Homemade Half-moth Jazzmaster
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Cagey
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Beautiful!
Now, if you have an aircraft bit handy, you can drill the claw mounting screw holes relatively flat, which would lower the spring height and allow you to countersink the trem cover as well. Or, maybe just bend the claw's rear flange so it sits lower. Of course, you'll have to make yet another a template, but how cool would that be?
Now, if you have an aircraft bit handy, you can drill the claw mounting screw holes relatively flat, which would lower the spring height and allow you to countersink the trem cover as well. Or, maybe just bend the claw's rear flange so it sits lower. Of course, you'll have to make yet another a template, but how cool would that be?
Cagey said:
ccasion14: I was thinking the same thing! At least this template would be a lot easier than a custom shape. Darned thing took me almost an entire day to get right. Of course I should have planned the control cavity a little better, with some flare outs to support the cover screws. Oh well, just another lesson learned from this project!As an aside, I scored a nice 8/4 piece of cherry and a nice board of flame maple the other day. I'm already thinking about the next project. I'm thinking a carved-top LP....but that may be a bit too ambitious for a relatively new builder like myself. Thoughts?
Cagey
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Outside of a dental drill motor, I don't know of any that will get tight enough (in this application) to drill perpendicular. Too much head on them. But, an aircraft bit is essentially just a really long (typically about 12", anything less is not helpful) twist drill where only the last 3" or so are fluted. It allows you to lay the drill motor down so its body doesn't force a higher angle of attack, as the motor's not hitting anything.
They're not terribly expensive, and are handy for other things as well. For instance, if you need to drill or open up clearance holes between pickup or control cavities. They look like this...
... probably not the best picture, but you get the idea.
They're not terribly expensive, and are handy for other things as well. For instance, if you need to drill or open up clearance holes between pickup or control cavities. They look like this...
... probably not the best picture, but you get the idea.
Cagey
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Depends how studly your hardware store is. Chances are you're going to have a hard time finding them in any kind of retail place, unless they specialize in that sort of tool. You're better off ordering online, but watch the prices close! You don't need Cobalt or anything like that; HSS is fine for woodwork. If they're charging any more than $10/ea, they're way off.
I know it's been a while...so sorry!
I finished the build on Thanksgiving Day, but have been too gosh darn busy to post anything.
Anyway, here's the updates:
Got the control and pickup cavities foiled up
Soldering gear. I used a double push-pull pot arrangement to split out the individual coils and switch from series to parallel. The soldering took forever, and was really tedious.
Here she is in her final home
I lost a pickgaurd screw in the carpet when assembling, and didn't have a spare. Finally found it a few weeks after this picture.
Done!
It sounds great...I can get a wide variety of sounds, from single coil Stratty type spank, to full blown LP-like PAF tones. Plays like butter too. I really love the neck, and the body contours fit really well. I love the contoured heel. I really can't see playing another bolt-on without it anymore. Also, this my first Wilkinson trem. What a great piece of engineering... much better than the 6-point or a Floyd.
This has been one of the most rewarding and educational projects I've ever done. I'm just about to start work on my second. I can't wait to apply the lessons I've learned from this one!
Let me know what you think of her!
I finished the build on Thanksgiving Day, but have been too gosh darn busy to post anything.
Anyway, here's the updates:
Got the control and pickup cavities foiled up
Soldering gear. I used a double push-pull pot arrangement to split out the individual coils and switch from series to parallel. The soldering took forever, and was really tedious.
Here she is in her final home
I lost a pickgaurd screw in the carpet when assembling, and didn't have a spare. Finally found it a few weeks after this picture.
Done!
It sounds great...I can get a wide variety of sounds, from single coil Stratty type spank, to full blown LP-like PAF tones. Plays like butter too. I really love the neck, and the body contours fit really well. I love the contoured heel. I really can't see playing another bolt-on without it anymore. Also, this my first Wilkinson trem. What a great piece of engineering... much better than the 6-point or a Floyd.
This has been one of the most rewarding and educational projects I've ever done. I'm just about to start work on my second. I can't wait to apply the lessons I've learned from this one!
Let me know what you think of her!
DangerousR6
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Very cool.... :headbang:
Hey thanks a lot guys! Couldn't have done it without all the great advice I've gleaning off this board, and you fine people!
It plays amazingly well. Very comparable to my strat, but "tighter" if that makes sense. I think a lot has to do with the Wilkinson trem, which I absolutely love. The only minor thing that annoys me is the string spacing. Both "E"s are really close to to fretboard edge, and sometimes I bend them over the side if I'm too overzealous. Not sure if it's because of the Wilkinson spacing, or the nut, or both. I mostly notice it in the higher frets, so I would assume the bridge spacing may be a micro-hair too wide.
I get all sorts of tones out of it. I think it does cleans a little better that saturated distortion tones. Maybe it's because of the StewMac Golden Age 'buckers. It's gets a little loose/floppy sounding when applying any heavy distortion to it. I certainly wouldn't use it for metal, but it's fine for cleaner Zeppelin tones, and it does clean jazz excellently...very smooth.
It plays amazingly well. Very comparable to my strat, but "tighter" if that makes sense. I think a lot has to do with the Wilkinson trem, which I absolutely love. The only minor thing that annoys me is the string spacing. Both "E"s are really close to to fretboard edge, and sometimes I bend them over the side if I'm too overzealous. Not sure if it's because of the Wilkinson spacing, or the nut, or both. I mostly notice it in the higher frets, so I would assume the bridge spacing may be a micro-hair too wide.
I get all sorts of tones out of it. I think it does cleans a little better that saturated distortion tones. Maybe it's because of the StewMac Golden Age 'buckers. It's gets a little loose/floppy sounding when applying any heavy distortion to it. I certainly wouldn't use it for metal, but it's fine for cleaner Zeppelin tones, and it does clean jazz excellently...very smooth.
stratamania
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Well done, I like the neck sitting in the antlers.
