Alpine White/Black Binding CT Velocity - Pics-o-plenty!

[fdesalvo]

A little disappointed with the finish, but I'm picking nits. There are some very small pock marks and a couple spots along the contoured edges that aren't exactly smooth.  No matter, it's near perfect, so that's gonna do just fine.

Also could not get the tonepros bride or tail pieces to install on the studs without removing the studs, placing them on their pieces, then alternately screwing down each side a bit at a time.  At a glance, it seems the studs could be set at a slightly outward facing angle with respect to each other.  Almost as though they are installed along the contour of the top.  Hopefully the strings will line up without issue.

Made great progress tonight.  I really love this thing already.  It must be about 4lbs.  :guitarplayer2:

Painted exposed side of the Bare Knuckle Mother's Milk

This thing has contours that I never noticed online.  Amazing.

 

[stratamania]

Yea it's arrived. You can't go wrong with black or white. It would have looked great in this.

[youtube]F2AitTPI5U0[/youtube]

 

[fdesalvo]

Hahaha that's vintage!

 

[stratamania]

Forgot to ask, I see you've got some inserts for the neck pickup. Just wondering where to get them ?

 

[fdesalvo]

Amazon, but I need to verify that. These are the smallest inner diameter I've seen. They are just a touch smaller than the pickup height adjustment screws themselves so they don't destroy the base plate.

I also used this to drill perpendicular holes: Amazon -  Milescraft 1312 Drill Block. I literally took the pickup cover and centered it and used a center punch to mark the holes. Came out perfect!

The caveat to using the size insert I did is there is no available insert tool that will fit.  I planned on driving the machine screw through a couple of Hex nuts, so I could use a socket, but being so close to the edge of the cavity denied access.

I used a .25" bit for the holes and used a screwdriver to drive them partially in using the screw head itself. Once the initial break through happened and the head rounded out, I backed the screw out and finished by doing what they tell you not to do. I used a flat blade and carefully drove them home.  Maybe I got lucky but I had no issues. If you do not drill the hole large enough, you will shear off the insert's brass tabs and your SOL.

 

[stratamania]

Thanks Frank

 

[fdesalvo]

Yessir

As an aside, this thing looks great with a tele neck in person. I couldn't get it to look right using ms paint, but I person it's way cool. Got a vortex neck on the way

 

[DocNrock]

That's going to be a sweet build, Frank!  Looks incredible, already.  Looks like you are going to get your Velocity done way before I get mine done.  :icon_thumright:

 

[fdesalvo]

Thanks Doc!  I can't express how stoked I am. This body shape is just so fresh and beautiful. Can't wait to see yours finished. That top is redonk!

 

[fdesalvo]

Mockup of humbucker in place...

 

[dmraco]

very classy.  whats is the humbucker??

 

[fdesalvo]

Thank you!

It's a BK Crawler - slightly fatter version of the Abraxas I'm so in love with.  I just picked it out of curiosity, bc I know the Abraxas is just amazing in full or split modes.  This one should be more of the same.  Both of these are known for splitting like champs and having great lead voices without massive compression.  For a guitar that needs to cover a load of bases, it's hard to go wrong with either of those two.  I figure if it doesn't go well in this body, which I can't foresee, then I'll swap in the Abraxas, which has sounded amazing in every guitar it's resided in.

 

[DocNrock]

I was expecting an EMG.  What is the battery for, or did I miss it?

 

[fdesalvo]

Piezo bridge install next year.

 

[DocNrock]

Piezo bridge install next year.

Ah, ok, got it!

 

[fdesalvo]

ccasion14: