Everything but the kitchen sink (no Warmoth content)

[Fat Pete]

One proper f@*&-up, but some progress too...

Full disclosure and all that - this was supposed to have filtertrons (actually UK-wound 'Fletch-o-trons') mounted La Cabronita-style, but due to some (oxy)moronically careless over-cautiousness with the router, I'll be making some trim/goof rings - probably from thin aluminium.

On the plus side, I do now have a body with routes for the pickups, the bridge mounting screw holes drilled and the necessary holes for all the wires. I even had a go with the Shinto rasp my brother gave me for Christmas to gently contour the heel.

As you can see, I've done the counter-boring for the neck screw washers and drilled the mounting holes in the neck itself - which has also received a little Shinto-ing to smooth the square shoulders at the heel. Everything lined up nicely when I did a test fit, so I thought I might as well just get on with it for a change. I still have more sanding to do (does it ever end?) Then it's on to finishing.

The body weighs in at a stately 2 lb 13 ozs / 1.28 Kg. Fully loaded, the whole thing's going to be about 5 1/2 lbs / 2.5 Kg.

Getting back to finishing, anybody have an opinion on whether to stain the back or not, and if so, what colour? I had been thinking of just a little amber or brown so it's not such a stark contrast, but then more or less decided to just leave it natural. A friend was trying to persuade me to stain it orange as some sort of nod to Gretsch.

 

[BigSteve22]

Sweet job on the neck mounting work! I've looked at those Shinto rasps, looks to have done a fine job. How did you like working with it?

 

[bagman67]

I do love a multipiece body with dark-colored stringers. I'm sure the finished product will be lovely.  But in the meantime: You're a tease, Fat Pete, that's what you are.

 

[rgand]

Beautiful neck mounting. Looks very usable.

 

[Fat Pete]

Sweet job on the neck mounting work! I've looked at those Shinto rasps, looks to have done a fine job. How did you like working with it?

Thanks Steve. Considering what an oaf I am, I found the Shinto quite easy to control - much more so than the more conventional 'solid' wood rasps I've tried. It's super fast - this northern ash is very hard but it took very little work; seemed like a few strokes with the coarse side, a few with the fine and, as pictured, just a little sanding. There's more finessing to be done yet though.

I certainly feel that I could approach bigger stuff like body contours without expecting to spend an eternity scraping away.

I do love a multipiece body with dark-colored stringers. I'm sure the finished product will be lovely.  But in the meantime: You're a tease, Fat Pete, that's what you are.

Thanks Ian. Am I revealing character traits best left private?

Beautiful neck mounting. Looks very usable.

Thanks Robert. The contouring isn't really very necessary given the thin body and curved heel, but it certainly feels comfy. If there's a next time, I might leave a bit more than 0.1" between the edge of the heel and the washers, but it should work well enough.

 

[Fat Pete]

This build is still languishing on hold while I do other things (the next stage is an experimental procedure that I'm probably scared of).

In the meantime here's one of the other things currently in progress...

...and a 'bonus' pic of the maple laminate before the top went on. I knew there was a clean Strat shape edge in there somewhere between the mineral stains and knotty bits.

It's not really my thing, but I'm just trying to start posting some stuff on Instagram, so follows would be appreciated if any of you do that sort of thing - @plangentpete

 

[Cagey]

Nice project! That's going to look fantastic when finished!

Instagram is owned by Facebook, so... :sad1:

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Man, that's pretty!

Guitar forums are my only social media indulgence, and you already have my "likes" here  :headbang:

 

[rgand]

Ah, this will be spectacular when done! Looking forward to seeing more progress. What is that experimental procedure? Sounds fun. Or kinky. :icon_biggrin:

Sorry, but I don't do Instagram, either.

 

[Rick]

Looks all good.  Love your work.

 

[Fat Pete]

Warning: bored Sunday necropost. Nothing to see here.

Another few months pass. Nothing gets done...

I was chatting to a small UK-based maker at a guitar show recently (Wiredog Guitars - nice guitars and nice guys too), and we were talking about what a conservative bunch (us) guitarists are - they had some interesting original designs, but said that the vast majority of people at the shows walked straight past them and only really took any notice of the models based on the 'classics'.

Since then, when at the drawing board, I've been messing about with said classics, seeing what sorts of twists and tweaks I could make, while keeping them familiar-ish.

I'm normally wise enough to keep such things to myself, but, well, like it says - bored, so here are a few things from the board.

7/8 (or so) Jazzmaster (the faint outline shows the size of the full-fat version):

Slightly more deviant, a twisted Tele:

Lastly, and more properly perverted, the DSJ, whatever that is:

I do have some lumps of wood that are in some danger of actually being turned into 1 or more of these, so feel free to attempt an intervention...

 

[Logrinn]

That 7/8 Jazzmaster looks like it could easily be turned into a 7/8 Jaguar.
Paired with the standard 24” scale neck, such a Jaguar would fit me perfectly I imagine.

Did I hear Warmoth having a 40th anniversary with a lot of surprises up their sleeves?
Perhaps this will be one of them?
I’m dreaming of a white christmas ... I mean a 40th anniversary where all my dreams come true.
:icon_jokercolor:

Anyway - those are some incredible designs you’ve come up with here.
Bravo! Love them all.

 

[rgand]

I do have some lumps of wood that are in some danger of actually being turned into 1 or more of these, so feel free to attempt an intervention...

I do like the 7/8 JM (or Jag, thanks Magnus) best. That said, since you have more than one piece of wood to work with, maybe two of them. Or all three...  :icon_biggrin:

 

[BigSteve22]

I'm really lik'n that 7/8 Jazzy idea too! love my JM, love the offset design, but always wished it was just a tad smaller. I'd buy one....

And just bye-the bye, that bottom "DSJ" is slamming! Looks sort of like a 60's Teisco, or Kent 740, (Which I owned and gave away, much to my regret):

Or my personally reworked Hagstrom II, (I modeled the pickguard after a Hagstrom IIN):

 

[Fat Pete]

That 7/8 Jazzmaster looks like it could easily be turned into a 7/8 Jaguar.
Paired with the standard 24” scale neck, such a Jaguar would fit me perfectly I imagine...

Somewhat to my surprise, you can even fit full-size Jag metalwork in. Needs a bit of tweaking, but here you go, the Plangent Ocelot (well, they're kind of a small jaguar, right?):

...I'd buy one....

Thanks! I''d be happy to sell you one, but it'd be 'reassuringly' expensive.

And just bye-the bye, that bottom "DSJ" is slamming! Looks sort of like a 60's Teisco, or Kent 740, (Which I owned and gave away, much to my regret)...

Or my personally reworked Hagstrom II, (I modeled the pickguard after a Hagstrom IIN)...

Thanks again, Steve! I have a HIIN (or most of the bits of one anyway) - along with 60s Teiscos and Yamahas, they're definitely part of my 'design language', if you'll allow the pretension.

 

[Logrinn]

Your Plangent Ocelot is magnificent.
As for metalworks, I’m actually more interested in the less-is-more approach that can be found on the Jazzmaster. Like one complete pickguard instead of the one-pickguard-two-metal-plates-combo of the Jaguar.
But the most awesome thing and more importantly is the 7/8 version if your designs.
That along with the Jag body being chambered ... that would be something!
:icon_tongue:

 

[Fat Pete]

Your wish...

 

[Axkoa]

Damn I love that. Double bound body and block inlays when :icon_thumright:

 

[Fat Pete]

Damn I love that. Double bound body and block inlays when :icon_thumright:

Sure, why not? All the options are free (while it's a drawing). I even bound the neck for you too.

 

[Logrinn]

Hubba, hubba! Drool!
Aaron, are you taking notes?

That, sir, is my dream guitar! (Actually either one of those)

Wow!