WARNING: If you decide to follow this build thread, be ready for long wait times between updates!
CTN's projects thread a couple weeks ago kind of kicked me in the rear to get going on a couple guitar projects I've had on the back burner for quite a while.
First up is what I will call #3. This is the 3rd "from scratch" electric I've built with this particular design, which of course is still being refined.
For #3, I've had the body and neck blanks made up for years now; purchased a pre slotted fingerboard at least a couple years ago, and am using a truss rod that was stolen out of my broken #1. The guitar is pretty much all black walnut: Body is 3pc walnut with a figured walnut cap; neck is 1pc quartersawn walnut with a scarf-joint peghead; fretboard is ebony. I'm trying a 25 inch scale on this one. Frets will be Jescar EVO gold. Electronics are up in the air at this point.
So, over the past couple days I've glued the fret board onto the neck blank & routed the neck mortise. Doesn't seem like much, but I'm just able to pick away at this thing. Here's a couple pics:
Before I go any further, I've got to get the bridge I will be using so I can calculate the correct neck angle. After I get the bridge, I can do a lot more work. Bridge will be a tune-o-matic of some kind, but I may countersink it to reduce the neck angle. Strings will go through the body with no tailpiece, like my #2.
Project 2 is a "make-over" of an Aria Pro II "RS Series". I think I started this project just to torture myself. I don't see how makes sense otherwise. Anyway...
This what the guitar looked like when I bought it:
This is where I'm at with it now:
I removed all the finish from the body; routed a spot for a middle pup; sanded body down in prep for new finish (still needs final sanding); removed the severely worn original frets; prepped board for new frets.
The plan is to set this guitar up "strat-style" with 3 singles, master tone, master volume. If the budget allows, I will put a Wilkinson tremolo on it. Not sure what pups yet, but probably Duncan SSL-1s. Not sure what I will use for frets yet. Might go stainless, but I do have some left over nickel silver fret wire that I may use...not sure how much cash I want to put into this thing.
Well, that's it for now. Hopefully it won't be another year before I get to do more on these guitars.
CTN's projects thread a couple weeks ago kind of kicked me in the rear to get going on a couple guitar projects I've had on the back burner for quite a while.
First up is what I will call #3. This is the 3rd "from scratch" electric I've built with this particular design, which of course is still being refined.
For #3, I've had the body and neck blanks made up for years now; purchased a pre slotted fingerboard at least a couple years ago, and am using a truss rod that was stolen out of my broken #1. The guitar is pretty much all black walnut: Body is 3pc walnut with a figured walnut cap; neck is 1pc quartersawn walnut with a scarf-joint peghead; fretboard is ebony. I'm trying a 25 inch scale on this one. Frets will be Jescar EVO gold. Electronics are up in the air at this point.
So, over the past couple days I've glued the fret board onto the neck blank & routed the neck mortise. Doesn't seem like much, but I'm just able to pick away at this thing. Here's a couple pics:
Before I go any further, I've got to get the bridge I will be using so I can calculate the correct neck angle. After I get the bridge, I can do a lot more work. Bridge will be a tune-o-matic of some kind, but I may countersink it to reduce the neck angle. Strings will go through the body with no tailpiece, like my #2.
Project 2 is a "make-over" of an Aria Pro II "RS Series". I think I started this project just to torture myself. I don't see how makes sense otherwise. Anyway...
This what the guitar looked like when I bought it:
This is where I'm at with it now:
I removed all the finish from the body; routed a spot for a middle pup; sanded body down in prep for new finish (still needs final sanding); removed the severely worn original frets; prepped board for new frets.
The plan is to set this guitar up "strat-style" with 3 singles, master tone, master volume. If the budget allows, I will put a Wilkinson tremolo on it. Not sure what pups yet, but probably Duncan SSL-1s. Not sure what I will use for frets yet. Might go stainless, but I do have some left over nickel silver fret wire that I may use...not sure how much cash I want to put into this thing.
Well, that's it for now. Hopefully it won't be another year before I get to do more on these guitars.
