And now for something completely different

[stratamania]

I am not sure what you have planned, but would a flood coat not have been better after fitting it to the body to make it easier to work?

 

[casper100]

I am not sure what you have planned, but would a flood coat not have been better after fitting it to the body to make it easier to work?

The flood coat is just to fill defects and stabilize the wood into a flat, uniform lam top to glue to the top of the guitar (after a corresponding thickness is planed off the top). 99% of the epoxy will be removed with a wide belt sander. I did the same thing with my last build with a piece of Red Gum Burl with literally hundreds of defects.

 

[stratamania]

@casper100 okay got it, I was thinking more of whether your Dinkycaster would have a forearm contour needing a corresponding bend in a drop top.

 

[casper100]

@casper100 okay got it, I was thinking more of whether your Dinkycaster would have a forearm contour needing a corresponding bend in a drop top.

I called Warmoth and they agreed to sell me a DinkyCaster with no forearm contour.

 

[stratamania]

I called Warmoth and they agreed to sell me a DinkyCaster with no forearm contour.

Ok great, look forward to seeing the rest of the build.

 

[casper100]

Ok great, look forward to seeing the rest of the build.

I also asked them for a Tele edge radius. That way, when I take 5mm off the top, it should be straight and 90 degrees to the sides.

 

[casper100]

Still waiting on my body from Warmoth to start the build, but as it turns out, I guess what I'm planning is not completely different. Just discovered these Sire G5's and it's pretty much exactly what I have in mind, minus the on board controls.

Sire Larry Carlton G5A

For a stage-worthy acoustic vibe An electric guitar with acoustic sound. It features a chambered body and acoustic strings. Using a Piezo pickup processed through the new Sire preamp, ‘Vivid’, it offers an acoustic vibe suitable for stage use. Features Specification Find a Dealer SIRE SOLID...

www.sire-usa.com

 

[casper100]

The parts are now coming together. The jade fret dots are awesome. The back and sides will be black and green just like the test piece of mahogany to the right. Graphtech Ghost piezo pickups for acoustic bridge will fit in the metal saddle.

 

[casper100]

Taking me a while to find the right acoustic style bridge to fit the Graphtech Ghost individual saddles and line up with the through body holes of the guitar, so I decided to make my own. I have access to a Shaper Origin, which is a handheld CNC that basically guides you along the path. My first attempt in plywood has the overall dimensions spot on, but the slot is slightly too wide for the saddles and waaaay to deep. The software for this machine is so easy, I’ll just keep tweaking it till I get it right in plywood then cut it for real.

 

[casper100]

Meanwhile, I’ve colored my neck. I had to plug the tuner holes, because I’m going with something different, but I will drill them out.
Angelus black, sanded back, Angelus green, Rubio Monocoat Emerald.

 

[teleme01]

So you sprayed the neck with ? I really like it,

 

[casper100]

All of the stain and finish is wipe on.
Rubio Monocoat is a furniture hard wax oil. You just wipe it on, wait 10 minutes and wipe off.

 

[rockandroller]

Emerald over mahogany is one of my favorite finishes ever! Looking really good

 

[casper100]

Emerald over mahogany is one of my favorite finishes ever! Looking really good

Looks great with the jade fret dots.

 

[casper100]

Not being happy with the acoustic bridges I was finding for a Graphtech Ghost system, I designed and made my own. Used a Shaper Origin handheld CNC. Macassar ebony blank. Still have a lot of finish sanding to do, particularly on the step downs on the wings, but I managed to nail the dimensions. The piezos fit like a glove. Perfect calculation on the placement of the saddle. Looks like I nailed the saddle height, but no way to know until I finally put on the top and string it up.

 

[casper100]

Top is finally on. Neck is finished. The acoustic bridge is not going to be adjustable after the fact, so I have to make sure everything is perfect before it goes on.