Ansel - the VIP

[DocNrock]

I had the itch to build a new VIP.  Something a bit different from my other one ("Bungle in the Jungle")

Body:
Swamp Ash, clear gloss
Contoured heel
Unique Choice flame maple cap, black binding
Washed black dye finish, clear gloss
Two humbuckers
Non-recessed OFR with a 47mm big brass block

Neck:
3A Birdseye maple, 1-11/16" nut width (R4)
Unique Choice birdseye fingerboard
Black Mother of Pearl Inlays
Black binding
6100 SS Frets
Standard compound radius
Wizard profile
Grover Tuners
Customized Truss Rod Cover

Other Components:
DiMarzio Tone Zone bridge
DiMarzio Norton neck
RS Guitarworks 500k volume pot
CTS 500k tone pot
Jensen paper/oil 0.022 uf tone cap
3-way toggle.
Black round-top knurled knobs
Standard output jack
Square jack mount
And, of course, a Doug-special neck plate


















It's at the shop being set up right now.  When I get it back, I'll probably put a Planet Waves jack in it. 

 

[dmraco]

Wow. :headbang1:

That is amazing. The black binding on the neck looks awesome

 

[Tonar8352]

It looks great. I love the black binding and all the black plastic and hardware.

 

[BigSteve22]

Beautiful guitar, Doc. LOVE that neck. Congrats on another great build.

 

[bagman67]

Gorgeous axe, Brent.


With all these sexy new axes in the stable, you must be walking around very light-headed from all the blood flow to your groin.

 

[KingOfTheCountry]

Man, wow... that's addictive. I absolutely fell in love with that maple cap. Definitely one of the most beautiful tops I've ever seen. And the neck with black binding adds something special. Congrats..

 

[Great Ape]

WHEE-EW!!! Hot Stuff! Very different in all the right ways!

 

[DangerousR6]

That's awesome Brent.... :icon_thumright:

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Great flame, great birdseye!!! :glasses9:

 

[DocNrock]

Thanks for all the awesome commentary.  This one turned out better than I could have ever imagined.  To be honest, I went back and forth on the neck binding.  In the end, I'm glad I did it. 

I got very kind words from some heavy-hitters on this board.  That means a LOT!  :headbang1:

:rock-on:

 

[pulsehead]

I'm a fan of both awesome guitars and Ansel Adam's work.  The washed black finish has the same layers that much of Ansel's work had.  I find myself just staring at the picture (both of the photographer's work and your guitar) and seeing more details the longer I look at it.

Awesome inspiration and fantastic realization of that inspiration.  And "DARN YOU!!" for thinking of it first.

 

[MikeW]

Very nice Doc! I really like the contrast with the black binding on that neck. Bright sounding too I imagine, yes?

 

[DocNrock]

Very nice Doc! I really like the contrast with the black binding on that neck. Bright sounding too I imagine, yes?

Thanks, Mike.  You are correct about the bright nature of the guitar.  I suspected it would be, with the swamp ash body and maple neck.  That is why I went with a Tone Zone in bridge.  That pickup, to my ears, is too dark in a mahogany or black korina body.  But it is perfect in this one.  The guitar really brings out the upper mids in the Tone Zone. 

@Pulsehead:  Thanks!  I still don't know why Ansel Adams came to mind when designing this guitar, but I think the tan of the woods was replaced by white in my mind.  Glad you see the source of the inspiration!

 

[Jesse]

Absolutely gorgeous guitar, congrats. I had an idea for a black flame maple guitar in my head but the pics of this guitar are really igniting the GAS!

 

[BigSteve22]

Mystery of mysteries........

 

[DocNrock]

Mystery of mysteries........

Very cool, BigSteve!  :glasses9:

@Jesse:  Thanks!  Washed black dye flame maple.  :laughing7:

 

[Jesse]

The idea I had was sort of like a cross between this guitar and your Daisy Duke. Last night I "built" a carved top Velocity  in the builder and came up with a $900 body, so that pretty effectively capped the GAS leak :laughing11:

 

[DocNrock]

The idea I had was sort of like a cross between this guitar and your Daisy Duke. Last night I "built" a carved top Velocity  in the builder and came up with a $900 body, so that pretty effectively capped the GAS leak :laughing11:

That will do it!  :icon_thumright: