Left Hand Custom Four

[Slidlow]

I think it's time to break this one away from the original thread Time to complete some old projects. I am presently working on the headstock and getting ready to slot the fretboard. I'll be posting the rest of the build here. So far this has been made from all American woods (one from south America). The neck is laminated maple and nogal (Purevian walnut) set into an ash/nogal center block. The body is roasted maple with curly claro walnut on ash. The headstock is built up from nogal sides and walnut veneers and is getting a maple overlay cut from the same board as the fretboard.

 

[Slidlow]

The plan so far is to use chrome hardware and I am still considering pickup configuration. Cutting out the headstock profile and getting ready to slot the fretboard.

 

[Slidlow]

More coping saw work to show that hand tools can work quite well. My first two bodies I ever made were cut with one of these.

And we have a headstock rough cut. Some sanding and it will be done.

So far this is at 7 pounds 3 ounces with fretboard, truss rod and frets factored in. I haven't profiled the body or routed for pickups and controls so this weight will come down.

 

[Reedt2000]

Sub'd

 

[Beej]

Love the ray flecking on that fretboard

 

[dwizum]

As a lefty I am very happy about this build!

Do you have plans for controls or pickups yet? I think you were considering some options in the other thread but I lost track.

 

[Slidlow]

As a lefty I am very happy about this build!

Do you have plans for controls or pickups yet? I think you were considering some options in the other thread but I lost track.

No not decided yet. Probably generic sized pickups with passive controls so anyone can upgrade as they see fit. That is unless I see something interesting.

 

[Slidlow]

Okay thanks to @maxschrek I have a pair of creme Bill Lawrence bass pickups on the way.

This leaves me with a dilemma as this design does look good with dual P bass pickups and I have creme ones on the way as well.

So when everything gets here I will have to decide though I am leaning heavily towards the Bill Lawrence.

 

[Slidlow]

So while I am waiting for the cream Bill Lawrence pickups and a pair of cream alnico magnet P bass pickups to arrive, to make the selection which to use, I've decided to order some cream pickguard material for covers and such and found some cream binding I'm going to use on the fretboard. So we're going with a 70s cream theme all around.

 

[Slidlow]

Still waiting on arrivals. The Alnico P bass pickups arrived. I have a set of creme covers on the way for them as well. And also the Bill Lawrence humbuckers are are their way. So the initial idea was to build this with dual Ps as I did on my 1985 version pictured alongside. Try to imagine creme covers with all the maple and walnut. When the proper covers do arrive along with the Bill Lawrence pickups I will make the final decision. In the meantime I have to find some time to do some frets.

 

[Slidlow]

The cream covers arrived today so here is option #1 in all its creamy goodness.

 

[Beej]

I like the cream with chrome hardware. I think the black pickups would look better with black hardware.

 

[Slidlow]

I like the cream with chrome hardware. I think the black pickups would look better with black hardware.

The cream is what I intended. The pickups came with black and I had to wait for the cream to arrive. Still waiting for the cream Bill Lawrence and they will be option #2.

 

[Slidlow]

Set up the slotting miter box and got to work.

And now I have a slotted board. Next I need to radius it, thin it, round the end and glue on the binding before frets get put in. I am not going to put position markers on the front to keep more of the cream vibe going.

 

[Slidlow]

And I just received a sheet of cream pickguard material for the covers. The cream theme will be complete.

 

[Slidlow]

Great to see the site back online. I received a set of cream Bill Lawrence pickups so now I have to make a decision. I like the dual Ps with the offset body design but the Bill Lawrence are another level. What do you think?

 

[RichterScale]

Can you do a rough sketch of the pick guard shape/how much it will cover?

 

[Slidlow]

Can you do a rough sketch of the pick guard shape/how much it will cover?

Pickguard? No pickguard.

 

[RichterScale]

Oh, good. I saw the cream pickguard material and jumped to conclusions.
I've never really been a fan of how Ps look, but I'm actually torn on this one. They both look good here.
Maybe the color and the fact that there's 2 sets.
Hard to pick one. They both work. I'm probably feeling 51/49 in favor of the Ps at he moment.
Got any cream Js?

 

[Beej]

I vote Ps, they look great there. The blades are cool too, but they look a bit out of place to my eye.