Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: FELINEGUITARS on July 08, 2014, 01:37:45 AM
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I've had this quilted maple capped mahogany body on the backburner for ages - a few years in fact .
It initially had a little movement in the mahogany - a slight cupping of the wood - so we put it to one side and let it rest for a few years, checking it periodically and after a while felt that it had stabilised. Looking at the beauty of the quilt you can see why we persevered with it.
We got it built up with all of the woodwork pretty much done.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/10386983_691900137523740_2718632608459271947_o.jpg)
So as I've had a free weekend I decided to push ahead a little further with it.
First I installed some inlays I had
Work in progress:
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/10504873_699000933480327_4412314695219073022_o.jpg)
Finally in
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/10497494_699139983466422_5776120182394073555_o.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/10403790_699140023466418_4800150523801759016_o.jpg)
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Next up it was time to get some frets in once the fingerboard and inlays were levelled and polished
As is usual for my own guitars I chose Dunlop 6000 wire - my personal favourite
I used my trusty arbor press for the first fourteen
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/1556300_699373596776394_7534882851533535007_o.jpg)
I then had to switcgh to another method for the remaining 8 - so going old school to an extent we hammered them in, but also using Stewmac's "Jaws3" and superglue to ensure a snug trouble free fit (all of the frets are glued as well as using the barbs - my preferred route)
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/10517603_699379553442465_3989486055073282160_o.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10526038_699379586775795_1004263640209209340_n.jpg)
All done!
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/10497385_699416070105480_5302194212986612154_o.jpg)
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So next it needed some hardware and pickups.
I had saved a few of my favourite things and some parts that I wanted to try out.
Tuners - I chose the Graph Tech Ratio tuners - the ones where every string has a different ratio to ensure a more even winding rate - so no more twitchy winding experience on the G string and Low E.
Nut - as ever I went for the Earvana compensated tuning system nut (once you hear your guitar sound so much more in tune it's pretty hard to go back , and it requires nothing different from the player)
Bridge: a Tone Pros locking one (good experience with these, so happy to use again)
Tailpiece: a lightweight aluminium one (like I used on the 20th anniversary range - I feel it aids the top end clarity a lot)
Tailpiece studs: Some Tonepros split locking ones - holds the tailpiece 100% rigid - great resonance transfer in my opinion.
Electrics : some 500k CGE pots (like Gibson used to use - I usually use the BKP 550k ones but I still have a soft spot for these and these are the last ones I had as CGE have ceased production). The caps are Jensen oil and paper ones - a 0.022uF for the bridge and a 0.015uF for the neck tone. These were wired in 50s wiring.
Oh - and the speed knobs go up to 11!
Pickups: At last I hava home to try out my BKP 10th anniversary set in :)
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/10355572_700026023377818_2098167046328389157_o.jpg)
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/10494466_700026043377816_8908486473050995609_o.jpg)
Now to think about colour - I'm thinking of painting it the same colours as the blues and greens in the abalone. With all that quilting it should look like water on a tropical beach.
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Now to think about colour - I'm thinking of painting it the same colours as the blues and greens in the abalone. With all that quilting it should look like water on a tropical beach.
Oh yes! I like the sound of that! :smiley:
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Those colours will be beautiful with those inlays and hardware.
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Very nice indeed.
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Even with a natural top it looks stunning. I guess it will be a jewel in aqua blue.
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gorgeous top, and interesting workshop diary too :)
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Oh my...those inlays! Mindblowingly great looking. The top also is very, pretty, canīt wait to see it with the right paint on.
Also looking forward to what you think of the 10th Set.
You certainly continue to push things one further evertime I am inclined to say: Ok, this is as good as it gets.
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That is beautiful work, using beautiful materials. Lovely. Am very excited to see this when it has some colour on it.
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Nice :D
Those sort of tropical aqua bursts are probably my favourite colour, that sounds like a great idea.
For some reason "Northern Ireland Seaburst" never took off, though. It's kind of dirty grey brown.
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I was so taken by the timbers, that I even forgot to compliment Jonathan on the amazing inlaywork. Brilliant craftmanship!
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For some reason "Northern Ireland Seaburst" never took off, though. It's kind of dirty grey brown.
It's got potential. You could have a dead seagull inlay on the body, and "falling cigarette butts" fret markers.
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Nice :D
Those sort of tropical aqua bursts are probably my favourite colour, that sounds like a great idea.
For some reason "Northern Ireland Seaburst" never took off, though. It's kind of dirty grey brown.
hahah where's that laughing emote gone!
I saw this on Facebook earlier. Looks great and it has a nice story behind it :afro:
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Nice top, your wood is giving me wood
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Beautiful looking guitar Jonathan and I agree with the colour ideas- both sound great but I think the blue would be the colour I'd go for.
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Oh yes, nice one :)
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As usual Jon, a great looking guitar. I've gone with a turquoise burst over a quilt like that, but the aqua/green would look excellent too.
What weight is it, as you don't mention if it is weight relieved?
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Absolutely beautiful!
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Jade Green burst is another possible option.
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As usual Jon, a great looking guitar. I've gone with a turquoise burst over a quilt like that, but the aqua/green would look excellent too.
What weight is it, as you don't mention if it is weight relieved?
the weight without paint is 7lb 4oz (about 3.2 kg) - will rise to about 8lbs once fully painted
the body has a little chambering - not exactly the same as on the 20ths as it was done years ago but similar-ish
It would have been a little heavier but we skimmed a bit of wood off the back when the wood settled after bowing a bit on the back of the body (that's why this has been on the backburner for 5+ years
It's incredibly resonant acousticly and stunning plugged in
The 10th anniversary pickups aren't tht high output so the natural tone shines through.