Time to start planning the next one. Going to go for a different shape this time.
First thing first, I need to make some plans. So with a head on picture, and some dimensions from
@PhilKing ; I managed to print out a tiled PDF of the right size. It looked tiny, so I had to check with an actual part
I'm gathering woods. so far we have a walnut back and sides. Back will be flat/domed rather than carved. Some cherry as an option for the carved top, and some other bits of wood on the way
Next job will be to make a mold and template set and we will be on our way
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the delivery also included a streaky paduak neck blank which may get sliced down the middle for a laminated blank for this, as well as a selection of other alternative fretboard woods including.
Bocote. Its a bit yellow in the pic below as its freshly planed, but changes colour to a brown and orange streaky wood quite quickly
Purpleheart. Its a lot like ebony, but purply grey at first, then deeper purple, then eventually one day it will be brown
Carapay - called patagonion rosewood by some, but not a real rosewood, closer to Gonco alves.
Indian laurel. Its actually the same genus as korina/idigo/limba, just a lot darker and harder than those trees. you know it from recent squiers, this piece is more consistently dark though.
all relatively sustainable, or at least not any concern for CITES.
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Paduak and purpleheart can be delayed with the use of some finishes that protect against UV.
Ive used all those a few times before, not sure on the others.
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template first. I transferred the outline from my tiled print to MDF and cut to shape. i don't really need a full body template for a hollowbody build, but it will come in handy at a few point such as shaping internal blocks or pre-bending binding... plus i liek the shape and may be a solid body or chambered version
underneath are 4 more strips of MDF. this will give me a 1 1/2" thick mold for the body
i wont cut the final outline till both layers are glued together, but its important to think about the reach of your clamps and locations of internal blocks when making the mold.
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I forgot about that neck, yes i think that was bocote, although a lighter grade than this fretboard. I remember doing a laminated bocote neck where it just fell part as if it hadn't even been glue. Just a case of remembering to glue freshly scraped surfaces, and wipe down with thinners or naptha prior to gluing
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I've used snakewood for the fretboard on a couple of builds. It behaves itself well - MUCH easier to work with than the really oily woods like cocobolo.
MDF isn;t really the best material for this if you plan on making loads, but it should survive a few guitar builds without issues. I have brushed on a few coats of sealer to help extend its life. Checked with my clamps and i don't really need to cut it down further, but can always do it later if i am struggling at any point
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i cut the maple laminate first, then used this as a template to mark out the paduak. I have left everything oversized so it can be tidied up after gluing. also left some extra tabs so I can pin it to prevent slipping when I glue it all together
The paduak is very streaky, should give a fun raspberry ripple look to the final neck.
not sure how its going to look yet, but the whole guitar is likely to be trans cherry red, so it should be interesting
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I also put the Namibian rosewood through the planer earlier and wondered if that would be good for a neck too. Grains not perfect for that, with a bit of flame and a few pin knots, but it seems very stable. Also very pink straight from the planer. Likely prettier as a top though
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the template has been staring at me recently, and after a few hours not sleeping the other night I did a quick doodle on it... still needs refining but i liek the concept
Not gonna lie, I saw this build from Jersey Girl guitars earlier in the day and it set my brain off. The pickups and plate are all one piece of wood, inset into the body
I might borrow the idea with the pickups and plate, but it would be a very different look by the end of it.
I'm thinking of using a solid piece of dark wood for the neck, plate, tailpiece, knobs etc etc, maybe with continuous grain flowing between the pieces, then doing a solid color contoured body to mount it all to. Imagine it as rosewood parts, solid white body.
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