freekhed Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 (edited) Getting along pretty well on this new build and thought i'd post some pics of the progress so far. It's a 27" scale that will be tuned standard flame maple top on hollow-ed mahogany body yellow cedar neck with reinforcement bars indian rosewood fb w/maple binding callaham trem/vibrato hipshot tuners undecided on pickups (either Z90's or some WCR Crossroads) Edited March 9, 2008 by freekhed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Italian~Boy Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 looks really good, its comming along fast too, the only problem i see so far are the burn marks from the router Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bygde Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Looks really nice! What tuning will it be in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngaa Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Looks really nice! What tuning will it be in? He said it will be Standard tuning in his first post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bygde Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Looks really nice! What tuning will it be in? He said it will be Standard tuning in his first post. Okay! Sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freekhed Posted March 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Looks really nice! What tuning will it be in? He said it will be Standard tuning in his first post. Okay! Sorry! Haha! no need to be sorry. Standard tuning, I suppose, but I also play some stuff in Drop D. I can't afford a Swan, so I thought I'd try and make one. I see we're using the same scale length on our builds! Re: the burn marks...of course those will be sanded out. I really need a new bit, but those cost money. ~ I'm thinking of putting a 1/2" roundover on the front to try and accent the black veneer between the maple and mahogany a bit more. I'll get a pic of the back up soon. It's got matching camatillo trem & cavity covers & back headtock veneers. I really want to stain this one, but I'm not sure what color(s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Looks Classy. Nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Looks really nice, and I like the shape of the curves on the horns. I'm only wondering why the long scale if you're not going to detune the strings? Just personal preference? I myself find it awkward to play on a standard strat scale length! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Lovely! What did you use for the black veneer accent? I know's still WIP but I have to say it looks smarter before the roundover. Maybe it needs a good sanding out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGman Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Wow, looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freekhed Posted March 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 (edited) Looks really nice, and I like the shape of the curves on the horns. I'm only wondering why the long scale if you're not going to detune the strings? Just personal preference? I myself find it awkward to play on a standard strat scale length! Well, I really am interested in the Soloway Swans that are 27" scale length, but haven't been able to play one or see one in person, for that matter. I've read so many great things about 'em. Plus, I just wanted to build something a little different. Apart from the nice mahogany, the rest of the wood is just stuff that has been accumulating/sitting around the workshop. I've had this Callaham bridge for years and it's just been sitting. I already have the 'typical' scale guitars to play. I may hate the scale too when I'm done, I really don't know. I also don't know how the cedar will work as a neck wood, but it's tight-grained and q-sawn, and I added I'm using graphite bars for the first time in hopes of reinforcing the soft neck wood. Apparently, most people don't seem to notice the difference much after a few hours/days of playing the longer scale and seem to really like the tone/sound of the longer scale. And I just love Jim's guitars....super classy AND different. Edited March 9, 2008 by freekhed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bygde Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Why not an octave down? Would be really cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freekhed Posted March 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Lovely! What did you use for the black veneer accent? I know's still WIP but I have to say it looks smarter before the roundover. Maybe it needs a good sanding out. Please elaborate on the "looks smarter" part....I agree that the pic before the roundover looks nice. I'm not happy with the current roundover (3/8"?), so that's why I'm thinking 1/2". Maybe I should have done 1/8", like i did on the back, but the body is almost 2" thick and I thought it would look too bulky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
low end fuzz Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 ooooooh; burns from the router; there goes all your carbide! very nice giter' btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 'Smart' in the UK sense, means 'sharp' or 'elegant'. Byde: how, pray tell, would you want to tune the guitar down a full octave and have playable strings that still sound like something? That's just...silly. That's crazy extended range bass land, not guitar land. Funky project, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Lovely! What did you use for the black veneer accent? I know's still WIP but I have to say it looks smarter before the roundover. Maybe it needs a good sanding out. Please elaborate on the "looks smarter" part.... Agree 2" thick is quite bulky. I've had bodies that I rouonded over and it really made them look right, I've had other that I regretted rounding over as the sharp defining lines were lost and it all looked a bit too 'softened', it's purely personal taste about what shapes look better, and it is after all, your creation. It's a great looking top, I preferred the sharp edges to the body curves and maybe would have thought about shaving 1/4" off the back to bring the bulk down. I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooglebug Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 i agree about it looking better (to my eyes) before the roundover but its still cooler than a penguin in sunglasses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freekhed Posted April 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) Got her strung up for a test fit today: ALL the strings fit on the fretboard! Plays really well with a borrowed nut and really rough frets. I'm diggin the cedar neck although it's huge right now at about 1" thick at the 12th. I think I'll trim her down a bit. Also, the Z90's I was planning to use will not work: string spacing at the pickups over the magnets is off. I'll most likely contact Mr. Biltoft for some custom pickups or use his blade style pickups. Here's some pics and please excuse the PINK towel. Edited April 2, 2008 by freekhed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 thats coming together really nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andronico Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Beautiful ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) This is one of the nicer original projects I've seen in a long time. Love the choice of woods, the contouring in the back and teh headstock backstrap is a nice touch. How will you be finishing this guitar? ... you never answered the question as to what is the balck accent line made out of. Edited April 2, 2008 by guitar2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Those are some sexy lines! (The heel, upper horn, etc.) This is a really beautiful guitar. For me, there are very few designs besides a Strat that look good with the Strat-style headstock, but yours is kickin'!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freekhed Posted April 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 ... you never answered the question as to what is the balck accent line made out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Man, I can't help but just love this build. VERY inventive and original design! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 That is a really nice looking guitar, you do beautiful work . I wonder if Jim has seen this thread, he is a member of this forum, and I bet he would be flattered that you liked his Swan enough to build with it in mind. Any chance you live in the Portland area? I haven't been in touch with him for a while, but he is in this neck of the woods. Maybe you could contact him and try out one of his Swans, and maybe even let him look over your handy work. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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