23/24 January 2007
18.56
Apologies for the lag, as you can see this diary includes yesterday's as the techno-devils in my laptop decided to have a protracted disagreement with the world wide web.... sorry..
Today we see the almost-but-not-quite-completion of the X-symbol guitar we've been developing over the last weeks and also the begining of a Gretsch-esque custom guitar which will end up looking like a LP type cross a White Falcon with much binding and inlay work being undertaken.. we'll take care not to infringe any copyright etc.. can't afford a lawsuit right about now.
Here's bud... crazy dog but he lightens up the day when he looks this cute!
The neck-pocket template being made.. and the neck.. pretty birds-eye maple..
Template fits..
After roughing out the cavity using the pillar-drill and a large saw-bit I route out the joint..
And so... it's done...
Here we mark out where the side position dots go.. the most important bit really.. I forgot to put them on one of the first guitars this customer bought.. many years ago by the way.. and it just didn't work! As you can well imagine! Like a 16 year old fumbling around behind the school hall...
The dot's come as a plastic rod, it's not easy putting small dots in if they come singly.. though much easier than putting in 2mm cubic zirconia's as I've had to do once.. before you get ny ideas it didn't really work, even under stage lighting!
The neck break angle marked on..
And carving down the dots flush with the 'board
And the final glueing of the neck in place.. set neck guitars are generally much better for sustain and warmth, not a bad thing really?
The template for the Gretschesque guitar.. with all the neccessaries..
Marking out the body halves on the plank of mahogany which is a soon-to-be-becoming guitar.. the reason for a half-template is obviously the symmetry of the guitar... sorry, you're not stupid..
Trusty old No. 5 plane.. you have to have a perfect joint if you want the guitar to be any good.. no machines used here.. at least not for the important jobs like this
Uber-clamps unite!! that pressure and expanding glue does the trick every time!
Here we mark out the positions of all the holes in Graham's x-symbol, through body stringing etc.. she's light... very very light. In fact when I first designed her she was supposed to be an answer to the Purile, pre-pubescent shite being turned out for our female guitar-playing idols in training... still, men can have her too... it's not the same as riding a girls bike or playing a guitar shaped like f***ing daisy! (rant over!! .. no it's not..) How can they expect any self-respecting woman to play something that makes her look like she's in a cartoon network program!!!! GGGRRRR..
Pre-drilled the pickup cavity.. easier on the router bit...
And routing out the control cavity...
After the rough-carving has ceased to be comencing this is what out little beauty looks like.. back, ..
And front..
The body blank for the Gretschesque model(now to be called the DC1)..prior to bandsawing out the profile..
Jig set up and ready, route round this and we've got an almost guitar.. almost..
Voila..
Again by hand.. after sharpening the plane-blade) I have to flatten off the front ready for the maple-cap
This is another model I'm building for the London Guitar Show, I've always loved the Yamaha SG2000, and never owned one!! And thought I'd see what my PAF model looked like as a Double Cut.. here it is.. to be carved etc tomorrow. I've not made her symetrical, that doesn't really fit my sense of design for some reason.. I don't know?
Here is the neck for the PAF DC proto (long bloody name..) I tend to put extra bits on so it looks more interesting from the players perspective.. it also helps with the inherant strength of the headstock.. glue is stronger than timber!!
The cap for DC1 having been glued.. lots of planing due for tomorrow.,
speaking of planeing, this will be an ash Descndant model, also bound for the guitar show.. unless one of you, the great un-washed, wants it.. Call me!! (hard-sell alert over!)
She'll have an oil finish and possibly some sort of drop-top cap on her.. we'll see how I feel tomorrow..?
PAF DC prepared for drilling and routing etc tomorrow.. by this point this afternoon I had a technician out to repair my planer/thicknesser and was trying to keep the noise down.. and no dust either! Kinda limits you in a workshop!
Hence doing some finishing work on this little PAF inspired acoustics soundhole..
Rough sanded.. and ready for the final push
From the front... this inlay is inspired by the race at the very begining of our lives.. get it? I have a funny mind when it comes to designing guitars...
Anyway, I'll be spending some time next week setting up some more pages on the site tracking some of these guitars from conception to the stage, gotta keep the site dynamic.. and on that note if any of you have ideas as to how we can make this site better drop me a line.. it's always appreciated..
Now that the planer/thicknesser is working again I'll be begining work on various RF models, including a Double Cut hybrid for Jakko
All my best, till tomorrow, ..
Ben
crimson guitars - redefining custom
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