Its been a while since I have posted…seems to be a trend. I recently had 2 weeks off of work and was able to finish a guitar that has been in the works for a long time. I say done, but there are still a few minor things to do to it. It needs a chrome pickup ring for the bridge pickup, and I still need to shield the electronics cavity, but other than that it is done. Here are the specs:
Neck: 5 Piece, Maple/Black Walnut, Rosewood fingerboard with side dots only. Tru-oil open pore finish.
Body: African Mahogany with carved 1 piece flamed Maple top. High gloss, blue Burst finish with faux binding.
Hardware and Electronics: GFS Crunchy rail Neck and Bridge pickups (which I am pleasantly impressed by), wired through one tone, one volume and a 5 way rotary switch with coil splitting options. Wilkinson tremolo, Planet Wave auto-trim-lok tuners and graphite nut and D’addario XL 0.010 strings.
This is the first bolt on neck that I have done in quite some time. I finished the body on this guitar about a year ago, but messed up the neck and had to throw it away. It was originally intended to be a set neck, but the neck pocket on the body was already routed specifically for the neck I messed up. The odds were that I would not make an identical neck to fit that pocket and get the quality of glue joint that I require. So, I decided to try a bolt on style where metal inserts are put into the neck and machine screws, instead of wood screws, are used to attach the neck. I was curious if using the inserts would compare favorably to a set neck as far as sound and sustain are concerned. So far I am quite pleased it. I think it sounds great with no compromise to sustain. I am however going to do another guitar with this type of bolt on, but with a “press in” tight neck joint like what I normally do for a set neck. I think that will sound even better.
Enjoy the pictures!
