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Winter Halfmoth Project

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whitebison66

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Ever bid on something on eBay figuring you're sure to be outbid?

Then you're not?

Happened to me last week.

I have a weird thing about signature guitars: some of my favorite designs are by my least favorite guitarists. I absolutely love George Lynch's Kamikazes and owned an LTD version.

Which I repainted in 7-11 colors, substituting the pilot's photo for Joe Thompson, founder of 7-11. I also replaced the PUs with color-correct (?) Dimarzios. The bombs became sodas and the characters replaced with the colloquial name for 7-11 in Cantonese.

It currently is owned by my nephew.

I've always liked the Washburn N series but could do without Nuno Bettencourt. Nothing personal, just not a fan. Even my affinity for the guitars is rather silly considering I'm 6'4 and it looks like a toy on me.

And I admit I'm intrigued by the challenge of building a replacement neck for a guitar with a Stephens Extended Cutaway. I've seen N4 bodies on eBay and hoped to get one in Ash. They dried up for a while, so I put a silly low bid on an alder one.

Guess what? I won it, and the ash ones are back too. Darn it.

But no matter.

My winter project, then, is to craft an SEC-compatible neck for this guitar from a Warmoth Angled Headstock Neck Blank. I'm also going to do a Floyd nut install, which I haven't done in 20 years (though I am sure this one will be better than the last!).

This body has a wood flaw, so I'm thinking solid color finish. Besides, I want to move the volume control anyway.

 

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Oh, another reason I need to make the neck is that I use R5 nuts on Floyds (1 3/4") and Washburns don't come that way.

Here's what I'm thinking so far for finishes:

1. Paint it white, then just a cover coat in fluorescent orange. It'll wear through pretty quickly, getting a vintage/relic thing.

2. Serious orange, with good coverage and sealer (though matte).

3. Imitation of the Samick TV Twenty 'Orangesicle' finish.

4. Maple or Ash or white oak veneer with a burst to cover the edges. But fluorescent orange burst.

5. Something like the bass in the photo below. The guitar simply isn't subtle, so why try to make it that way?

If anyone can help me find the TYPE of stickers used on the N series, I would be forever grateful. I need different letter/number, but wouldn't mind replicating the font and size/.
 

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Got the angled neck blank ordered.  :headbang:

The body showed up over the holiday, so I've started trying to problem-solve the SEC part. There is no wiggle room: its either right or firewood.

I've got several issues I need to reconcile, since each affects the other:

1: I have to ensure the center line of the neck and the SEC radius match the body. I found a CAD drawing someone had done of an SEC neck, and I'm making a test run on MDF. Let's just say I'm working on it.
2: I'm using a wheel-type adjustment truss rod. That's got to be under the fretboard overhang after the 22nd fret (I'll notch it out). Placement is paramount, and dependent on #3 below.
3: Placing the fretboard to account for #2 as well as the scale length as well as the R5 nut being able to sit fully on the flat part of the neck blank.

None of these is a problem by themselves. Making sure they all interlock (for lack of a better term) will simply require some thought. Which will be a lot easier to do once the neck blank and fretboard are here.
 
I don't know if I've ever actually told you, but your little - and not so little - projects are one of the highlights of this board for me. Keep up the good work!
 
This is gonna be awesome. Those Nuno bodies have always intrigued me. Is the neck really held on by that shallow rout and 5 bolts? Wierd...
 
Kboman - Thank you! I don't do a very good job of posting these builds, but I am trying to do better. I do appreciate the feedback I get here, since you guys know about the process more than 'civilian' readers. My blog has more information on this and other builds: http://sean.thewhatsgoodconspiracy.com/ I don't like pimping the blog, but I admit I'm often too lazy to rework all the posts from that into posts here. Because I hardly have time enough to do it the first time!

The SEC really does work, though you're right, I can't see how it works either! I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays in the upper register.
 
Good work. I like the rubbing trick to get your cavity covers. That's gonna be a fine fiddle.
 
How are you adding the neck flange or whatever you call that wing? It appears to be an integral part of the original, and at least the fifth screw "needs" it. I am a fan of 24-fret necks not so much to get that last high E - I don't actually think really short lengths of string sound very good. But to be able to use your index or middle finger on the 17th and 19th frets opens up more musical choices. And I am seriously looking for a good orange paint.....
 
There are plans/images online that previous builders have shared, so I used one of those, modified for a wider nut.

As for the flange or 'shark fin,' it's a matter of making sure the neck is placed/cut/made properly in regards to scale length, center of fretboard AND the 4" SEC joint radius. It sounds more drastic than it is, really. My next blog entry will talk about neck construction.
 
More progress on the SEC neck:

http://www.alivenotdead.com/seantierney/HKG-SEC-Work-the-Neck-profile-1746022.html?newpost_1
 
Can I be your mascot? I do grouting, ghost removal, :headbang1: feng shui gardening, no windows or bathrooms tho...
 
Done!!!!

http://www.alivenotdead.com/seantierney/HKG-SEC-Done-profile-1801135.html

I have another project to post about, but after that I've got one planned that will be... interesting.
 
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