PRS? Let the fun begin

[925SS]

This will probably take me some time. The only thing I don't have on hand is the pots, switch, & the cover for the control cavity.
Admittedly, my skill is limited, as is my tool access. My friend has a planer, but it's hard to nail him down.
I have a table saw, a good router, a jigsaw, belt sander, dremmel trio, clamps, & glue, Yea, I can build a PRS lol
I aquired the wood about a month ago (it's solid maple, & very heavy), then the neck (I'm not kidding myself, so I bought a neck).
Grover tuners, Gibson TOM & stoptail, & I have a variety of humbuckers, & HB sized p90s.
Now the update.
I ran the boards thru the table saw, to clean, & square the edges (a jointer ain't in the budget)


Then glued, & clamped
Since they only let you upload 5 pics per post, we'll continue on the next

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

After setting for 24hrs, I unclamper, & laid the pattern on

Then it was jigsaw time, (a bandsaw ain't in the budget)


Tonight I ran around it with the belt sander, & some 80 grit
.

While cutting out the body shape did relieve the weight some, i'm still gonna have to get creative with the router to lighten it up some more.
& i'm waiting on my buddy, as you can see, it could use a pass or three thru the planer.
Right now, the thickness is 1 15/16, I plan on taking it down to 1 1/4, hollowing it here & there, then doing a cap of the same material.
I don't plan on doing the intricate carve these usually have (as I don't have the skill, or the tools), but rather more of a soft curving slope to the edge, with the raised middle.
I've read thru, & am using some ideas from a similar build I ran across on the Telecaster forum, though any and all input will be appriciated, & taken into consideration.
Sorry for the long post, I'll be checking for your comments, & posting my progress as I go.
Wish me luck

Darryl

 

[T ROCKER]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

I applaud you ! In some distant future dream I wanna do a body from scratch. Looks awesome so far ....

 

[BloodRose]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

So far, looks killer!!

 

[CTN]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! :headbang:

lookin forward to seeing this develop.

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

Slight progress, got the cap cut & glued up last night, took some pics today.
Now comes the wait for the planer...oh well, all things in good time

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

Thought i'd throw some candy out

& give you the Bird

The bridge set, & tuners came from Gibsondependable on Ebay.
Did Gibson use German parts



Those knots are really gonna make the "carve" fun, but I'm a character, so it should have some too lol

Can't forget those shiny tuners

 

[BloodRose]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

lookin great!! where did you get the neck with the birdies?

 

[darnright]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

Looks really great!!! Hope to follow it through, I'm anxious now!!!

-dave

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

lookin great!! where did you get the neck with the birdies?

From ebay, like all necks it'll need a little fretwork, but for what I paid, it was worth it to me.
The guy has unfinished bodies also, but it wasn't in the budget.

http://stores.ebay.com/Music-Violin-Life?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

I applaud you ! In some distant future dream I wanna do a body from scratch. Looks awesome so far ....

Just get yourself some pine (it's cheap, so if you f@#k up it's not a big loss). There are plenty of places to get patterns online.
My first build was a tele. I ran across an old piece of yellow pine that was almost 15" wide. Then after routing out the cavities, I capped it with a 1/4" piece of birch plywood.
Before the "iceman" comments, I built this, prior to joining this forum:cool2:

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

Looks really great!!! Hope to follow it through, I'm anxious now!!!

-dave

I have a call in to my buddy with the planer, i'm waiting.....

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

I have a call in to my buddy with the planer, i'm waiting.....

No dice on the planer, he's working 2nd shift for the next 2 weeks...
Don't fret (pun intended) I have built a solution.
Made myself a "Sled" for the router, a little hillbilly, but it works well

! pass on top. & 3 on the back


A quick mock up for bridge & tailpiece placement


Then it was hog time

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

Today we do neck pockets

I made my own template, but there was a slight divet, so I filled it with tape to build it out to where the bearing rolled a lot truer

Then a pass or two
Followed by a test fit

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

I wasn't liking that little gap, so I built it out with more tape for the final passes down to the line you saw.
Then I finished the hogging with the router

Then 2 more passes with the sled, & i've arrived at my final thickness of 1 3/8
Now for some eye candy, this was the most fun for me today, I think it turned out well

 

[darnright]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

I think it turned out fantastic!! I can fix your diesel...but working with wood is still a mystery to me. You are doing a wonderful job!!!

-dave

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

Not sure how you're going to make a "PRS" out of solid maple but give it the 'ol college try and rawk the fcuk outta the result!

 

[Adieu]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

Aww, not quartersawn? :guilty:

Also, you might just have better luck leaving the maple for the cap and fretboard positions.

Btw, why is it all so drilled out? Trying for semihollow?

 

[925SS]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

I think it turned out fantastic!! I can fix your diesel...but working with wood is still a mystery to me. You are doing a wonderful job!!!

-dave

By some strange coincidence, I have a brother named Dave, & he's a diesel mechanic also, he works for Nelson trucking.
He teaches me about mechanics, & I teach him about woodworking, it's a fair trade.

Not sure how you're going to make a "PRS" out of solid maple but give it the 'ol college try and rawk the fcuk outta the result!

Mahogany ain't in the budget, & i wanted to give it a go on something cheaper, just to see if I can build one first.
I'm aware that maple has a tendency to be a bright wood, but a pickup winder I know tome this "You can take brightness out of a guitar, but you have a hard time putting it in"
After all is said & done, i'll post up a clip or two.

Aww, not quartersawn? :guilty:

Also, you might just have better luck leaving the maple for the cap and fretboard positions.

Btw, why is it all so drilled out? Trying for semihollow?

This wood is REALLY heavy, so weight relief was needed.
As you see it now, it weighs about 6-7lbs.
Add to that the cap, neck, & all accutraments...I figure it will wind up in the 10lb range, so you can just guess what it would have weighed with no relief, 15lbs:bigeyes:

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: PRS? Let the fun begin

15lbs! You'd be an inch shorter after playing it. :bigeyes:

Looking forward to more.