Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: FELINEGUITARS on August 30, 2013, 10:50:22 PM

Title: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 30, 2013, 10:50:22 PM: NGD - and this one is for me (couldn't really be for anyone else really.)

It's been a LONG time coming as stuff for myself usually gets put on the back-burner when things are busy here at Feline.
But finally here she is
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1265026_561876453859443_973247706_o.jpg)

Based on the Panther superstrat design that I build, this kicked off about 12 years ago (!!)
We used a big hefty slab of mahogany that I had in store for something special.
Through my younger brother I got hooked on 2000AD comics and Judge Dredd in particular.
there have been several different artists to draw Dredd over the years
I rather liked Mike McMahon's artwork (whilst not the creator of the look he was the first regularly published artist drawing Dredd in 2000AD 's early days).
This was a particular design he did that made it onto a t shirt that I subsequently owned
It started taking shape in my mind as to what it should become and with the help of my friend Nick Smith (airbrush artist) this is what started taking shape.

Here it is as soon as he had painted the image before we got the top coat of lacquer put on
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1097898_561881827192239_729543314_o.jpg)

By this time I knew I wanted to do something fun with inlay
and what is more befitting for Judge Dredd than his trusty " I AM THE LAW" catchphrase

Those that know me will know my Surname is LAW - so kind of fitting to have on my guitar.

I debated having the headstock in the shape of Dredd's gun (the lawgiver) but figured it may get cumbersome - especially as I started wanting LEDs and a laser sight on it. So I went with our usual Panther headstock and would let the inlay do the talking instead.

Here is the neck with the cut out pearl letters laid in place
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1049138_561878663859222_463729991_o.jpg)

I chose to bunch it up at the headstock end so i could scallop the last few frets
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1172826_561878630525892_365832150_o.jpg)

And once the frets went in it looked like this:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1277432_561023563944732_1879051303_o.jpg)

So spec wise we have the following
Sperzel tuners
Schaller Lockmeister Floyd Rose Tremolo
Mahogany body
3 piece maple neck with ebony fingerboard
Dunlop 6000 fretwire (big!)
Pickup is an old EMG58 which is a darker sounding one - a bit like a fat P90
This runs on 18v for a better headroom.
The second knob is the EMG RPC (resonant peak control) which allows you to add more of a single coil like top end to the beefy sounding humbucker

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1167636_561876500526105_1815598766_o.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Lew on August 30, 2013, 11:11:15 PM: excellent :-) what did you think of the recent Dredd movie?
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 30, 2013, 11:18:47 PM: I quite enjoyed it
Lena Heady was a good villain
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Ian Price on August 30, 2013, 11:46:56 PM: Quote from: FELINEGUITARS on August 30, 2013, 11:18:47 PM
I quite enjoyed it
Lena Heady was a good villain

Ooh, I didn't realise she was in it. Might have to give it a go now!

Nice guitar too, not my cup of tea but I can dig it.
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Philly Q on August 30, 2013, 11:51:03 PM: Excellent, I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever finish that one!

It's been "under the bed", metaphorically speaking, almost as long as one of my projects! :P

Speaking of 2000AD, at Frightfest last weekend we were shown a preview of a feature-length 2000AD documentary which is currently in production, should be released sometime next year they reckoned.
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Telerocker on August 31, 2013, 12:46:56 AM: Congrats! I can see the craftmanship, I couldn't see myself running around on stage with it.
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Mr. Air on August 31, 2013, 07:01:01 AM: Super cool looking guitar. At first glance I was thinking: Hey... It has no pickups :D
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Zaned on August 31, 2013, 07:50:56 AM: I could very easily see myself on stage with a guitar like that :lol: I really have a soft spot for the eighties, and guitars with graphics. Lynch, ahem..

The scallops look awesome too!

-Zaned
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: gordiji on August 31, 2013, 08:51:20 AM: Brilliant paint job.
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: blue on August 31, 2013, 11:30:28 AM: Love it :)
Coincidentally, i've been on a bit of a Dredd binge myself lately, catching up on the stories i've missed over the last years since i stopped getting 2000AD regularly
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Dmoney on August 31, 2013, 11:59:42 AM: This is awesome!
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: 38thBeatle on August 31, 2013, 12:33:34 PM: Cool stuff- a bit racy for my tastes but nonetheless, impressive.
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Philly Q on August 31, 2013, 01:16:45 PM: Quote from: blue on August 31, 2013, 11:30:28 AM
Coincidentally, i've been on a bit of a Dredd binge myself lately, catching up on the stories i've missed over the last years since i stopped getting 2000AD regularly

I bought 2000AD when it was first published, way back in the '70s, but I remember my parents were disapproving of the violence in some of the stories, which was unusual because - although we've argued about many things over the years - to be fair to them they almost never stuck their noses into the books, comics, music or films I liked.

Truth be told, I think I was a bit shocked by 2000AD as well, I stopped buying it after about a year. :lol:

So I can say I was there at the start, but I wasn't around for the phenomenon it later became.
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Plenum n Heather on August 31, 2013, 02:54:41 PM: I hate guitars with 80s style graphics!

(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq33/Phantom_Isle/6-28-03_-_ben007_zps9bd0e1fe.jpg) (http://s431.photobucket.com/user/Phantom_Isle/media/6-28-03_-_ben007_zps9bd0e1fe.jpg.html)

(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq33/Phantom_Isle/8-9-03_-_ben002_zps55e6a916.jpg) (http://s431.photobucket.com/user/Phantom_Isle/media/8-9-03_-_ben002_zps55e6a916.jpg.html)

(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq33/Phantom_Isle/Copy2ofIMG_0464.jpg) (http://s431.photobucket.com/user/Phantom_Isle/media/Copy2ofIMG_0464.jpg.html)

... okay, I'm a liar. :)

That guitar looks AMAZING! And I'm sure it plays/sounds as good as it looks!
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: littleredguitars2 on August 31, 2013, 03:16:44 PM: never was a dredd fan but that was well done for sure
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: dave_mc on August 31, 2013, 07:37:41 PM: awesome :D
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Kiichi on September 01, 2013, 02:40:08 PM: That looks bloody cool. For a fan of the judge it ist absolute killer. Love the little play with the names.
What you have done with the fretboard really is cool and the paintjob looks absolute killer too.
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: JDC on September 01, 2013, 03:53:02 PM: The white gradient on the edge of the body almost makes it look like it glows in the dark :D

Just need an 80's glam metal outfit to wear while you play it then it'll be perfect!!!
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Afghan Dave on September 02, 2013, 02:17:56 AM: Quote from: JDC on September 01, 2013, 03:53:02 PM

Just need an 80's glam metal outfit to wear while you play it then it'll be perfect!!!

Good God man... He's got no end of those! :lol:
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Dave Sloven on September 02, 2013, 05:38:05 AM: 'I am the law' and Judge Dredd always make me think of Anthrax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rVFi6qkPHE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rVFi6qkPHE)

Although I admit to preferring the John Bush era re-recording from 2003

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pTRXboRhyI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pTRXboRhyI)
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: bucketshred on September 02, 2013, 11:55:52 AM: Love it! WANT IT!

Nice to see this one finally come to fruition for you too.

Paddy
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: forestcaver on September 02, 2013, 07:52:36 PM: Excellent !!!
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: Andrew W on September 03, 2013, 03:52:24 PM: Love Dredd, love that guitar. It's fantastic to see it completed. I forget when you showed me the pieces but it seems like quite a while ago. I've always fancied doing some sort of graphic inspired by this, my single favourite Dredd panel of all time (by Brian Bolland):

(http://s3.roosterteeth.com/images/nikzbitz4a029e4834dda.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD - I AM THE LAW
Post by: blue on September 05, 2013, 10:19:00 AM: That is a classic one alright :) The Dark Judges were always good for a laugh