Building my first body.

[SkuttleFunk]

If I reinforce the back with metal, a simple swipe of a magnet would pull it off.

I don't see any battery cavities, so I'm left to believe that the batteries will be housed inside the control cavity. if this is true, then using a magnet to remove the cover = epic fail. you only ever need to change batteries when you're playing somewhere, and that's most likely the one time you'll have forgotten to bring your uber strong magnet along (remember, you no longer keep it in your pocket because the last time you did the magnetic field wiped your mobile phone)

sometimes simple is better ... if you must use magnets, use the smallest rare earth magnets you can find and epoxy them in the cover (if it's thick enough). to get the cover to stick to the body, epoxy short pieces of steel wire into the body.

you will also want to recess the mounting lip in an area along the outer body edge ... to open the cover, press the cover down into this recess and the opposite end will pop up. depending on how thick your cover is, you may need to add a thumbnail recess to its backside so you can catch it when it's in its popped position. this is a common method used by many custom builders, and it eliminates the hole (which allows vermin easy access to your control cavity contents

all the best,

R

 

[reluctant-builder]

I'm sorry, but the magnets bit reminded me of the Insane Clown Posse's "Miracles" song in which they ask:

Link to image containing expletive: http://pictures.mastermarf.com/blog/2010/100421-icp-magnets.jpg

I have actually never watched the video; at the time there was buzz, I didn't want to give them any attention. But I think I may give it a gander, now, because it's supposed to be hilarious in its stupidity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-agl0pOQfs

Edit: My god, that was worse than I could have ever imagined ...

 

[hannaugh]

Don't try to talk to a scientist, they're just lyin'... and gettin' me pissed.  :doh:

 

[chubs]

Line6man, this guitar is beautiful, can't wait to see it finnished. good work.

 

[greywolf]

really looking nice , I like the maple accent on the cover

 

[line6man]

My neck will be here Tuesday! Warmoth sent me the UPS Quantum View email a few days ago. :blob7:

The next step is a little something Warmoth won't do on their bodies. I'm going to do a recessed neckplate, and slight roundovers around the edges of the back of the pocket.

 

[Cagey]

I like the look of recessed neck plates. They're pretty rare, though. According to Ron Kirn, a custom builder who does them as a matter of course on his builds, it's difficult because the plates are inconsistent to the point where you have to make a template for every one you do, which is time-consuming. That seems extreme, but he does it and I don't so he would know better.  He has a Strat build tutorial here where he shows how he does it. He also recesses the jackplate using the same techniques.

Breaking the edges of the neck pocket I'm not so sure about. Seems like you'd end up with a lotta crap building up in the crevasses over time, which would be unsightly. Plus, even though you'd be giving it extra attention to detail, it would sorta look like you had a fit/finish problem.

What might be fun if you're a glutton for punishment is to make/buy a pickguard without the edge bevel and use that to make a template, and recess the 'guard into the top. Pull that off successfully, and you could get as many as 12 Attaboys all at once. Or, you could wreck a perfectly good body <grin>

 

[B3Guy]

recessed term cover? warmth really should offer that.

 

[reluctant-builder]

What might be fun if you're a glutton for punishment is to make/buy a pickguard without the edge bevel and use that to make a template, and recess the 'guard into the top. Pull that off successfully, and you could get as many as 12 Attaboys all at once. Or, you could wreck a perfectly good body <grin>

I dig this idea.  :icon_thumright:

 

[m4rk0]

Ignoring the fact that I've developed a terrible habit of doing things half-assed, moving on to another step, and then finishing them up later, this thing is really starting to take shape.

I like the way your foreskin contour looks!

 

[line6man]

I like the look of recessed neck plates. They're pretty rare, though. According to Ron Kirn, a custom builder who does them as a matter of course on his builds, it's difficult because the plates are inconsistent to the point where you have to make a template for every one you do, which is time-consuming. That seems extreme, but he does it and I don't so he would know better.  He has a Strat build tutorial here where he shows how he does it. He also recesses the jackplate using the same techniques.

Breaking the edges of the neck pocket I'm not so sure about. Seems like you'd end up with a lotta crap building up in the crevasses over time, which would be unsightly. Plus, even though you'd be giving it extra attention to detail, it would sorta look like you had a fit/finish problem.

What might be fun if you're a glutton for punishment is to make/buy a pickguard without the edge bevel and use that to make a template, and recess the 'guard into the top. Pull that off successfully, and you could get as many as 12 Attaboys all at once. Or, you could wreck a perfectly good body <grin>

Why would making a template for every neckplate be an issue? I'm only doing this on two bodies. And it isn't time consuming at all to make templates. It takes about 15 minutes.

 

[Cagey]

It wouldn't be a problem for someone who doesn't build thousands of guitars a year, but if a production shop tried to do it, they'd have to rethink who they buy their neckplates from so they could get a predictable part.

In any event, I went through that Strat Build Tutorial again - it's been a year or two since I read it last - and he's not actually making a new template every time like I thought. He's making adjustments in tool position to compensate if necessary. So, this whole discussion is somewhat moot. What is interesting that he cites production tolerances and even plating thickness variations as the driver for this custom fitting, and he also waits until the very end after the body is painted and buffed before he does the inlay cutting so there's no finish buildup in the inlay cavity. That's a pretty close fit.

Incidentally, he also inlays the vibrato spring cavity cover.

 

[line6man]

It wouldn't be a problem for someone who doesn't build thousands of guitars a year

Exactly.

 

[DangerousR6]

This is gonna be an awesome geetar, I like the recessed neck plate idea... The cavity cover is bad ass, I love it... :icon_thumright:

 

[line6man]

Now we're getting sexy!

 

[Nando Vallart]

Lucky b@stard...

 

[Corey P.]

Now we're getting sexy!

OH SNAP!

That neck looks incredible with the body - this is going to be a really special guitar.

 

[Cagey]

OH SNAP!
That neck looks incredible with the body - this is going to be a really special guitar.

Yeah. I'm beginning to think he designed it that way on purpose. Pretty sneaky, if you ask me.

 

[Corey P.]

It's pretty much cheating.  Do-over, IMO.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I know it isn't much, but would the neckplate recess be enough to have issues with the neck screws being too deep?