The joins aren't where you think they are either!

As the boss says, we guitar-builders like invisible glue joins

?

I've had this bit of maple lying around for ages.  I'd rough cut it some time (years) ago but then changed my mind about using it for that build.  So I've been waiting for something suitable to use it on, that it would fit!

The screw holes (where the pickups will go) are for screws. 

No, really!

When I put a cap on, I add a couple of screws in the middle of the body/cap in the places where you can't easily get a clamp, just to add a bit more pressure to the join to make even more sure that it's a good join.

A bit of carving-by-router.  Adding the steps/ledges saves some time with the rasp/gouges.

Carved and oiled.

Back stained black because the Idigbo really wasn't much to look at.

And now that I've finished 2020 #5, a quick mock-up to check that everything fits where it should ...

I might use a lower-profile pickup surround as that one sits a bit high.

With any sort of luck, I might even get it wired up tomorrow ...

@tv1010101 Nice work that top is lush! Also good choice on the humbucker and P90 combo, you dont see this enough of production guitars. Its much more balanced than a humbucker and single coils.

Also good choice on the humbucker and P90 combo, you dont see this enough of production guitars

Cheers @pinneradam

If forced to choose, I think the P90 would be my favourite type of pickup.  Typically, a lot more body and punch than the standard single coil, but without the loss of top end that a HB can cause.

Its the first time that I've tried this combination - and I've done it this time mainly because I wanted to keep the neck cavity as small as possible to avoid taking out any more wood from the neck/body join.  I did initially consider having a single (bridge) pickup.

Also, when I hunted through the parts drawer(s), looking for suitable bits, the P90 and the HB (Iron Gear Rolling Mill +) were both loners without a partner ... so made sense to pair them together in this build.

Hope they work out ...

That is one fancy looking piece of maple Tony.............

Posted by: @

That really is a stunning piece of wood and a fine guitar build. 

Thanks @e-den-hertog

🙂

It had been kicking around the workshop for a while.  I'd jointed it, and rough cut it, years ago, intending to use it on a build but then changed my mind.

It then sat on a shelf, unloved, waiting for another suitable build to come along ... 

But it had a happy ending eventually!

Loving the maple cap and carve @TV1010101. 

Great looking build with the contrasting black hardware. I look forward to the completed article.

I look forward to the completed article.

Look forward no further @david-johnson09, here is it ...

The cavity cover is an offcut from the Korina body.

The back is stained (Crimson) then oiled.

The front was treated with some Osmo raw, which I've found retains the original colour of the wood that it's applied to, and stops the wood changing colour when it's subsequently oiled.  I wanted to keep the maple as white as possible for the full contrast effect.

The carve on the main part of the body looks quite subtle in the pics (it's more LP than PRS), but the pic above shows the depth of the cap and carve.

The pic below highlights the "feature" where I used a piece of the maple cap to fill in over the neck join.  But I don't think you really see it unless you're looking for it, and the edge lines get hidden by the lines of the strings anyway.

Looks great @Tv1010101

Does the pickup combination live up to expectations?

I do think it is a great combo especially when in the middle selection. 

bravo ?? 

It's a Bulldog P90 in the neck position, and an overwound Rolling Mill in the bridge.  

The former I picked up somewhere, sometimes.  The latter was from another build that I de-built at some point in the past, so it's been sat waiting for a use.

Although it's 4-wire, I didn't bother with any coil taps.  The two balance nicely.

I'll leave the neck to settle-in for another few days before I do the "final" setup.  But it's one of my easiest playing guitars as-is.  Somehow it just worked straightaway - really easy action, no buzzes anywhere.

Lucky!!

That's the 6th one that I've finished this year (7 if you include a CBG).

My problems now are;

a) finding somewhere to keep them all (they're propped up in corners of my office atm)

b) deciding what to do next!

 Thanks Deej @david-johnson09

To be brutally honest, sometimes I finish a guitar and think "yup, that one's done".  With this one, I really like it.  It plays well, it sounds good, the weight is fine (I have a problem with heavier guitars) and - to my eyes - it looks good!

Does the pickup combination live up to expectations?

 Surprisingly well.

The units are obviously very different, and I think work well to give a sensible range of usable sounds.  The P90 is quite warm and almost jazzy (with the tone rolled off).  The HB is a higher-output unit, but it's still a Rolling Mill model, so it's PAFFY rather than metally.

Definitely 1 guitar, 2 sounds though.  Which is another plus point for it!

Think this is another one for the keep pile.

(It's a big pile already).

Think this is another one for the keep pile.

 

 

(It's a big pile already).

I had that problem then decided it was best to let people buy the, so I can keep building more ..that has slowed due to work but a lot come back home for set ups so I get to look and play them for a few days a year..