Winter Build-Off 2026 - Vuturé Arch-top (*U*)

[Rôckhewer]

Hi... I wanna play.
Last time I entered one of these was around 2016...? with Arachnophilia 8. I believe the theme was challenging yourself or something.
... I didn't make the finish line.

A lot has happened since then.
Some things I used to think were fun, turned into relative drudgery. Not complaining though, it is what it is with anything fun, when it turns into a job.

I started a multiscale 4, but that one is going to be difficult & needs focus, so I shelved it.
So...I started building another Vulture
This one is for me. Mine. Not for sale.

There's been turmoil at the Custom Shop.
I'm not really at liberty to describe it all in detail... but here's a vague synopsis:
The dude who bought 90% of the thing 2 years ago turned out to be a real prick. Unfair and rude to the founder & certain og clients. And woefully infected by the "Dunning-Kruger Effect" indicative of entitled rich boys.
We the crew are not fond of working for such a shmuck.

And... related to this particular bass? Well the prototype Vulture is branded NMG.
Poor timing? ... dude who owns that IP (for now) doesn't give a poop about a "bass'' guitar anyway. So, I am taking it back. This isn't a Vulture. It's now...
"Vulturé" (pronounced Vūl-too-ray) with kind of a fake Italian inflection.
I've designed a proper 4 inline headstock for the bird instead of the traditional moser/bcr thing.

And then... they called the cops on us.. and locked us out of the shop.
(Long story )

I definitely have some unfinished business. Plus the whole "this is mine" thing struck a chord.

... I definitely didn't paste in the notepad that I hand wrote on.

 

[Rôckhewer]

The neck beam is something I glued together over a year ago.
It was intended to illustrate a point I was trying to make:
☆BCR style builds with full bookmatch tops don't need, or even want 3.5" wide neck beams. Because of how the join looks at the heel. It only needs to be as wide as it needs to be = as wide as the fingerboard.

But yeah... it was a while ago.
So long I forgot that I scarfed it.
Noticed the scarf the other day, "oh yeah"

It's a 3 piece, hard curly & birdseye.
(But you can't see any eyes, given the orientation

 

[Flying B]

Looks like this could be kind of a trippy build....

 

[Rôckhewer]

The top is Redwood burl.
Which is appropriate for the mascot that I geek out over in the prototype thread.

 

[Why Nautilus‽]

Woah, that's quite a situation. Sorry you've had to go through that. Looking forward to the build!

 

[bdplaid]

I want to know more.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Looks like this could be kind of a trippy build....

You don't have a drawerful of Least Significant Digits in your shop? Very handy for precise work....

Perhaps even Vültùré? Tasty entrails dangling from the beak...?

 

[Rôckhewer]

Woah, that's quite a situation. Sorry you've had to go through that. Looking forward to the build!

Thanks.
There have been some sleepless nights.
But I'm getting used to it. My workplace has taken many forms/locations over the last 11 years.

What's cool about this transition is...
Neal (age 82) Has formally (well, on Facebook) announced his retirement.
(But he's not like, "staying home")
He has "passed the reigns" of the Custom Shop to Rob Hewitt. Rob has been the shop manager for our ("New Era"?) hand-mades for these last 2 years.
Him and Jason do the lions share of the work. I just get to hang out in the corner.

☆Rob Hewitt Guitars LLC now exists.☆

Neal has a bench there.
And the company has the blessing of Bill X CEO; to continue to be the Custom Shop for USA hand-made BCR # units.

I'm just happy to have someplace to play.
& Robs place is a pretty darn nice place.

... here's Kev's corner.

It's actually expanded from this picture.

I'll take some more pics of the whole shop.
Onward and upward.

We're a bona fide geetar factory!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Yeah, the situation isn't fun. Money seems to be needed to keep building instruments. Hoping it works out for the best. On the other hand, looking forward to a cool build.

 

[AK4570]

Dang, bro... Almost sounds like there were some humans involved in that situation! (My willingness to underestimate the underhanded nature of the human race is quickly reaching a middle...)

At any rate, I'm excited to see you back building on the LC!

Best wishes and regards,
John

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Best of luck, Rock, seems like you could have said more but thought better of it. Hope it works out to your advantage eventually, tough business, Innit? Love your builds, combination of the ancient and new every time, Spooky Skilled. Haven't touch a build in 6 months, but I'm back on it.

 

[Rôckhewer]

I've carved a bunch of Eagles.
Never got to do an arch-top.
... (well, what BCR calls an archtop)
I think the archtop eagle Supremes are sexy. It's a subtle carve, and it's probably the only situation where I like binding.

And since the Vulturé is basically an Eagle spin-off, here's my chance.
& Because the top is thick enough. Got a full ½" after glue up.
But I'm not doing binding.
Doing a hippy sammichy maple peekaboo strip instead.

I had a sweet Maccassar Ebony fingerboard left over from a client build, he said I could have.
(Yes... tipping your Luthier with wood is encouraged ).
It matches the top like pbutter&Jelly...man
But this top though

So... y'all see it too...??.
The dark area mimicking a MM pickguard?
I dig me some Ernest Balls
Something else I've been wanting do.
A single EMG MMmmmbucker in the Stingray/Sterling sweet spot.
+ EMG BQS control .
High hopes for a simple funky bass.

I'm using a Hipshot D bridge
(Because Rockhewer)gold of course.
And a nifty little unconventional simple tailpiece.
And Hipshot (licensed) machines ... because I had them in the parts bin. can always replace with USA Ultralight if I sell it.
(I didn't say that )

So yeah
Here's the new design with the arch line indicated.

And the new headstock

For some reason there are Gotohs in that drawing.
high hopes?
... dudes.. I'm broke. Lol

 

[postalflunkie]

For some reason there are Gotohs in that drawing.

I do like me some Gotoh tuners, but... are those Spertzles I see in the pile next to the drawing?

 

[Rôckhewer]

I do like me some Gotoh tu ers, but... are those Spertzles I see in the pile next to the drawing?

Good eye.
I guess they are valuable since they don't make em anymore.

 

[postalflunkie]

Just aquired a 2+2 set that will be making an appearance this build off. Those things are made of unobtainium.

 

[Rôckhewer]

Sweet

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Looking forward to this one. If possible details on how you do the top carve and thank you very kindly whether you post it or not.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Oh yesssssss........

 

[Rôckhewer]

Looking forward to this one. If possible details on how you do the top carve and thank you very kindly whether you post it or not.

TBH, I haven't quite figured out how that process is going down. . Lol.
I mean... I got a couple ideas.
I would love some suggestions from the hive.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Devils' Advocate: Does it need a rounded top carve at all? The sharp edges and points make me think it should just be a wide bevel all around, with the center portion defined by the line in your drawing as flat, bit like an SG bass. Too boring? Seen al lot of Les Paul carves online done with successive contour templates to create a bunch of ledges cut with a router and then blended, but with your skills might be quicker just to hand-carve it.