Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

[orpheo]

I've been a sucker for the Bich shape since forever, but I couldn't find one I really could get along with. So... I decided to make my own. My first was just a means to use some amazing materials I had left, but since then I've build two more. Number two is a bit boring (but sounds so, so, so amazing) but this one, is what I envisioned for years.

I don't care for all the electrickery or preamps, I just want a classy Bich. So, I made a guitar I had in my mind and I hope you guys like this one

Specs:


Top and back: koa
Body core: black limba
Neck: 17 piece - ovangkol, Caribbean rosewood, goncalo alves, maple/walnut/maple pinstripes
Fretboard: Macassar ebony
Fretboard details: 25.5'' scale, 24 jumbo frets, 10''-14'' conical radius
Headstock cap: ziricote
Backplate: figured mahogany (sorry, ran out of ziricote to use to match the backplate with the headstock veneer )
Bridge: Hipshot
Tuners: Hipshot open gear griplock
Pickups: Custom designed, made in the UK double cream humbuckers (NOT Dimarzio)
Electronics: 3 way pickup selector, dual volume/tone controls with 2 push pull pots to select north coil, south coil, series or parallel
Weight: 3.2kg (7lbs)

 

[shupe13]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Nice!

Sent from my REVVLPLUS C3701A using Tapatalk

 

[Aceman]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Very nice!

Did you attempt to mod the body shape at all on any prototypes or anything? That looks like a standard Rich. What was it about them you didn't get along with? Mine has Vol/Vol/Tone switch.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Very nice!

Did you attempt to mod the body shape at all on any prototypes or anything? That looks like a standard Rich. What was it about them you didn't get along with? Mine has Vol/Vol/Tone switch.

I didn't attempt to mod the body after I made the first template (which is a rare thing for me, might I add! ). I drew the guitar from memory so the shape is like a Bich but not a perfect copy. The horns are slightly different and most importantly, the point on the bass side, on the bottom, has more of a curve than on the real Bich.

what I don't like? vol/vol/tone, that's just weird to me. Also, I felt the real version's electronic layout looked weird so I streamlined it.

The only thing I did change compared to the previous iteration was to relocate the centerline. For some reason, the centerline in #2 wasn't correct (but it was spot on in the first).

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Nice slab of koa.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Another pretty one!

 

[Wattage]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

:eyecrazy:

wow, you killed it, nice job!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

I suppose it could use another 4 strings...

 

[nexion218]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Would you mind stopping this Orpheo? I really don't have the funds right now, nor do I have a place for a big enough piggy bank... Not that I would touch anything with a non-matching control plate cover... Joking aside, it's UH-MAZING! It's good to see you stray away from the classic, safe designs too. At least that's the first one in that category that I see from you. The neck is glued in, not all the way through, right?

 

[orpheo]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Would you mind stopping this Orpheo? I really don't have the funds right now, nor do I have a place for a big enough piggy bank... Not that I would touch anything with a non-matching control plate cover... Joking aside, it's UH-MAZING! It's good to see you stray away from the classic, safe designs too. At least that's the first one in that category that I see from you. The neck is glued in, not all the way through, right?

You're absolutely right. This isn't a neckthru I did a few of those 'way back when' but I choose not to do that anymore for a few reasons. Firstly, I don't believe for one second that a neckthru gives either more sustain or a better upper fret access. Also, it's more wasteful (you need a much longer neck blank but offers no benefit, it's more costly, it's more time-consuming). And, replacing a thru-neck is much more difficult than one that's deep-set. Lastly, I feel that a neckthru has some weird overtones that I personally don't like

I personally love the classic shapes and I REALLY love making LP's and tele's. They're just the most fun to make for me. But I have done this shape two times before. As far as the more 'modern' shapes, I've also done a few V's as well as my take on the Explorer. In total, I have 10 shapes right now?

LP
SG
Tele
Strat
PRS-ish (that purple beast I posted 2 weeks ago)
V
EXP
Bich
Superstrat
1x bass model

I've got 2 classic Offset's coming up (Jazzmaster and Firebird) and then... done.

About your line in bold: you'll be surprised how fairly fair my prices are. At least, that's what I like to believe But I have a bit of bad news; the order books are closed for 2020 I really have to churn out a couple of amazing builds and guitars so I can load up the website. I've updated a few other guitars I build years ago so they at least look the part, but I simply have at least another 16 guitars to go. That website is now my first priority (plus completing the standing orders) because i still... do... not....have... a... WEBSITE. It's really about time.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

The **** does bich mean?

 

[Francois]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

... I hope you guys like this one

I like it very much ! It is gorgeous !

 

[orpheo]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

The **** does bich mean?

I am assuming you don't understand why I called this shape 'Bich'? Well, because the dude who originally came up with this design, Neal Moser, called this the Bich and I tend to all my models something similar?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Oh I see, it's actually the name of the design. Great job. You're a luthe.

 

[Coma]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Beautiful axe. If you dont mind me asking though, why is the neck pocket protrusion so large? Couldn't you slim that down and get better upper fret access?

 

[orpheo]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

Beautiful axe. If you dont mind me asking though, why is the neck pocket protrusion so large? Couldn't you slim that down and get better upper fret access?

Good question.

I experimented a lot over the years to see what works well: I find this neck joint to work extremely well: it's round, so you won't bump your hand to hard corner, it works well if the owner prefers bolt on instead of glued and it gives a LOT of stability! I also tried to 'slim' it down or make it sculpted but that proved to be, in fact, more cumbersome to play than this. I am not exactly sure (I build guitars, I am not an ergonometrist ) but this joint seems to give the best upper fret acces combined with ease of production and stability. If it's easy to route (I don't use CNC, I do it all by hand and with handheld machines and templates) I can more easily produce a neat product and that translates into lower pricing.

As to why it seems to be so comfortable up there despite appearances is, I guess, the fact that there is no slope going from the neck to the heel so your hand really 'rests' against the curve of that part of the body.

 

[nexion218]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

About your line in bold: you'll be surprised how fairly fair my prices are. At least, that's what I like to believe But I have a bit of bad news; the order books are closed for 2020 I really have to churn out a couple of amazing builds and guitars so I can load up the website. I've updated a few other guitars I build years ago so they at least look the part, but I simply have at least another 16 guitars to go. That website is now my first priority (plus completing the standing orders) because i still... do... not....have... a... WEBSITE. It's really about time.

Yeah, I have a ballpark idea about that, as someone asked for the price of the purple one from 2 weeks ago and I recall you answered that. And I agree, for basically one-off, custom made guitars, it does sound fair. The remark was actually aimed at me being broke/living from average Eastern European salary...

 

[jmh151]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

If you don’t mind me asking, where’s the neck attachment bolts?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

That's pretty. I'm kinda partial to the Mockingbird shape with the classic 3x3 R headstock. This is impressive.

 

[formula73]

Re: Orpheo Guitars Bich: lots of koa and laminations!

I love every single thing about it.

DAMN that’s pretty.