Thursday 30th August '07

The day begins... still knackered from the show!

the two 8-string baritones have had their fingerboards attached and now need

trimming on the bandsaw

and thicknessing down on the planer

next up my planes are in dire need af a razors edge.. various wet-stones and an hour gets us there

on to this replacement neck for a vintage Vox.. the fingerboard edges are trimmed using a bearing cutter and a small router table.

the newly sharp plane is used to give the fingerboard the correct camber

next up the scale length is carefully marked in place

very carefully..

and then the fret slots are cut.. by hand..

the dots are glued in place and left to dry..

on to the Galaxy guitar.. this is an old Ibanez that had her headstock broken.. why they put those bolts through the neck at the weakest point I don't know!!  Anyway, replacement neck built without the bolts and a custom spray job performed.. here she is wired for sound.

the neck and middle pickups come supplied with some screws that were too short therefore I strip her down and replace them.. very poorly matched set of Dimarzio's... not my choice I assure you!

anyway, height is now fully adjustable..

the Maccassar ebony fingerboard is oiled again

and the beast is set up.. I say beast because she comes equiped with a floyd rose.. the worst bridge ystem I've ever encountered.. except maybe for the Stetsbar.. that comes close too .. With both systems they've spent years overdesigning it, too many movin parts to inhibit tone and too fiddly for your average slightly sozzled gigging muso to work with.. and don't mention string-breakages!!

thought it would be fun to feature this Descendant Mark II.. built as a race against time in just over 24hours including the inlay.. never again!  The aluminium scorpion inlay is a copy of the tattoo on the customers arm, the body flamed pear wood, a single flame maple cap, rosewood neck, ebony board etc.. oh, and of course a very simple oil finish..

All my best,

Ben