NGD - Graick 2312-TVR (photo heavy)

entee · April 2017

The idea started back in December of 2015, when my wife asked me what I would like for my 50th birthday present, which would be in December 2016. As usual I had no idea whatsoever, but after a couple of weeks mulling things over, I came up with a custom designed guitar. But rather than just go out and buy a custom shop piece (and it being beyond our means) I thought wouldn’t it be a great idea if everyone could contribute to a build, making it from all my family.

I went through some ideas in my head, and finally ‘decided’ on a replica (don’t like the word copy) of a Gretsch Billy Bo 6199T Jupiter Thunderbird. I am a big fan of Gretschs, but wanted something different to a Falcon/Penguin etc. The BB filled that role nicely – an ‘out there’ guitar. Now to find how I could get one made.

After searching forums and luthiers, and subsequently finding that a finished guitar was just as expensive as buying one brand new, I was advised to drop Graham ( @GSPBASSES ) a line, but to be quick as he was/is threatening retiring from the guitar building scene. I duly message the man himself and a basic design was agreed; I wanted a flamed maple top, on a mahogany body/neck and ebony fingerboard/headstock, with gold fret wire. The pickups were to be TV Jones, whilst the bridge was a TruArc brass serpentune, with a Bigsby B3 finishing off the body hardware, and Sperzel locking machine-heads kept the strings in check at the head. All hardware was ordered in gold, to compliment the black/gold theme I was looking for.

I emailed TVJ detailing the sound I was after, and was advised on a T’Armond at the neck, and a Power’tron Plus at the bridge, both in DeArmond mounts. I wanted the option of splitting the bridge to thin out the sound a little, and TVJ himself sent me a wiring diagram (photo of a napkin he’d drawn it on whilst out on the road!). F-holes ordered these for me, and a couple of weeks later a pair of gold pickups arrived.

A meeting with Graham was set up on 5th May 2016 – luckily he only lives 10 miles from me. I wanted a volume control for each pickup with a master tone, so having left Graham with the pickups and bridge, things were left for him to fit in with his busy schedule.

Progress shots from GSPBASSES...

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_1596.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_1603.jpg

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http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_1697.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_1699.jpg

TV Jones diagram

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/wiring.jpg

entee · April 2017

Build

Guitar was dry fitted to make sure pickups fitted in the routs etc. Wiring was tested to make sure diagram worked as it should – Bigsby fitted with bridge to make sure alignment was good to go, and strung to see what problems there were; Bigsby spring was too high, so space piece removed.

In principle all worked as it should, so guitar stripped back down again, ready for stain and finishes.

With the guitar back to bare wood, it was rubbed down with 400g paper, front and back, and using cleaning wipes, residue of dust etc removed. Using blue paper towel (non dropping), 2 coats at a time of the black stain was applied, with an hour between up to 6th coat. Guitar then left for 24 hours to dry off and de-nibbed with 600g paper, and another 6 coats of stain applied. Guitar was then left 48 hours to dry off.

On the maple front, the stain was watered down 50/50 and one coat applied, and left to dry overnight. Again de-nibbed with 600g, and a second coat added.

Back of guitar was initially rubbed back with 1200g paper using lemon oil as a lubricant – FAIL. It took the stain straight off the wood, so another 4 coats of stain was reapplied to bring back. 00000 wire wool was then used to flat off front and back, and wipes used to remove dust etc.

Front and headstock front then had Briwax natural rubbed into it with 00000 wire wool; 3 coats.

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3143.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3155.jpg

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First coats of stain to rear of head neck and body

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3173_1.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3186.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3200.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3203_1.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3391.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3408.jpg

Staining and oiling finished

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3453.jpg

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http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_3523.jpg

entee · April 2017

At this point I had been thinking about how I could personalise the guitar – original idea was to mount a brass plaque on the headstock, but there is a distinct lack of space available for this, so I had come up with some possible artwork. I had a conversation with Vince Ray (who lives locally)…..

Discussed via email my thoughts on a design and what I wanted it to show – an image of me, a ‘tape’ showing the dates, and 50th. I then wanted a free VR hand to fill in the spaces. I met up with Vince to show the space available and left the guitar with him for ongoing design work etc. After a week or so, he sent me a photoshop image of what he had come up with…spot on.

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/Screen%20shot%202017-03-17%20at%2012.32.22.png

I ok’d the design and agreed the price for the works and let him get on with it. Two weeks later I had an email saying it was ready to be picked up – he was off to ‘Viva Las Vegas’ shortly so I needed to pick it up or else I would have to wait another week… I am not good with waiting!

entee · April 2017

entee · April 2017

The finished front...

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_4967_1.jpg

Glass control knobs - gold leaf and red glass markers

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_4968_1.jpg

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_4968-2.jpg

And with others in my stable in the background

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/bexxxhill/Graick%202312T/IMG_4973_1.jpg

entee · April 2017

Materials/supplies

Crimson Guitars Stunning Strains – Black

Eze Oil

Problems encountered

Stain coming off when being rubbed down with 1200g

Using lemon oil as a lubricant with wire wool, pulled stain off

Jack plate screw wandered off on its own

Drill bit snapped (0.9mm) whilst pilot holing for TRC

Acknowledgments

TVJ – pickups and wiring advice

Graham - luthier

Wez – staining advice

Tim Harman – TruArc advice

CBell (Gretsch Pages) – Billy Bo advice

Jonathan – Feline Guitars – Sperzels

Renee Wiggins - Custom black/gold glass speed dials - http://www.wigginsbrand.com/glassknobgallery.html

So why is it called a Graick 2312-TVR?

Named along Gretsch lines…

Gra – from Graham – ick – from Nick – Graick

2312 – 23rd December is birthday

T for the tremolo (Bigsby)

VR - Vince Ray

Total cost came to a shade over £1500, and I consider that a bargain for a one off custom designed guitar that looks and sounds exactly as I wanted it to.

A big shout out to ALL that have offered advice and help during the build...