June 30, 2010

Went to Ring's End Lumber...

but they didn't really have anything. Lesson learned here? Call ahead!

I'll try again tomorrow. I'm going to Kellogg Lumber in Bethel tomorrow. It should be better, since I called them and got some ideas. They also offered for me to look through their remnant pile! Could be a SCORE.

Tonight, however, I'm going to go observe a Krav Maga class. Kick @$$.

I'm off to the lumber store today, but first...


here are the preliminary drawings of my guitar.

Jazzmaster Copy - this file is only a basic body shape with a routing cavity for the electronics

Gretsch copy - this file shows body shape, neck shape, whole guitar.

All actual files are to scale to print if downloaded as a pdf, I believe. Not sure, as I am using files created in Adobe Illustrator.

June 26, 2010

The great guitar project of 2010

Here's the grand plan:

I'm starting to build two guitars - at the same time. A great friend of mine said that I should, so I can screw up on the first guitar and fix it on the second. Too bad the guitars will be built in entirely different styles!

Exhibit A:

A Jazzmaster-style guitar. This is the first guitar that I have ever built. The wood has not yet been chosen - pictures will walk you through the entire process. Likely mahogany and maybe maple. The goal is to get Jazzmaster-esque electronics and deck it out J. Mascis style. I've been listening to a lot of Dinosaur Jr. recently.

Unlike the standard Jazzmasters, I want to put a Bigsby trem on it. I am thinking about using the P90 soapbar style pickups, but am not yet sure. Have toyed with the idea of building my own pickups. Probably a stupid plan, but a plan none the less. I want to do a coke-bottle style headstock (think Danelectro). It will be a straight on headstock, not angled.

Exhibit B:

This will be a challenge. I am designing a Gretsch Duo Jet style Double cutaway guitar. In that feeling, the guitar will be semi-hollow body (shaking with fear and anticipation) with a Bigsby trem (think I like them?) and in this guitar I will be using a GFS Lipstick humbucker and a TV Classic - though it could become two GFS Lipsticks. Read a forum where a guy wired them to push-pull pots and had them working single coil and humbucker. Crazy! Standard Gretsch-style headstock.

Why am I doing this? I'm a glutton for punishment. And I'm sure my fiance is tired of hearing me moan about the type of guitars I wish I had.

Been following this guy that is doing a sparkle finish tele - man he's good! Though he didn't build everything himself. Which I will be doing (sorry Bucko!)

Don't know how I feel about Krylon and glitter...but if it works, it works!

Check him out here. - http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/86203-emeraldcaster-project-aka-son-meloncaster.html

FORTHCOMING IN NEXT ISSUE: CAD drawings of the Gretsch-electro.
FORTHCOMING NEXT WEDNESDAY: A trip to the lumber yard! Check out this place!

Chime in, folks!