Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Bradock PI on March 30, 2009, 09:47:19 PM

Title: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Bradock PI on March 30, 2009, 09:47:19 PM: Dunno why but all the talk about flexing wood and necks and I thought I wonder if anyone has made a true plank guitar. Single slab of wood and instead of narowing down for a neck just routing finger channels either side of the freted and shaped neck with a brace piece left joining at the top from both sides - whole thing shaped and rounded but the neck would have the extra side bars bracing and supporting. Would make for a really unique look the side runners could be shaped - spiralled - carved - (snakes maybe).

If I played I think I would commision one :-)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: WezV on March 30, 2009, 10:27:39 PM: this springs to mind
(http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec04/images/roland19g707.l.jpg)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Roobubba on March 30, 2009, 10:28:38 PM: All the talk about flexing wood and necks? Nope, I think all that talk passed me by!
A couple of carbon steel rods in the neck, a 5-piece laminate of some really good tone wood, and I think any 'neck flexing' problems are well and truly behind you ;)

Please don't start playing, that guitar sounds truly, brutally horrible ;)

Roo

edit; wez beat me to it, and yes, that is truly, brutally ugly!
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: MDV on March 30, 2009, 10:31:10 PM: What do you mean you dont play?

What the $%&# are you doing here?
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: ailean on March 30, 2009, 10:50:06 PM: Quote from: MDV on March 30, 2009, 10:31:10 PM
What do you mean you dont play?

What the $%&# are you doing here?

His wife plays and he's been quizzing us to help her out :)

However, give it some time and we should be able to convert him.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: gwEm on March 30, 2009, 10:56:41 PM: Quote from: WezV on March 30, 2009, 10:27:39 PM
this springs to mind
(http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec04/images/roland19g707.l.jpg)
what an amazing guitar, i remember seeing pictures of that back in the day
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: MDV on March 30, 2009, 11:24:33 PM: Quote from: ailean on March 30, 2009, 10:50:06 PM
Quote from: MDV on March 30, 2009, 10:31:10 PM
What do you mean you dont play?

What the $%&# are you doing here?

His wife plays and he's been quizzing us to help her out :)

However, give it some time and we should be able to convert him.

Aha!

One sees.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: indysmith on March 30, 2009, 11:50:41 PM: Quote from: gwEm on March 30, 2009, 10:56:41 PM
Quote from: WezV on March 30, 2009, 10:27:39 PM
this springs to mind
(http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec04/images/roland19g707.l.jpg)
what an amazing guitar, i remember seeing pictures of that back in the day
I saw it gwEm and i just KNEW you'd be all over it! :lol:
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: mecca777 on March 30, 2009, 11:57:43 PM: Sounds a bit like a lyre guitar...

(http://www.earlyromanticguitar.com/erg/pics/Pons_Lyre1804-5c.jpg)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: CaptainDesslock on March 31, 2009, 03:52:38 AM: Quote from: MDV on March 30, 2009, 10:31:10 PM
What do you mean you dont play?

What the $%&# are you doing here?

Leo Fender didn't play guitar either mate, and look what he accomplished :)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Roobubba on March 31, 2009, 01:58:33 PM: Quote from: CaptainDesslock on March 31, 2009, 03:52:38 AM
Quote from: MDV on March 30, 2009, 10:31:10 PM
What do you mean you dont play?

What the $%&# are you doing here?

Leo Fender didn't play guitar either mate, and look what he accomplished :)

:roll:
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: ailean on March 31, 2009, 02:36:04 PM: ^ Hah! Yeah, not a good arguement for Roo :lol:
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: MDV on March 31, 2009, 02:44:09 PM: Quote from: CaptainDesslock on March 31, 2009, 03:52:38 AM
Quote from: MDV on March 30, 2009, 10:31:10 PM
What do you mean you dont play?

What the $%&# are you doing here?
Leo Fender didn't play guitar either mate, and look what he accomplished :)

What roo said.

Teles suck and strats are overrrated. I like em, dont get me wrong, but they're overrated.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: MrBump on March 31, 2009, 02:50:46 PM: ... here we go again...
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Ian Price on March 31, 2009, 07:13:25 PM: Quote from: gwEm on March 30, 2009, 10:56:41 PM
Quote from: WezV on March 30, 2009, 10:27:39 PM
this springs to mind
(http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec04/images/roland19g707.l.jpg)
what an amazing guitar, i remember seeing pictures of that back in the day

I think I have seen a pic of Jimmy Page with one of these in a really old guitar mag from the early/mid 80s. Philly - get your collection out, it's time for some research!
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Andrew W on March 31, 2009, 07:21:23 PM: Quote from: Ian Price on March 31, 2009, 07:13:25 PM
I think I have seen a pic of Jimmy Page with one of these in a really old guitar mag from the early/mid 80s. Philly - get your collection out, it's time for some research!

Oh dear.

(http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p343/brandonleechambers/jimmy%20page/jprolandad.jpg)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Ian Price on March 31, 2009, 07:32:35 PM: :lol: That's the one. That guitar looks like it could be used as some kind of saw.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Bob Johnson on March 31, 2009, 07:35:14 PM: The point of the strut from the headstock to the body on both the Roland and the Lyre was to transmit string vibration from the nut back back to the body. How do you spell Deja Vu?
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on March 31, 2009, 07:56:57 PM: Oh - The Dalek's handbag as it was known
Havent seen one in years.

I do like them - kind of looked space age in their time
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: WezV on March 31, 2009, 09:02:03 PM: there was one screwed to the wall of the local chicago rock (or shite rock as its known locally) for a long time!! - they literally drilled straight through it. They also had a lime green peavey T-60

i made very generous offers on both, but they were turned down.... a while later i heard they had done a revamp so i went and asked where the guitars had gone - to the skip apparently!!! not often i miss a guitar in a skip. i did point out to them that the roland would have been well over £2000 when new
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Bradock PI on March 31, 2009, 09:39:20 PM: Still think there is some headway in the plank guitar - one piece of timber and a lotta carving - bet you could make something that looked real cool and with the right timber it could sound cool as well - wouldn't be an add on like the roland. wouldnt need to be very wide - could even make a laminated plank and then carve out of that dragons or snakes are my fave for the side bars. Also if it didnt work would be easy to make it into a neck through :)

Oh and though I been learnin the piano I am starting to think I may try twanging !!
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Bob Johnson on March 31, 2009, 09:50:07 PM: Have I inadvertently slipped into another dimension????? :? :?
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: MDV on March 31, 2009, 10:06:30 PM: I believe you may have

The Dragon Plank...Dont fret, Bob (all puns are intended) - I think Minarik would rip Bradocks arm off for that one.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Philly Q on March 31, 2009, 10:20:14 PM: Quote from: Andrew W on March 31, 2009, 07:21:23 PM
Quote from: Ian Price on March 31, 2009, 07:13:25 PM
I think I have seen a pic of Jimmy Page with one of these in a really old guitar mag from the early/mid 80s. Philly - get your collection out, it's time for some research!

Oh dear.

Phew, I'm glad someone else found that. Good to see Pagey dressed up for the photo session.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Bradock PI on March 31, 2009, 11:20:46 PM: You will have to let me in on the joke or I may commision bob to make if for me and as it would be for my wife it would have pink dragons !!! -- he does say guitars made to your exact requirements :lol:
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: CaptainDesslock on April 01, 2009, 05:43:11 AM: Quote from: Bradock PI on March 31, 2009, 11:20:46 PM
You will have to let me in on the joke or I may commision bob to make if for me and as it would be for my wife it would have pink dragons !!! -- he does say guitars made to your exact requirements :lol:

haha, believe me Bob is the best but asking him to make something that crazy might be stretching just a little :)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: WezV on April 01, 2009, 08:25:38 AM: Quote from: Bradock PI on March 31, 2009, 11:20:46 PM
You will have to let me in on the joke or I may commision bob to make if for me and as it would be for my wife it would have pink dragons !!! -- he does say guitars made to your exact requirements :lol:

Its not really a joke, i just think you do need to spend some time playing the guitar and it will all become clear. (i say that as someone who doesnt actually play very much now - but thats because i am busy building them)

There are many issues with what you are suggesting, most importantly you seem intent on putting form before function which invariably leads to a bad designs. Maybe if you sketched down an idea we could see exactly where it was going wrong. (or possibly even going right)

anyway, you are talking about making a guitar out of one piece of wood... its been done a few times but personally i dont think its advisable, those one off's are kinda the exceptions that prove the rule. First you have problems with finding a suitable piece which will need to be absolutely flaw free (easier said than done), and its also very wasteful building that way. I suppose you have the advantage that you dont believe wood choice makes a difference to the tone so i guess that opens up your options a bit. Weight would also be an issue.

then you have to wonder what the point of the supports is. Necks should not be perfectly straight. To me its more important to have a controllable neck bow than it is no bow at all and the supports would take away all that control.

As an art project it would probably be vaguely alright, but that rules out a lot of the UK luthiers. Sometimes art and guitars can mix in fun ways... like the manson mermaid

(http://www.harmony-central.com/ProductImages/Large/000001823.jpg)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Philly Q on April 01, 2009, 09:32:16 AM: Quote from: WezV on April 01, 2009, 08:25:38 AM
Sometimes art and guitars can mix in fun ways... like the manson mermaid

Fun ways.... or highly creepy ones. All the nightmares have come back! :x
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: CaptainDesslock on April 01, 2009, 02:04:29 PM: Quote from: Philly Q on April 01, 2009, 09:32:16 AM
Quote from: WezV on April 01, 2009, 08:25:38 AM
Sometimes art and guitars can mix in fun ways... like the manson mermaid

Fun ways.... or highly creepy ones. All the nightmares have come back! :x

I think its cool when guitars are built with an artistic mindset up until the point where the artistry overcomes the functionality.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: dheim on April 01, 2009, 02:09:29 PM: the mermaid looks great! i want it! it should weigh at least 25 kg and i bet it has got a very thick sound... ;)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Roobubba on April 01, 2009, 02:13:13 PM: I also don't see how a couple of extra bits of wood could help with the neck tension compared to, say, 3- or 5-piece laminated wood in the neck with truss rod and support rods...
A single plank on its own simply won't be as strong!

Roo
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: MDV on April 01, 2009, 03:30:25 PM: Very true.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Bob Johnson on April 01, 2009, 07:42:38 PM: Quote from: Bradock PI on March 31, 2009, 11:20:46 PM
You will have to let me in on the joke or I may commision bob to make if for me and as it would be for my wife it would have pink dragons !!! -- he does say guitars made to your exact requirements :lol:

Despite some of the less conventional stuff I may have built to date (it's good experience...right) I do have a "taste threshold" and I think what you are proposing may just fall outside if that.
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Roobubba on April 01, 2009, 07:46:39 PM: Quote from: Bob Johnson on April 01, 2009, 07:42:38 PM
Quote from: Bradock PI on March 31, 2009, 11:20:46 PM
You will have to let me in on the joke or I may commision bob to make if for me and as it would be for my wife it would have pink dragons !!! -- he does say guitars made to your exact requirements :lol:

Despite some of the less conventional stuff I may have built to date (it's good experience...right) I do have a "taste threshold" and I think what you are proposing may just fall outside if that.

Favourite comment of the week, thanks Bob!
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Bradock PI on April 01, 2009, 10:24:50 PM: But what if the commision was worth £10k every luthier has a price that will take him beyond his/her taste threshold :)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: CaptainDesslock on April 01, 2009, 10:51:49 PM: Quote from: Bob Johnson on April 01, 2009, 07:42:38 PM
Quote from: Bradock PI on March 31, 2009, 11:20:46 PM
You will have to let me in on the joke or I may commision bob to make if for me and as it would be for my wife it would have pink dragons !!! -- he does say guitars made to your exact requirements :lol:

Despite some of the less conventional stuff I may have built to date (it's good experience...right) I do have a "taste threshold" and I think what you are proposing may just fall outside if that.

So if I asked you to construct me a battle axe that conveniently enough can be used as a guitar as well........would that fall outside your "taste threshold?" Here's a pic for reference -

(http://www.legraguitars.co.uk/images/guitar/battleaxe.jpg)
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: WezV on April 02, 2009, 07:15:30 AM: IIRC correctly feline did an axe bass
Title: Re: Odd guitar design suggestion
Post by: Dmoney on April 02, 2009, 07:18:33 AM: someone build something like this, but mount an actual laser sight on it or something, so you can aim riffs at people with pin point accuracy

(http://img.engadget.com/common/images/3587374405104706.JPG?0.9318327502435143)