Everything but the kitchen sink (no Warmoth content)

[Fat Pete]

As the subject says, no Warmoth content here, so I won't be inundating the forum with this - maybe just the occasional update. I just didn't want you all to think I was just lazing around doing nothing.

My father-in-law gave me some ash left over from his kitchen worktops, definitely not from a swamp, this is the northern, hard (and heavy) variety. I've always wanted to build a thinline of some sort, so here it is.

It's not in bad shape - kiln dried and stored indoors for the last 12 years or so. There is some slight cup/wind, but I now have access to a reasonably well-equipped workshop, so through the thicknesser it will go! 3 pieces as you can see so some jointing and gluing to do. All new stuff to me; I may well have bitten off more than I can chew.

I was originally planning to do it Fender-style, routed from the back, but various design updates have swapped it round, so for the top I managed to obtain some walnut...

...and some limba (black korina)

I was going to make this a poll, but the option's missing from this section  :dontknow: so I'll just ask which you all would go for?

A couple of qualifiers: the walnut would make the finishing easier as I would just leave it natural colour and use some sort of hand-applied finish, possibly even oil (sorry Cagey). The limba, for my taste, would need some sort of stain/tint, possibly a burst, to bring out its best. On the other hand, the limba is noticeably lighter.

 

[stratamania]

Nice project to do.

I like the Limba, but even if you did an oil finish such as Tru Oil, there is no reason it could not be stained prior to the Tru Oil.  (Birchwood Casey, for example, do a Walnut stain).

Look forward to seeing how you get on.

 

[Sovereign_13]

They both look great IMO...why not both?  Walnut top with a limba center stripe/racing stripes/other fancy combos?  That contrast could be killer.

Maybe that's overkill for what you're after, though.  Or needlessly difficult.

 

[Fat Pete]

They both look great IMO...why not both?  Walnut top with a limba center stripe/racing stripes/other fancy combos?  That contrast could be killer.

Maybe that's overkill for what you're after, though.  Or needlessly difficult.

Nice idea, but yes, probably both overkill and needlessly difficult!

Of course in a way it will be both anyway - I'm not going to throw either away, I'll use it for the next thing.

 

[Cagey]

I think I'd go with the Walnut. Those are some awfully nice pieces, and it'll give it that "George Harrison" style look.

 

[Fat Pete]

I think I'd go with the Walnut. Those are some awfully nice pieces, and it'll give it that "George Harrison" style look.

I guess I've been inadvertently misleading in mentioning 'Fender-style' and 'thinline'. I'm making my own design, not a Tele, so it won't be that Harrison-ish whichever top I use!

 

[Cagey]

Still, Walnut tops are nice. Very rich-looking. Give those boards a wipe of naphtha or alcohol to see what they'd look like with nothing but a clear [whatever] finish.

 

[dmraco]

Agree with Walnut.  All I am going if clearing it on a current build.  I did a test last night and sealing with shellac before the clear give a little more depth and darkness to the wood.

Those examples you have look to have some nice flame to them

 

[bagman67]

Add my vote to the "walnut" column.  That looks like a nice curly figure in the grain that a clear finish of whatever variety will surely bring out.  Save the limba for another day.

 

[mayfly]

Another vote for walnut.

 

[Logrinn]

Yes, definitely walnut!

 

[dmraco]

Here is some Walnut...before and after some shellac

 

[rgand]

This is going to be a fun build to follow. Nice wood to start with. I've been playing with the 'thinline' idea myself so you have my interest.

Put me in the 'walnut' camp, too. Those pieces will really look nice with a finish.

 

[BigSteve22]

Lemme pile on the walnut bandwagon. I think a dark top/light core motif would look wonderful for that piece of walnut.  :icon_thumright:

 

[Pelagaard]

The walnut is definitely the way to go given the pieces you have.  Much nicer looking figure than the limba.

 

[Fat Pete]

Speedy as ever, I will ignore the warning and necropost to my own thread.

Just in case you good people think I've been completely idle, it's just that I've spent 6 months making a couple of pedals:

Obviously not really. They're just kits and mainly an excuse to try out my new 'Plangent' brand/logo. So ok, I have been idle.

Anyway, there is actual progress, or related progress anyway, as the initial version of this project may well not use any of the lumber shown above.

So... Obtained a neck from a well-regarded builder here in the UK - paddle headstock to give me ample opportunity to mess it up:

Printed my design, stuck it to thin mdf, cut it out, transferred it to thick mdf, et voila! Straight off the router:

Just some sanding and that transition to deal with - so, as if by magic but mainly by one of these:

(NT Dresser sanding plates - I don't know if they're well-known either side of the pond, but they're really nice little tools.)

We arrive here:

I'm pretty pleased with the way it's turned out, so hopefully it won't be another 6 months before there's more progress....

 

[Logrinn]

That looks great. Well done.
How about a shot a bit further back so we can see the complete headstock design?

Love the pedal designs as well. But if I want more gain, do I increase the Stab or the Brutalise? I'm confused :icon_jokercolor:

 

[Cagey]

Nice! I like the soft edges. Tonar has done that to some of his highly-figured curly Maple necks before burnishing and the effect is sublime. Almost looks like a dessert or something...

 

[Fat Pete]

That looks great. Well done.
How about a shot a bit further back so we can see the complete headstock design?

Thanks - I'm trying to inject some unnecessary and pointless drama into this glacial thread by obfuscating the shape pending an exciting reveal later. Or something.

It will make more sense when the body shape is likewise revealed.

Love the pedal designs as well. But if I want more gain, do I increase the Stab or the Brutalise? I'm confused :icon_jokercolor:

That's for me to know...

Nice! I like the soft edges....

Thanks. They are even deliberate and not just the result of my poor sanding technique! Hopefully should work well with the aesthetic I'm shooting for.

On the subject of sanding, it's up to 320 and already feels really smooooth - to the extent that I'm wondering if the finish will adhere well (I'm trying a wipe-on poly type) - should I take it back down to 240?

 

[Verne Bunsen]

I know the thread is about the guitar, and the work you've done on the headstock really looks great, but those pedals look fantastic! Are they BYOC kits or other? I've done a handful myself but never graduated to the level you've taken the enclosure graphics to, really nice.