Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: FELINEGUITARS on October 22, 2008, 01:19:45 AM

Title: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 22, 2008, 01:19:45 AM
Some of you will have seen one of the first guitars that I built for myself
Nicknamed "Frankie" as it has been a Frankenstein of different bits and pieces over the years
It's the white one in the picture below.
(http://www.felineguitars.com/images/bio/PERSONAL-AXES-WEB_000.jpg)
I built the body in 1988 from a seriously heavy bit of Brazillian mahogany.
I needed a neck and at the time grabbed an ESP concord neck - similar to a Charvel in some ways.
Anyway - this combination has been with me ever since
The body had a repaint in about 1999 and I promised that I would make a neck for her eventually:

The ESP neck is super to be fair - the tightest quartersawn maple, with a nice rosewood board- scalloped from the 12th fret onwards, but it was always a bit narrow - like a regular strat width (42mm at the nut to 55.55mm at the last fret) and I prefer aslightly wider neck (43mm+ at the nut going to 57mm at the last fret).
So I have been working on this for a while - I copied my old '86 Charvel neck which has always been a favourite of mine and is quite similar to Johnny Mac's new Lion guitar also.

Decided to match the body logos with some inlays:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/P1050005.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/P1050004.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/CUSTOM%20BUILT/P1050006.jpg)


Next up is to scallop the neck from the 14th fret to the 22nd - I have always enjoyed having scalloped frets at the top end on this axe and thought I would continue the tradition.

For frets I intend to use Dunlop 6000 - big frets.
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: Matt77 on October 22, 2008, 09:00:32 AM
Nice... very nice.
I'm going back to my old career soon to earn some money to pay for my GAS that you have provoked
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: Philly Q on October 22, 2008, 09:21:19 AM
Jonathan, maybe you could use this thread to give a detailed description (with pics) of exactly how you do a fret job?  It's something I've read so much about but the details tend to be glossed over.

Unless it's too time-consuming of course, I know you're a busy man!

The neck's looking good!  Presumably that fret slot about 1/2" from the end is where the Floyd nut will be?

Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 22, 2008, 09:55:44 AM
Sorry Philly - actually put the frets in and scalloped it yesterday evening - just didn't take any pix.

Maybe I will do a pictorial at some stage - time permitting
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: Nadz1lla on October 22, 2008, 10:50:15 AM
That would be awesome, I have books and everything but it's nice to see and read about other luthier's take on fretting etc.

Awesome axe btw! Not usually a fan of strat shaped guitars but really like Frankie!
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: Philly Q on October 22, 2008, 10:51:57 AM
Blimey, that was quick!  :lol:

I'd have to spend several weeks just thinking about it before I even started (assuming I knew what I was doing, which I wouldn't).
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: _tom_ on October 22, 2008, 10:52:33 AM
I have to say I think you've gone a bit overboard with the heels design, I'd have preferred it with just one at the 12th fret or something.
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: Twinfan on October 22, 2008, 11:24:34 AM
I thought that too  :oops:
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: FernandoDuarte on October 22, 2008, 11:31:06 AM
I have to say I think you've gone a bit overboard with the heels design, I'd have preferred it with just one at the 12th fret or something.
Agreed for an guitar of present moment, but for 80's it's perfect!
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 22, 2008, 12:19:08 PM
I have to say I think you've gone a bit overboard with the heels design, I'd have preferred it with just one at the 12th fret or something.
Agreed for an guitar of present moment, but for 80's it's perfect!

Yeah - it's a bit of late 80s bling!
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on October 22, 2008, 02:38:52 PM
Didn't go with reverse headstock? Tsk, tsk tsk ....
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: dave_mc on October 22, 2008, 05:04:06 PM
haha, those inlays are crazy! :D
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: Lazy_McDoesnothing on October 22, 2008, 06:05:58 PM
I have to say I think you've gone a bit overboard with the heels design, I'd have preferred it with just one at the 12th fret or something.
Agreed for an guitar of present moment, but for 80's it's perfect!

Yeah - it's a bit of late 80s bling!
About 20 years late! :lol:

But it does look great, I like it.  You do excellent work!
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: 38thBeatle on October 22, 2008, 08:14:58 PM
It is a tad over the top but a fine example, nevertheless, of the skill of the Luthier.
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: indysmith on October 22, 2008, 08:29:56 PM
Awesome - good to see you don't abandon old friends.
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 22, 2008, 09:39:03 PM
The guitar has some sentimental value to me .
On top of that it sounds rather good - like a Les Paul on Steroids- even with a Floyd

And my friends agree that I am stuck on a loop between 1986 and 1988

My girlfriend just reckons that I have a heel fetish - especially as I don't complain about her going shoe shopping!
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: FernandoDuarte on October 22, 2008, 11:09:14 PM
My girlfriend just reckons that I have a heel fetish - especially as I don't complain about her going shoe shopping!

:lol: huahahahahaha First time ever that I heard it!
Title: Re: Finish what you started - revamping an old friend
Post by: gingataff on October 23, 2008, 04:21:56 AM
I like it, but I always get more dewey eyed over '80s style Superstrats than vintage Gibsons and Fenders.