Second build.

[casper100]

Looks really great and I like the idea with the bandana on the headstock. That's a great idea for a matching headstock!

I will do that again sometime. I just got impatient and sanded to aggressively with my table top belt sander and ruined it.

 

[stratamania]

Texas A&M Aggie. A&M started as an Agricultural School. Like lots of those schools, the students are called Aggies. To Aggify would be to use the school colors, mascots or emblems.

Thanks, got it now.

 

[Hagwood]

Hardware installed. Other than my crappy soldering, it went well. After Aaron’s video about them, I decided to try the Van Dyke-Harms monolith bridge.

My attempts at Aggifying the neck ended in failure, so I am left without a functional neck. Luckily, it was a screaming deal neck and I can continue doing experiments on it. But for now I have to wait for my new Warmoth neck to arrive to play it, unless I just take a neck off one of my other guitars.

Looking awesome. I've been eyeing those bridges as well, they look incredible. Let us know your impressions after you're done. The wood pickguard is cool, what are you thinking for the finish ?

By the way, I have drilled out and replaced round fret markers and it's not too bad. Just use a brad point or forstner bit and have a depth stop. Maybe you could find some dots a little bigger if the holes are buggered up. I found some Rosewood ones to put on a maple neck. Ended up doing a re-fret too.

 

[casper100]

Looking awesome. I've been eyeing those bridges as well, they look incredible. Let us know your impressions after you're done. The wood pickguard is cool, what are you thinking for the finish ?

By the way, I have drilled out and replaced round fret markers and it's not too bad. Just use a brad point or forstner bit and have a depth stop. Maybe you could find some dots a little bigger if the holes are buggered up. I found some Rosewood ones to put on a maple neck. Ended up doing a re-fret too.

View attachment 65314View attachment 65315

I did use a brad point. I think my issue was trying to exactly match the size, which was very hard to be exactly drilling the center. If anyone has a fool proof way, I'm open to it. Warmoth uses dot markers which are some sort of clay. If they were plastic, you can drill out the center then retrieve the rest pretty easily. Warmoth markers are there to stay. I still have options to experiment on that neck and will keep trying.

The finish on the pick guard is Rubio. I used a white pre stain then white Rubio 2C, so it's complete. I also put a ceramic coat on it, which I have found does a fantastic job eliminating pick scratch marks. My last Pale Moon Ebony build still has zero scratches with months of playing time.

 

[Spud]

I did use a brad point. I think my issue was trying to exactly match the size, which was very hard to be exactly drilling the center. If anyone has a fool proof way, I'm open to it. Warmoth uses dot markers which are some sort of clay. If they were plastic, you can drill out the center then retrieve the rest pretty easily. Warmoth markers are there to stay. I still have options to experiment on that neck and will keep trying.

The finish on the pick guard is Rubio. I used a white pre stain then white Rubio 2C, so it's complete. I also put a ceramic coat on it, which I have found does a fantastic job eliminating pick scratch marks. My last Pale Moon Ebony build still has zero scratches with months of playing time.

Uh, when was the last time "Brad" really had a salient point? In my experience he just prattles on and on.................finally, one time, I said "I will thank you to shut your stupid mouth" that really set him off I can tell you!

 

[casper100]

AggieCaster is complete. Including custom Aggie guitar strap https://www.linnykenney.com/blogs/linny-leather-blog/custom-texas-a-m-guitar-strap
Plays great. Impressed with the Van Dyke-Harms monolith. 51 Nocaster pickups just what I wanted. Maple body is as heavy as a gold brick. Will do the Fender nut again and again. The Australian Red Gum with black epoxy turned out better than I could have hoped for. Maple pick guard adds the right touch of white.

 

[Spud]

AggieCaster is complete. Including custom Aggie guitar strap https://www.linnykenney.com/blogs/linny-leather-blog/custom-texas-a-m-guitar-strap
Plays great. Impressed with the Van Dyke-Harms monolith. 51 Nocaster pickups just what I wanted. Maple body is as heavy as a gold brick. Will do the Fender nut again and again. The Australian Red Gum with black epoxy turned out better than I could have hoped for. Maple pick guard adds the right touch of white.

Very nice, the bridge is cool too!

 

[Hagwood]

Looks killer ! That custom strap is super cool. I bet it plays and sounds great.

 

[AleForce1]

AggieCaster is complete. Including custom Aggie guitar strap https://www.linnykenney.com/blogs/linny-leather-blog/custom-texas-a-m-guitar-strap
Plays great. Impressed with the Van Dyke-Harms monolith. 51 Nocaster pickups just what I wanted. Maple body is as heavy as a gold brick. Will do the Fender nut again and again. The Australian Red Gum with black epoxy turned out better than I could have hoped for. Maple pick guard adds the right touch of white.

So after a few months what do you think of the Van Dyke-Harms Monolith bridge?

 

[casper100]

So after a few months what do you think of the Van Dyke-Harms Monolith bridge?

I'm impressed. I was worried about the intonation, but it is spot on. As is the radius for the compound fretboard. Very high quality (and heavy) parts.

 

[AleForce1]

I'm impressed. I was worried about the intonation, but it is spot on. As is the radius for the compound fretboard. Very high quality (and heavy) parts.

Great, thanks. considering using it on my two upcoming telecasters (roasted pine and custom walnut).

 

[casper100]

Great, thanks. considering using it on my two upcoming telecasters (roasted pine and custom walnut).

I love both the look and the feel. Most Telecaster bridges are just cheap.

 

[Spud]

So after a few months what do you think of the Van Dyke-Harms Monolith bridge?

I still dig this bridge.

 

[Hodgo]

I love both the look and the feel. Most Telecaster bridges are just cheap.

As Leo intended! Didn’t stop Zeppelin I from sounding great

 

[casper100]

As Leo intended! Didn’t stop Zeppelin I from sounding great

You make a good point

 

[casper100]

Okay, building a solid body guitar with Maple was a rookie mistake. Just way too heavy. If anyone has seen my Mango build, you’ve seen I took considerable weight out of it by carving the backside. I decided to take that to the next level with the AggieCaster. I also wasn’t crazy about the 51 Nocaster pickups anyway. Twangy made sense for a Texas themed guitar, but it’s just not my style, so if I’m gonna take it apart I might as well change those as well.
Some might say, why not just chamber it, then cover it. Well, I just like things that are a little harder, lol.
Most of the bulk was removed via a Forstner bit on a drill press. Then some Kutzall carving tools. Rather than sand the cavities smooth, I went with a hand carved look with a 6mm curved gouge. All in, I took out 2 1/2 lbs.

 

[MackDaddy1962]

Okay, building a solid body guitar with Maple was a rookie mistake. Just way too heavy. If anyone has seen my Mango build, you’ve seen I took considerable weight out of it by carving the backside. I decided to take that to the next level with the AggieCaster. I also wasn’t crazy about the 51 Nocaster pickups anyway. Twangy made sense for a Texas themed guitar, but it’s just not my style, so if I’m gonna take it apart I might as well change those as well.
Some might say, why not just chamber it, then cover it. Well, I just like things that are a little harder, lol.
Most of the bulk was removed via a Forstner bit on a drill press. Then some Kutzall carving tools. Rather than sand the cavities smooth, I went with a hand carved look with a 6mm curved gouge. All in, I took out 2 1/2 lbs. View attachment 68781

Holy cow, that's some serious craftsmanship! Keep up informed how this goes. Lot's-o-pics too.. we love pics! Nice work brother.

 

[casper100]

I refinished the entire guitar after carving. I lost about 25% of the overall weight. I could lose more with lighter hardware, but it's comfortable now.

I replaced the '51 Nocaster pickups. The country twang was just not my thing. I put them in because it was a Texas themed guitar, but ultimately I wasn't playing it because I didn't like the tone.

I live in the Boise area so I chose some local pickups, Porter 9T's. Much better for my playing style. P90 growl out of telecaster style pickups.

 

[Hagwood]

I refinished the entire guitar after carving. I lost about 25% of the overall weight. I could lose more with lighter hardware, but it's comfortable now.

I replaced the '51 Nocaster pickups. The country twang was just not my thing. I put them in because it was a Texas themed guitar, but ultimately I wasn't playing it because I didn't like the tone.

I live in the Boise area so I chose some local pickups, Porter 9T's. Much better for my playing style. P90 growl out of telecaster style pickups.View attachment 68859View attachment 68860

Now that's something different ! How does it feel with the cavities against your body ?

 

[teleme01]

I have a couple of sets of porter t90 s and like them