Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: FELINEGUITARS on August 26, 2008, 12:19:16 AM
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A while back I was reunited with a great guitar that I had made about 6 years ago , and showed it off here .
It was my first "review" guitar and looked spectacular.
That was snapped up by Catalyst77 - or rather his girlfriend did on his behalf as a present which makes her a totally perfect girlfriend.
But I was so taken with the colour scheme on that guitar that I decided to repeat it for the one that i was building for myself. (yes - I was getting repeatedly heartbroken by selling every guitar I make for myself so I am calling this one mine!)
I wasn't supposed to have it yet but my paint guys did some of my work out of sequence so it came through ahead of other more urgent jobs (Grrr!), but I have enjoyed having her finished and have been playing her lots.
She's loaded up with Mules and as ever features the Earvana compensated tuning system, TonePros bridge and locking studs with an aluminium tailpiece, whilst tuning duties are handled by Sperzel locking heads.
The neck joint is my usual all access joint which many of you are familiar with already, and the neck is my usual 3 piece construction for added strength and rigidity.
The fretboard is macassar ebony and it has huge Dunlop 6000 fretwire.
I used some Vitamin Q capacitors with the usual CTS pots and the tones are just great
Here are some first pix - the stripes move which is groovy - cant see that in a still picture though
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/bonesfront.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/bonesbodyfront.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/PICT4841.jpg)
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That is so ridiculously good looking. Very classy, man :) Out of curiousity, what tuners do you usually use?
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You've got good taste Jon! That's pretty much the les paul of my dreams. I love Mules, I love flametops, I love macassar ebony, I love... lamp... sorry. Great colour on it too.
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That is so ridiculously good looking. Very classy, man :) Out of curiousity, what tuners do you usually use?
I do tend to like using Sperzels for locking heads but will go with whatever the player /customer wants.
If I use Kluson type heads with the stone coloured heads I tend to go for the TonePros versions - feel really nice
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but my paint guys did some of my work out of sequence so it came through ahead of other more urgent jobs (Grrr!)
;) :roll:
nice guitar though mate, with the downwards pointing flame top. A4 mules?
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but my paint guys did some of my work out of sequence so it came through ahead of other more urgent jobs (Grrr!)
;) :roll:
nice guitar though mate, with the downwards pointing flame top. A4 mules?
thanks - I love it
Yes A4 mules sounds great ......
The grain patern is very tasty - not too OTT but the downwards chevron of the stripes is unusual
I have nicknamed her "Bones" because the grain looks like ribs.......
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Really gorgeous.
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A handsome beast for sure.
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excuse me tissues needed!
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its the neck join i like most.. a 3 piece mahogany neck with a deep set neck tenon that can be carved away for better access... thats puts it well ahead of a gibson in terms of stability, comfort and eco-friendlyness
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its the neck join i like most.. a 3 piece mahogany neck with a deep set neck tenon that can be carved away for better access...
We all love that neck join! :D
Since this one's a "keeper", what neck shape did you go for?
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That is seriously wonderful.
Good job I can't afford a new guitar (Good job for me that is not you :D )
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its the neck join i like most.. a 3 piece mahogany neck with a deep set neck tenon that can be carved away for better access...
We all love that neck join! :D
Since this one's a "keeper", what neck shape did you go for?
Something between the 59 and 60 taper
I usually like the 60 taper best - but this is nice for a meatier neck
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its the neck join i like most.. a 3 piece mahogany neck with a deep set neck tenon that can be carved away for better access...
We all love that neck join! :D
Since this one's a "keeper", what neck shape did you go for?
Something between the 59 and 60 taper
I usually like the 60 taper best - but this is nice for a meatier neck
Plus the neck joint is actually sexy, if you know what I mean. Curvey and smooth.
... or is that just me?
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Help am thinkin re mortgage..for a lion
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Great looking guitar!
At first I thought all white parts should be cream instead, but at second I think white is actually cool!
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Great looking guitar!
At first I thought all white parts should be cream instead, but at second I think white is actually cool!
They are cream - just look a bit washed out in the pics I guess?
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Now I want another one!
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Great looking guitar!
At first I thought all white parts should be cream instead, but at second I think white is actually cool!
They are cream - just look a bit washed out in the pics I guess?
I find cream parts nearly always look white in photos, unless they're right next to something which is actually white.
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You could get me into serious trouble with the mrs......
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that looks great. :)
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I want one :(
Awesome guitar as always!
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More torture!! Looks very very nice Jonathon :D
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That does look superb, and with that neck join must be dream to play! :) how much do you get for a kidney these days?! :lol:
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More torture!! Looks very very nice Jonathon :D
Practice the Buddhist skill of quiet patience... One day you will play her... I know yours baby exists... I've seen her naked and she's lovely. :(
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hehehehehehehe Damn you Johnathan!
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It is a beautiful guitar Jonathan, though I like the chevrons to go the other way! Still I am sure that it sounds and plays perfectly. What's the weight like?
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9.4LB
Fairly heavy - big old chunk of 30yr old Brazillian mahogany in the body
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Yeah that's a big'un. My Les Paul clocks in just over 9lb. Everyone who played it commented on the weight. :lol:
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Beautiful as ever. I hope someday to afford a Feline!
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I'm thinking about taking a third job to pay for one :(
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More torture!! Looks very very nice Jonathon :D
Practice the Buddhist skill of quiet patience... One day you will play her... I know yours baby exists... I've seen her naked and she's lovely. :(
Yes Dave your right, ok back to the half lotus position :lol:
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More torture!! Looks very very nice Jonathon :D
Practice the Buddhist skill of quiet patience... One day you will play her... I know yours baby exists... I've seen her naked and she's lovely. :(
Yes Dave your right, ok back to the half lotus position :lol:
Right - think I have resolved the problem that I was having with your midi equipped Lion Johnny
Problem was how to fit a flat plate that hold the midi 13 pin socket to a curved surface.
The answer was obviously to recess a flat surface onto the side of the body.
I had made a couple of templates to do that with a router and tested on scr@p but hadnt been pleased with the results - hence I hadn't risked cutting it on your guitar yet.
The trouble had been holding the template steady enough on the side of the guitar where the only surface to clamp it to had an arched front which kind of kept spitting the jig off the guitar at the slightest provocation, and no amount of double sided tape was holding fast.
I am having a better template carefully machined up on a CNC machine and it will involve a curved top plate bracket that will hopefully hug the rim of the guitar and not be displaced.
Sorry this has taken extra time but jig making is time consuming enough, and I have to be confident in it working ok before I attack your guitar with it as you only get one chance to get it right.
The midi stuff is the last thing holding this beast up from going off to paint and getting back to you.
Now - out of interest we have just had our logos done in stainless steel thin enough to go under the paint
Did you think that might look cool on the headstock- will kind of match the stainless frets
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Now - out of interest we have just had our logos done in stainless steel thin enough to go under the paint
Did you think that might look cool on the headstock- will kind of match the stainless frets
That sounds very cool, Go for it
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That will look awesome, imo :D
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That will look awesome, imo :D
Yeah - we are waiting to get the catseye headstock logo done in mother of pearl as well
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That is a thing of beauty - and I don't normally like the LP shape ...
I'm going to have to drop by the shop ... I'm in Kingswood (bottom of A217 just inside the M25) for another month or so ... and reckon a trip to Croydon is do-able in a lunchtime ... a "long" lunchtime, obviously :twisted:
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try PEC pots instead of those your using, quite a bit more expensive but they seem to open up the tone some how.
real good quality military pots.
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yeah but no pot in the world will make you a better player, no pickup either i suppose
hmm, might make you sound better though and thats really what the search for tone is all about
i just read your response to the tortis pick thread;
NO GUITAR PICK ON THIS PLANET WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PLAYER!
it can really be applied to any of these things we spend our money on
:wink: :D
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/PICT4889.jpg)
Here is another picture but next to one of my other main toys that I love - my 1986 Charvel Model 2
Most of you wont have seen Mr Charvel and I have had it 21 years now although it had a serious rebuild about 6 years ago
The neck is original - albeit refretted recently with Dunlop 6000 fretwire.
It has a newer alder body and the paint finish is one of those colour changing ones that goes from a sandy gold colour to the purple that you see in this photo
An original Floyd and an old EMG 58 (old model - discontinued about 1990) round out the hardware.
The EMG runs on 18v for a bit of extra headroom.
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mmmmmm guitar porn
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Johathan, at what point does that Charvel become like Triggers broom in Only Fools and Horses?
(15 new handles, 25 new heads, but still the same broom...)
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Johathan, at what point does that Charvel become like Triggers broom in Only Fools and Horses?
(15 new handles, 25 new heads, but still the same broom...)
Pah - the neckplate is still original!
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Right - think I have resolved the problem that I was having with your midi equipped Lion Johnny
Problem was how to fit a flat plate that hold the midi 13 pin socket to a curved surface.
The answer was obviously to recess a flat surface onto the side of the body.
I had made a couple of templates to do that with a router and tested on scr@p but hadnt been pleased with the results - hence I hadn't risked cutting it on your guitar yet.
The trouble had been holding the template steady enough on the side of the guitar where the only surface to clamp it to had an arched front which kind of kept spitting the jig off the guitar at the slightest provocation, and no amount of double sided tape was holding fast.
I am having a better template carefully machined up on a CNC machine and it will involve a curved top plate bracket that will hopefully hug the rim of the guitar and not be displaced.
Sorry this has taken extra time but jig making is time consuming enough, and I have to be confident in it working ok before I attack your guitar with it as you only get one chance to get it right.
Ok - have been working on a new template/jig to cut for the plate
Here it is - you can see the platform that the router will sit on and cut the rectangular recess
Note - not shown on Johnny's guitar in these pix
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/workshop%20pix/P1040955.jpg)
In order to grip the sides of a curved side & arched front, the front piece is cut away to grip the edges of the Lion body without being in the way of the arch
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/workshop%20pix/P1040958.jpg)
The whole assembly will tighten up via bolts and recessed bushings in the perspex (that was tricky to get right but seems to have worked). We will use clamps and additional bolts to hold it all stable and in position so we can mount the router and cut the recess
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/workshop%20pix/P1040959.jpg)
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WOW! Prof Gyro Gearloose :D
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Here is the finished installation
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/PICT4985.jpg)
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that jig really payed off didnt it! Looks great
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that jig really payed off didnt it! Looks great
Yeah - big time
Glad I did it that way in the end - result justifies it all
Just sad that I got mentally paralysed for a while till I figured out a way to do it
Same was true over the control layout - just couldn't get it the way I wanted it inthe cavity I had cut until it all just came together - I kind of had too many options available with all the piezo and MIDi and all that.
Could have ended up with way too many holes and controls
Wanted to keep it classic looking and still have easy access to everything
End result worked out nicely
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/PICT4980.jpg)
The most used volume control (bridge volume) will the nearest knob to the pickups, below it is the knob for the neck pickup
The other lower knob is the master tone control for the magnetic pickups
The knob nearest the tailpiece is the acoustic pickup volume knob (with a push/push bright/fat switch)
Then you have 3 mini switches
Nearest the controls is the Electric/mix/acoustic switch
Next is the synth/mix/guitar switch
Finally at the end is the synth patch up/down toggle
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that looks beautiful, maybe I wouldn't go for the midi option etc, but beautiful all the same
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Another beauty from the workshop
Johnny Mac I'm sure it will be everything you wanted
What colour is it going to end up again?
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Pretty nice but the tops a bit too light for me, would rather have some kind of burst/stain on it.
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My poor little brain can only cope with one volume knob (which I only turn down during breaks between songs, eg), and one pickup. I don't know how you can cope with all of these controls! :)
Looks lovely, though. Great work!
Roo
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The art was to keep it as simple as possible in spite of all the extra gubbins
It pretty much has flying v / explorer controls plus a volume for acoustic sounds
Colour will be honeyburst
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That's kind of creepy. I was planning a custom guitar a lot like that, except with 7 strings and LP-DC shaped. All the Graphtech piezo and midi gear. Same control layout, but none of the bling bling.
I love playing keyboards but I'm really shitee at it. I just can't get my head around playing different parts in the right and the left hand. The guitar has destroyed my brain, I'm afraid. I think it would be very useful for me if I could lay down keyboard tracks from the guitar. Only problem is... it costs a lot.
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Amazing work :o
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Lovely.