First scratch build complete

4xv

So after many months of building its finally come to an end although total build time is approx 60 hours.
 https://www.dropbox.com/s/x3uns39va4o0j0w/IMG_20170127_082834.jpg?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/no62n8jwzf894ti/IMG_20170127_181620.jpg?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l5bh2fbw7329kqo/IMG_20170127_203738.jpg?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7cenyhdafcp265m/IMG_20170127_203805.jpg?raw=1
It has two piece Ash body, bookmatched curly spalted Maple drop top, American black Walnut neck with an Ebony fingerboard.
It also has an  Iron Gear Hot slag pup in the neck and an Iron Gear Hammerhead pup in the bridge which seem to be excellent for the price and sound as good as the Duncan's I have in my Washburn. The question now is what to make next classic explorer or some kind of Les Paul type of machine!

eldarvanyar

Very nice indeed, well done

4xv

Thanks, I have a taste for it now and am itching to build another am scouring the net for materials already, I just need more wall space to hang them.

usedtobe

Have a wow!

Rabs

Cant see the pics?

paulnb57

Rabs said:

Cant see the pics?

Nor can I.....

4xv

Try now if not I may need help wood I can deal with IT I'm not so good

Rabs

Yup...  And that is indeed very impressive for a first build...  Good job man.

breakstuff

Well done.Very impressive,especially for a first build.

4xv

Thanks , I'm a joiner by trade so some skills are transferable , only finished it yesterday and am already planning the next build I enjoyed the process so much.

Rabs

It is fun isn't it...    Have you thought about doing a neck through?

On my first ever build I screwed the neck angle up totally (had a TOM bridge)...  On my second and third build I made neckthroughs...  Slightly different process.. But for whatever reason at that time I found it easier than doing a tenon joint and both of those came out pretty well.

Strangefan

Lovely looking guitar, you have some serious skill there but imo the invader lets it down   

4xv

Thought a bolt on neck might be easier first off to give me the ability to shim the neck if required and also if I ruin the neck I could make another without sacrificing the entire build ill post some more photos of the build shortly if people are interested?

Rabs

4xv said:

Thought a bolt on neck might be easier first off to give me the ability to shim the neck if required and also if I ruin the neck I could make another without sacrificing the entire build ill post some more photos of the build shortly if people are interested?

Yeah cool...  Always interesting to see what methods and processes other people use...

4xv

Strangefan said:

Lovely looking guitar, you have some serious skill there but imo the invader lets it down   

It's actually an Iron Gear Hammerhead horses for courses I suppose, just out of curiosity what would you have put in ? I'm always open to criticism if it improves the next build

Rabs

My only real comment looking over those pics again is that the control knobs look a bit too close together....  But as said for a first build.. Very good anyways...

4xv

Yes they are a little close , the knobs are actually a little larger than planned so they may get swapped out for something slightly smaller in chrome, however it's been a good build to learn the pitfalls.

4xv

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tls59nql432dhjn/IMG_20161128_203754.jpg?raw=1
Basic bits and bobs and my scarfed neck blank
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pe4qvznfz1y8obn/IMG_20161130_213801.jpg?raw=1
The two piece Ash body joined and planed by hand
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3554gm64onhsh4l/IMG_20161221_202050.jpg?raw=1
First attempt at book matching
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8yc0p2t9f3u9yom/IMG_20161221_210921.jpg?raw=1
The top glued to the body blank
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wt7vn3tskdtm6wv/IMG_20161217_212059.jpg?raw=1
Headstock design
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bc31404uzrosxrc/IMG_20170105_205540.jpg?raw=1
The first mock up after basic shaping
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qdknjpda5bfnrxu/IMG_20161222_214345.jpg?raw=1
The neck after shaping using spoke shaves hand planes and patience
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z0tw615erkrkp2m/IMG_20161230_205920.jpg?raw=1
Body contours again done with basic joinery hand tools
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k9pdjkhm0t4jrfm/IMG_20170102_214007.jpg?raw=1
Body and neck with shaped headstock

https://www.dropbox.com/s/firzde4l6c9s0rz/IMG_20170106_203811.jpg?raw=1
The neck joint notice only three screws, the fourth broke in the body and had to be drilled out . 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x3uns39va4o0j0w/IMG_20170127_082834.jpg?raw=1
The finished article , made using mainly hand tools ,a router for the pick ups and truss rod rout in the neck and the control cavity a jig saw for the body and head shape and lots of sandpaper and cabinet scrapers to finish oh and a good old cordless drill.

Roland

Nice piece of work. I like the hand tooled body contour, and the fact that you'll look at the contour every time you play the guitar.

4xv

Thanks, I like the idea of making as much as I can by hand and not relying on power tools I may make my next build completely using hand tools it might be totally bonkers considering the power tools that are available but I love a challenge!