Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: WezV on March 21, 2011, 02:07:00 PM

Title: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 21, 2011, 02:07:00 PM: well since i found myself with little to do today i started thinking about the old stock mahogany body blank i had prepped a while back.... then i remembered i had an iceman template i had not used yet

so a couple of hours later we have this

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ice1.jpg)

I have a neck from one of my old guitars i might use on it - just not sure it matches well enough yet
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ice2.jpg)

and not sure if to go string through body or with this guild style tailpiece
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ice3.jpg)

the neck is a beautiful piece of birdseye maple with mac ebony fretboard and double binding - just wondering if the black bound neck matches the white bound body or not :? i may yet just make a new neck for it

the plan for the body is a black oil top with natural oiled back and sides

I have also just inlayed another neck - more on that later
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: roland_rat on March 21, 2011, 04:55:55 PM: Very nice though im not sure the black binding on the neck goes with the white on the guitar body.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 21, 2011, 04:58:04 PM: yeah, i am leaning towards new neck with the proper iceman headstock anyway
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: dave_mc on March 21, 2011, 04:59:59 PM: Quote from: roland_rat on March 21, 2011, 04:55:55 PM
Very nice though im not sure the black binding on the neck goes with the white on the guitar body.

+1 (which is what i said on musicradar :lol: )

did you have the mockups of the two different bridges on musicradar? If you did I missed it :lol:

Not sure which bridge I'd prefer- probably stringthru, but the guild one is cool too and sorta matches the angles of the rest of the guitar.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: mecca777 on March 21, 2011, 05:05:46 PM: I'd definitely go for the tailpiece option, and metal pickup rings as well. Give it the full late '70s "brass hardware" look.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Stevepage on March 21, 2011, 05:33:45 PM: I'd say string thru. That tailpiece just doesn't fit with the style of the body.

I quite like the look of that neck on the body.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Telerocker on March 21, 2011, 07:00:37 PM: A white bound of the neck would look better. Great guitar (shape/woods) though.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: JacksonRR on March 21, 2011, 07:27:56 PM: :D Sweet. You don't see a lot of custom Iceman one-offs. I would have to place my vote for a new neck as well, considering the skills you possess. Will be following this one.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 21, 2011, 07:33:59 PM: i think jonathan has done a few custom icemen

this will get a new neck - i have decided that much. I was considering changing the body binding to black - but that would take away from the finish option i want. I was just considering how cool it would look with some joe barden white humbuckers or P-90's with blades... wonder if tim will be offering the blackhawk in white ???
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 21, 2011, 07:34:05 PM: Very cool! Not sure if the neck matches the body, but the headstock does... no need for original Ice's headstock
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Philly Q on March 21, 2011, 09:58:54 PM: Agreed about the neck binding not matching, but I'm kind of digging the Guild tailpiece.

Unless you go the whole hog and get one of these:

(http://kamn.brinkster.net/PS10tailpweb.jpg)
(http://www.themusiczoo.com/images/7-29-10/Ibanez_PS10-LTD_Iceman_Metallic_Black_H950243_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 21, 2011, 10:04:58 PM: nah - not my thing. the plan is for something much more classic so i am going to do a new neck... probably out of sapelli

what i am really thinking is a hint of the blacktop look:
(http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/thumbs/1953-lp-small.jpg)

but white plastic instead of cream, probably white pickups too and not much more than oil for the finish - blackened on top
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: hunter on March 21, 2011, 10:20:16 PM: Quote from: WezV on March 21, 2011, 10:04:58 PM
nah - not my thing. the plan is for something much more classic so i am going to do a new neck... probably out of sapelli

what i am really thinking is a hint of the blacktop look:
(http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/thumbs/1953-lp-small.jpg)

but white plastic instead of cream, probably white pickups too and not much more than oil for the finish - blackened on top

Wow tha Gibbo is pure sex!
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 21, 2011, 10:57:40 PM: Agreed!!! WANNA!!!!
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Philly Q on March 21, 2011, 10:58:14 PM: It is rather fine! :D

(Derailed your own thread there Wez! :lol: )
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 21, 2011, 10:58:39 PM: nah - you wanna iceman in the same theme!!! ;)
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Brow on March 21, 2011, 11:09:43 PM: I like that headstock on that neck, think it looks quite cool. Something a bit different :)

An Iceman is 1 style of guitar I think I need to add to my collection at some point :lol:
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 21, 2011, 11:17:17 PM: yeah, i dont think my headstock looks too bad on it... but if i am going for a new neck i dont think i will be able to resist putting the proper iceman headstock on it
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 21, 2011, 11:22:03 PM: Quote from: WezV on March 21, 2011, 10:58:39 PM
nah - you wanna iceman in the same theme!!! ;)

I believe in the end I may want it too! :D
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: sgmypod on March 22, 2011, 01:41:25 PM: mmm iceman
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: MisterMuncher on March 22, 2011, 02:53:51 PM: I'd go for you own headstock shape, too, maybe just slightly elongated. It visually balances really nicely with the body shape.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 25, 2011, 11:00:30 AM: had a change of plan - as is the case when i start things suddenly. basically i want this done quick as a bit of a revitalisation of my guitar building

so i have decided i will use the neck shown above, rebind the body in black. humbucker bridge, single coil neck layout and i found a schaller hardtail roller bridge i will use. i did like the gretsch tailpiece but it the positions it looked good it would be quite close to the bridge and the high strings would snag

controls will be volume for each pickup, master tone, 3-way pickup selector and a mini toggle to do something to the humbucker
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on March 25, 2011, 11:11:29 AM: Quote from: Philly Q on March 21, 2011, 09:58:54 PM
Agreed about the neck binding not matching, but I'm kind of digging the Guild tailpiece.

Unless you go the whole hog and get one of these:

(http://kamn.brinkster.net/PS10tailpweb.jpg)
(http://www.themusiczoo.com/images/7-29-10/Ibanez_PS10-LTD_Iceman_Metallic_Black_H950243_1.jpg)

OMG Philly I do not need to renew my Iceman Gas - especially my PS10 (PAul Stanley model) gas :shock:

I love Iceman guitars - although I'm not convinced that Wez doesn't have too square/sharp corner on the upper horn of his - might just be the angle of the photo
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 25, 2011, 11:16:03 AM: its probably not 100% spot on the authentic shape but i dont mind that... it looks a bit different to the PS stuff for the lack of binding& purfling anyway
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 25, 2011, 02:42:36 PM: ok - here it is now. i think the white binding looked initially more striking but the black will make more sense once i have done the finish

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ice5.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ice6.jpg)

maybe chrome rings
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ice7.jpg)
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: d1dsj on March 25, 2011, 07:11:48 PM: That's going to be lousy... I think you should send it to me once done to "take care" of!

Looks great.... really great. 8)
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 25, 2011, 07:15:55 PM: cheers

at the moment i am not loving the H/S pickup layout - i thought it would look better - tempted to reroute it for dual hums as the safer option
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Philly Q on March 25, 2011, 08:51:46 PM: Have you decided on the Schaller 3D bridge rather than a tune-o-matic? :(

I've never been a fan of those bridges, don't like the look and they seem over-engineered with too many little fiddly bits.

(....not that it's my concern, just sayin'! :wink: )
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 25, 2011, 09:06:01 PM: yeah - i was liking the TOm and guild tailpiece - but it only looked good with the tailpiece relatively close which would have meant the high strings hitting the rear of the bridge

found the schaller in the drawer and i like it!
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Dr. Stein on March 25, 2011, 09:09:09 PM: I agree with you about the pickups, I've always thought HS looks a bit naff in most things but this to me is crying out for a HH layout. Do like the chrome though.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: JacksonRR on March 25, 2011, 09:11:18 PM: :D That's going to be stellar if the finish is done well. :D Vote for dual hums. Not a fan of SC rings, they are wider than hum rings and it throws it off for me. That fretboard is really cool, now that I'm looking at it harder. Are you gonna keep the headstock face as is or match up with a veneer?
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 25, 2011, 09:18:33 PM: headstock will be veneered or painted dark.

i dont like the single coil rings and would rather direct mount, but still considering options. problem is i have some really nice single coils here - and no guitars with strat pickups in them at the moment so i wanted to include some in this - HS looked better before i routed it out ??? still considering HSS as well
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 27, 2011, 11:26:30 PM: Can't believe you routed it HS :(

Still the same finish idea??
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 28, 2011, 10:40:57 AM: will its a very fluid project - things keep changing ;)

I decided HS would not work without a decent scratchplate design. did a few which looked good but nothing which looked as good as the classic HH layout... so i re-routed it HH

Just gone for an oil finish so far - no tint, but have reveneered the headstock on the old neck to match better too. It really does have a late 70's vibe going on now so i decided to run with that.

I also found some cheap pickups with slotted covers like the 2663 artist ibanez - decided i could rob the covers from them and put them on something decent
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: gwEm on March 28, 2011, 11:02:36 AM: Quote from: WezV on March 28, 2011, 10:40:57 AM
I also found some cheap pickups with slotted covers like the 2663 artist ibanez - decided i could rob the covers from them and put them on something decent

i have a load of unused duncan and gibson pickups. let me know if you want 'em
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Madsakre on March 28, 2011, 12:05:14 PM: SEX
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Roobubba on March 28, 2011, 03:13:23 PM: Think I prefer string through (and HH is definitely right for this body shape!). Looks good with the black binding, think I prefer this to the white (and I thought that looked pretty cool, too). :)

Roo
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: JacksonRR on March 29, 2011, 05:49:43 AM: Saw this and thought of you man. I don't even know where to get a tailpiece cover like that, but it's cool.
(http://vintageibanez.tripod.com/iceman/2663_feature/2663sl_a.jpg)

edit: dont know what happened with that pic.....
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 29, 2011, 09:38:43 AM: yeah - mine will be vaguely like a stripped down raw version... no chrome tailpiece and no sliding pickup ;)

thanks gwem - do you have anything with black open coils. i either want to go that way and add slotted covers or just go for double cream
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: gwEm on March 29, 2011, 09:45:33 AM: Quote from: WezV on March 29, 2011, 09:38:43 AM
yeah - mine will be vaguely like a stripped down raw version... no chrome tailpiece and no sliding pickup ;)

thanks gwem - do you have anything with black open coils. i either want to go that way and add slotted covers or just go for double cream

i'll send you a pm!
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: HTH AMPS on March 29, 2011, 11:17:33 AM: Quote from: WezV on March 25, 2011, 07:15:55 PM
cheers

at the moment i am not loving the H/S pickup layout - i thought it would look better - tempted to reroute it for dual hums as the safer option

that sounds like a plan - not keen on the single in the neck.

actually, twin P90s might be nice, or humbucker bridge and P90 neck.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 29, 2011, 04:18:11 PM: oil & wax finish is nearly done and this is my current favourite for the aesthetics i want

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ice8.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ice9.jpg)

may all change one i get my hands on some slotted chrome covers though
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 29, 2011, 04:30:11 PM: wow!!! The zebra are looking great on this one!!!
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: juansolo on March 29, 2011, 08:18:04 PM: Like lots.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 30, 2011, 04:15:15 PM: i love it when a plan comes together!

Brought some of these just for the covers!:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Neck-Bridge-Classic-humbucker-pickups-8-6k-P7_W0QQitemZ140341085828QQcategoryZ22670QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8079325391113030907#ht_500wt_922

when put on black open coil pickups they look pretty much like the early ibanez ones!!

zebra is good - but i think this is better!
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 30, 2011, 04:39:45 PM: Nah, it's perfect as it is :)
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on March 30, 2011, 04:53:50 PM: here are the new covers over some emeralds (not fixed or re-potted yet)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/pup1-2.jpg)

and the original ibanez
(http://www.ibaneziceman.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/-4131205810091961.jpg)
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: _tom_ on March 30, 2011, 04:57:34 PM: I like that look :) The zebras look great as well.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Philly Q on March 30, 2011, 04:58:44 PM: I see where you're going with the pickup covers - good idea! :D
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Andrew W on March 30, 2011, 05:42:36 PM: Oh yes, that's the ticket.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 31, 2011, 04:55:37 AM: Looks good too! :)
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: JacksonRR on March 31, 2011, 06:19:48 AM: Whole guitar pic request! :D
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Telerocker on March 31, 2011, 12:36:18 PM: Very nice. It breezes archtop with the modern twist of the Iceman-shape.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: roland_rat on March 31, 2011, 06:22:37 PM: wow that looks tasty
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: AndyR on March 31, 2011, 06:24:06 PM: It's coming along nicely.

In general, I'm not too fond of the shape, but it's kinda of growing on me. And the finish looks lovely :D
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on April 07, 2011, 02:46:19 PM: nearly there - been strung up for a few days before i decide what to do with the extra control hole

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/aice2.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/aice3.jpg)

also reworked my metal leaf stratele from this:
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/test7.jpg)

to this
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ai1.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ai2.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/ai3.jpg)
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: PhilKing on April 07, 2011, 02:51:04 PM: Haven't I seen that neck before? It looks great, the headstock looks fine with the body.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on April 07, 2011, 02:53:54 PM: yeah - it used to be on the HSS guitar hidden behind my TV, just re-veneered the headstock to match this guitar a bit better
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: PhilKing on April 07, 2011, 02:58:05 PM: Quote from: WezV on April 07, 2011, 02:53:54 PM
yeah - it used to be on the HSS guitar hidden behind my TV, just re-veneered the headstock to match this guitar a bit better

I always liked that guitar and the neck was really nice, I know you didn't feel it was up to standard though. However on this I'm sure the neck will get a lot more playing.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: AndyR on April 07, 2011, 07:21:56 PM: Looking good. And I do like the look of the stratele :D
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: gwEm on April 07, 2011, 08:06:15 PM: Quote from: AndyR on April 07, 2011, 07:21:56 PM
Looking good. And I do like the look of the stratele :D

the sound of that stratele is quite astonishing
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: FernandoDuarte on April 07, 2011, 10:45:50 PM: Lovely guitars! That is a nice way to kick back to building! :D
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Philly Q on April 07, 2011, 11:10:35 PM: Both looking great!
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: WezV on April 07, 2011, 11:23:20 PM: the point of the iceman was, a) first guitar i really GASed for!, B) i had templates, C) it was a simple build to reinvigorate the need to build guitars!

Its simpler than most stuff i build, but it works well and already suits a bridge emerald pickup i had found difficult to place in other guitars - just trying to decide if the neck pup is right for it. tbh its one of those guitars that is better for being simple and now its strung i appreciate its already one of my better ones. the neck was always pretty nice but it works better with this simple slab of mahogany than it did with an expensive slab of laminated black limba & burl maple... and it sounded pretty good before

I have also been working on other long running projects which you will all see when they are at a stage i am happy with... soon
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: Telerocker on April 08, 2011, 12:26:34 AM: Great guitars. I love the strattele. The body looks plain sexy.
Title: Re: Yay!! New build in progress
Post by: JacksonRR on April 08, 2011, 01:13:03 AM: That Iceman's pure class. Love it. Looking forward to seeing what else you churn out.