Second Walnut Double Cut build.. Design change

Rabs · September 2017

I have that second walnut blank.. And I also have nice spalted and flamed maple tops ive been dying to use.. The Korina was too nice to cover... BUT I do love this walnut and am thinking maybe I should just do another carved top but this time with the grain in the more usual orientation and I can then compare it directly with the one that im currently building with its vertical grain...

AND ive also been thinking about a one pickup guitar for a while now.. While they aren't for everyone, theres just something about the look that I like.

This is what I have in mind if I do a maple top BUT again the thing against that is its too thin to carve so will be a flat top.. And now ive started these carved builds im not sure I want to go back to flat tops just yet..

Decisions decisions What do you reckon?

https://i.imgur.com/2Qtzdku.jpg

These are my tops.

https://i.imgur.com/Mzpc2Ly.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/N8s4H9v.jpg

sawyer · September 2017

Like it. I love single pickup guitars. I think the tuneamatic looks a bit at odds? Reckon a wrapround PRS style bridge and the knob position moved back would look better?

AlexC · September 2017

Can't help you make a decision but I admire your craftsmanship! And yes - I also like the idea of single pu guitars. (Not that I own any!)

Rabs · September 2017

sawyer said:

Like it. I love single pickup guitars. I think the tuneamatic looks a bit at odds? Reckon a wrapround PRS style bridge and the knob position moved back would look better?

Yeah its just a rough idea... The knobs will be moved forward from that position a bit.

And this is the thing, I wonder if I like the idea more just because of the look. Theres always a big part of me that thinks having more options is better or the guitar is limiting.. YET... theres just something about them that I like the look of... (and I don't own a single pup guitar either?)

WezV · September 2017

Single pickup guitars don't have to be limiting at all, and they can have a liveliness you just don't get with additional pickups

Rabs · September 2017

WezV said:

Single pickup guitars don't have to be limiting at all, and they can have a liveliness you just don't get with additional pickups

Yeah ive heard similar things... I think maybe the next build I will do this.. That walnut is so nice I don't think it needs a top.. Plus the slab is nice and thick so makes for a good carved top... I will come back to that design above though as I do like the way it looks.

axisus · September 2017

If I was doing that I'd have to have the horns the same, not keen on the different look personally, but then I'm terribly trad in my guitar tastes.

Rabs · September 2017

axisus said:

If I was doing that I'd have to have the horns the same, not keen on the different look personally, but then I'm terribly trad in my guitar tastes.

you know its funny you mention that.. Ive tried several different shapes now... And last night I was looking through them all to see what shape I prefer.. (the images above are just very rough ideas anyway)

The Korina one for instance has fairly symmetrical horns.. These next two are getting slightly longer top horns.. I found that the ones I like the most were when the two stubbier horns are equal it looks good and I also like it with the way ive done these two.. Which actually I think is more traditional.. The original LP Double cut specials look like that.

I cut the body today actually and have now (I think) decided on this design (roughly)

https://i.imgur.com/s9gshjT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Mp4yjBD.jpg

And the Korina one with the symmetrical stubby horns and actually I did it that way because the slab of wood wasn't quite wide enough to accommodate the longer top horn. Which I think looks pretty good.

https://i.imgur.com/kXtKs2P.jpg

AustrianJohn · September 2017

If you don't want to use the spalted top, I'm sure I could think of something to do with it ;-)

Rabs · September 2017

Ok so I decided to just do another carved solid walnut build... I think it will be interesting to see it side by side with the first walnut build that has the body grain going the other way.

Got the body cut out today and I will be doing these builds side by side... So once I get the neck on this one done I will go back to the first one and do each job twice

Heres the body

https://i.imgur.com/COZFD1N.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/n1zFeVB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iFwozLL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/G7VSaMz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Mp4yjBD.jpg

Rabs · September 2017

You have all seen the carve shots from the first walnut build.. So I wont bother posting in any detail since all of the work is just replicated from that build anyway..

So heres a bunch of shots where the body now has its carve...

https://i.imgur.com/PoGWJxD.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/pzCKhNr.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2X0YiWK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/zfFHGyi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ECp5p7Q.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6S5FQRh.jpg

Tomorrow I will get on with the neck.

Rabs · September 2017

So the neck is almost done.. Trussrod is in and headstock wings are glued

https://i.imgur.com/Z7aeGoJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/zNdmIwY.jpg

And the body is pretty much ready.

https://i.imgur.com/bsB60fR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2czA4JW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/IxS6cNz.jpg

WezV · September 2017

I much prefer this one, but I think you could guess that

its good to do two so similar except the sideways grain.

Rabs · September 2017

yes well.... I still like the sideways grain

And yeah, this is one of the reasons I decided to do two side by side cos it should be quite interesting.. However I have some totally different pickups for this build.. From Axes R Us... I guess I could go and get some similar pickups to make it more interesting.

Rox · September 2017

Rabswood Guitars - Going Against the Grain...

Rabs · September 2017

Rox said:

Rabswood Guitars - Going Against the Grain...

Haha. I like it

Rabs · September 2017

Todays update.

Started on the inlays today but it was right at the end of the day so didn't get much done...

But heres how I do it.

This is the first time I have used an inlay shape like this.. So far its been mainly dots or blocks.... But the method is the same (as blocks, obviously dots are easy)....

So first thing to do is obviously get it centred and then use a scalpel to draw around it but only do it lightly.

https://i.imgur.com/8E9T1vG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RWjK2Er.jpg

Then once that's done, deepen the cut by going over each line several times

https://i.imgur.com/nUDTnmN.jpg

Once that's done, you need to angle a chisel and cut around the inside of the shape.. Because you have the lines cut around the edges it comes out really easy and neatly.

https://i.imgur.com/IRwgPBk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/NCveybB.jpg

Then you simply take out the middle

https://i.imgur.com/0SOnRUl.jpg

And its in

https://i.imgur.com/zgW3ABS.jpg

Now I said just before simply.. It is a bit fidgety getting in the corners so I need to tidy it up a bit and maybe make the hole slightly deeper

https://i.imgur.com/yt57s5N.jpg.

Now I just have eight more to do :P

https://i.imgur.com/RGyj0QM.jpg

I was also testing out the hardware position as I was a bit worried that the knobs wouldn't fit on the flat areas in a pleasing position but it looks like it will be fine

https://i.imgur.com/igfRe3V.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3X2a4MP.jpg

More soon

Rabs · September 2017

Hello.. well these builds are still going on.. Ive had such little time to work its almost silly. But theres not a lot I can do about that.. I was hoping to get these ready for finishing by the end of this week but that's not going to happen now.

Anyhooo...

The inlays are all in and I have glued around the edges of each one but have yet to sand that down, Hopefully I will get a few hours tomorrow to do that and glue it to the neck. Then I will get the necks ready and glue them in.

The binding is also done on both builds now (that's how little time I have had).. usually I wouldn't care so much but id really love to have these done for the show which is on the 6th Oct.. There is still a small chance but im not sure now.

https://i.imgur.com/jcAoGQB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ymnLMZr.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/PVtkhVP.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/r3Xv9KF.jpg

More as soon as I can

Rabs · September 2017

And quickly.. Sanded the board down and glued to the neck.

Theres still a small bit of glue left but I will be radiusing it so im not going all the way as its going to get more sanding anyway.

https://i.imgur.com/2AjC2wi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/zdZgZBy.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/i1DXZTx.jpg

And glued

https://i.imgur.com/AvfTtt8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kEhkqvV.jpg

more soon.

Rabs · September 2017

Right..

So back to this build today..

Neck is almost done.. The same state as the other walnut build.. Just need to do the tenons and then I will glue it on.. I do the carve when the neck is joined.. Always done it that way.

Also gave the back a small round over

https://i.imgur.com/NUdE6og.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yCi7hFh.jpg

First I shape the neck a bit to get the board to the correct dimensions

https://i.imgur.com/wrm4YyL.jpg

Clean and radius the board

https://i.imgur.com/uHg79cH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/XUPQy7B.jpg

Give it some lemon

https://i.imgur.com/qMZMmV9.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yzUUn7Y.jpg

Frets and side dots