VIP Nearly there.....

[Last Triumph]

Sorry for the VERY slow progress on this - I've got two other major hobby projects on the go this year so the guitar gets worked on out of therapy more than anything else.

Last night saw a bit of a milestone though as I finally strung it up with Optima Golds (9-42) and was able to acoustically play it for the first time.

First impressions....

Without even touching the truss rod, the action is lower than I could ever get my Les Paul or Jackson even after pro set ups - and as I like a very low action, this is a good thing indeed. Worth noting that the neck was set up by Cagey and to be fair, I don;t need to touch it, even after sitting sans tension for 4 months. Superb.

Secondly - Cagey's fret job is very, very good indeed. Dare I say perfect? Yeah, go on - it's perfect. 1.5 tone bends are just chils play like bending on wet ice glass. Thanks Cagey, GREAT job.

I couldn't get the intonation set as my tuner wouldn't pick up the signal on fretted notes without being plugged in, but just by listening, it's great.

The Gotoh 510 wrap around is like a comfy bed.

I got the control positions just right.

The balance and weight are perfect.

The neck feel and profile are perfect.

As long as it actually sounds nice with the wood combo and DiMarzio's, I think we've got a winner.

It was always a big risk when adding all your favourite ingredients into the same cake.... will it taste any good?

Dunno yet, but the smell form the kitchen so far is very nice so far.

Soldering iron might just make an appearance tonight!

I just wish I could play guitar worth a sh*t.

 

[Suzanne]

I have those same (expensive !!!!) strings on my Warmoth LP and I absolutely love them. And I'm with you... I wish my playing ability matched the quality of a build like this. I guess we all need something to strive for   Can't wait to see pictures of it.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Can't wait to see this finished. That body is just beyond amazing. I've even got my phone out to show it to people in the pub.

 

[Cagey]

You're welcome, and thank you for the kind words.

 

[Last Triumph]

For those who like pictures...

Firstly, I'm a hopeless photographer so have taken shots with and without flash - take your pick. Still needs a volume knob and the truss rod cover when I get round to polishing it.

No wiring tonight.... I fell asleep on the sofa like something the quick brown fox would jump over.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

:headbang1:

 

[Strat Avenger]

'Looks awesome.  :kewlpics:

 

[Last Triumph]

It works!

Just finished wiring it up and then spent ages sorting out the intonation etc. Actually had to reverse the string saddles in their troughs to get enough rearward shift on the bass strings with the Gotoh at the end of it's adjustment, but got there in the end.

Action nice and low (is it ever low enough?)

I'll give more detail tomorrow after some sleep (1am here) but it lives - that's the main thing.

Sounds good. Couldn't turn the Marshall up past 2 without waking the kids so can't really assess the tone, but initially it sounds warm and rich, not too bright, not too muddy. Just chilled out and relaxed is the best description for the tone.

Nice feel and balance  and just the right weight.

Nice guitar.

It's 'hum' free without the copper shielding too!

Good night...

 

[Last Triumph]

One last question...

Maybe I'm overly paranoid, or just too tired and am looking for faults, but I noticed that the high E string is closer to the edge of the fret board than the low E string which seems to be more inboard.

All the strings are equi-spaced and everything at the nut is perfect.

It's as if the bridge is not central to the neck by a couple of mm.

The neck sits tight and square in the neck pocket.

Here's a  picture.... For a better effect, turn your head 90 degrees - sorry, I couldn't rotate the image!

Am I just being silly?

I guess there's nothing I can do about it anyway?

 

[AutoBat]

As long as it's playing fine I wouldn't worry about it.  You could get new saddles & file them (or I suppose try to modify the existing).

 

[Cagey]

If it bothers you, then before you go messing with your bridge saddles try loosening the neck mounting screws a couple turns and pull the neck toward the low E string as you re-tighten them. You only need to move it a couple thousandths. Just a bit of pressure will do it. That'll move the strings up. Or, don't do anything. That's a small offset, and it's on the proper side. You always push the high E up for bends or vibrato, so it shouldn't be a playability issue. I'd be more concerned if the low E was too close to the edge. As it is, neither is very close to the edge so you should be fine.

 

[Updown]

Looks bloody great  :blob7:  ................................................ finally  :icon_jokercolor:    (I think swarfrat has that record covered anyway)  :laughing7:

That's the best looking lefty i've ever seen  :headbang:
Mmmmmm .... that quilt looks just like the black strat quilt top on mine  :icon_thumright:

Enjoy it  :guitarplayer2:

 

[JonatanOTG]

I actually have to agree with Updown... nicest looking lefty I've ever seen!  :toothy10:

 

[Last Triumph]

Thanks guys. Slackened off the neck screws, leaned on the neck a little, tightened the screws up a bit and the alignment is perfect.

Had another little play at sensible volumes.

Few observations....

The Dimarzio's are quite subtle and creamy - not the screaming demons I feared. Very smooth and tone-full with an almost vintage feel. Plenty of output as I've wound the gain back on the clean channel to the break up point a couple of notches, but just really mellow. The Nortons are great.

Neck profile is just perfect. Everything about it is just the best I've ever played. It's a '59 Roundback with a 10-16" compound and 6150 frets on bare Indian Rosewood  / Macasar Ebony. Just gorgeous feel.

Dunno whether it's the neck or Cagey's fret job, but big bends are just so easy and predictable - I can now somehow just stab a sudden bend and hit it pitch perfect every time - like bending on glass to a perfectly set end stop.

Volume control is quite aggressive with the volume all gone in about 2/3 of the sweep, but it's linear and smooth... not that I'll ever use it again.

Decided on a Q Parts gold 'Ringo Knob for the art-deco boutique look.... I chose the tortoise shell top to best match the copperhead finish in that are of the guitar.

As soon as I've polished the brass 'Caramel Sky' truss rod cover and fitted the volume knob, I will photograph it properly for the final reveal.

 

[Cagey]

Keep an eye on that knob - that inset jewel is liable to fall off when you least expect it, so the sooner you notice it's missing, the easier it'll be to find. I've had a couple/few sets of those before I finally gave up on them. They need to be epoxied in, but that's too time-consuming and doesn't lend itself well to production (mixed epoxy cures and sets up no matter what you do) so nobody does it that way. They use CyA to hold them, and it's not a good method. But, as long as you find the inset, you can do it properly and it'll last forever. Unfortunately, it's difficult to fix the problem ahead of time. You'd probably wreck it trying to pop it off on purpose.

 

[anorakDan]

CA glue can be thwarted with cold. You could put the knobs in the freezer for awhile. This should cause the CA to weaken. Popping them off should be much easier, if you want to follow Cagey's epoxy advice (which is sound, epoxy should last just about forever.)

However, considering what those knobs cost, you might just want to play wait-and-see if you can find the insert when it does fall out, rather than prying around on them.

Those are lovely knobs, by the way! Great choice for that axe!

 

[Last Triumph]

Keep an eye on that knob - that inset jewel is liable to fall off when you least expect it, so the sooner you notice it's missing, the easier it'll be to find. I've had a couple/few sets of those before I finally gave up on them. They need to be epoxied in, but that's too time-consuming and doesn't lend itself well to production (mixed epoxy cures and sets up no matter what you do) so nobody does it that way. They use CyA to hold them, and it's not a good method. But, as long as you find the inset, you can do it properly and it'll last forever. Unfortunately, it's difficult to fix the problem ahead of time. You'd probably wreck it trying to pop it off on purpose.

Goo tip - thanks.

The guitar never leaves the house and to be fair, will seldom leave the case.