable people. Plenty of good info on tools and doing finishes as well. There are a few other places around the internet as well and you can probably find a fair few through a google search, but the other place I've spent the most time is this thread: http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luthiers-corner/129825-barnabys-lp-scratch-build-hand-tools-only.html

That guy built a Les Paul with no power tools in his apartment, and he goes into a lot of detail. Sadly, some of the pictures throughout the thread don't really load anymore, but there's still a lot of great pics, info, and details on how he did things. Well worth reading if you plan to build any kind of guitar. Hand tools take longer and, sometimes, can require a bit more skill and practice, but it let's you know what the basics kind of are for getting the job done if you're not looking to futz around with buying hundreds of dollars of power tools. It can also be pretty rewarding learning to use some of this stuff.

Now as for books, there are some great ones out there. If I had to recommend one book for building I'd be a bit torn between these two:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Building-Electric-Guitars-Hollow-Body-Semi-Acoustic/dp/3901314075/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1465669378&sr=8-2&keywords=building+guitars

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Guitar-Making-Marketing-instruments/dp/1514353083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465669926&sr=8-1&keywords=making+and+marketing+guitars

The former has a wealth of information. I mean it is absolutely packed to the gills with stuff and a lot of pictures, but there's a catch: I don't think it's laid out the best and all of the pictures are black and white, and sometimes, are too small and lacking detail. But if you wanted a comprehensive guide to a ton of different building techniques, it's probably the one to get. A great book, but maybe a little harder to get into and use for the beginner.

On the other hand, the making and marketing book is lighter on explanation of the various techniques out there, but it still covers a range of ways to build a guitar, is laid out and explained in a way that's more concise and easier to get through start to finish, and I think the pictures and graphics are better done and easier to understand. If you just want a book that's easy to understand and pretty comprehensive, it's the better choice. I'd say get it first when you're starting out, and if you want to keep building guitars and expand on your knowledge get the first book later on.

Now if you're not looking to outright build, or maybe you want to start off a bit simpler and maybe try building later, I'd recommend this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guitar-Player-Repair-Dan-Erlewine/dp/0879309210/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465670234&sr=8-1&keywords=guitar+repair

The author is a very well respected luthier, and this is the first book I bought on guitars. It covers things like setting up your guitar, tools you need for working on guitars, as well as a bunch of information on maintenance and repairs. Want to learn how to set up your guitars action? Get this book. Want to learn how to care for and maintain fretboards, adjust truss rods, or level frets? Get this book. Want to learn how to rewire your guitar with some new pickups or controls? Get this book. Have some chips or scratches in the finish you want to repair? I think you've got the idea.

There are some other books out there as well, some I have and some I want to check out when I have the money (might order one or two more next pay cheque even).

This one is a good book if you're less interested in repairs. It covers some of the same ground as the last book but also expands on some of the setup and maintenance advice. If you don't care about doing your own repairs it's worth having. If you buy the repair guide I might give it a pass though: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Electric-Guitar-Great/dp/0879309989/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=XYYMG3W142VC12X47RVN

This one is a great resource for fret jobs. It comes with their essential fretting tool set they sell which is how I got a copy. Not sure if there are cheaper alternatives for the tools in other countries for guys like you Bubba so if you go down the fretting road it may or may not be best to buy it on it's own and find the tools from a UK supplier. Must have book as far as I'm concerned though. A bit pricey, but all of the pictures are detailed and full colour so it's worth every penny. They also sell a book on finishing guitars on that site that's supposed to be good but I don't own a copy. The repair guide actually covers finishing a bit as well though: http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Books/Guitar_Building_and_Repair_and_Setup_Books/Fret_Work_Step-By-Step.html

I got this last one about guitar and bass design a few days ago. It's by the same author as the making and marketing book and it's also stellar. It won't really teach you anything about building your guitar, but it's got a hell of a lot of knowledge about things to consider when designing your own guitars from concept to making blueprints. I absolutely love this one and wish I'd heard of and bought it months ago. Really easy read and I highly recommend it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Guitar-Bass-Design-complete/dp/3000296425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465671070&sr=8-1&keywords=guitar+and+bass+design

That's about it as far as books and things. I should mention as well (since I forgot above) Stewmac.com has a ton of online resources in the form of guides, videos, wiring diagrams, etc. that are all free and well worth checking out if there's something you want to try. Great site and source for tools all around, though I really hate that every time I order from them customs kits me up for an extra $30-50 so they might not be the best source for tools in your neck of the woods.

Free trade my left nut. :exdee:

Bubba
06-13-2016, 11:16 AM
Thanks so much, man! That's incredibly detailed :-)

Slothy
06-13-2016, 11:42 AM
No problem buddy.

Glued up the body blank and the top this weekend.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160611_151826_zpslzpcy5u6.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160611_151826_zpslzpcy5u6.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160612_212321_zpssxl891uc.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160612_212321_zpssxl891uc.jpg.html)

Slothy
06-15-2016, 04:46 PM
Pretty sure i messed up my walnut neck enough that i won't have a piece think enough to make the headstock from. But it was $40 and practice is practice so I'm not overly bothered. I'll use it to practice everything i have to do for the final neck.

But to replace the walnut i got this:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160614_225519_zpsn5jr4ckm.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160614_225519_zpsn5jr4ckm.jpg.html)

Some Indian rosewood. The grain is amazing and it feels nice even without being finished.

And i saw this at the same time i got the rosewood and couldn't resist:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160614_225538_zpswul86jlm.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160614_225538_zpswul86jlm.jpg.html)

It's a piece of zircote for the fretboard. Also unfinished and so smooth already. Absolutely amazing. Can't wait to be playing this eventually.

Pete for President
06-15-2016, 10:09 PM
Looks awesome! Can't wait to see the whole thing come together ;D

Slothy
06-22-2016, 07:14 PM
So i was illegally fired from my job (which i hated) last Friday. So the good news is that while i pursue my legal options against said employer i finally have a crap ton of time to work on guitar stuff. Made up a list of things to work on each day for the next week or so, with plenty of wiggle room in case some things take longer than i expect. Luckily most of the things I've been flying through so far. The only thing I'm kind of struggling with us planing the wood for the body and top flat but that's because my plane is cheap and most of its adjustments don't work right.

But here's a couple of the highlights of today.

I bought an edge guide for my router a couple of weeks back. Tested it out for routing the truss rod channels today and the thing works marvellously. Maybe three minutes of work and look at how straight and clean that channel is.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160622_144700_zpsndntrbrg.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160622_144700_zpsndntrbrg.jpg.html)
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160622_144738_zpsq1842rqs.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160622_144738_zpsq1842rqs.jpg.html)

Well, maybe it's a little hard to see because troutty phone pic in a poorly lit garage but just trust me.

And these in ear monitors came today. A pair of shure 215's. Probably the best sound isolation of any isolating headphones I've used (all over the ear before this). They fit great and the sound quality is good. Definitely recommend them for anyone looking for an inexpensive pair and i finally won't have to limit my time with power tools because of a lack of comfortable headphones.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160622_145819_zpsoi9iiky1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160622_145819_zpsoi9iiky1.jpg.html)

Aside from that, I've made some pieces of mdf to use as saw guides when cutting neck blanks to make the joint and headstock, I've done work on getting my hand plane sorted out, and I'm working on getting the body and neck of the strat i bought to modify ready for finishing.

I've abandoned my plans of putting a fanned fret neck on it for the time being. Since I'm now unemployed I'm going to try and leverage my experience refinishing furniture and get some examples of my refinished instruments so I can try offering those services to earn some extra money. If there's enough interest then maybe I'll be able to get by without relying on finding another job in the future. I'd like to get to the point in making enough to pay my bills and focus on this stuff full time.

Slothy
06-29-2016, 03:38 AM
Took a break from guitar work late last week to do destress since my depression has been particularly bad lately. Decided to test out an oil finish on the inside of this spare drum shell I had laying around. Used walnut oil and a few coats made quite a difference.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160627_102203_zps0ysfexxw.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160627_102203_zps0ysfexxw.jpg.html)

And the guitar this will become is a long way off still but got this gorgeous flamed spalted maple top for a guitar a friend wants me to build him in a few months. It's going to make a gorgeous carved top.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160628_170105_zpsu3ks0mwl.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160628_170105_zpsu3ks0mwl.jpg.html)

CimminyCricket
06-29-2016, 03:45 PM
Hot damn all this stuff was cool. Good Job!

Slothy
07-07-2016, 12:15 AM
Need money, going to offer refinishing services for said money, so been working on finishing some drum shells I had laying around. The first is a ton shell dyed black, sanded down to mainly keep the black in the pores and dyed red then oiled and later waxed. The second is a bass drum shell dyed red, sanded, then dyed purple. Going to oil it and then wax it as well so the grain will pop.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160702_220848_zps9bckjggl.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160702_220848_zps9bckjggl.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160706_184014_zpsozh9koqy.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160706_184014_zpsozh9koqy.jpg.html)

Slothy
07-10-2016, 02:21 AM
Don't mind me. Just finishing a drum and a neck up in here.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160708_154756_zpszfkxce0v.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160708_154756_zpszfkxce0v.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160708_155259_zps55qu8p9c.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160708_155259_zps55qu8p9c.jpg.html)

Slothy
07-11-2016, 03:07 PM
Still not having much success accurately cutting my neck joints. Next try will be building a proper miter box. I have no shortage of ideas on how to get the joints done, I'm just angling to find the most consistent and simple solution.

Slothy
07-25-2016, 04:58 PM
Built a sanding jig for shaping the neck joints. It'll require some elbow grease but slap some sandpaper in the top with some double sided tape, clamp the neck in and sand away. Everything is nice and level and lined up so it should be foolproof.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160725_115259_zpswgpffmqk.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160725_115259_zpswgpffmqk.jpg.html)

Also have my new plane set up and took the time to practice in the alder body blank I have. It'll still require a level sanding but it worked really well. Going to level the walnut blank tomorrow, maybe get the maple top levelled too and start getting them ready.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160725_115232_zpsmo19kv8r.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160725_115232_zpsmo19kv8r.jpg.html)

Slothy
10-03-2016, 07:12 PM
Been a while since I updated. Her are some assorted things in no particular order to prove work is still progressing on various things.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160901_142922_zpsb5vas5lm.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160901_142922_zpsb5vas5lm.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160903_114646_zpsyg3xa9cn.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160903_114646_zpsyg3xa9cn.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20161003_150209_zpsyaj3nk9o.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20161003_150209_zpsyaj3nk9o.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20160928_161650_zpsiwgkqfhl.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160928_161650_zpsiwgkqfhl.jpg.html)

Those are guitar picks in the last picture. They're really dark so it's hard to make out any detail.

Bubba
10-04-2016, 04:46 PM
Smooth neck is smooth. Looks great!

Slothy
10-04-2016, 04:52 PM
Thanks. Neck isn't quite some yet. Need to get it down to it's final width and do some final shaping once I can mount it in the body so the heel contours are right, but I need to wait until I do more body work which is in hold until I can buy a spindle sander. For the moment I'm getting dicked around by service Canada on my unemployment so the money is tight right now while it gets worked out.

Slothy
04-17-2017, 03:45 AM
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e161/Vivi2372/Mobile%20Uploads/20170416_184647_zpsbtbtgykb.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Vivi2372/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170416_184647_zpsbtbtgykb.jpg.html)

It's been many months of no updates, but it's actually done. Mahogany body with a quilt maple drop top. Mahogany neck with ebony fretboard to replace the maple one I kinda fucked up. 8 logo custom engraved on some bare knuckle pickups. Gold hardware all around, including gold EVO frets. I need to finish it's first setup tomorrow but even with some errors that I maybe I'm the only person who would notice, I'm fucking proud of this thing.

Lyndis Highwind
04-17-2017, 05:08 PM
Wow! That's so awesome! That is definitely something to be proud of. :)

Freya
04-17-2017, 06:10 PM
It's so damn cool. Like great job! What a strange hobby to pick it up but dangit, you nailed it!

Slothy
04-17-2017, 09:23 PM
Thanks guys. Glad to have the first one done. Numbers two and three are going to go a lot faster.

Bubba
04-18-2017, 08:31 AM
Looks fab, what date can I expect it by?

Slothy
04-18-2017, 10:28 AM
Knowing the speed of canada post and the royal mail, two-three weeks after I get my money. ;)