KaiserSoze
Senior Member
- Messages
- 309
Yeah I know, we've all been there. Got GAS and the next step is to build our own. We've tried or bought everything out there so the only undiscovered country is the land of DIY.
So heres my first attempt, the Karla Custom: Maple/Bubinga neck, 6105 SS frets, standard thin (meh), compound radius (bleah). I used Sperzels because I always do.
Body is chambered mahogany with the F-hole and a flame maple top. Did the finish myself because I've never done it before so why not now?
Electronics I did myself with components from RS guitarworks and some things I had around. Basically made it a 7-way with TBX and modded the TBX so it isn't so harsh. The pickups are actually a Tonerider Classic Blues set that I got for about $100 and that are really nice.
Hardware is a Callaham strat hardtail bridge and the pickguard is from Warmoth. I've since changed the knobs from the cheesy gold ones in the pics to standard white strat knobs.
The finish is really simple. I did a bit of danish oil for more warmth and then about 10 coats of clear spray lacquer with the required sanding. I made the choice to not fill the mahogany and am really pleased that I didn't. It looks more organic that way and I like that I can see the grain. A purist might disagree but this is MY guitar. My next will be a mahogany non-chambered body, rear routed and a colored lacquer with no filler.
The Bubinga board doesnt need any finish but I do oil it and it has a great look. The back of the neck has a few coats of lacquer lightly sanded to a satin feel. The feel of bubinga is about the same as rosewood but I wont pretend that I could possibly detect what the "tone" would be. (I'm really tired of that word)
How does it sound you say? My first thought is "very responsive". I'm going to have to become a much better player because my every mistake leaps out at you. The body is very resonant and sensitive with very complex sounds, even on a single note. The best sounding guitar I've played for cleans, and I've owned dozens. I've got 11s on it and it sustains for days. The quality of the Warmoth parts is awesome.
My dislikes are my own fault. I'm not a fan of the thin neck and the compound radius is giving me fits with the setup. I'm far from a newbie for setups but I can't seem to find the "happy place" on this one.
So thats my first and not my last. I can see that this is going to cost me....
So heres my first attempt, the Karla Custom: Maple/Bubinga neck, 6105 SS frets, standard thin (meh), compound radius (bleah). I used Sperzels because I always do.
Body is chambered mahogany with the F-hole and a flame maple top. Did the finish myself because I've never done it before so why not now?
Electronics I did myself with components from RS guitarworks and some things I had around. Basically made it a 7-way with TBX and modded the TBX so it isn't so harsh. The pickups are actually a Tonerider Classic Blues set that I got for about $100 and that are really nice.
Hardware is a Callaham strat hardtail bridge and the pickguard is from Warmoth. I've since changed the knobs from the cheesy gold ones in the pics to standard white strat knobs.
The finish is really simple. I did a bit of danish oil for more warmth and then about 10 coats of clear spray lacquer with the required sanding. I made the choice to not fill the mahogany and am really pleased that I didn't. It looks more organic that way and I like that I can see the grain. A purist might disagree but this is MY guitar. My next will be a mahogany non-chambered body, rear routed and a colored lacquer with no filler.
The Bubinga board doesnt need any finish but I do oil it and it has a great look. The back of the neck has a few coats of lacquer lightly sanded to a satin feel. The feel of bubinga is about the same as rosewood but I wont pretend that I could possibly detect what the "tone" would be. (I'm really tired of that word)
How does it sound you say? My first thought is "very responsive". I'm going to have to become a much better player because my every mistake leaps out at you. The body is very resonant and sensitive with very complex sounds, even on a single note. The best sounding guitar I've played for cleans, and I've owned dozens. I've got 11s on it and it sustains for days. The quality of the Warmoth parts is awesome.
My dislikes are my own fault. I'm not a fan of the thin neck and the compound radius is giving me fits with the setup. I'm far from a newbie for setups but I can't seem to find the "happy place" on this one.
So thats my first and not my last. I can see that this is going to cost me....
