Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

F

Frantic_Rock

FragleRockologist
Hey Guys,

Some of you may remember - i was doing an experiment - building a custom guitar out of cheap aluminum and spruce.

Here is my youtube video demo and blog about it, detailing its construction:
http://www.unlimitedlessons.com/content/build-1-aluminum-t-beam-guitar-project-pics

It has a detachable fingerboard with 36 frets, 27" scale and a radical body shape. The weight is 18 lbs right now, but the next one should be 11 lbs with the aid of thinner parts all around. It used to be fretless, but i like the playability better with frets, although the sliding tones were nice before...

Just wanted to show you the finished product.
For first build - i figure it does the job - because i can screw on different fingerboards and get some fretting experimentation out of it.
thanks,
Alex
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

Dude, nice work man. I like it. I like it a lot actually. Kudos to you for taking the time to do things how they should be done instead of rushing it and winding up having a hunk o' junk.
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

That's insane! Immediately after watching the video I wanted to build one myself.
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

Well thanks guys. It's all about having fun.

I'm gonna change the build style big time for the next one. Probably simplify and cut the weight of everything in half - rebalance it. I'm pretty excited over it. Sometimes the thoughts about the designs don't let you rest...

Thinking of making the body 3 times thinner for the next one. Completely different shape ofcourse... Maybe try more of an explorer type or V. Thinking to cut off the T-beam leg completely for the next one in the body section - so that i don't have to make a body T slot. Just screw the aluminum "plate" onto the flat board body, and that's the end of that... Also going to get a power saw, but will have to be very careful with it.
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

The guitar is pretty nuts! Definitely crude work, but also very creative and interesting. I very much enjoyed the blog and video and will definitely read it if you do another one.
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

Proverb-Man said:
Couldn't agree more... that's insane.

Do you enjoy playing it? Is it what you expected?
Click to expand...

Well, whatever "mad scientist" means - i don't know. I am not mad - i do have my wits together. And I am not a scientist. As a matter of fact - this design is more basic than even a fender strat. much more basic.

And i do not think this is so mad that it makes no sense. Makes perfect sense to me. It's called thinking freely and experimenting.

Yes i enjoy it tons, and it's exactly what i wanted. Can you make your strat fretless or microtonal wiithout taking the strings off? haha

Funny how everybody wants to be conventional. I do have a stable of kickass guitars and amps believe me, but it's time for something new, but i need to learn first. and that's the whole point of this - to learn by doing.
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

There was C and there was V and now... there is T shaped neck profile! :laugh2:

thats just crazy yet cool at the same time, and it works and sounds pretty cool for you very first attempt at this you did great! Original idea too and as for the floyd rose idea that would be a very cool and interesting idea and you dont have to stick with 6 strings there are 7 strings floyds and i think ive seen some 8 string trems long ago but im not sure.. i know 7 strings pretty commonly found.
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

hermetico said:
I am surprised with the sound. It sounds!!!. I expected some tin-can sound but... surpresivelly it sounds good to me. :clap:
Interesting design thinkings there :cool2: but...

I don't dig the shape, I think this body couldn't be comfortable for playing and, you could even hit one of your band's mate with the headstock.:eyecrazy:

I don't see very useful those frets under the 24th... little room for fingers.
Also that large scale will create a lot of stress to strings. Can you do bendings?.:dunno:

Don't be angry with our mates. I think "mad scientist" is used in a good way, as you being able to do things that scape the regular way of do and thinking, with some success.

I also saw guitars made by carbon fiber and (also surpresivelly) they sounded good to me (not the same with the masonite's ones).
Click to expand...


Thanks man. Yes 27" scale makes the strings a lot tighter, but the 6100 frets make for a scalloped feel, so bending is still good, because you can get under the strings. Also I tune the guitar down to C (4 ST down from normal).
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

That's just plain crazy, but I dig it. It's cool to see you approach the guitar in such a different way than most folks. I'm looking forward to your next builds! :)
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

holy ****. you are my new hero for making something that god**** insane. awesome.
 
Re: Custom aluminum guitar completed. Video and Blog.

I hope you had fun doing it! Don't hurt yourself or anyone else with it.
 
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