Flat-top VIP

[JaySwear]

Been thinking about this one for a while now. How about a VIP everybody can afford? Maybe a good thing they don't exist, I'd probably have a couple by now.

 

[Cagey]

They have them. They're called "Stratocasters". Edges have about a 3/8" radius to them, but other than that...

I'd rather Warmoth did a study of their top carving operation to find out where all the money's going.

 

[JaySwear]

C'mon, you don't want one of these?!

But I definitely agree about the carved tops being pricey. Apparently they're not only doing the carved tops by hand, they're also using 24 karat gold tools to do it. But jokes on me, I own a Warmoth carved top and love it :icon_biggrin:

(I know they don't really do them by hand)

 

[swarfrat]

They have them. They're called "Stratocasters". Edges have about a 3/8" radius to them, but other than that...

I'd rather Warmoth did a study of their top carving operation to find out where all the money's going.

My guess is machine time with a ballnose end mill, since it's the most common way to do complex 3D geometry with general purpose tooling, and the shop pics I saw appear to have a 12 position changer. Some indexable large radius tooling, or even custom tooling (think something like a router panel bit) that could essentially turn milling a top from a contour milling to a face milling operation might be worth looking into. Custom tooling was tough for us to justify, because we made so many different parameterized products, but in an operation where you're essentially making a dozen different widgets in high volume, custom tooling can be profitable. (Less time means more profit, cost less, and you can make more in the same time).

 

[mgaut051]

C'mon, you don't want one of these?!

But I definitely agree about the carved tops being pricey. Apparently they're not only doing the carved tops by hand, they're also using 24 karat gold tools to do it. But jokes on me, I own a Warmoth carved top and love it :icon_biggrin:

(I know they don't really do them by hand)

Likey!

 

[SustainerPlayer]

I would consider both carved flat-tops and flat carve-tops. It really is all about the options.

 

[m4rk0]

They have them. They're called "Stratocasters". Edges have about a 3/8" radius to them, but other than that...

I'd rather Warmoth did a study of their top carving operation to find out where all the money's going.

Here's my carved top Stratocaster.. also my favorite non-Warmoth guitar... most of the time..depending on my mood

 

[Cagey]

Nice. I like that.

 

[JazzX]

C'mon, you don't want one of these?!

But I definitely agree about the carved tops being pricey. Apparently they're not only doing the carved tops by hand, they're also using 24 karat gold tools to do it. But jokes on me, I own a Warmoth carved top and love it :icon_biggrin:

(I know they don't really do them by hand)

I would get one of those.  :icon_thumright:

 

[DangerousR6]

Not sure how the VIP feels as a flat top, but I know the PRS flat tops are pretty sweet...