And so it begins.
This will be a leisurely first build, using what time and money I can find to put into it. I expect to run into all kinds of problems, and work through them. I'm using the best wood Home Depot has to offer, plus one board from Woodcraft, bought from a gift card. If this one goes well enough I'll try a second one with nice woods, otherwise that could wait for a third.
The design is something that developed over quite a long time, as I've been on this TB since before there was a Luthiers' Corner. That being said, there are plenty of areas that are still up in the air. Some of them are that way because I still don't know what tools I'll have by the end of this. Right now I'm finding I'm reconditioning old tools to work properly, more than I'm using them to work wood. But as they fall in line, I hope that ratio will reverse.
Here are the specs so far:
Next up: template pics.
This will be a leisurely first build, using what time and money I can find to put into it. I expect to run into all kinds of problems, and work through them. I'm using the best wood Home Depot has to offer, plus one board from Woodcraft, bought from a gift card. If this one goes well enough I'll try a second one with nice woods, otherwise that could wait for a third.
The design is something that developed over quite a long time, as I've been on this TB since before there was a Luthiers' Corner. That being said, there are plenty of areas that are still up in the air. Some of them are that way because I still don't know what tools I'll have by the end of this. Right now I'm finding I'm reconditioning old tools to work properly, more than I'm using them to work wood. But as they fall in line, I hope that ratio will reverse.
Here are the specs so far:
- 5-string, multiscale fretted, BEADG. Scale lengths 33 or 33.5 to 35.5 or 36. Perpendicular fret at 1/3 point (7th fret). 24 frets.
- Graduated string spacing, roughly 3/8 "at nut" to a little narrower than the Fender 3/4 at the bridges
- Headed, most likely zero fret and tiltback headstock. I hope to do a proper compound angle tilt, once I figure how to jig it for the cuts. And gluing should be interesting, too.
- Flat fretboard, which is something I've wanted to try out, and which is one area where I will be saving myself a little work (unlike some of the other things here)
- Probably a fairly elliptical neck profile, like on a Dingwall
- Neck connection TBD. I believe I'll be able to do it without tilting the neck back.
- Padauk fretboard, curly maple and padauk neck, in an unusual configuration if I am able to get my bandsaw working reliably
- I've got some multicolor poplar and some mild ripples-and-birdseyes maple for the body, plus I have some veneer around that may go in there. I also found a lumber store that has some sapele, so that might make an appearance in body or neck.
- Tuners TBD. Definitely not cloverleafs.
- Bridges of original design, at least part of which I haven't seen done before
- Straight double-action trussrod. Adjustment end and vendor TBD.
- Two pickups, JP by Aaron Armstrong sidewinders
- Kent Armstrong 3-band preamp
- Pups in traditional J and P positions
Next up: template pics.
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