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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2014 18:06:51 GMT -6
I took some of my binding I made from another project. I laid it on the body and for me it's just too much with the center stripe (cherry). so I am really convinced to go with the round over. I feel the round over will give the guitar a smooth look and feel. I know most of us think of LP's and we see it our head with at least one set of bindings on it. But at the same time how many LP's do you see that are neck through?
so I want all my guitars to have something different than what you can buy on the market. Plus at the moment she is a little heavy and need to lose a pound or two. HA! EB
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Post by antares on Jul 28, 2014 1:06:56 GMT -6
I agree about the binding. My Firebird has neck through construction and being the Zebrawood variant the laminations are very visible. It's fair to say that binding would look completely wrong. Also, it's crying out for a lot more rounding off. I say run with your instincts / intuition Eddie. e&oe
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Post by Deus Machina on Jul 28, 2014 3:25:37 GMT -6
Yeah, I'm thinking my instinct toward tradition is wrong in this case. Binding probably wouldn't fit. If feels like it needs something around the edge, but I think you're right that the roundover would give it that. Looking forward to seeing it!
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Post by dnic on Jul 28, 2014 7:56:19 GMT -6
Round over.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 8:53:46 GMT -6
WOW Thanks for input... That's a good looking fierbird...
EB
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Post by antares on Jul 28, 2014 11:23:04 GMT -6
I just wish that Gibson would re-learn the lessons that were taken on board after the Norlin experiment, and return to using nickel plating ( or at least give the option) but that's off-topic (as is the Firebird) Really enjoying this thread Eddie. It's better than one of those StewMac videos. Kudos!
e&oe
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 13:57:45 GMT -6
Thanks for the comps! Here is all I'm going to be able to do today. Today I got the neck sanded down to the the wings. Not easy for me. But I pushed through my pain until I can do no more today. these two shots are of the back. This is the front. I used a belt sander to get the neck down to the wings. Then I used a orbital sander and some hand sanding. here is the paper template I use for the cove top. I never made any wood templates. This will be my second carved LP top. So I really don't see the need of making any. If I were making a bunch of LP's I guess I would make me some. Here I taped the template on to show how it looks on the body. I ran out of contact cement, so I need to go get some. What I do is,I'll cement this down and use my router, and free hand the routes needed. It seems to work for me. At least it did on the last LP wlanut build. On the template it says it's best to carve the top before you route the hole for the pickups and neck. But I found on my last carve top to do the routes first. At least for me it was a lot easier to do them first. Why? Because after the top is carved then you have to come up with a way to rout for the pickups. I think it's easier to rout while you have a flat top. Think about it you will get what I mean. OK like I said that's it for me today... now it's time to ice my neck and take some pills... Man I get tired of this. Thanks again for the input and comps! EB
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Post by Deus Machina on Jul 28, 2014 15:00:54 GMT -6
I haven't the foggiest why someone would say it's easier to route after carving the top. I do love me a carved top, though. That'll make the grain pop. I don't think I'd trust myself to do that, but I'm more of a metalworker anyway.
As for your neck, my mom introduced me to this little pillow full of buckwheat. You microwave it for a second, and it stays good and hot for a long time. Works wonders on my busted knee.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 17:36:50 GMT -6
Thanks Deus... I have one of the pillows. Believe me, I think I have tried everything. Some things work for a while and some don't at all... think I'm at the point to where nothing is going to work. My doctors seem to think the same... Not sure if they think it's easier or not. But from what I read was that carving the top first gives you a better carve for the top. If you look at LP's (Gibson) they all have a slight curve all the way across the top. Once you cut for the pickups you lose that guide line. My fist carved top is flat where the pickups go. I was thinking of doing the same with this one. Leaving the top flat where the pickups go.
I just watched a video where a guy is showing how he makes carved top neck through LP's, he uses a grinder to make his and he two leaves the top of the body flat. He does some really nice work, and the grinder does speed up things. But he warns to be really careful if using a grinder, one slip and your project can become junk in seconds.
So I think I'm going to do it like I did my last one, and use chisels, sand paper and so on. EB
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Post by dnic on Jul 28, 2014 18:17:06 GMT -6
I used templates on my Les Paul build because I needed to be sure to replicate the 59 carve as close as possible. On the next one though, the Pauduk one, I used an angle grinder and a 60 grit disc. Very aggressive but controllable and fast.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 19:51:14 GMT -6
I have used the angle grinder on the neck heal before... don't know if I am brave enough to try doing it on the top. I may try that out on some scrap wood. I may use the grinder on the heal of this build so I can take off the wood faster. I'll see once I get there.
In the next day or two, I'm going to try and get the routing done for the pickups, then I may stat on the top. still trying to make up my mind about the peg head design.
The fret board did not come out as good as I would have liked but I'm going to use it any way.
If you use inlays like I used it is really hard not to chip out some of the wood on them skinny/thin inlays at the neck pickup end. so on the last two It chipped right where the fret cut is made.((((note to myself... next time I do inlays do not cut the fret slots first))))) so I filled in with the epoxy as I was putting in the inlay. Let it dry and had to add some CA glue to get it even. But in doing so it made the inlay with a dark looking gap. I do have a trick up my sleeve to hide it. I'll post it if it works out. HA!
I am also thinking of putting a almost veneer (maple) under the fret board. I think it would look cool to see a skinny strip under the cherry bindings. since the outside edge of the neck is cherry and the binding is cherry. I thought it may be cool. I'll also know more about that later on. I have some maple I'll be experimenting with for that reason.
EB
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Post by dnic on Jul 29, 2014 8:37:42 GMT -6
Had the same thing happen on my Les Paul inlay up the neck. So little wood between the fret slot and inlay cavity I had one pop loose. It was rosewood just CAed it back in, no harm no foul. But I cam to the same conclusion, inlay before slots, at least on big inlays.
I've seen Ben at Crimson guitars use a veneer under the fret board it's a cool look. But you just need to decide if it's right for this particular guitar with all the other design features all ready in place.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 10:25:06 GMT -6
Yes, today I'm going to experiment, If I can get it to look the way i see it in my head, I think it will look good. It will bring the body and peg head together. I did lay an other fret board under it and I like the look. I don't think it will be too busy looking like if I were to add the binding to it. It won't be over powering.
Yes Rosewood or ebony fret board are more forgiving in the way. But maple or lite wood fret boards are little unforgiving. But I think the frets will cover up most of it. since it's my guitar I may just leave it alone. What I am thinking of doing is putting a pin stripe around the inlays. Like in black. since the guitar will have some black on it, it may look OK. I will have to brush up on my old pin stripping skills. Maybe even a lite blue color. I don't know, I'll try it out, If i don't like it I'll leave it alone.
EB
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Jul 29, 2014 21:56:51 GMT -6
Eddie - the custom bridge pickup is almost done...I'm torture-testing it right now.
Sound file is coming. The pickup is a classic, medium output humbucker with four-conductor wiring and a single coil sound that actually sounds like a single coil. To me, PAFs don't sound like a Strat single coil when it is split. They are too thin and underpowered. I think this one sounds right. It is very versatile - I have one in the neck position of my gigging/development guitar.
More to follow, John
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 12:10:13 GMT -6
thanks John!!!!! Can't wait to get it... I hope in the next day or two to have the routing done for the pickup and maybe even the top carved. That would be a lot for me right now. So we will see how it goes.
I have the fret board ready to glue on... But I'm going to wait until I get the top pretty close to being done. Once I get the and the control cavity routed then it will be down to the neck being carved out.
Thanks again John! The way you are describing the pickup, I just know I'll like it. Get ready for the neck pickup... HA! Thanks for all your help on this project.
EB
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