pukko Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 (edited) Well, I guess I had to have something to do for the summer vacation... I "accidentally" won an auction for a bookmatched flame maple top a while ago. I hadn´t planned to build anything, but as soon as I got the top I had to start drawing something out. I got inspired by an Ibanez EW20 acoustic since I liked the cutaway, so I took my first build and traced the body contour. After that I added the same kind of cutaway as the Ibanez, and moved the curves on the lower bout a little to get a little more asymmetric look. I tested to make the cutaway rounder and liked that more, so that´s how it is now. After a while I went to buy more wood. I chose mahogany for the body. I´ve always wanted to have a neck made from some dark dense wood like rosewood or something like that. The wood supplier didn´t have any good rosewood so I chose wenge instead. So there I was with these bits of wood: The wenge and mahogany pieces have obviously been planed in this picture, the maple top was planed when I got it. The flames aren´t really visible in this pic... Here´s the body, cut out and routed. http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03436.jpg And here is the top with a cutout body outline on top: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03321.jpg And the neck, still lots of work to do... http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03445.jpg This is a mockup I made, it´s not really with correct spacing but you get the idea. The headstock will not look like this, but something similar I think. It´s the headstock shape from my first build but slimmed down and rounded off. Any suggestions what color it should have? I don´t really know if I should make it "modern" or "classic" looking. I´m doing it with rattle cans once again so bursting it is out of the question... http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/puk...testnatural.jpg Here´s a "color chart", some more likely than others to actually be considered... http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/puk...collagecopy.jpg Any ideas, suggestions...? Edited July 20, 2007 by Maiden69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 I think the body shape is quite modern looking in general anyway as it has a sweeping offset look to it, same as how Explorers and Jaguars look more "jet age" as opposed to more traditional balanced shapes. I would try and fuse modern with traditional, but that's just me. I think it looks nice as-is. Maple as a headstock cap? Maple binding? That would tie the neck and body perhaps. Go for it Pukko. Love the previous build you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted July 20, 2007 Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 I'm kinduv a couch player, so I always wonder how guitar designs will sit on the lap. Once you had the body cut out, how did it feel? In my imagination, the lower bouts are so fat compared to the wee "lap" area/cuttaway, that I can't imagine it sitting comfortably. That said, my idea of "comfort" is pretty finicky... I think Les Pauls feel fairly terrible on the lap, and I'm not that fond of the way my Godin LG feels on my lap, either. Not enough girth in the cutaway. Worksmanship is looking good so far, and "comfort" doubts aside, I really like the shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted July 20, 2007 Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 Looking nice so far. I really like the body shape and you have some nice wood there too. Wenge seems to be popular around here lately. I'm like Greg, I almost always play sitting, so I'm not sure how that design would work sitting....but this is really looking great. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted July 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 >>Prostheta Thanks! I was actually thinking about an ebony headstock cap to match the fingerboard. Maple binding would be cool too, but I´ve already got the plastic binding now so I´ll go with that for this one. I´m doing a two-ply binding on the body, 1,5 mm white binding with a 0,5 mm black contrasting line on the inside. >>GregP >>Inisheer Thanks! It´s hard to tell without the neck on. It feels ok, not comfortable like a strat but still ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted August 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 Some more work done... Fretboard radiused, fret slots cut, shaped like the neck. Headstock shaped and drilled for the tuners. Neck attachment fixed. Maple top shaped. All the parts, the wenge fretboard is something I got from cutting the neck. It won't be used on this guitar... And put together, nothing glued yet... http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03604.jpg A very dark pic, but you can see the flame maple pretty well. http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03612.jpg Neck attachment: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03591.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 Very nice, a leap from the first 2 builds (at least to my eyes!) The upper area looks a lot like Godins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyManAndy Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 This is really cool. Love the shape, has an acoustic guitar feel to it. The wenge is awesome too. Very clean work, very professional. CMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheIRS Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 B-)That is a gorgeous instrument!!! Wow, what beautiful woods and excellent craftmanship! Keep it up, this is definitely sparking my interest in making my own baritone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_tart Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 looking good! .. keep it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathon Posted August 5, 2007 Report Share Posted August 5, 2007 Man you have nice grass! That wood is fantastic, I wish I could have such awesome accidents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted December 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 Loooong time since I updated this... Everything is glued and I´ve added binding to neck and body: The headstock got an ebony cap, and I made a truss rod cover that matches the body (flame maple and two layer binding): http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03914.jpg The routing for the pickups was a lesson in "Don´t buy the cheapest crappy router you can find", the depth lock broke while routing the neck pickup cavity and I reacted to slow. This is the result... http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03901.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted December 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 I made a control cavity cover from some leftover wenge that i bookmatched to get sufficient width. I´m going to put something on the back of it, don´t know what material yet. Maybe aluminium...: Closeup of the cavity: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03928.jpg Here are the inlays for the headstock. The logo needs more work, i just put them on to see what it looked like: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC03977-1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabu2k1 Posted December 15, 2007 Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 WOW perfection! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted December 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 Here´s the headstock with one of the inlays done. I got some ebony tuner buttons too: Closeup of the inlay, as you also can see I´m considering putting black washers on the tuners to avoid too much chrome on the headstock: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC04033.jpg 12th fret inlay: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC04034.jpg A pic of the whole neck: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC04036.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted December 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 Made some pickup rings from some leftover flame maple: Closeup: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z35/pukko3/DSC04071.jpg The pickups are Seymour Duncans, one Custom 5 and one Jazz. Hipshot bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTU 7's. Posted December 15, 2007 Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 Oh, very nice build. Didn't see it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aidlook Posted December 15, 2007 Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 What supplier did you get that piece of wenge from btw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted December 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 >>Maiden69 Thanks! Yeah, I can see what you mean about the upper area... >>CrazyManAndy, TheIRS, rob tart Thanks! >>Jonathon My grandparents have nice grass, my lawn looks like a buffalo herd ran over it... I guess the accidental wood acquirement was meant to be. >>Sabu2k1, PTU 7´s Thanks! >>aidlook I got both the wenge and the mahogany from E A Nilsson Trävaror i Bro. http://www.nilssontravaror.se/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Wow, excellent stuff!! I love how uncomplicated it looks, yet there is so much to it, thats not an easy balance to find. One quick thought for the cavity cover would be to maybe add a very thin layer of pearloid between what ever other layer you decide to use, which would give a similar effect to your 12th fret inlay. With such small portions of pearloid showing, it would look nice I think, anyhow just a thought. I loved those pup rings, cool shape and match perfectly. It all worked so well together, congrats and a super build. Best wishes and look forward to seeing more and more of your work. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted December 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Wow, excellent stuff!! I love how uncomplicated it looks, yet there is so much to it, thats not an easy balance to find. One quick thought for the cavity cover would be to maybe add a very thin layer of pearloid between what ever other layer you decide to use, which would give a similar effect to your 12th fret inlay. With such small portions of pearloid showing, it would look nice I think, anyhow just a thought. I loved those pup rings, cool shape and match perfectly. It all worked so well together, congrats and a super build. Best wishes and look forward to seeing more and more of your work. J Thanks a lot! That´s a great idea for the back cover, I´m going to try that if I can find some material for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenggg Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 I love your guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 That looks terrific pukko. Great looking inlays too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooglebug Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 ooo its purty i like it lots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capello Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 i really like it,a clean and professional work! go on,go on...!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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