Hi
My latest build is progressing OK. It's a burl maple-topped SG tribute 6 string I'm building for Pete, our old-gits-band's bassist. I built him the Jack Bruce Special-esque fretless bass last year (photos in one of the other threads) and he is nothing if not a glutton for punishment
:-)
The spec is:
- Mahogany back
- Burl Maple top
- Mahogany/walnut/mahogany neck
- Ebony fingerboard and headstock
- Mother of Pearl inlays
- ToneRider Classic IV humbuckers (Fantastic pickups - in a recent upgrade I did for a pal's cheapo LP, a pair of the same outperformed the stock p/ups in his Gibson LP Custom...)
- A thru neck (yes...I know...)
I have got to the final sanding stage and started to put the stain on the top - I am using red calligraphy ink. I have used this before and this shot gives no representation of how good using this as a stain ends up once finished:
I actually think fountain pen ink makes a fabulous stain - through the internet, there are dozens of great colours available too :-)
I forgot to take a shot of the back with the final heel carve, but this is one from last week which gives a clue to the construction. I do thru necks a little unconventionally - I shape the neck complete with angle first, then do a straight routered slot in the body to 50% body depth. With the limited equipment I have I find it easier than the conventional 'wings' approach.
The neck profile matches Pete's favourite of his 6-string electrics (a Gibson Firebird). Hopefully, he'll be pleased with the final result!
Oh, by the way, the other unconventional thing (Pete isn't a purist and doesn't want the usual head-heavy balance) is that I left the body thick, then put all the hardware in position and found the balance point. I then thinned the back of the body and repeated until it balanced. The resulting thickness is around 1.7" - thicker than the original (which varied but I think was generally around 1.5") but guaranteed not to do the 'SG dive' :-)
Thanks for looking
Andy
Comments
Well played sir, well played.
I hope I can get a finish half as nice as that one...
I'll remember the racing stripes tip!
just an observation though, why have you changed from trap inlays to blocks from the 15th fret?