Andy Timmons inspired build...

GoldenEraGuitars

I’m a massive Andy Timmons fan. I love his tone, his gear, his love of music and most of all I love how I can listen to him for inspiration (even though I play NOTHING like him) and not feel like selling all my gear (well, one Guitar and one amp ).

I remember a few years back I mercilessly chased down a shop willing to order me a white Ibanez AT10p in from Headstock. After doing a lot of phoning and tyre kicking I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t purchase said Guitar. It hadn’t been ordered so I felt a little less guilty.

Now, I’ve had experience with his choice of pickup and I’m a fan of flatter, faster necks on superstrats. Soooo... I got thinking.

I have a maple neck in my possession and I had been using it to mess about with headstock ideas. I suddenly thought how cool it would be to build my own AT inspired strat. The neck is a compound radius 9.5-12 C so it’s perfect for what I’m going for. I also have 7-8 HSS alder strat bodies en route and most of the hardware to do this project fairly efficiently. Only thing I don’t have and may not be able to buy soon are the pickups but that can wait.

I shall update this thread over the coming days with the details of the neck. Hopefully you guys will find this fun to watch

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

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

Gizmo

I always though the RX350's from the 90's would be a good choice to mod into a timmons build,there's one on reverb pretty cheap atm 

https://reverb.com/item/6583050-ibanez-rx350-electric-guitar-made-in-korea-90s



Keep us updated on your progress and Good luck with the build

GoldenEraGuitars

@Gizmo yeah that’s pretty cool! I’m going to use a standard strat body though as it’ll be easier for me to build and get parts for. The neck I have was also cut to fit one of the bodies I’m getting perfectly.

I shall have some updates this weekend

WezV

Gizmo said:

I always though the RX350's from the 90's would be a good choice to mod into a timmons build,there's one on reverb pretty cheap atm 

https://reverb.com/item/6583050-ibanez-rx350-electric-guitar-made-in-korea-90s



Keep us updated on your progress and Good luck with the build

hmm.  Mother of toilet paper

GoldenEraGuitars

This is the neck in question and the headstock I’m reshaping.

Time to lose the curves and get pointer...

https://i.imgur.com/uMLF4Zg.jpg

GoldenEraGuitars

Okay. Big update... delighted with the result.

https://i.imgur.com/9NitNyl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TE6xGaz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/AE1xK1R.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/25UXqry.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2LWIT61.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yn0z2x7.jpg

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

GoldenEraGuitars

I couldn’t help it, here’s a mock up.

https://i.imgur.com/mM3Crut.jpg

Although it’ll not be going on an SSS red body it gives you the idea 

bingefeller

What colour are you going to make it?

GoldenEraGuitars

bingefeller said:

What colour are you going to make it?

Possibly aged Olympic white... I may also match the headstock too

JMP220478

very interested in how this works out tonally as well as cosmetically - AT fanboy too ; though as I learned last night watching George Lynch with a Les Paul into a 1987x - a lot of it is in the hands :-) 

gusman2x

lonestar said:

I couldn’t help it, here’s a mock up.

https://i.imgur.com/mM3Crut.jpg

Although it’ll not be going on an SSS red body it gives you the idea 

Great floor!

bingefeller

lonestar said:

bingefeller said:

What colour are you going to make it?

Possibly aged Olympic white... I may also match the headstock too

Sounds good, I'm watching this thread so I can keep up to date with your progress.

randella

Cool! I need to get into some Timmons, I like his playing. He always seems like a decent sort too, whenever I hear him speak.

Just out of interest, would the AT Ibanez headstocks be pitched back, like the RGs and Jems? I like the way you've done it mind, being the big Strat fanboy that I am. Looks great. 

Also are you going to change the Strat body shape any? Or is it more 'inspired' like you say?

Following this one with interest, good for you doing something a little different.

GoldenEraGuitars

JMP220478 said:

very interested in how this works out tonally as well as cosmetically - AT fanboy too ; though as I learned last night watching George Lynch with a Les Paul into a 1987x - a lot of it is in the hands :-) 

It’s true isn’t it? It’s mainly in the fingers. My p90 junior sounds scarily close to my last strat which sounded pretty much the same as my old SG. When you find “your” sound you’ll always find a way to achieve it on any guitar (imo).

GoldenEraGuitars

gusman2x said:

lonestar said:

I couldn’t help it, here’s a mock up.

https://i.imgur.com/mM3Crut.jpg

Although it’ll not be going on an SSS red body it gives you the idea 

Great floor!

Walnut parquet reclaimed from a church

GoldenEraGuitars

bingefeller said:

lonestar said:

bingefeller said:

What colour are you going to make it?

Possibly aged Olympic white... I may also match the headstock too

Sounds good, I'm watching this thread so I can keep up to date with your progress.

The body will be here next week so I don’t have much time to decide. 

I was wanting to keep it to the colours of his signature models but I’m not sure...

gusman2x

Been seriously considering robbing an old church or school hall for a parquet. 

Love an AT too!

GoldenEraGuitars

Sorry for the delay gents, I’ve been up to my eyes!

Right.... after dressing the fret ends and rolling the fingerboard I was able to tint the neck. I made the informed decision to use an aged Olympic white for the body. I think I’m secretly still GASsing for the Jaden Rose Salvo in white that I missed out on. That coupled with the fact that the white is an option for the AT10P (I know it’s a bright white) it made sense to go down this route.

I got plenty of strat bodies in so the only real stipulation was that it had to be alder. Well, a beautifully dull piece of alder weighing in at 3lb 5oz came in so I had no reservations about spraying it an opaque colour!

And here is the progress so far...

https://i.imgur.com/vBHc6dQ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/L2O4hfL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/L8Fhcj3.jpg

bingefeller

Like this one?

GoldenEraGuitars

bingefeller said:

Like this one?

Indeed mate. Apart from the rosewood board

GoldenEraGuitars

Right fellas... if anyone is still following? 

Im losing a little enthusiasm for this project and it’s simply down to the cost of the pickups. I can’t justify the price of those Dimarzios new so I’ll keep a look out for them used. I have made a few contacts in the pickup world and tbh I’m tempted to continue down the “tribute” line and not use he same ones that Andy uses.

What are your thoughts on this?