Winter Build off - Mash Up - Get Ready

[mapleglo]

By "Home Depot", I mean any hardware store, hobby shop, or regular lumberyard. The idea is that the materials must be general-purpose, and never specifically intended for a guitar. So if you have an ash tree and you cut it down and make a body blank, that would be fine, but buying a guitar body blank would not.

I don't know too many people who buy wood specifically made for use in a guitar. Most regular people (like us, here on this forum), I have to believe, know that they mark up that stuff. About the only wood I buy from a "luthier" store are tops, and rarely at that. I buy most of my wood from Woodworkers Source. They sell general purpose wood for any type of project. A lot of furniture, jewelry boxes, cutting boards, knife handles and pen blanks. At least those are the kinds of things I see on display whenever they have a contest. I've never seen a guitar, except for on their website.

 

[Scoops]

Here's a sneak at my build...
View attachment 3217720
Moonshine

I'll see your sneak peak.......

........And I raise ya

 

[mapleglo]

Buying fancy wood from a source like that would follow the letter of the law, but not the spirit. Like I said, it would be difficult to define, and easy to cheat. Maybe a limit on the cost of the wood content would help.

Hmmm, they seem like a "regular lumberyard" to me. And their wood is pretty reasonably priced. They have a pretty limited selection of "fancy" wood, some birdseye maple and other similar woods, but most of their stuff is just regular wood, no figuring. Perhaps I misunderstand your suggestion.

 

[Scoops]

I've had the thought for a "Home Depot" build-off for a while, but I don't want to get caught up administering such a thing.

The rules would be rather difficult to specify. The spirit of the thing would be no "luthier" woods, but the letter of it would be rather tricky to define. Perhaps it would be best to have a committee judge it on a case-by-case basis.

I could envision at least two classes:

1. "Home Depot" body, bought neck, since not everyone can build a neck.

2. "Home Depot" everything.

I would allow "luthiery" fretboards, as not everyone has access to suitable stock for that. But extra points for "Home Depot" fretboard. Even more points for not using wood at all. I wonder what kind of fretboard you could make out of Corian?

By "Home Depot", I mean any hardware store, hobby shop, or regular lumberyard. The idea is that the materials must be general-purpose, and never specifically intended for a guitar. Online wood sellers are ok, as long as the wood is not specifically for luthiery.

So if you have an ash tree and you cut it down and make a body blank, that would be fine, but buying a guitar body blank would not. If you buy a bunch of pieces of ask and assemble them yourself, that would be fine, provided that was not what they were made for in the first place.

Likewise, buying a mahogany neck blank would not be kosher, but making one from an old mantlepiece would be fine. As you can see, it is tricky to define.

Extra points for scrap, salvage and dumpster wood. If you can build it for free, so much the better.

Also, no gag guitars. The object is to build something you would take on stage, attractive and fully functional. So unless you can make a really nice job of it, no toilet seats.

As far as non-woody hardware goes, whatever you want. I wouldn't expect people to wind their own pickups, etc.

Design can be original, or a copy of a classic, or anything in between. Build a Rickenbacker out of deck boards. Any kind of instrument, build a ukulele if you want to. That would make it even more interesting.

Some suggestions:

Suitable neck woods include: maple, poplar, walnut, yellow pine, oak, and plywood ( yes, you can make a neck out of plywood. Why not? ) At least one of those should be available anywhere.

Suitable fretboard woods include: maple, oak, walnut, and hickory.

Suitable body materials/constructions include: there are too many ways to list.

I would say that the concept is good, but WAAAAAAY to many rules.

I can guarantee you that most people won't read your entire list, and then you get an administrative night mare once the build off starts.

Edit: Best to follow the KISS methodology

 

[GeraldMcG]

I've had the thought for a "Home Depot" build-off for a while, but I don't want to get caught up administering such a thing.

The rules would be rather difficult to specify. The spirit of the thing would be no "luthier" woods, but the letter of it would be rather tricky to define. Perhaps it would be best to have a committee judge it on a case-by-case basis.

I could envision at least two classes:

1. "Home Depot" body, bought neck, since not everyone can build a neck.

2. "Home Depot" everything.

I would allow "luthiery" fretboards, as not everyone has access to suitable stock for that. But extra points for "Home Depot" fretboard. Even more points for not using wood at all. I wonder what kind of fretboard you could make out of Corian?

By "Home Depot", I mean any hardware store, hobby shop, or regular lumberyard. The idea is that the materials must be general-purpose, and never specifically intended for a guitar. So if you have an ash tree and you cut it down and make a body blank, that would be fine, but buying a guitar body blank would not.

Likewise, buying a mahogany neck blank would not be kosher, but making one from an old mantlepiece would be fine.

Extra points for scrap, salvage and dumpster wood. If you can build it for free, so much the better.

Also, no gag guitars. The object is to build something you would take on stage, attractive and fully functional. So unless you can make a really nice job of it, no toilet seats.

As far as non-woody hardware goes, whatever you want. I wouldn't expect people to wind their own pickups, etc.

Design can be original, or a copy of a classic, or anything in between. Build a Rickenbacker out of deck boards. Any kind of instrument, build a ukulele if you want to. That would make it even more interesting.

Some suggestions:

Suitable neck woods include: maple, poplar, walnut, yellow pine, oak, and plywood ( yes, you can make a neck out of plywood. Why not? ) At least one of those should be available anywhere.

Suitable fretboard woods include: maple, oak, walnut, and hickory.

Suitable body materials/constructions include: there are too many ways to list.

I've had the thought for a "Home Depot" build-off for a while, but I don't want to get caught up administering such a thing.

The rules would be rather difficult to specify. The spirit of the thing would be no "luthier" woods, but the letter of it would be rather tricky to define. Perhaps it would be best to have a committee judge it on a case-by-case basis.

I could envision at least two classes:

1. "Home Depot" body, bought neck, since not everyone can build a neck.

2. "Home Depot" everything.

I would allow "luthiery" fretboards, as not everyone has access to suitable stock for that. But extra points for "Home Depot" fretboard. Even more points for not using wood at all. I wonder what kind of fretboard you could make out of Corian?

By "Home Depot", I mean any hardware store, hobby shop, or regular lumberyard. The idea is that the materials must be general-purpose, and never specifically intended for a guitar. So if you have an ash tree and you cut it down and make a body blank, that would be fine, but buying a guitar body blank would not.

Likewise, buying a mahogany neck blank would not be kosher, but making one from an old mantlepiece would be fine.

Extra points for scrap, salvage and dumpster wood. If you can build it for free, so much the better.

Also, no gag guitars. The object is to build something you would take on stage, attractive and fully functional. So unless you can make a really nice job of it, no toilet seats.

As far as non-woody hardware goes, whatever you want. I wouldn't expect people to wind their own pickups, etc.

Design can be original, or a copy of a classic, or anything in between. Build a Rickenbacker out of deck boards. Any kind of instrument, build a ukulele if you want to. That would make it even more interesting.

Some suggestions:

Suitable neck woods include: maple, poplar, walnut, yellow pine, oak, and plywood ( yes, you can make a neck out of plywood. Why not? ) At least one of those should be available anywhere.

Suitable fretboard woods include: maple, oak, walnut, and hickory.

Suitable body materials/constructions include: there are too many ways to list.

Very interesting idea. My Depot even has something they are calling mahogany. I think non luthier fingerboards between Depot, Lowes, and smaller hardware stores. If Rockler and Woodcraft are included then fingerboards are not a problem at all. A Corian fingerboard is an idea that has crossed my mind too. Would look amazing. I think Fender Custom Shop may have done one.

Plywood necks are possible. That's what Rickenbackers have. Lol. Lots of old Japanese guitars had plywood necks.
My 330 bass build is going to be baltic birch body and neck.

The salvage, scrap, dumpster build off is another great idea but should be on its own and not part of the Home Depot build off.

 

[Reedt2000]

I agree. The concept is simple enough, but difficult to specify, while also being fair.

The build off starts with a wood pile and corresponding home depot receipt. Any additional wood needed as the build progresses must be presented with a receipt.

 

[GeraldMcG]

Hmmm, they seem like a "regular lumberyard" to me. And their wood is pretty reasonably priced. They have a pretty limited selection of "fancy" wood, some birdseye maple and other similar woods, but most of their stuff is just regular wood, no figuring. Perhaps I misunderstand your suggestion.

Woodworker's Source is great but are more specialized than a regular lumberyard. I used to get wood there when I lived in Phoenix and still use them online.

 

[Reedt2000]

You might even be able to get home depot to sponsor it!

 

[GeraldMcG]

I agree. The concept is simple enough, but difficult to specify, while also being fair.

Whenever I see someone write "TLDR", I write that person off as an idiot. If someone doesn't want to read something, then don't, no need to proclaim you're illiterate.

I must run with a very literate crowd because I had to look up "TLDL."
Use of that would get someone put down as an idiot in my book too but I would probably also use a rather course adjective to modify idiot.

 

[mapleglo]

Well, speaking of build-offs, some parts arrived just now.

I bought two kinds of truss rods from LMII. One was on sale - the single action rod. The other is just their standard double action unit. I also got the bridge. What's a Strat mashup build without a tremolo.

 

[Will_White]

Salvage, Scrap, and Dumpster build describes most of my builds so I'd be up for that next year but it is pretty close to the 100$ Bass Challenge.

I'm liking the variety in this build off so far, it'll be my first year with multiple builds so we'll see how that goes. I can't wait for it to start. I got the pickups in for the Telebacker 9003 and bought some parts to make tuners for the Lambic build I haven't decided on the pickup for it yet.

 

[Scoops]

I agree. The concept is simple enough, but difficult to specify, while also being fair.

Whenever I see someone write "TLDR", I write that person off as an idiot. If someone doesn't want to read something, then don't, no need to proclaim you're illiterate.

Sorry, but this seems like you are calling me an idiot. Not very nice

 

[postalflunkie]

I have both Wood Werks Supply and Woodcraft locally. I've also had good luck finding flamed maple at Menards.

 

[ctmullins]

For example, the simple sentence "You don't do that" where "you" really has the meaning of everybody, as in "One doesn't do that." The second version would be the typical way to say that in French, but not in English. It sounds hoity-toity in English...

I would (and do) use the second form in English when appropriate, as it avoids ambiguity. I believe language should be precise, and we certainly have a rich enough vocabulary on which to draw to help make that happen. Guess that makes me “hoity-toity”. I am completely okay with that.

Lagniappe: Auto-correct changes “hoity toity” to “hooky toothy”.

 

[GeraldMcG]

Ordered a few fingerboards from Woodcraft- 2 jatoba and one bubinga. The 330B will probably get the bubinga since that is what Rickenbacker uses. The jatoba boards are nice too.

And a five pack of 22 inch two way truss rods from Bitterroot Guitar. I needed two but the price for five was like buy three get two free.

 

[GeraldMcG]

The printout of the body looks ginormous but for comparison I put a genuine Silvertone over it and the body isn't really that big it just looks huge.

I got the Silvertone for $50 back when you could buy a Silvertone for $50. It had that beautiful custom paint job when I bought it.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Flying V with a 3 cone resonator.... triangle themes throughout.

I'll be honest, when I joined this build a resonator was the last thing I had in mind but when @ReasonablyHappy posted about the flying V it got me thinking...

Hence I give you the Flying Tri Motor V...

Basic idea is a Flying V, semi hollow with a National Tricone resonator set up...

I'm making it up as I go.

Still going through with the the original build as well (we'll see which one prevails...)

@ReasonablyHappy ... You are to blame for this.



Moonshine

 

[Will_White]

Possible build three (four would be in a similar vein)

 

[ctmullins]

Hence I give you the Flying Tri Motor V...

Yay! Another Flying V mashup build!!




Oops

 

[GeraldMcG]

I love old Silvertones. You should put that thing back together. Strip off the red and clear-coat it - let the masonite show!!!

This mini bass had a similar red rattle can paint job when it was given to me. I had a suspicion that most of the original finish was under there. Bit of a heavy relic but I like it.
The Dano still had the bronze finish on the back. Maybe I will have to see what's under the red but after so many years I'm kind of used to it looking like this.