Last VIP Guitar I ever make ...

[Rick]

Thought I'd move the build documentation over here ... (here's where it started  https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=31168.15 )

In terms of color this is what inspired me ... from a trip last year to OZ.

 

[Rick]

This is the top ...

 

[Rick]

This is the configuration of the body ... note that it's tequila sunrise, I guess I just like that yellow and orange.
Hollow Carved Top VIP 
Orientation:  Right handed 
Scale:  25-1/2" 
Wood:  Quilt Maple / Maple on Mahogany 
UC Front Laminate:  LT3378
Rout:  Rear Rout 
Pickup Rout:  Humbucker (Neck), None (Middle), Humbucker (Brdg) 
Controls:  V-T-Tog (PRS) 
Bridge:  Gotoh Wraparound (Angled Pocket) 
Jack Rout:  7/8" (22mm) Side Jack Hole 
Neck Pocket:  Strat® Shape 
Mounting Holes:  Standard 4 Bolt 
Contours:  Contoured Heel / Tummy Cut 
F-Holes:  None 
Binding:  Cream Binding 
Top Finish:  Tequila Sunrise Burst 
Back Finish:  Clear 
Finish Type:  Gloss Finish 
Stud Install:  Use inserts from bridge on order 

 

[Rick]

My PUP selection ...

Neck: Dimarzio  Air Classic Neck DP190 (5.5, 4.5, 5.5) Output 206 Alnico 5, resistance 8.34 KoHms (1995) Nickel Cover

Bridge: Dimarzio PAF 36th anniversary Neck DP103 (5.5, 6.0, 5.5) Output 250, Alnico 5, resistance 7.31 Kohm (2008)
Nickel Cover

My bridge selection ...
Gotoh Wraparound Bridge (Chrome) G510C

 

[docteurseb]

This will be good, that's a very decent looking top It doesn't get much more figured than this.

 

[PhilHill]

Never say Never again, Mr. Bond................... :cool01:

 

[JaySwear2]

Very excited to see this one! This is my Warmoth Tele in Tequila Sunrise. It's on swamp ash, a weirdly figured swamp ash top.

 

[Rick]

Scheduled Delivery
Thursday
02/04/2021

And to keep with the color scheme, and it being the last VIP I make, having a rosewood neck and bloodwood fretboard.  Probably 1 block inlay at the 12th fret.  A lot will depend on how the colors came out.  Very excited.

 

[Rick]

Hi Richard, you have a package coming tomorrow.

 

[Rick]

Hi Richard, your package has been delivered.

Can't wait to go home and see it!

 

[Rick]

The Body

 

[Rick]

Pulled the trigger on the neck and misc. parts ... wanted to get other parts from Warmoth but they were sold out.  I wasn't sure if I should get the tall or short mounting ring for the bridge position so I got both.

Serial Number: CN53054
Style: Vortex
Construction: Modern Tiltback Construction
Scale: 25-1/2"
Orientation: Right Handed
Neck Wood: Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Wood: Bloodwood
Nut Width: 1-3/4"
Back Shape: Wolfgang
Fret Size: SS6150 (Stainless)
Tuner Ream: Schaller (25/64")
Radius: 10-16" Compound
Fret #: 22
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
Inlays: White Pearloid Diamond
Side Dots: Black Side Dots
Binding: Cream
String Nut: GraphTech White TUSQ XL - Standard Nut
Serial Number: CN5305
Pots: 500K Pot, By CTS 2
Neck Screws: S7 Neck Screw, Set of 2+2 for Contoured Heel, Stainless Steel
Mounting Ring: HBRSC1C Curved Short Humbucker Mounting Ring, Cream 2
Mounting Ring: HBRTC1C Curved Tall Humbucker Mounting Ring, Cream

 

[TBurst Std]

For the pup rings:
As you are not using a TOM style bridge, you want low. Also a VIP is not curved where the rings go. Flat is preferred.

 

[Rick]

I'm using a Gotoh Wraparound (Angled Pocket)

I used a ruler and there's a curve.  They must be doing something different, or maybe the curve is subtle?  But it's no biggee.  If it turns out to be flat I can sand them down or buy some flat ones. 

In 8 weeks when I get the order back, this'll be the first thing I check.

By then the snow will have melted, the forsythia will be out, green leaves, growing grass, no winter coats, shave off beard ... that'll be a good day.  Last weekend I was walking across a mile of frozen lake.  It was beautiful but I've had enough cold.
Edit
This is from Dr. Seb's post from 3 years ago (that long?! ago?) that gave me the VIP bug.  It shows a curve ...

 

[JaySwear2]

Huh. Had never considered this. I bought curved rings for mine, but haven't test fit anything yet. I'm almost positive they're fairly curved on top. Maybe they were less so before the PRS/VIP lawsuit and the redesign?

 

[Rick]

I'm pretty sure there wasn't a lawsuit.  I think it was more like, please don't do that, and the response was sure we'll change some things. 

 

[Rick]

Got the tuning buttons and neck plate ...
Observatory Bay is where I took the picture that inspired my guitar.
It's interesting  ... inspired in Australia across from Antartica, neck wood from South America and Asia, Body wood from Africa and North America, parts from Japan, Korea, North America, England and Germany, and I'm sure some sub parts snuck in there from China even though I tried to avoid it.  Talk about supply chains!  Plus I heard the sun is pretty far away.

The buttons were made in Germany for sporthitech which is skyway international which is tone ninja. The plate was made in California

 

[Rick]

Got the tuners and they look beautiful!

 

[Rick]

pearloid buttons on the tuners.

 

[mayfly]

oooooooooooooo!  Pretty!!!!