Orpheo Guitars: Guitars Giveaway!

[nexion218]

That's cool! I've never played a solid ebony neck. Is it much different than maple or mahogany?

This guitar - despite having my usual pointy and/or black aesthetics - is so vastly different from my other guitars that it's hard to tell how much the solid ebony contributes to the overall end result. The Hipshot bridge has a steel block, so that sure adds some snap and brightness, body is black korina and the pickups are Alt8/FullShred and Jazz/59 hybrds w/ A8 magnets. The only thing I know from the bunch is the 59 LOL. The neck itself is super slick, feels dense and solid (kinda expected from ebony) and despite being a chunky boi ( I think you could make two Ibby Wizards from this one LOL) plays really smothly. Sure, feels unusual after all the Jacksons I have, but doesn't require me to fight with it.

Sound wise it "sustains for days", the palm muted triplets ar razor sharp (F yeah!), would describe the overall sound as angry, but the top end is silky smooth and not fizzy as you'd expect when hearing "angry". But again, I can't put my finger on how much each component contributes as these are things I have no previous experience with.

 

[jeremy]

that sounds awesome! ive never seen an ebony neck either, pretty cool stuff

 

[eclecticsynergy]

My guitar has cleared customs! :banana:
Hoping to have it later this week.

 

[jeremy]

it arrived and i played it at two shows yesterday. i have no idea how to use the 10-way switch but got the sounds i needed pretty quick. sounded and played great. thank you sir!

 

[orpheo]

One side of 5 is purely singlecoil tones. The other is full (bridge) humbucker plus a few other series settings as well as a neck+middle in series in the other outer position.

I think that's 2 delivered and 4 pending. The end is in sight!

 

[ErikH]

Good to see you are doing well.

 

[Mincer]

I am happy to see these being delivered!

 

[orpheo]

I'm just hanging around here to follow up on the shipments and trouble shoot if someone has a weird issue, like Jeremy I sent Mincer a message a few days ago (gotta dive in your response, Dave, I'm sorry: extremely hectic days! but that's nothing new ) about my current situation. I am not saying I'm quitting guitarmaking all together even though it is crossing my mind. I spoke with my wife and ex-business partner about it and we all agree that quitting will be a complete waste of talent, time, effort and money. I just need to find a new way of approaching making guitars and I believe that slimming down the ENTIRE line to just making guitars I enjoy making, is the best way forward. That means, practically: just the LP shape and nothing else. I don't like anything else. Let's build that first for a while and see how it ends up.

It is funny to realize that in 2017 I made 36 in one year. Really, I did! Now, I'm spending just as many hours on making guitars but I now make just 12 or so. Every step of the way takes now a lot longer because I simply want to make better guitars.

But the issues run deeper. Last year showed me that 'making guitars' is not what defines me. I define me. Life is more than running amok in sawdust, fearing for fingers and being frustrated when nitro won't cure as fast as you want. And making guitars sounds so 'romantic', but it's hard work, every day, every time. Not only the process is difficult and exhausting but it's mostly the managing of expectations that takes a while. For instance, some things sounds so simple, right?

For example:

Looks like a fairly simple guitar, right? It's not. The pickup cavities need to be exact and precise because there's no ring to cover anything up. The trem recess needs to be exact and precise otherwise it looks cheap. The top needs to bend downwards and if it doesn't, it will look off too. The 5 way blade is challenging to cut. The straight string pull is difficult to make exact and precise. The top AND back need to be perfectly level and since quilt maple sucks up so much lacquer, it takes forever to finish this!

Or this one?

This is so friggin difficult. Without a CNC, of course. The pickguard needs to go perfectly around the neck otherwise it will look cheap. You can't drill the ferrules wrong because: no second chances! Sure, you could route in a trem if you want but that's not what you really want, do you? There's almost no space to correct the alignment because the bridge + pickup all need to be routed in 1 go. Easy? No. Absolutely not.

But this?

Child's play. This is so easy to make. Laminating a neck? Easy. Doing inlay? Easy! Angled headstock? Easy! Carving the top? Easy!

This is a simple guitar, my friends. A strat? No.

The carving of the top looks daunting but it's not. To get the forearm contour or the tummy carve clean, straight, flat and level: that is hard. And I don't want to go through that stress again.

 

[Aceman]

Dang Orph...those look fricking amazing. Have a Tele and Cherry burst Paul sitting right here - but not as sexy as those!

 

[AdrianSD]

orpheo didn't have the chance to meet you in person, but you're such an inspiration. Fortune rewards the generous, humble and patient and you're all three and more. Not much more I can say, good on you.

 

[orpheo]

Dang Orph...those look fricking amazing. Have a Tele and Cherry burst Paul sitting right here - but not as sexy as those!

I sold almost all of my stuff for peanuts a few months ago Mind if I make you a bit more jealous? hehe

I had these two for sale: 500 euro's each (sans shipping, of course).

This one went for E650.

I had this one for E1000. How many buyers, you ask? Zero.

I sold this for 800E. it is fully hollow except for near the trem. It has a walnut back on a mahogany core and maple cap; 17 piece neck and macassar ebony fretboard. And the neck was so, so thin...

 

[orpheo]

And this moment, captured in a photo, is when the world stood still for even just a second or two.

See? Married.

 

[ErikH]

And this moment, captured in a photo, is when the world stood still for even just a second or two.

See? Married.

That is a great photo! A moment to cherish.

I would have loved to have jumped on one of your builds but having a kid in college now kinda reallocates a lot of extra funds. I love the looks of your single-cut builds.

And I agree with your ex-partner and wife, keep building, but scale back. Simple as that. You have a talent. Keep using it. I hope your health is improving and wish you continued happiness.

 

[Mincer]

Inspiring photos as always!

 

[d1dsj]

Great wedding photo Mr. O.

my guitar turned up today and whist the wood looked amazing it’s not a happy ending.

 

[orpheo]

Holy smokes. First time a guitar I have shipped this way is destroyed! Damn. That guitar must have made a huge smack... let's file a complaint because this is ridiculous.

I'll dive into your PM now.

 

[d1dsj]

To say I’m gutted is an understatement, as it was such a magnificent gesture by Mr. O. I’m only gutted because it’s damaged, it’s not the end of the world but it’s such a shame after the work that’s gone into this guitar. I’ll have to try and find a luthier to get it all back together.

 

[beaubrummels]

Received mine today in good health. The guitar is much more beautiful in person than photos can show. The finish is rich in color and changes significantly with the angle of light.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Received mine today in good health. The guitar is much more beautiful in person than photos can show. The finish is rich in color and changes significantly with the angle of light.

Wow….I love that. What kind of bridge is that? I’ve never seen that before.

 

[beaubrummels]

Wow….I love that. What kind of bridge is that? I’ve never seen that before.

I believe it's one of these:

https://www.btnmusic.co.uk/product/hipshot-headless-tremolo-system/