Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: sambo on May 14, 2007, 05:46:22 PM
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anyone know of any examples of this?
just considering it as something a bit experimental for an LP...
imagine just a standard LP body... but with a 6-saddle, routed-for-humbucker tele bridge...
would it look silly?
sound silly?
any info much appreciated.
cheers,
sam. :wink:
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String height would be an issue, as 'gibson' styled tonomatic bridges are so much higher than the fender family.
Rob...
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ahh... there we go... theres already an issue i completely overlooked...
what about if it was completely custom built from the ground up?
im guessing that could be accounted for somehow?
or not?
lol
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I'm sure it is possible, almost anything is if you throw enough money at it ;)
I remember seeing the Sax player in Floyds Momentary Lapse of Reason tour playing what looked like a LP but with a tele neck (or was it a Tele with a LP neck, I was too busy enjoying the show to do any serious guitar watching)
If that transplant can take place then most any other one can too.
Rob...
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You'd need a guitar with a straight angled neck, unlike a Les Paul that angles backwards.
Custom build job.
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cheers guys!
and ahh yes of course- that makes sense twinfan.
thats quite a coincidence actually. because after doing most of my learning on the Melody Maker, im now almost unable to play arch-tops altogether... tad annoying usually, but works out well in this case.
another thing- what about nut width and scale length?
im guessing it'd have to be typical tele nut-width? perhaps scale length less important?
although if taking what rob said into account... it can be done somehow.
that could be the annoying part, as i wouldnt be particularly fond of a tele neck/nut width e.t.c.
any ideas?
cheers,
sam.
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No problems at all with nut width or scale length, but it would need to have a flat top - like a Junior or Melody Maker.
Do you necessarily want a set neck? It would be easy to make a bolt-on - Warmoth do LP shaped bodies.
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ahh excellent. thanks Phil.
No worries about the neck joint... if i was being nit-picky i would perhaps go for through-neck but thats not really an issue.
Warmoth is an interesting idea actually, but after finding/requesting an LP routed for a tele bridge, and having it shipped here.... it might be easier to have it made by a local luthier.... (depending on price of course)...
also- the reason i was interested in a tele bridge in the first place, was because i wanted to add some brightness to the sound, without changing my desired body, neck, and fingerboard woods... (dont ask why- im just a bit silly)...
and i figured that a lump of metal like that is probably one of the contributing factors to a telecasters bright sound...?
someone please tell me if i've lost it altogether on this one, as its a complete guess. :lol: :oops:
cheers.
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The original Hamer Sunbursts use a string through Fender style bridge, I have a 79 with Abraxas's. Also, John Birch guitars had his bridge that is almost a mix of Burns and Fender. I have played an old 335 that had the John Birch bridge, and to tell you the truth there is not much difference to a wrap around Badass style. It will not make the guitar brighter. You can put Graph Tech saddles in a tune-o-matic and get a brighter sound!
The main thing that string throughs and wrap arpunds help with is sustain, but if you are going with high gain, then it really won't make a lot of difference to you. You can get more treble content changing the string type, body wood or the pickups than you will from the bridge. A maple or walhut body will give you a brighter tone, but will be heavier.
I just made TO his 'Chris' tele-ish guitar with VHII and Irish Tour, and it is quite dark in spite of the tele bridge with humbucker, so I am speaking from a lot of experience here.
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On a vintage-style Tele, the bridge is a thin bit of bent steel which is quite resonant (or "rattley" if that's a proper word). It definitely contributes to the sound, but so (of course) do the saddles, the bolt-on construction, maple neck, ash body, SC pickups etc.
However... all the Tele bridges I've seen cut for humbuckers are made of thick plated brass (maybe steel, sometimes) with heavy saddles, so the mass of the bridge wouldn't be much different from a tune-o-matic and tailpiece. It would affect the sound a bit, but I'm not sure it would necessarily be any brighter.
One thing you might try is replacing a standard zinc LP tailpiece with a lightweight aluminium one (like Twinfan has done) - that's supposed to make the tone brighter and airier.
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Totally off-topic, but lovely Hamer, Phil! :D
Being completely anoraky, I'm interested in the bridge - my '81 had the same type, but there was a problem with the spacing - the saddles were too wide for the bridge, so the high E saddle was pushed out to the side by the others. I also had a Hamer Vector without that problem, but with extremely narrow spacing - it was 48mm or something stupid. Maybe they changed suppliers a few times.
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i see.
cheers guys.
its all invaluable advice.
okay so theres no other real benefits of a tele-style bridge then?... well benefits isnt really the word- theres no other major [/i]differences
between a tune-o-matic vs. tele... ? apart from the obvious- aesthetics and feel.
and definitely none of a great deal of sonic importance.
Phil- you mentioned maple and walnut. i was initially thinking of mahogany body (as that is what i'm used to and like the sound of)... but i did want something with a bit more edge to it...
however im not a fan of traditional maple tops in terms of aesthetics, and i DEFINITELY want a natural-finish...
so i was thinking about alternatives such as Spalted maple and European Beech...
couldnt find much at all about them in terms of tone woods though... can you shed any light on either of them?
and also- Mahogany back, + spalted maple/european beech top, +mahogany neck, +ebony board.
i was aiming for a very full, thick overall sound, but (as i've found from my jackson), i personally would want something to brighten the natural tone (disregarding pickups entirely), a little... and was hoping one of those top woods combined with the others mentioned, would achieve this.
am i in the right ball park?
any suggestions anyone?
thanks again for all the advice so far everyone- its helping a lot.
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A hardwood top will definitely even out some of the warmth/bassiness of mahogany (as in a typical Les Paul Standard), so you're thinking along the right lines. Maybe you could also have a thinner body (PRS rather than LP?) to give a "lighter" tone.
An ebony board would also add some brightness.
AFAIK, spalted maple will have exactly the same tonal properties as regular maple. I really haven't a clue about European beech, I think it's quite a hard wood but maybe not as hard/bright as maple(?).
What about, say, korina? Similar weight and tone to mahogany, but a bit brighter. Looks good with a natural finish too.
Another thing you could consider is a through-neck, maybe maple with mahogany wings? Although in that case the tone is probably dominated more by the neck wood than the body.
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ahh a thinner body would help would it?
again- thats good as thats exactly what i was after anyway. similar thickness to my melody maker which is nowhere near as deep as a standard LP.
and yer i spose your right about spalted maple... i cant imagine it havin drastically different tonal qualities to standard maple..
the ONLY thing i know about beech, is that, as you say, its pretty hard, and the grain can look fantastic.
Korina is an interesting idea- hadnt thought of that...
did you mean as a top specifically or perhaps even the body itself?
and yer i guess the thru-neck would be a way of solving it... and that is a feature i would ideally have... although price might restrict me there...
maybe mahogany and korina as through neck, to ensure that theres no risk of the maple taking away too much of the mahogany qualities that i like... ?
i dont think ever seen a thru-neck LP actually now that i come to think of it...
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Korina is gorgeous!
A brighter mahogany is a pretty good idea of the tone I think.
Also look at things like Paduak? I heard that's quite bright.
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^another korina mention eh...
hmm
and yer Paduak is anootheeer one i've briefly looked at...
again- i dont know much about its properties though...
AGH! i need a tonewood expert here!!!
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Korina is an interesting idea- hadnt thought of that...
did you mean as a top specifically or perhaps even the body itself?
I was thinking korina for the whole thing - korina and mahogany are so similar I don't think there's much point mixing them, unless it's just for looks.
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i getcha.
hmmm NEVER considered that before, even though i've heard of korina countless times...
hmmmmmm
ok so what about this-
Korina body, with Spalted maple top?
or is that unnecessary do you think?
what really is the extent of the difference between Korina and Mahogany...?
cheers for this by the way guys, :lol: :D
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Sam, here's a great guide to tonewoods from the Warmoth site:
http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm
It hasn't got every wood under the sun, but it's pretty comprehensive.
(Turns out spalted maple is soft and "punky", only suitable for thin veneer decorative tops. So its tonal effect would be minimal.)
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(Turns out spalted maple is soft and "punky", only suitable for thin veneer decorative tops. So its tonal effect would be minimal.)
As far as I am aware spalted maple is maple wth a fungal infection (guess there where too many thrushes in those trees (sorry)).
As fungi breaks down wood, I suppose it makes sense that the wood would be softer.
The Ibanez Prestige S2170FW http://www.ibanez.co.jp/eg_page_2007.php?AREA_ID=3&PAGE_ID=498&COLOR=CL01 uses a figured Poplar top, but it's only for show (but they do look pretty).
Rob...
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thanks for the link philly.
and hmmmmmmmm
if spalted maple is meant to be mainly decorative...
then an all-korina guitar might give me the general sound im after, with the ebony helping, and maybe a spalted maple top just for show...
or even something like the top on that ibanez in robs link...
that is very, verrrrry nice rob.
and yer- i heard something about it being fungi or something.
hmm
okay... second draft-
All Korina (including neck), LP, with spalted maple top.
now to get some luthiers opinions on that combo lol :)
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thanks for the link philly.
and hmmmmmmmm
if spalted maple is meant to be mainly decorative...
then an all-korina guitar might give me the general sound im after, with the ebony helping, and maybe a spalted maple top just for show...
or even something like the top on that ibanez in robs link...
that is very, verrrrry nice rob.
and yer- i heard something about it being fungi or something.
hmm
okay... second draft-
All Korina (including neck), LP, with spalted maple top.
now to get some luthiers opinions on that combo lol :)
I'd go for a Padouk body with a Bubinga top actually - With a 5 piece Maple/Walnut neck thru and an Ebony Freboard.
Hopefully the brightness would be reduced by the Padouk body and it should have quite nice sustain.
(Bubinga just cos it looks pretty :> - No idea about it's tonal properties.)
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hmm well, according to the warmoth guide (not that i want to be a warmoth fanboy)... padouk is more similar to maple...
i don't want to stray too much from the mahogany... just wanted an alteration to it...
also- my neck plans have just gone flying out the window as i've just seen this:
http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guitar_necks.cfm?type=guitar&start=1&menuItem=4&itemNumber=TN1151&subMenuItem=0&subMenuItem2=0&neckWood_filter=28,29
i would marry that thing if it was possible....
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Totally off-topic, but lovely Hamer, Phil! :D
It isn't mine! I needed a shot to show the bridge and found it on the web. Mine has a natural top, not the sunburst. Other than that it is the same. I you had an 81, did it have SD pickups? Mine had DiMarzios, which they only used for a couple of years.
Being completely anoraky, I'm interested in the bridge - my '81 had the same type, but there was a problem with the spacing - the saddles were too wide for the bridge, so the high E saddle was pushed out to the side by the others. I also had a Hamer Vector without that problem, but with extremely narrow spacing - it was 48mm or something stupid. Maybe they changed suppliers a few times.
Mine has no spacing problems but they are the original saddles and I have a feeling they are closer spaced than Fenders, so if someone changed them that would push them out.
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If you had an 81, did it have SD pickups? Mine had DiMarzios, which they only used for a couple of years.
Mine had DiMarzios too, cream and zebra as in the pic - and unpotted, I think. I still have them somewhere. I replaced the bridge with a Kahler in 1985. :oops: Wish I hadn't done that...
I keep meaning to fix the guitar up, it's a total wreck at the mo.
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I keep meaning to fix the guitar up, it's a total wreck at the mo.
I really like mine with the Abrazas, they sound great in it. I was having a problem with finding a guitar where I was getting the best out of them, my old LP is very light and they weren't working in it (but the Black Dogs sound great in it), and I had tried them in my Goldtop, which is heavier, but again I knew they could sound better (having heard them at LGS in 2006). Once I put them in the Hamer, they had exactly the sound I wanted. I would definately fix it up if I was you, they are really nice guitars, and pretty underated too.
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I you had an 81, did it have SD pickups? Mine had DiMarzios, which they only used for a couple of years.
And there was me thinking that the 81 WAS a pickup :roll:
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Speaking of Hamer guitars, the Talladega features that same bridge nowadays.
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what about koa for the body?
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what about koa for the body?
Nowt wrong with it. My Tokai SG is made of Koa and some people complain of it being too "soft".
THe phrase "my arse" springs instantly to mind, some folk just like trashing cheap guitars.
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lol.
yer Koa seems to be pretty suitable as well.
but from what i've been reading on here and else where, White Korina does sound like exactly what im after...
then again- that all ebony neck in my last post could mean i just go for an all mahogany body to balance it out...
(im not gonna buy that actual warmoth neck- just the idea of an all ebony one in general really appeals to me...)
does anyone know much about how all-ebony necks behave with different body woods?
cheers.
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If it's a korina guitar you're after. You could be a lot less better off (in all senses) by getting a Nik Huber Junior. There's something wrong with their site at the minute, but check out the neck joint when it's all fixed.
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what about koa for the body?
Nowt wrong with it. My Tokai SG is made of Koa and some people complain of it being too "soft".
THe phrase "my arse" springs instantly to mind, some folk just like trashing cheap guitars.
MIK or MIJ?
I never knew they did a koa model
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If it's a korina guitar you're after. You could be a lot less better off (in all senses) by getting a Nik Huber Junior. There's something wrong with their site at the minute, but check out the neck joint when it's all fixed.
Nik Huber eh..?
the name rings a bell...
i'll look into them.
cheers.
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Les Paul with Tele Bridge...? + hamer discussion apparently
Oops, sorry 'bout that! :oops: :lol:
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I would point out that ebony tends to make things brighter.
I have a maple & walnut necks tend also to make for a brighter sounding guitar (maple & walnut are used across the whole Rickenbacker range).
For what Sam seems to want I'd tend to think that all mahogany with perhaps a maple cap would be the best option. Korina would also be a good body woood
I have only met Koa on acoustics so I can't judge.
Bubinga tends to be used by bass builders to give more top end according to bass playing friends (and some bass sites).
Walnut & maple neck, ebony fingerboard and a bubinga top would probably be heading in the wrong direction.
Sam I'm not sure what style of guitar you are really letching after but theres a PM on the way for ya.
Rob...
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Les Paul with Tele Bridge...? + hamer discussion apparently
Oops, sorry 'bout that! :oops: :lol:
:lol: and so you should be!... i mean... its not like you'll ever find ME hijacking anyones thread....
:roll: :oops: :oops: :lol:
and rob- interesting about bubinga... didnt know that.
and yer- the ebony thing is annoying... i love ebony fretboards in terms of feel, and aesthetically love the look of all-ebony necks in general... but i dont want it too affect the sound too much....
any idea just how much of a difference it would make? maybe with mahogany it would be alright, but korina being a bit brighter, im starting to think an all-ebony neck would be too much...
hmmargh!
i'll have a looksie at that pm when it arrives rob, cheers.
:)
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I have a walnut guitar with a flame walnut and ebony neck and can tell you that it is bright, however it still has a full sound, not just top end. I wouldn't pick it for death metal drop tuning though :shock:
Mahogany with maple/ebony bolt on has quite a dark tone depending on the body size. The more mahogany the darker it seems. I have a black korina Warmoth Moockingbird with a one piece Aframosa neck that has a great sound. I also have a Warmoth VIP (PRS clone), with a flame maple cap on black korina body and a rosewood neck with ebony fingerboard. I have a Miracle Man set on it and it sounds great (Wilkinson trem and Sperzel machines). The sound is not to clinical but still has a tight bass and the neck tones are very sweet.
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Personally I have a preference for bright sounding guitars (obviously balanced), and found my 360 wasn't all topend (though I still have to get around to getting the neck pickup improved)
Up to a couple of months ago I hadn't actually realised quite how much difference body size made to how bright a guitar sounded.
I just thought it wise to recomend caution with some of the woods being put forward for consideratoin as they seemed to be heading in a different direction to what Sam seemed to be looking for.
Rob...
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"I have a walnut guitar with a flame walnut and ebony neck and can tell you that it is bright, however it still has a full sound, not just top end"
interesting, that is.
" also have a Warmoth VIP (PRS clone), with a flame maple cap on black korina body and a rosewood neck with ebony fingerboard. I have a Miracle Man set on it and it sounds great (Wilkinson trem and Sperzel machines). The sound is not to clinical but still has a tight bass and the neck tones are very sweet."
thats close-ish to the ballpark i was aiming for.
cheers for the detail phil- its much appreciated... im really starting to get an idea of what im going for now.
and rob- interesting you should mention body size as well... does it have a significant effect then? thats another reason why my Gibson has a snappy, bright tone- its slim (for an LP.) - i guess?
im starting to think im not cut-out for this custom malarky... its bloody confusing... :lol:
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Can we have a recap on what you're after. Sounds like you need the Patrick Eggle that I was selling. Not selling it now though :P
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and yer i guess the thru-neck would be a way of solving it... and that is a feature i would ideally have... although price might restrict me there...
maybe mahogany and korina as through neck, to ensure that theres no risk of the maple taking away too much of the mahogany qualities that i like... ?
i dont think ever seen a thru-neck LP actually now that i come to think of it...
Sorry to quote an old post but the closest thing to a thru neck LP would be Yamaha SG2000. I think the neck is maple though. Try one if you come across one.
edit: I remembered another, BC Rich Mockingbird.
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A maple neck with maple/ebony fingerboard helps give a les paul a marginally brighter tone, but to be honest with that expanse of mahogany in the body there's not a lot that'll make it brighter by way of adding a bridge. The biggest difference you'd hear would be changing the body wood for alder or ash maybe...or if you've got the back and neck muscles a solid maple les paul?
Try out some of the cheaper les paul copies like Westfield, Stagg, Tokai etc, many of these have alder bodies and sound noticably twangier and brighter played acoustically, beware plugging them in though as the pickups are.....well, not BKPS :wink:
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...or if you've got the back and neck muscles a solid maple les paul?
God, you'd have to be the The Incredible Hulk to play a solid maple Les Paul.
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Can we have a recap on what you're after.
sure-
- LP style guitar, preferably flat-bodied.
not after any spangly quilt/flame maple tops- something with a more natural/raw look is preferred.
sound wise im wanting typical mahogany chunk, but livened up a bit basically... hence why i was looking at alternatives such as korena, which are meant to be a bit brighter whislt retaining similar properties to mahogany.
its almost like im caught between off-the-shelf guitars and a full custom build;
i want something specific enough to not be easily found in a production line guitar, but dont really know every single detail clearly enough for a custom build. grr!
Sounds like you need the Patrick Eggle that I was selling. Not selling it now though :P
damn! lol, dont think i ever saw that. i'm looking at some eggles at the moment actually, heard very good things about them. what was it you were selling exactly?
Dreichlift- i used to have a westfield actually, pity i was too young to really remember what it was like :lol:
but i think your right in general- my mates Tokai is brighter indeed.
im interested in this all-maple idea though... Phil- you reckon it would be that extreme?
also, wouldnt that be almost excessively bright for what i want?
tell me more dreichlift! :)
cheers guys!
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Why not just have maple neck on a mahogany guitar? Zack Wylde's LP has that construction I think.
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im interested in this all-maple idea though... Phil- you reckon it would be that extreme?
Well, an average mahogany/maple LP Standard weighs 9 lb+, a lot of them are over 10 lb. That's too heavy for me, but then I'm old and weak from drink. All-maple would be a couple of pounds more than that I should think.
But you're looking at a thinner, flat-bodied guitar so the weight wouldn't be nearly that bad. I know TO has at least one maple-bodied Strat, but I don't know if it's hard rock maple - you can also get soft maple, but I think the tonal properties are different again so that might be pointless.
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Take a look at Gordon Smith guitars. They may make exactly what you want, and you can send them BK's and they will knock off the price of the GS pickups. They have a flattop LP with a bridge HB and I think the other options are none, single or HB for the neck. I like their neck shape, it is almost the same as the early 60's Gibson. I think you can also have a maple neck through if you want.
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alright,
thanks for all that everyone-
now its just down to me doing some research and trying some stuff.
i've been recommended Gordon Smiths on a number of occasions, so i really must try and play one.
cheers for the massssses of suggestions/advice as always!
sam.
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Sambo - Snooze you loose :wink: Here's what I was selling. http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8037
You could always chamber the mahogany in the LP style design. I did this for the LP DC that I was building. If I had the moeny to finish it off, I'd tell you what it was like :roll:
Maybe a central core of maple with a mahogany cap on either side. I really like that look.
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:lol:
damn i do remember that!!!
wasnt in the market for a guitar at that point though...
looks veryyyy nice- i love see-through black type finishes...
you sold it then? or just decided to keep it? :twisted:
chambered bodies have always interested me... the warmoth site has really cool pictures of the inside of a chambered body...
so what happened to this LP DC then?!
and when you say central core of maple with mahogany cap on either side-
i take it you mean neck-through?
think rob mentioned that before... its a deffinite option... that with a spalted maple cap would look awesome...
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My folks managed to scr@p together a grand from their holiday savings (which they've been saving up for about 3 years now - they live like skivvies over here and then bog off for months walking. They're off to Amsterdam this time (to pick up their smoke for the journey), heading north going through Denmark and Sweden until they're as far north as they can go (above Lapland), then turning round and comming back. They're on push bikes this time though and they're leaving 2 days after the wedding).
They've lent me the money, but it needs to be back in their account in 3 months otherwise they'll cycle back over here and kick my arse. So it might be for sale agian if I can't raise the dosh by then, lets hope I can because I love that guitar. Along with my stereo, it's the only thing I've got worth anything.
My LP DC was all going well (chambered mahogany body and 4A quilted maple cap) but I was carving the neck and came accoss some dodgy wood so had to scr@p it. Not got the dosh at the minute to rebuild it. Decided to get the Ibanez Lawsuit Firebird up and running first.
What I meant by the sandwich was like this. Not the best photo, but I love this look on an axe. Especially with belly and arm routes 8)
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/boggs.com/Mantis/Solid_Mantis_Done3w.jpg
Where you from anyway Sambo? I gather that you're not the same Sambo I talk to over at project guitar.
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I like tele bridges and think they suit other guitar shapes really well.
Here is a korina (black limba) and maple guitar i made with a humbucker tele bridge that i particularly like:
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/th_bod2.jpg) (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/bod2.jpg)
I have also done LP Jnr's with strat style hardtail bridges and think thats a great combo that can easily be changed to accomodate a tele bridge, this was my first guitar with a BKP:
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/th_PICT0260.jpg) (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/PICT0260.jpg)
Tele bridges could be incorporated into a les paul design and still keep the carved top and a slight neck angle, it just takes carefull planning!!
Korina/limba has to be my favorite wood for bodies at the moment so i would definately recommend that.
Gordon Smiths are very nice for the money and there Cedar bodied ones might be just what you are looking for
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well good luck with both/all (3?) of your projects then mate. rather you than me lol.
bloody interesting holiday that sounds like as well... your parents must be pretty physically fit!?
cant really see from that pic what you mean exactly... :oops: is that a thin maple stripe down the middle?
and im from hertfordshire... near stevenage/luton... ?
and nope, never been on project guitar.
cheers for the info wez! i PM'd you as well.
that ravelle-style axe is awesome.
:)
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If it's a flat top les paul you want, solid maple wouldn't be quite so extreme as a carved top version. Also if you did want the tele bridge it'd be simple to fit.
With people talking of korina I think it's Hamer that make a korina les paul jr type guitar but I remember it being a special edition and £3000, having one custom made would be cheaper than that. Jonathan at Feline Guitars has just made a korina lp type guitar, he might be able to tell you more about how it sounds. It would certainly give your you're slightly brighter mahogany sound, a lp jr style body would help that too to a certain extent.
Also if your considering the custom route, maple tops while often used for aesthetic purposes brighten the sound of a thicker sounding body so perhaps combining a number of the suggestions in this thread may get you what you want, eg
Korina LP jr shaped body (chambered for weight?)
1/4 inch flat maple top, (at least this thick, 1/2 to 1 inch preferable)
maple neck
ebony or maple fingerboard
Heh have to stop, this could lead to some severe GAS :lol:
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Korina LP jr shaped body (chambered for weight?)
1/4 inch flat maple top, (at least this thick, 1/2 to 1 inch preferable)
maple neck
ebony or maple fingerboard
Heh have to stop, this could lead to some severe GAS :lol:
:lol:
i think thats it though... this seemingly endless thread... has slowly formed that draft basically... very nice indeed!
although... there is one adjustment i'd make... all ebony neck... i just reckon they look incredible...
btw- dreichlift, or anyone else- do you know if its possible to get an all ebony neck where the fretboard is the neck? im pretty sure they used to do that on some old fenders with maple...? where the fretboard and the neck were the same piece of wood?
-Korina LP junior (perhaps chambered)
-Maple/Spalted Maple top
-all ebony, fretboard-including neck
+ a couple of custom wound BKs...
now that... THAT would be amazing... no?
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Heheh,
Mahogany but with a little more top end than usually associated with mahogany, flat top.
How about a Gibson Melody Maker ?
Looks like some form of LP Jr is the beastie for you Sam.
Theres one of the Hamer Korina Jrs in Turnkey (just down from Denmark St). Nik Huber also does something similar (but to me it's stupid money for a back to basics guitar).
Dave_mc missed the Edwards korina Jr I saw a couple of months ago, and Tokai do a korina Jr too. The problem is theyre P90 equipped, and others would be able to advise you regarding wether routing is possible.
Get out there and try everything you can find (but leave your money at home)
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Doesn't he already have a melody maker?
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Heheh,
How about a Gibson Melody Maker ?
:lol: :oops: :lol:
i know i know. but something isnt quite right about the melody maker... i want to at least compare it to other similar guitars by, as you say, getting out there and trying as many as possible.
p-90 equipped doesnt matter though...
in fact thats probably preferable.
Hamer, Edwards and Tokai you say?
my mates tokai lp is brill, want to try an edwards at some point (highly unlikely though)... and i know you and others such as Phil, and Phil(ly Q), value Hamer a lot...
thanks for the suggestions!
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Doesn't he already have a melody maker?
yes :oops:
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Doesn't he already have a melody maker?
The description os what seems to be required (after a few false starts) seems to describe the melody maker quite well.
I't could even (in a few years) become one of those, "Guitars I have loved and lost" stories
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lol... maybe... maybe...
BUT... i havent got enough experience of guitars in general to know whether this is "good" or "bad"... all i know is i like a lot of things about it very much.... but others are really cr@p...
such as the intonation and theres some horrible fret buzz in places... maybe a full set-up/fret-dress might fix it.... and a nut grind as well...
but then thats money spent on a reasonably cheap guitar, AND, it would probably take away some of the character of it (which is mostly what i find appealing).... the cr@pness is what makes it nice... if you see what i mean?
im waffling... i want a new guitar.. ive got G.A.S :cry:
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How about the new fender Spalt Maple top tele custom?
twin Buckers (Seymours in this case), Tele/Hard-tail strat bridge, Set neck (actually pretty well done), rosewood board, and a nice spotty, dotty looking natural finish top. Was playing one today and it was not bad at all.
They do go for about 600 notes though...
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never seen 'em... i'll google it. sounds up my street though. whats the body wood though?
also- a really off-the-wall question here.... is it possible to put a top on an existing guitar?!
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It looked like Mahogany or something of that ilk.
It's a good light weight as well, which I dug. It's kind of flat in the "middle", with a bit of a "german carve" to the edges. Reminded me a bit of my Eggle, to be honest.
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http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0262600521
Gorgeous!
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ahhhh i see!
very nice...
do you know anywhere that stocks them?
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Aye, but I'm guessing Belfast's a bit out of your road...
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just a tad! :evil:
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One thing though. If tall and wide frets are not your bag, this is not the guitar for you. They weren't *huge* or anything, but a fair sight bigger than what I'm used to.
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btw- dreichlift, or anyone else- do you know if its possible to get an all ebony neck where the fretboard is the neck? im pretty sure they used to do that on some old fenders with maple...? where the fretboard and the neck were the same piece of wood?
-Korina LP junior (perhaps chambered)
-Maple/Spalted Maple top
-all ebony, fretboard-including neck
+ a couple of custom wound BKs...
now that... THAT would be amazing... no?
It is possible to get an all ebony neck like you've suggested, but I'd hate to foot the bill for it. I know Warmoth have done them in the past but ebony is much, much more expensive than maple. I believe it's also heavier(someone can maybe confirm this) but that may cause the instument to become neck heavy.
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also- a really off-the-wall question here.... is it possible to put a top on an existing guitar?!
yes - i have done it a few times, but its a damn sight easier to make a body from scratch so probably wouldnt be an economically viable option.
As for ebony necks - pure black ebony is quite brittle, far too heavy and probably wouldnt sound that good unless it was with a dark sounding body would (although thas just opinion you understand). I would imagine the sound of the ebony would be far to bright with most body woods.
here are different kinds of ebony that might be more suitable, like macasser ebony (nice and stripey) but it would still need pairing with a suitable body wood to produce something usable.
I have made wenge and zebrano necks in the past and they worked well and felt great with an oil finish.. I also have a bloodwood neck blank waiting to be used which is red but very similar to ebony - so although i say ebony aint a great idea, i am still willing to experiment with it.
Also a note on the tone of limba/korina: It is sometimes easiest to say it sounds like mahoganybecause it is quite close but that doesnt mean its identical to mahogany. All the limba i have used has had a warmer and yet more articulate tone than mahogany bodied guitars i have made, i dont think it gets muddy sounding as easily as mahogany can.
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^^^ +100
Bloodwood is GORGEOUS :>
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Sambo - I think this photo shows it best (in the first post).
When I said a central core of maple, then I meant in this orientation. I think guitars built like this are gorgeous. 8)
http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=17701&hl=
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Sambo - I think this photo shows it best (in the first post).
When I said a central core of maple, then I meant in this orientation. I think guitars built like this are gorgeous. 8)
http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=17701&hl=
GORGEOUS!!!
God I love natural finished hand built guitars - All look PHENOMENAL.
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I would encorage everyone to build at least 1 guitar. I've built a few now............but still haven't finished a single one :oops:
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now come on tonemonkey-there is no excuse!!!! :wink:
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I'm very busy, which isn't good when you're as lazy as I am :wink:
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I have a bllodwood (Satine) neck with an ebony fingerboard on an Ibanez basswood body with a Nailbomb/Slowhand/Cold Sweat set and it sounds great. The neck is quite bright, but probably not much more than maple/ebony, at least with the basswood.
It does look great though. I have a couple of interesting necks coming from Warmoth in a few weeks, they are a goncalo alves tele with a kingwood fingerboard and a wenge CBS strat with a bloodwood fingerboard. I have the body for the strat, it is swamp ash and i have finished it in black relic (just did the lacquer cracks, the chips and sanding come next!!).
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Phil,
Have you tried this guy. He's a member over at project guitar and I've heard good stuff.
http://www.soulmateguitars.com/
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How about the new fender Spalt Maple top tele custom?
twin Buckers (Seymours in this case), Tele/Hard-tail strat bridge, Set neck (actually pretty well done), rosewood board, and a nice spotty, dotty looking natural finish top. Was playing one today and it was not bad at all.
They do go for about 600 notes though...
matchetts, aye? i saw that when i was in last week, didn't bother trying it though (someone else was trying it)...
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I am thinking i might make a tele with solid bloodwood neck and korina body, sprayed black with bloodwood or tortoishell binding and scratchplate.
I also has some indian rosewood and bocote neck blanks and fretboards turn up today so i am definately going for the more dense neck woods on the next few builds - i still think ebony would be largely unsuitable though
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I am thinking i might make a tele with solid bloodwood neck and korina body, sprayed black with bloodwood or tortoishell binding and scratchplate.
I also has some indian rosewood and bocote neck blanks and fretboards turn up today so i am definately going for the more dense neck woods on the next few builds - i still think ebony would be largely unsuitable though
Transparent black I hope!
Phil,
Have you tried this guy. He's a member over at project guitar and I've heard good stuff.
http://www.soulmateguitars.com/
OMG - Thanks for the link
SOOOO much GAS for the 06 model :o
http://www.soulmateguitars.com/joes_06.htm
HOLY MOLY - 1 POUND KNOBS! :o
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I am thinking i might make a tele with solid bloodwood neck and korina body, sprayed black with bloodwood or tortoishell binding and scratchplate.
I also has some indian rosewood and bocote neck blanks and fretboards turn up today so i am definately going for the more dense neck woods on the next few builds - i still think ebony would be largely unsuitable though
Transparent black I hope!
most likely