Requesting Input on Possible Body Shape Ideas. Tele Build.

[Magicbisket]

Trying this again. I keep getting an error. Okay so It's been about three weeks since I ordered my Body Blank. I drew up some Ideas for the body and I would love some input. It's a swamp ash body blank and the neck is LP Styled. Any Input on what finish would be good for what would also be greatly appreciated. (Gold Hardware don't hate me)

1. Personal Favorite
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/1000555g.jpg/

2. 2nd Choice and Father's and Best Friends Favorite.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/1000552p.jpg/

3. 3rd Choice and Mother's Favorite
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/1000550o.jpg/

4. Alternate on Number 3
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/26/1000557j.jpg/

5 Spare
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/231/1000553z.jpg/

Sorry for the poor quality and dirty lines.

Thank You

D. T. Latty

 

[Tipperman]

I like number 1 and 3 a lot. 3 is very simple and elegant, kind of a mandolin-feel to it. Go with what you prefer, of course. Can't wait to see the finished results, though!  ccasion14:

 

[pabloman]

Is someone jonesing for a Breedlove????

 

[Justinginn]

#2 no doubt. It looks more like a great guitar and less like someone was trying to be unique. (they all look pretty good but I think that one looks by far the best)  :guitaristgif:

 

[Goob3r]

I pick #2.

#1 looks great, but I know I would break it at some point(I'm clumsy). ccasion14:

 

[bagman67]

#3.  If a boy can't trust his mamma, who can he trust?

 

[mataguri]

I like number 1. I also think it would be cool to move the lower horn to the top and have something like this:

A solid body version of that with tele pickups would be the mutts nuts!

 

[Magicbisket]

Hey Guys! Glad to see so much feedback from this.

I did a quick touch-up on the pics for a bit better view of the pictures

1. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/35/1000555touchup.jpg/

2. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/803/1000552touchup.jpg/

3. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/1000550touchup.jpg/

4. (Didn't bother)

5. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/847/1000553touchup.jpg/

6. Quick doodle of the moved lower horn to upper on 3 (Thank you for the tip)
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/1000561touchup.jpg/

7. Hybrid of 1 and 5 (1 with lower horn to upper)
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/59/1000558touchup.jpg/

I'm more stuck between 2,3 and something like 6. Narrowed it down quite a bit thanks to you fine people. I do really like the mandolin style looks (especially on the one in mataguri's picture  :icon_smile: ). It's classy but not overly showy. Although 2's shape seems a bit more standard and practical. Probably more comfortable too.

Two questions.
1: With such a large cut-away on the more mandolin style shapes. Will that cause it to be to unevenly weighted or will the strap keep it quite firmly placed on my chest/stomach?

2: Goob3r's comment reminded me. Horns like the ones pictured, especially with scrolling, how sturdy are they?

Again Thank you very much for all the input and advice.

D. T. Latty
   

 

[SkuttleFunk]

my suggestion would be to draw each of the body designs you like to scale (including the neck and headstock, and nail the exact location where the neck and body meet to see if you have enough upper fret access)

only with a drawn to scale design can you truly begin to know if something is going to work or not. you can also address ergonomic issues on a scaled drawing - something impossible on scaleless napkin sketches

if you're not able to sketch to scale, find a friend who knows how and buy them lunch to do it for you. I'd highly suggest you learn how to do this if you plan to do future body builds of your own

best of luck

R

 

[Tipperman]

I think a mandolin shape SHOULD balance fine, provided you locate and drill the strap buttons properly. Plus, you'll have a hell of an easy time accessing upper frets and will have a very unique instrument!  :rock-on:

 

[bagman67]

Talk about your extreme cutaways - this is my guitar instructor's instructor, Walter Strauss, who you can see is not really making the most of his cutaway in this clip.  The reason I post it is to give an idea of how deep you can go with a cutaway on an unusual shaped guitar, even an acoustic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFRp2s-8A_8

 

[mgaut051]

Welcome!

I'll be honest, it's not my bag of tea.
I understand the urge to be original - I picked an original design for a bass I'm making and after revising it 10 years after I drew it, I'm quite happy.
A few tips: mull it over - a lot.
Put it aside for MONTHS and come back to it to see if you still like it.
Pick your favorite, and re-draw it dozens of times - from memory, with intentional variations, with extreme features, while in different moods... Then pick. Put it aside, come back to it later.
Have a clear concept, a theme, a feel in mind and ask yourself whether your finalist fits.

I personally prefer variations on classical shapes, something that you can recognize as being inspired from X.

To get the creative juices flowing, you may want to take a look at this guy - pretty neat stuff in large quantities.
http://guitarren.blogspot.com/

But the most important is to pick something that fits YOUR vision. You prolly won't build enough guitars in your life to allow yourself to waste time on something you won't be satisfied with.

 

[dNA]

I like that hybrid #7 you drew.

i'm with SkuttleFunk though. It's pretty much impossible to get any real idea of something when you're drawing it by hand and it's not made to scale. Those all look a little squished and disproportionate to me.