Tobacco Burst Zebra/Mahog

[fdesalvo]

It's finally to the point where I can post come crappy iphone pics.  All that remains are the toggle install, bridge saddle slotting, and one missing nickel pickup cover.  At some point a new neck is in order.  The 1/2 hole for the toggle is a bit rough around the edges, but it is close enough to the hole that it will be concealed by the nut.  The pickups are RioGrande BQ (B) and SD Anico Pro 2 (N). 

I swear I need to xray this thing as it feels like it's chambered; it's very resonant and light.  It weighs a bit less that my alder strat does, which makes no sense at all.  I remember mahogany being a bear.

 

 

[Nicholasdaniel]

Nice :icon_thumright:

 

[m4rk0]

fantastic! It will take me some time to get used to the TOM on a strat, but other than that, perfect!

 

[fdesalvo]

Thanks, man!  This one's definitely purspose built.  The TOM is less about aestheticsand more about feel.  I do love the way they look, though.  I love their height and feel.  When I play strat bridges my pick always slams againt the body and the placement of the typical strat controls feels crowded for my right hand, as well; I always inadvertantly hit them.  This guitar combines my fav elements of my strat and SG!  Hopefully these pickups sound good in this body.

 

[exaN]

That looks killer :guitaristgif:

 

[Ace Flibble]

Looks pretty sexy. I loves me some zebrawood. Though I quite like the covered/uncovered mix, suits the stripy lookof the guitar - I'd leave it as it is if I were you.

As far as the weight thing goes, that is just good quality mahogany for you. I've got a one-piece, unchambered Gibson CS LP and it's lighter than my fully chambered (almost semi-hollow in fact) Epi LP. Mahogany really isn't that heavy when it's the decent quality stuff.

 

[fdesalvo]

She's finished and playable.Waiting on fatback now.  She still needs to have the bridge fully slotted and a full setup. but she's making music.  I tested though my Fishman acoustic amp, which normally gives electric guitars a bit of a sterile tone, but this guitar is special- I can already tell.  

The light mahogany body really resonatesvibrantly and with surprising volume.  These TOM bridges are brilliant the way they anchor deep within the body's wood and transmit the string vibration right into the core.

The SD Alnico Pro II (N) and Rio Grande BBQ (B) play so nice together- very tele like jangle in position number 2, woody blues tone in 3, and fat and clear midrange in the bridge.

I originally purchased the tophat knob for it's amber color, but the contour fits my pinky perfectly and I've found the optimal postions for it and the toggle.  I should have the deep nut for the toggle in by tuesday.  

I can think of no regrets so far.  Even with the higher than anks for looking and for the advice along the way.normal action and thin Wizard profile, the guitar is easy to play.  I love the string height the TOM gives- agressive picking is easy with no pickguard or wood getting in the way.

Thanks for the support!

 

[Death by Uberschall]

The more I see tobacco burst on natural wood, the more I like it.  :headbang1:

 

[fdesalvo]

That's where it's at, suckah!

 

[Cagey]

That is one gorgeous guitar! You should be proud!

Y'know, some of the weight saving comes from the lack of a trem bridge. No claw, springs, arm, or sustain block. Plus, you have substantially fewer controls, and no metal jackplate. I just threw all those parts onto a scale and they weighed 1.4lbs.

 

[fdesalvo]

Haha thanks cagey!  I've never taken this arts' weight into account. That's crazy. I just saw this guitar in the sunlight for the first time- wow! Gonna get pics of that.

 

[fdesalvo]

Last pic, I swear!  I'll get a legit camera on it and post it in the strats area.  I played it through my rig for the first time today after a crude setup- no slotted bridge yet- and I was impressed.  I've got  Boogie MKIV halfstack and it's actually very fat through this.  I had to turn my bass tone control down to zero lol and its really surprisingly chunky haha.  I was not expecting this much oomph from a strat shaped guitar and it was surprising.  My band mates were reserved and skeptical until I plugged it in and they were equally impressed.  The control placement really helps with fast switching and swells.

For those of you wondering how a sawn qtr maple/ebony + mahogany core wood strat sounds, I can tell you that it's fat and rich in mids- a mahogany neck would be very bassy in this equation (with this pickup set).  This piece is so very alive and resonant in my hands.  I can't wait for the 24.75" qtr sawn maple/ebony fatback to arrive.  The additional maple might bring out the highs that I'm looking for. 

For comparison, my SG-GT with the same bridge pickup is much brighter and detailed in the upper mids.  I may have to throw in a brighter bridge pickup in here- maybe a JB?  But I am only speculating since I played at low volume and this amp is insanely tweakable.  Again- I highly recommend the BBQ bridge for thinner or brighter sounding instruments, where a fatter, more complex midrange is required.  I'm talking about Alder and Ash bolt-ons an SGs.