Finished my MIDI only guitar at long last

[RmB303]

Well, it's taken over a year or sourcing all the bits, and having the nerve and time to install all the parts - but I'm finally there!

(It's a tobacco burst, so actually looks a lot more brown than in that picture - no red or yellow in real life)

Specs are: -

One piece Swamp Ash Soloist body with Tobacco Burst finish.
Contoured heel, 720 mod, Abalone index fill.

Maple Warmoth Pro Stratocaster® style Neck with Matte Vintage Tint finish.
11/16 width, Standard Thin, 24 Fret Extension.
Pau Ferro fretboard, Mother of Pearl dots, 6105 Stainless Steel frets.

Earvana Graphtech Black Tusq Nut.
Gold wilkinson Tremelo
Gold Schaller Locking Tuners
Gold Schaller Strap Locks
Gold Neck Plate and Screws, with Black Neck Plate Pad.

Graphtech GHOST Piezo Pickup saddles.
Graphtech GHOST internal MIDI system, with MIDI volume knob, 13 pin output, and program selector switch.


I'll be plugging this into my Axon AX50 Guitar to MIDI converter via a 13 in cable, and plugging that into either my iMac or MacBook Pro (depending on whether I'm at home, or gigging) via USB, and running Reason for sounds.

I'm very, very happy with this guitar - just need to spend some time tweaking it to perfection now . . .


I still need to get a nice backplate to cover the tremelo hole. I do have a nice black/white/black one, but it's a righty, so isn't in line with the string holes!
I also might get a nicer volume knob than the plain black one I have at the moment - thinking either a wooden or gold one.

(EDIT - Also put this in the gallery for Soloist guitars - apologies if this is seen as double posting)

 

[mayfly]

Very Very cool.

BTW, How's the tracking on the Axon?  I'm getting into MIDI on guitar and want a simple interface that tracks well.

 

[RmB303]

Thanks

The Axon tracks superbly with piezo pickups.
I haven't even started customising the settings yet, but it's very playable using the default settings.

One problem though - the Axon units have all been discontinued now, so don't expect any further support for them.
You can still get them on eBay occasionally, but the prices have skyrocketed.

Luckily, I got mine just beforehand ;-)

 

[Updown]

Very nice indeed  :icon_thumright:

I'm into Guitar-To-Midi just using Roland VG-99 & GR-55 into iMac etc. Just love driving my Virus Ti Synth with them.
Had a Gibson DarkFire which had the Piezo in the bridge. Didn't like the brittle sound from these.  :sad:
So traded it in & built my own  :icon_biggrin:

I go the GK-3 Installed way of things.  :icon_scratch:  I really can't believe that more Guitarist don't use these type of units.
The % of people that use them is about 1% of guitarists  ..... Oh well, thats you & me in there somewhere !!

Here is one of my GK-3 builds (the one in my aviator)  http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=16573.0
Has a link to full build etc.

The Roland GR-55 tracks very well indeed, better than the VG (which is still good thou) Just gotta get things setup correctly & all's great.
Roland has been the for-front for Guitar Synths & still going. The Axon are great & it's a real pity they stopped.

Nice work !!
Cheers  ccasion14:

 

[Steve_Karl]

Very nice!

How are you getting the saddle wires into the rear rout cavity?

Can you please (PLEASE) show a more detailed picture?

 

[RmB303]

Steve: Sorry for the 'long' delay in getting back to you!

I simply drilled a 1/4" hole through the front into the area where the tremolo springs go.
You can just see it in the picture - in middle of both tremolo studs, about 1/8" in front of them.

I carefully threaded each wire through that, and then through another 1/4" hole from there into the rear cavity.

After drilling each hole, I very carefully sanded the edges, and then put a good layer of graphite in for further lubrication.


I'll try to get some pictures up soon, to show a little more detail.

 

[Steve_Karl]

Thanks. Understood. No need for more pics.

Mine is a hard tail so it's a bit more complicated.

 

[DustyCat]

I must be turning a corner because I am liking the look of uncovered pickups less and less these days. Chrome and gold can be cool but there's nothing like the look of the wood grain pattern, and the sound of unmuffled electric guitar tone at its purest. Maybe this compromise is the wave of the future!

:kewlpics:

-DC