Friday 15th June '07
This is day full of dust and machining.. the ultimate test for my up to now ailing lungs... well, I'm still alive to write this so it obviously went well!?
This RF Slim is being fine sanded and detailed.. the most important part of any build process!
here are the purpleheart and Beli blanks which will soon be an almost-guitar.. after being put through the planer thicknesser several times that is..
this multi-laminate neck blank is being prepared for more laminates.. this will end up being on a prototype Extended Range 7-string bass with a very wide neck.. it is being built as a cross between a stick and a standard bass but with the playing style similar to that used on the Stick.. just the sort of project I like!
running through the grits on the beautiful figured Elm top on this RF.
a raw plank of maple about to be processed down into the extra bits on the ERB neck.. chopped down on the table-saw... (which is used as a table most of the time!!)
trimmed on the bandsaw toa width compatible with the thicknesser.
put over the top of the planer to reveal the flame that I had counted on but not really seen through all the crud..
and then through the thicknesser to give me the uniform thickness I need..
More pictures of the thicknesser working on these bits seems a bit supurfluous so here we are with the purpleheart and Beli being glued prior to being heavily carved into a bowl backed Crafty acoustic..
the Elm backplates for the RF Slim are marked out.
the maple laminates for the ERB neck are trimmed to size
and the backplates cut roughly to size
before being fine sanded down to get a perfect fit.
the plates are then carved and sanded to give the flowing looks we need on this guitar..
good huh?
the maple bits are glued onto the multi-lam neck
and the RF Slim is scraped and sanded to perfection..
Before oil..
and..
after!!! I can't believe I haven't used Elm beforenow.. it's lovely
the headstock.. good little patch of sun showing it off.
the Mode I is now on the sanding bench.. I've been trying to get these two done for weeks now!
edges preped
several hours of sanding later and the ERB neck is dry and ready for trimming on the bandsaw
and then a quick run over the thicknesser to give a good surface for the fingerboard
before..
and after.. you didn't think there was any flame there did you?? this is not oil I'm using, it is a sanding sealer which acts very similarly but is easier to apply.. all good!
half-way through... this is my favourite part of the job, seeing the woods just shine through!
sisters!
and the acoustic blanks are now marked out and ready for glueing... soon..
More on Monday, have a great weekend peoples!
Ben
redefining custom - crimson guitars | 
