[jim777]

Some updates on my 7620 upgrade/update. I decided to switch to an alder body, but also decided to go for an old Alembic look, so I had the body topped with a thick piece of purpleheart and then topped with a walnut veneer to give it some figure. The silver dots in the fretboard are being pulled, and replaced by matching purpleheart dots. The headstock will get similar treatment, with thin veneers of purpleheart and walnut to give it a matching look with the pinstripe. Back cavity covers will be purpleheart, and the guitar will have a clear poly finish (which will bring out the figure in the walnut).
Current progreess here:
http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog...ists/jimw.html

The electronics are a pair of Bartolini 493 humbuckers, with a Frank Falbo preamp, and the rest of the bits are stock Ibanez. I'll post updates as I get them

jim

[rx]

"LAMINATE TOP: crotch walnut"

hehehe

nice body

[Drew]

saw that over at jemsite, too - that's gonna be a beauty.

[Shawn]

I saw that on Jemsite too and I cant wait to see how thats gonna come out!

[jim777]

It's tough waiting for it. About the walnut top I told Chris I wanted an alder body, with a good sized piece of purpleheart on top of it. Then I wanted a thin veneer of something dark and dramatic for the face. He said he knew a couple of small lumber yards in Cali, and he'd look around. I didn't care if it was macassar ebony, or bubinga, or really anything in particular. It was going to be a veneer, so it wouldn't affect the sound much anyway. I asked for cool looking but NOT quilted maple. To me quilted maple is everywhere you look. I told him if he saw something magic to just buy it and that I'd be cool with it. I have to say I'm pretty pleased with the walnut! And, for 50 freaking bucks he's going to put a thin veneer of both purpleheart and walnut on the face of the headstock, and pull the silver dots and replace them with purpleheart (I HATED those freakin' silver dots) dots. And as I said over on Jemsite, this 7620 had a godly neck to begin with, so I just built around the neck. I can't wait to get this back. The Carvin has been vastly improved by a pro setup and DiMarzios (it's a completely different guitar now) but it's going to sit when the 7620 is put back together. I may take a week off

jim

[jski7]

Originally Posted by jim777

The Carvin has been vastly improved by a pro setup and DiMarzios (it's a completely different guitar now) but it's going to sit when the 7620 is put back together. I may take a week off jim

AHA ! I knew it ! At first glance , I thought the radiused edges looked "Carvin-esque" , now I read you have a Carvin as well . That explains it . Nice lookin' slab you got there .

[jim777]

Thanks! I actually got the Carvin after the 7620 was off to be rebodied. I had the edges on the new body radiused to give it a semi-Alembic look and feel, especially with a veneer top over the purpleheart. Like this: http://www3.alembic.com/img/13218_upperhornL.jpg

jim

[jim777]

Some updated pics, with the cleared body and headstock overlays done. It just needs those ugly silver dots pulled now, and it should be on its way to NY this week.
http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog...ists/jimw.html

If I can't find someone to do an Explorer7 for me, I'm going to do another of these with either a mahogany back, african blackwood center, and purpleheart top, or mahogany back, purpleheart center, and a macassar ebony top.

[Digital Black]

That's really nice.

[jim777]

Some new shots after the first coat of clear. It looks completly different, and much closer to how I had hoped it would look. It is quickly approaching awesome now

http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog...ists/jimw.html

[Shawn]

Looking good.