Probably going to start another build this weekend...

[robanomoly]

...and here are the specs I'm thinkin':

strat body shape (similar to my previous build Guitar build #5: "al") but with a contoured top
26.25" scale length
fixed bridge, Hipshot
mahogany body
mahogany neck
ebony fingerboard, no inlays
stainless steel frets
JB-7 humbucker@bridge, Duncan 7-string stack single coil@neck
3-way switch
single volume knob

One thing I'm not quite sure about is the neck. Do you think the mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and mahogany body would be too dark/muddy sounding? I could make the neck and/or fingerboard out of maple too.

[Apophis]

Sounds interesting
and remember

[Haunted Cereal]

Originally Posted by robanomoly

One thing I'm not quite sure about is the neck. Do you think the mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and mahogany body would be too dark/muddy sounding?

do you think an lp or an sg is too dark/muddy?

[Randy]

Originally Posted by robanomoly

Do you think the mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and mahogany body would be too dark/muddy sounding? I could make the neck and/or fingerboard out of maple too.

I'd go with a maple top, if anything, to give it back some snap.

[Ruins]

the aspects are interesting.
is there any special reason that you use only mahogany for the neck and not mix of woods?
this words "another build" made me search for you other builds, man ....ing nice guitars i am looking forward for some picture of this one!

[robanomoly]

(laughing) Yes, I will post pictures.

I've never played an SG so I can't comment there. And a Les Paul typically has a maple top and rosewood fingerboard. Plus, those are primarily 6 strings and shorter scale length. So, close but not quite the same as my proposed build. However, my second build (Homemade solid mahogany les paul shape) had these same specs, except now it's a strat body and shorter scale length. It sounds pretty good, but I'm looking for a little more lower mid-range presence. Maybe I need to try different pickups.

I have some maple, but that's being saved for the next chambered/carved top build. I've always thought/read that a maple top adds more to the mid-upper range. Is that true?

Now that I think about it, the RG7-CST has a mahogany body, thin maple top, maple neck with ebony fingerboard, and that sounds pretty good. I doubt the maple top is contributing much to the tone.

Mahogany body, maple neck with ebony fingerboard it shall be!

Thanks for letting me ramble!

Ruins, I used maple for my first, third and fifth guitars; mahogany for the second and fourth. I've just started building so I'm trying to keep things simple. Thank you for your kind words!

[Shawn]

Sounds awesome. Can't wait to see some pics!

[JesseTheMachine]

Nice build man, I see you're not going for the Kahler this time around.
You had the same model in your #5 as I'm putting in my custom build - how did you find it to install and play?

IMO, I think the ebony fretboard will add the right amount of brightness on an all mahogany guitar. That's what my next build is gonna be too.

[Mattmc74]

Sounds good so far. Go with a maple top!

[budda]

if you can pull it off, a maple cap will give it some snap. i find that my LP has a better overall tone then my C7, which im hoping to remedy down the line w/ a pickup upgrade.

sounds like this build will kick some serious ass! why arent you in TO so myself and eleven59 can go check it out when it's done hehe

pics please

[robanomoly]

I'm building another fixed bridge so that I have a strat body shape with the 26.25" scale length. Since I don't play often, the 27" scale length is a bit uncomfortable.

I'm very happy with the Kahler trem. I'm using locking tuners instead of a locking nut and it works just fine. No regrets what-so-ever.

Installation was pretty easy since all of the routing can be done from the top. You can see the picstory here: robanomoly - al If I remember correctly, the Kahler booklet that came with the trem had no information about installation, but included a template. Unfortunately, the template provided was for a six string trem, so I had to draw my own. Not a big deal. Be sure to visit here: Kahler tremolo installation for installation information because something that became a big deal was the saddle height. To get the proper tension on the strings/cam the saddles need to be much higher than most bridges. The installation guidlines at Wammiworld explain it very well; I just didn't follow them (not too smart). Thus, I had to recess the trem into the body. Not a problem, but I wish that I had followed the installation guidlines!

Hmm...so many of you think I should do a maple top. But, the only top-worthy maple I have is 1" thick and was going to be used for another chambered archtop. Although, it does seem rather wasteful to carve a 1" thick top down to 3/16". Plus, I'd have to do a clear coat, and that hasn't worked out so well for me in the past.

If I do a maple top, then what should I use for the neck and fingerboard?

[budda]

al is gorgeous, reminds me of that horus that was seen round these parts

Good luck

[robanomoly]

Originally Posted by budda

if you can pull it off, a maple cap will give it some snap. i find that my LP has a better overall tone then my C7, which im hoping to remedy down the line w/ a pickup upgrade.

sounds like this build will kick some serious ass! why arent you in TO so myself and eleven59 can go check it out when it's done hehe

pics please

At some point I would like people to play a guitar I've made to get their thoughts and suggestions. Maybe setup some kind of network where a guitar could be hand delivered from person to person. Now I just need to build something worthy of sharing!

[robanomoly]

As I hoped, I had a few hours this weekend to start another guitar. I didn't make as much progress as I wanted, but, that always seems to be the case!

Rough sawn maple, mahogany and the paper templates:


Mahogany for the body after being cut to length, planed, glued and clamped:


Maple for the neck:


The 10 degree head angle is cut, the truss rod channel is routed and truss rod is installed.


The body shape is cut and look at this...


...not quite sure if those will effect anything, but, no point wasting the wood, so I'll keep moving ahead.

I didn't take pictures of gluing the fingerboard to the neck. That's about as exciting as, well, watching glue dry. Here's the status after about 5 or 6 hours work:


Not sure when I'll have time to work on it again, but I'll post pictures as work advances.

[Stitch]

If you stick "[ img]" at the start of a pic link and "[ /img]" at the end of the link (with the spaces in the brackets removed) it will allow people to view the pics in the thread rather than clicking on each link.

[robanomoly]

Originally Posted by Stitch

If you stick "[ img]" at the start of a pic link and "[ /img]" at the end of the link (with the spaces in the brackets removed) it will allow people to view the pics in the thread rather than clicking on each link.

Changed it. Thanks Stitch!

[robanomoly]

A couple of weeks ago I finally got back to working on this build, and now it's almost done. Here's a few pictures before the final assembly (sometime next week). It has only five coats of tung oil (no stain).

[ohio_eric]

That is totally sweet!

[BigM555]

Looks like another good build Rob.

The grain in that mahogany is unique.

Great looking heal!

[robanomoly]

Thanks guys! I'm really excited to finish this build because the guitar feels so comfortable and I'm putting a Duncan custom shop 7 string single coil stack in the neck position, which I don't know of anybody else that has tried one.

[robanomoly]

I finished up the build last night and am really happy with it! It's a very comfortable, easy playing guitar. On with the pics....

[BigM555]

Looks great Rob.

I still love the grain in that mahogany.

[Elysian]

only thing i'm not feeling is the headstock... for some reason it makes me think of leela on futurama otherwise, very sweet build, craftsmanship looks to be excellent, and i love the set in neck.

[Drew]

You're right, Adam! It's totally that one tuning peg in the middle.

as a Futurama fan, though, that doesn't really bug me.