Friday 7th September '07

 Well, a long one today..

Here's another example of the massive variation now available from Wizard Pickups... never again will we have to put up with boring black pickups!

the headstock extensions have been glued on the Helmet #2..

and a headstock design.. I had to draw the body design right-handed and then switch it over.. doing it the other way threw my mind into a morass of confusion.. the headstock however was drawn left-handed.. and the note is to mask sure I don't swap it around...

the extensions are glued on #2 with the rosewood neck..

and the cap for #2 is split down on the bandsaw prior to running it through the thicknesser

everything is carefully jointed by hand

and glued together.  The spalte beech is being used as a nice backdrop to the camo finish that will be on this Punk Beast..  The spalting is caused in all sorts of timber by micro-organisms chewing away at the wood when it gets wet for long periods..

the headstock template is made 

excess wood cut off

marked out and triple checked for straight string-pull.. and left-handedness..

after bandsawing the rough shape out the final finishing i performed on the bobbin sander

the tone chambers are marked out on the body

roughed out on the pillar drill

and routed out.. the most physically demanding bit of todays work..

but worth it.. the chambers only extend a short way in in order to allow space for the belly carving later

a drop-top carve is added.. this is where the top is curved prior to the cap being added.. a nice way to get a curved top.

the cap is now together and is cut to shape

the fingerboard notch is marked out and cut

everything checked again.. including the edges to make sure of  perfect glue joint

the minimum amount of glue is applied

and nearly all my clamps are used to fix the cap in place

the headstocks for #1 and the Baritone are marked out

cut and shaped

and then after lunch the tuner holes are drille in #2..

the excess wood of the cap is rasped and sanded flush with the body..

and on to template making.. a clear P-90 is used to get the template the correct size

cut..

and filed toa perfect fit..

and here she is after roughing out and routing..

the top carves are marked out here.. you can also see some of the tone chambers.  These are a random size and shape in order to guard against unwanted microphonics

the top carve is completed and rough sanded

and then on to the control cavity.. this has to be done while the back is still flat.

I love using non-standard shapes for cavities.. keeps it interesting..

some carving complete and the rest marked out..

ans this is me after a lot of sanding.. makes for a very dusty life this job does 

front..

and here you see the back carving and drop-top front

the belly carve makes for a very ergonomic body and the access to the upper frets is unparalled

we have a guitar which is very very nearly ready for finishing.. a few more hours of sanding on Monday and then the finish shall be applied!

Have a great weekend.. I will be in the veg patch trying to forget about mahogany dust!

VB,

Ben