Finished Pics! impmann's Alembic-esque Electric

Andyjr1515

paulnb57 said:

Looking fab Andy, I think I prefer without soundhole, but very nice...as usual! Yaaaawn!!

Yes - soundholes are a bit marmite.  I love them but @impmann didn't want one and I know a lot of people don't like them them at all.  Interestingly, based on the depth of the chamber, @impmann 's is probably closer to a semi-acoustic than mine in spite of the lack of the f-hole

webrthomson

Those both look superb - loving this thread!

Andyjr1515

webrthomson said:

Those both look superb - loving this thread!

Thanks

Legionreturns

Gorgeous as always! I actually quite like the look of that sound hole

Andyjr1515

Legionreturns said:

Gorgeous as always! I actually quite like the look of that sound hole

AustrianJohn

Stunning work, Andy.

Teyeplayer

I think @Andyjr1515 one would be my choice too.

For some reason I'd be trying Rickenbacker pickups on it if it was my build -partly just for the hell of it but also because it kind of looks like it would lend itself to them. 

Andyjr1515

Thanks for the encouraging feedback, folks

Onto that pesky bridge.  Much of what Schaller have provided here is not helpful - including some quite obscure router bit and drill sizes!  But what IS helpful is the clear template they provide:


You position it and then use a sharp point to pierce through to the wood for the drilling positions.  A drill press is essential for this task! 

I did the drilling and routing (except two where I don't have the right sized drill!) and added my extra routed slot to accommodate the piezo wires:


Call me picky, but it wouldn't hurt Schaller to add this to the instructions and the template, surely??

Anyway, my drilling and routing is clearly getting more accurate because to my great surprise, it fits!


The two holes I don't have the drill for are for the two fixing bolt ferrules.  I'll get hold of one from Axminster on my next order - it isn't going to hold anything up.  Anyway, you can see broadly how it's going to fit:


One thing I am grateful for - if I understand the Crimson Youtube feature correctly (which also doesn't mention the piezo version), Schaller have stopped supplying a back block and now supply individual ferrules at the back...WHICH ALL HAVE TO BE INDIVIDUALLY EARTHED!  Thank heavens for small mercies!

Anyway, the really exciting thing is that I can soon start the top carve

WezV

Andyjr1515 said:

One thing I am grateful for - if I understand the Crimson Youtube feature correctly (which also doesn't mention the piezo version), Schaller have stopped supplying a back block and now supply individual ferrules at the back...WHICH ALL HAVE TO BE INDIVIDUALLY EARTHED!  Thank heavens for small mercies!

It looks good so far

connecting the individual ferrules isn;t as hard as it sounds.    I have done it a few times on fanned fret builds with graphtech saddles.  I remember thinking it was going to be really difficult but it really wasn't

Andyjr1515

WezV said:

Andyjr1515 said:

One thing I am grateful for - if I understand the Crimson Youtube feature correctly (which also doesn't mention the piezo version), Schaller have stopped supplying a back block and now supply individual ferrules at the back...WHICH ALL HAVE TO BE INDIVIDUALLY EARTHED!  Thank heavens for small mercies!

It looks good so far

connecting the individual ferrules isn;t as hard as it sounds.    I have done it a few times on fanned fret builds with graphtech saddles.  I remember thinking it was going to be really difficult but it really wasn't

I'm sure you're right, @WezV .  I'm nevertheless grateful to be relieved of one more thing I would be fully capable of c*****g up

Andyjr1515

And the carve starts...



It's my favourite bit and I have to curb my enthusiasm so I don't overdo anything.

I tidied up the outline a touch to be able to incorporate a couple of passing respectful nods to the Alembic style and then started to add some of the other features, such as the 'sucked lozenge' ( @impmann 's very descriptive phrase) cutaway.

Over the next day or so, @impmann and I will discuss exactly what curves want to be where  

The time when I've got to start radiusing that pesky fretboard draws closer!

impmann

I deliberately found one with a fixing plate 

Andyjr1515

impmann said:

I deliberately found one with a fixing plate 

That's my boy!

Andyjr1515

After bouncing off my thoughts with @impmann ; I'm probably going to scoop the upper waist a touch and then extend the lozenge to reflect the shape of the lower bout.  Something like this:

Roland

Andyjr1515 said:

impmann said:

I deliberately found one with a fixing plate 

That's my boy!

The plates aren't too difficult to make. I prefer them to ferrules.

Andyjr1515

I'll check with @impmann , but I think the rough carve is now there or thereabouts for me to go to the final filling and shaping of the body.

Imagine the holes filled and dark rather than open and light, but this is where the front currently is:


Here's the back:


And here's the player's viewpoint:


And here's the deranged fan getting uncomfortably close to the player 's viewpoint:

 

impmann

Oh mate that's looking incredible!!!

BigMonka

That is stunning. I love the way the player can see the edges of the fancy top when looking down. And as with all your through-body designs, the back looks as good as the front!

Teyeplayer

Wow!!!! 

Andyjr1515

impmann said:

Oh mate that's looking incredible!!!

  So far so good!  Customer still happy...