Advice for Hollow L5s Build

[l5project]

Hello everyone.  For my second Warmoth project, I want to build a jazz guitar that can also be used for rock.  It seems like the most common combo of woods for high-end guitars of this type is a mahogany body with a maple or spruce top and a mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard.  I would use these woods, but I love the feel of a raw neck and wouldn't want to risk not finishing mahogany.

I've been thinking about a Black Korina with Walnut for the body and Goncalo Alves with Pau Ferro for the neck.  Any insights into how this combo might compare to the more traditional woods?

By the way, I'm planning to put in Classic 57 / 57+ pickups, a tune-o-matic bridge, and Planet Waves locking tuners.  Also, I'm considering having a tech install the Buzz Feiten tuning system.

I would appreciate any suggestions or opinions you may have on the project.  Thanks in advance!

 

[big bob]

if you want jazz go with Maple cap on mahogany body and maple with a brizilain rosewood neck.. there's a reason for the classics.

 

[Mor Paul]

For jazz, try a p90/HB combo.  :icon_thumright: That might be good.

 

[Unwound G]

Hello everyone.  For my second Warmoth project, I want to build a jazz guitar that can also be used for rock.  It seems like the most common combo of woods for high-end guitars of this type is a mahogany body with a maple or spruce top and a mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard.  I would use these woods, but I love the feel of a raw neck and wouldn't want to risk not finishing mahogany.

I would appreciate any suggestions or opinions you may have on the project.  Thanks in advance!

Perfect combo for a Jazz and Rock versatility guitar.  Perhaps a Rosewood fingerboard will even be better.  Mahogany necks are quire durable if you oil it which still give you that raw unfinished feel.

 

[jackthehack]

I did a Flame Korina L5S build: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=2669.0

Don't be afraid to try an all Korina body; I've always kept an ES-335 in the arsenal, but after building this one it's retired. All Korina construction of a hollow/semi-hollow body has never been an option unless getting a custom build, but once you have one you'll start planning other Korina builds.

I put a set of relatively hot RG TX/BBQ humbuckers in mine, the Classic '57s or other more PAF/vintage type humbuckers would work great for jazz.

 

[nathan a]

I love your vision, but one problem I see is that they won't use goncalo for tilt-back headstock necks. I wanted to do something very similar to what you are describing.

 

[l5project]

I'm glad to know that mahogany doesn't need a hard finish and am definitely still considering the mahogany body and neck, and I do think BRW might be a better choice for me than ebony.

On the other hand, the idea of doing something more exotic intrigues me, but I'm a little wary of making the plunge for woods whose tonal qualities I'm not as familiar with.  Jack-  Before I posted, I was admiring your guitar in that thread, and seeing it encouraged me to think about doing something with Korina.  It's a beautiful wood, and many people seem to love its tone.  I like the single F-hole on yours, as well.

I didn't realize that Warmoth doesn't use Goncalo Alves for tilt-back necks.  Does anyone have any suggestions for a different neck/fretboard combo that would go well with black korina for a nice jazzy tone?

 

[Mark W]

I've got one in the works now
Korina with Maple top, Wenge neck with rosewood fretboard
I'm going to use some SD 59's I have and if I don't like those the Jazz neck with JB bridge
I'm "jazzed" about the way it should sound  :laughing7:

 

[l5project]

Wenge could be cool.  Now I'm thinking about a rosewood neck, too.  Too many choices!!!

 

[jackthehack]

A mahogany neck DOES require a hard finish as not to void the Warmoth warranty. An all Indian rosewood neck is virtually indistinguishable from a mahogany one, and requires no finish. Wenge will be noticibly brighter than rosewood, with an ebony board it's about halfway in between mahogany and maple.

 

[l5project]

Thanks to everyone for the tips.  I think I've made up my mind: maple on black korina for the body, and ebony on indian rosewood for the neck.

 

[Keyser Soze]

My personal experience with goncalo alves.

Built a warmoth strat, jatoba on a chambered makore body with a maple/pao ferro neck.  Makore is a very dense wood and the body had a very bright percussive tone when finger tapped.  Add in a thick maple neck and I had a darn bright and strident guitar.  It sounded great with humbuckers and rail pickups, not so good with true single coils.

So, one day while scanning the showcase I come across an all GA neck.  I straight swapped the GA for the maple/PF neck and the tone instantly mellowed substantially.  I'd say it's not quite as mellow as mahogany, but it is quite a bit removed from maple.

 

[jackthehack]

Thanks to everyone for the tips.  I think I've made up my mind: maple on black korina for the body, and ebony on indian rosewood for the neck.

That should work out great; are you getting a Warmoth finish or doing it yourself? If you're going to do it yourself, check this thread out:

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=975.0

Figured Maple and Black Korina behave VERY differently to stains/dyes, check out that thread and you may save lots of money on sand paper and elbow grease/time/aggravation to boot.

 

[l5project]

Even though the first guitar I finished ended up turning out alright, it took me way too many months, so I'll probably opt for a Warmoth finish this time around, or possibly have a local guy do it.  I'm thinking of something vaguely along these lines: http://www.archtop.com/ac_02benny.html  I like the natural top on the painted back as well as the absence of inlay dots.

 

[nathan a]

Even though the first guitar I finished ended up turning out alright, it took me way too many months, so I'll probably opt for a Warmoth finish this time around, or possibly have a local guy do it.  I'm thinking of something vaguely along these lines: http://www.archtop.com/ac_02benny.html  I like the natural top on the painted back as well as the absence of inlay dots.

Benedettos are pretty smexy. But I much prefer the looks of his straight-up archtops.

 

[l5project]

Wow, those archtops are gorgeous!  Not what I'm going for in this project, though.  I can only take one electric with me to school next year, so I need a guitar that not only sounds good for jazz and rock but also looks right for both, as I mostly focus on studying jazz, but I also play in rock bands.  Obviously, an axe can't be a jazz box and a les paul at the same time, but I'm aiming for the middle ground.

As I said, I have a few possible ideas for a finish, but I really don't know at this point.  I would love to hear some suggestions!

 

[nathan a]

Wow, those archtops are gorgeous!  Not what I'm going for in this project, though.  I can only take one electric with me to school next year, so I need a guitar that not only sounds good for jazz and rock but also looks right for both, as I mostly focus on studying jazz, but I also play in rock bands.  Obviously, an axe can't be a jazz box and a les paul at the same time, but I'm aiming for the middle ground.

As I said, I have a few possible ideas for a finish, but I really don't know at this point.  I would love to hear some suggestions!

Oh I wasn't suggesting that you build one of those, I just think they look awesome. And I agree - my visions for L5s builds are basically trying to build a really effective, somewhat versatile guitar that can flirt with the line between jazz and rock guitar.

 

[l5project]

I know you weren't suggesting that, and I should have been more clear.  I just wanted to better explain what I'm aiming for here.

 

[nathan a]

And a great aim it is... soon enough I plan to do a very similar build. Biggest issue for me is deciding pickups. I am torn between SD Jazz, SD 59, and trying out the Benedetto humbuckers. Decisions, decisions.

 

[jackthehack]

Another suggestion for HBs would be the Rio Grande BuffaloBucker set that's with a BuffaloBucker HB at neck and TX HB at bridge. More balls full out that a Jazz or '59 SD set, but you can get good clean tones for jazz if you don't wind the volume control past 8 on the dial. Could work for both jazz and rock applications. If that doesn't work, I'd go the '59s