Ansel

[DocNrock]

Ansel is black and white.



Or black and silver and tan, if you want to be literal.  But the overall vibe of this build made me think of a black and white photograph.  To me, the most iconic black and white photographer is Ansel Adams.  Why I made that connection, I honestly have no idea.  But, anyway...

The body is swamp ash.  It looks like a one-piece, to me.



The neck is 3A birdseye, satin finish, Wizard profile...



The swamp ash and the birdseye are awesome, together. 



Warmoth headstock, 6100 SS frets, black binding...



Black mother of pearl dots (which I really like) and a Unique Choice birdseye fingerboard with large-ish birdseyes.



The face of the swamp ash body is a Unique Choice flame maple top that, to me, had a pattern that resembled sunbeams (black and white, of course) radiating out from the center, finished in Washed Black Dye.  I love the way it is complemented by the birdseye maple and the black MOP dots. 



Double humbucker, standard PRS control layout, non-recessed Floyd...



Anyway, what makes it black and white when it is really black and tan?  Well, I think it's pretty black and white it is going to rock!  Still not sure what pickups are going into it, yet, but pretty sure they will be DiMarzios, and at least the bridge one will be fairly hot. 

To be finished...one day.  :laughing7:

:headbang1:

 

[Cagey]

That is going to be a beautiful guitar! Excellent choices!

 

[swarfrat]

cool guitar, but sorry. Black and tan makes it a rotweiller. Good thing its not short scale or it'd be a wiener dog.

 

[DangerousR6]

Looks awesome Brent...... :headbang1:

 

[pabloman]

It needs black hardware and zebra pickups, possibly a Suhr Doug Aldrich in the bridge. On a side note have you tried an Andy Timmons pickup? I have heard nothing but great things about them. On a side note to the side note I met Andy at a clinic about 20 years ago in Killeen TX (guitar clinic not a health clinic). Awesome guitar Doc :headbang1:

 

[stratamania]

Hot dawg that's an awesome looking selection right there.

+1 on Zebra style pickups.

 

[Howard]

I really like the black neck binding, nice choices man! omnomnom.

 

[Cagey]

I really like the black neck binding,

Same here. I've recently fallen in love with roasted Maple, and am thinking a chunk of that with black binding might look good on something.

 

[NicosRebel]

Love the washed black dye !

 

[jmcecil]

I really like the black neck binding,

Same here. I've recently fallen in love with roasted Maple, and am thinking a chunk of that with black binding might look good on something.

Same here, I saw a couple of guitars with the roasted maple and thought it looked great. The binding would certainly set it off.

 

[fdesalvo]

Wow...

Is this a VIP?!

 

[DangerousR6]

Wow...

Is this a VIP?!

I believe so, flat top instead of carved. Looks better to me as a flat top... :dontknow:

 

[bagman67]

Ansel, Hansel, whatever - they're both the sexiest of their kind.

 

[fdesalvo]

Ansel, Hansel, whatever - they're both the sexiest of their kind.

Ha!

I believe so, flat top instead of carved. Looks better to me as a flat top... :dontknow:

It looks so different - I really like it.  Caught me off guard.  Almost ran back to the gallery to rifle through the Misc Body tab.

 

[DocNrock]

Thanks for the replies, guys!  :icon_thumright:

@Cagey:  Thank you , Kevin!  We were talking before about using the black MOP dots on an ebony fretboard.  Now that I have seen them, I'm thinking they would look great.  ccasion14:

@Swarfrat:  LOL...weiner dog.

@DangerousR6:  Thanks, Doug!  Your neck plate artistry really sets it off.  :headbang1: 

@Pabloman:  Thanks.  I'll have to look into the AT pups.  I hadn't really thought about zebra pickups -- interesting thought.  I'll keep that in mind.  ccasion14:  Black hardware is a definite, although black chrome is another thought...

@Stratamania:  Thank you, John.  :icon_thumright:

@Howard:  Thank you.  :icon_thumright:

@NicosRebel:  Thank you.  :icon_thumright:

@Fdesalvo:  Thanks, Frank!  It indeed is a VIP, but it is still a carved top.  It probably doesn't show up in the pic well.  :dontknow:

@Bagman67:  LOL, Ian, that's brilliant!  Thanks, my friend.  :laughing7:

 

[DangerousR6]

wow, I would ave thought it was a flat top...my bad... :dontknow:

 

[Cagey]

I would like to see what that new Birdseye Maple neck looks like against a Camphor Burl VIP.

 

[DocNrock]

wow, I would ave thought it was a flat top...my bad... :dontknow:

No worries, bud.  I just looked at the photo, again.  If I didn't know it was a carved top, I would have thought it was a flat-top, also.  :icon_thumright:

@Cagey, I'll try to do that tomorrow morning.  :sign13:

Regarding pickups, I took a look in my spare pickup box.  I think the swamp ash body and maple neck will be bright enough to handle a warm-ish bridge pckup.  DiMarzio Tone Zone.  For the neck, I have a PAF Joe, a Norton, or a FRED on hand to choose from.  Output-wise, the FRED would probably balance the best, and it's unique harmonic overtones might fit this build really well.

DiMarzio Tone Zone (bridge) and FRED (neck).   

 

[DocNrock]

I would like to see what that new Birdseye Maple neck looks like against a Camphor Burl VIP.

Here you are, Kevin:

 

[BigSteve22]

That is one AWESOME looking neck! I've never seen Birdseye look that DEEP. Very nice......