Checkered Body - Who can build?

[HumanisHappy]

Hey guys,
Do you know of a guitar company who can build a checkered body like this Warmoth deep cut?

Thanks!

 

[Hodgo]

Nobody I know of that advertises it but some shops are more open to custom orders than others (Musikraft, KnE). Maybe check Etsy or eBay sellers who do CNC bodies

 

[jjwu]

That's dope they used blocks instead of just a checkered finish. I wonder what the process was. If they were smaller you could turn it over and play chess.

 

[stratamania]

I wonder what the process was. If they were smaller you could turn it over and play chess.

The same sort of process used when making a chess board. I made one years ago in woodwork class.

You essentially take two types of contrasting wood with the same measurements. Join/glue a minimum of two together length wise. Then cut those across at the same dimension of the width of the previously joined strips. Then those get joined in an alternating pattern.

 

[Tretgeraet]

Though I would build a chess board out of veneer and MDF - and have done so and taught others countless times - @stratamania is right.

What bothers me a little: Usually in a solid guitar body, the direction of the grain is (about) the same as the strings, which seems quite logical, as the wood has the most mechanical stability and the least hygroscopic movement in that direction.

In a checkered body however, for the different pieces to be glued together properly, the end grain is facing up, in the direction of the polepieces, if you will.

I saw a YouTube video once, where they build a guitar body using a similar method and it seemed like they sealed the whole thing with epoxy to avoid any issues.

I would be curious to learn more about how Warmoth did those.

 

[NedRyerson]

I would be curious to learn more about how Warmoth did those.

Probably with a lot of "we're never doing this again" being muttered.

 

[aarontunes]

Probably with a lot of "we're never doing this again" being muttered.

LOL.

But who knows....maybe we'll do another run of these someday.

And @HumanisHappy .....before spending a million years looking elsewhere I would at least give Warmoth a call and see which way the wind is blowing.

 

[casper100]

Though I would build a chess board out of veneer and MDF - and have done so and taught others countless times - @stratamania is right.

What bothers me a little: Usually in a solid guitar body, the direction of the grain is (about) the same as the strings, which seems quite logical, as the wood has the most mechanical stability and the least hygroscopic movement in that direction.

In a checkered body however, for the different pieces to be glued together properly, the end grain is facing up, in the direction of the polepieces, if you will.

I saw a YouTube video once, where they build a guitar body using a similar method and it seemed like they sealed the whole thing with epoxy to avoid any issues.

I would be curious to learn more about how Warmoth did those.

It’s no different than end grain cutting boards, which are very stable. Wood glue creates a bond that is stronger than the surrounding wood.

 

[Wizard of Wailing]

MJT guitars has made (or will finish) checkered bodies. At least they have in the past.