This is sad.
I was just scrolling out a Christmas ornament on some random rosewood I picked out of someone's cutoff pile at the woodcarvers show. I couldn't tell what it was from the looks, but I knew it was some sort of rosewood and that it'd look good as an ornament.
When I started cutting it, I was like "Oh... that's bocote. It must be flatsawn since it's pretty plain." Sure enough, a quick look at the side of the 1/4" thick piece confirmed tha tit's bocote.
Identifying the woods by sight is one thing. Doing it by smell is completely over the top.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Mockingbird: Thoughts and decisions
Not much to report here other than some thoughts and a decision.
The fretboard became a no-brainer. I landed some ebony factory seconds that have been slotted already. The only reason they're seconds is they're a bit streaky. A little linseed oil takes care of that, so the fretboard is now and forever ebony. And it'll be spectacular with the sun/moon/cloud inlays.
I've been thinking about the neck for a little bit. It needs to balance tonally and visually with the body. Sapele is very dark soncially, with the flamed maple pulling it up a bit. I couldn't have a dark sounding neck like mahogany, but I didn't want it as bright as maple for fear of overcompensating. Using Warmoth's neck tone guide as a reference point for the woods I have on hand, this leaves me with bubinga, bocote, chechen, and paduk. They're all in the 75% bright range, with maple being 100%.
Visually, the sapele is getting ebonized, so it's a neutral black, as is the fretboard. The flamed maple is getting the tiger-eye burst, so the main color is varying shades of orange. Not only that, it's a very active orange due to the flaming. I don't want the neck to compete visually with the body or fretboard, so I need it to be fairly plain. This rules out bocote.
The fretboard is 22 frets, 25.5" scale. I already know that the 'Bird is precariously balanced, so a heavy wood for the neck is just asking for trouble. This rules out bubinga.
Looking at the two remaining woods - chechen and paduk - I'm comparing the colors and weight. Overall, taking into consideration everything mentioned above, I have to go with paduk. It's lighter than the chechen, and will eventually turn into a dark burnt orange, which will compliment the top nicely.
The fretboard became a no-brainer. I landed some ebony factory seconds that have been slotted already. The only reason they're seconds is they're a bit streaky. A little linseed oil takes care of that, so the fretboard is now and forever ebony. And it'll be spectacular with the sun/moon/cloud inlays.
I've been thinking about the neck for a little bit. It needs to balance tonally and visually with the body. Sapele is very dark soncially, with the flamed maple pulling it up a bit. I couldn't have a dark sounding neck like mahogany, but I didn't want it as bright as maple for fear of overcompensating. Using Warmoth's neck tone guide as a reference point for the woods I have on hand, this leaves me with bubinga, bocote, chechen, and paduk. They're all in the 75% bright range, with maple being 100%.
Visually, the sapele is getting ebonized, so it's a neutral black, as is the fretboard. The flamed maple is getting the tiger-eye burst, so the main color is varying shades of orange. Not only that, it's a very active orange due to the flaming. I don't want the neck to compete visually with the body or fretboard, so I need it to be fairly plain. This rules out bocote.
The fretboard is 22 frets, 25.5" scale. I already know that the 'Bird is precariously balanced, so a heavy wood for the neck is just asking for trouble. This rules out bubinga.
Looking at the two remaining woods - chechen and paduk - I'm comparing the colors and weight. Overall, taking into consideration everything mentioned above, I have to go with paduk. It's lighter than the chechen, and will eventually turn into a dark burnt orange, which will compliment the top nicely.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Upcoming Projects
I don't have any particular reason, but I have the need to post something about the upcoming projects I have in various stages of planning or incompletion. 
Bookshelf
My sister wants a bookshelf. It'll be pretty basic: 3/4" plywood with poplar edging, stained mahogany and bullet-proofed with polyurethane.
The plywood has been cut and the poplar milled to size.
Gretsch Jupiter/Thinderbird
This should end up a straight copy of the original. Mahogany body with a maple cap, the top painted red, gold hardware. The neck should end up mahogany or some laminate with mahogany.
The base has been glued and routed to template.
Iceman
I can't play the mirrored Iceman at church anymore because the reflection from the lights randomly blinds members of the congregation.
It's one of the best sounding guitars I have though, so I HAVE to have it available to play. The only solution is to make another an scavenge the hardware.
It'll be made almost identical to the 1st one: basswood & maple body and walnut neck. The major differences will be a thinner body, traditional bolt-on neck, and it'll be painted yellow.
SG
A total Gibson SG clone. I have the hardware & pups from a '79 SG to go on it.
This one has the body glued and routed to the template.
Redneck JR
Avenger body shape with a rebel flag on top. The body base is basswood and will be dyed blue. The flag will be bloodwood, ash dyed blue, and basswood. Either the neck or fretboard will be bloodwood. The neck might end up ash.
It'll have a single P90 in the bridge and a wraparound tailpiece, like a LPjr.
The body base has been glued and routed to the template.
Airline
Chambered poplar body, bocote or chechen neck, chrome hardware, Tiesco pickups, Tiesco-style vibrato.
The body is going to be painted with rally orange automotive lacquer. The rosewood neck will match up well visually with the orange paint. I'm leaning towards a plain maple fretboard.
50's car inspired build
This will be the same shape as the Superthin. It'll be reminiscent of the side body moldings of the cars from the 50's - particularly the 55-57 Buick and the 56-61 Corvette. The "body scoop" will be outlined with chrome trim. It'll utilize an aluminum neck I got from in a trade.
Rickenbacker 4000 bass
walnut body, birdseye maple veneer top, Rockfield active music-man pickups
Rickenbacker 600 guitar
maple body, bookmatched crotch walnut top, mahogany neck, gold hardware & pickups from the other Ric600 I made.
Bookshelf
My sister wants a bookshelf. It'll be pretty basic: 3/4" plywood with poplar edging, stained mahogany and bullet-proofed with polyurethane.
The plywood has been cut and the poplar milled to size.
Gretsch Jupiter/Thinderbird
This should end up a straight copy of the original. Mahogany body with a maple cap, the top painted red, gold hardware. The neck should end up mahogany or some laminate with mahogany.
The base has been glued and routed to template.
Iceman
I can't play the mirrored Iceman at church anymore because the reflection from the lights randomly blinds members of the congregation.
It's one of the best sounding guitars I have though, so I HAVE to have it available to play. The only solution is to make another an scavenge the hardware.It'll be made almost identical to the 1st one: basswood & maple body and walnut neck. The major differences will be a thinner body, traditional bolt-on neck, and it'll be painted yellow.
SG
A total Gibson SG clone. I have the hardware & pups from a '79 SG to go on it.
This one has the body glued and routed to the template.
Redneck JR
Avenger body shape with a rebel flag on top. The body base is basswood and will be dyed blue. The flag will be bloodwood, ash dyed blue, and basswood. Either the neck or fretboard will be bloodwood. The neck might end up ash.
It'll have a single P90 in the bridge and a wraparound tailpiece, like a LPjr.
The body base has been glued and routed to the template.
Airline
Chambered poplar body, bocote or chechen neck, chrome hardware, Tiesco pickups, Tiesco-style vibrato.
The body is going to be painted with rally orange automotive lacquer. The rosewood neck will match up well visually with the orange paint. I'm leaning towards a plain maple fretboard.
50's car inspired build
This will be the same shape as the Superthin. It'll be reminiscent of the side body moldings of the cars from the 50's - particularly the 55-57 Buick and the 56-61 Corvette. The "body scoop" will be outlined with chrome trim. It'll utilize an aluminum neck I got from in a trade.
Rickenbacker 4000 bass
walnut body, birdseye maple veneer top, Rockfield active music-man pickups
Rickenbacker 600 guitar
maple body, bookmatched crotch walnut top, mahogany neck, gold hardware & pickups from the other Ric600 I made.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Mockingbird: yet another detour
I decided that after looking at it for a few weeks that I absolutely HATE the way the top looks. It's the sum of the parts. The carve didn't go the way I wanted it to go, the canary isn't as colorful as I wanted, and there's something intangible that's completely wrong about the whole thing. I can't put my finger on it, but it's just not right.
I've made enough guitars that I'm unhappy with that I know if i finish it up, I'll never want to play it, so there's no point is going forward.
So we'll have to wait and see what happens with the whole thing. I've always wanted a Mockingbird, so there WILL be another in the future. But that's the only thing that's set in stone. Right now, I'm leaning heavily towards a quilted top with a tiger-eye dye job.
I've made enough guitars that I'm unhappy with that I know if i finish it up, I'll never want to play it, so there's no point is going forward.
So we'll have to wait and see what happens with the whole thing. I've always wanted a Mockingbird, so there WILL be another in the future. But that's the only thing that's set in stone. Right now, I'm leaning heavily towards a quilted top with a tiger-eye dye job.
Project: Super-Thin, pt4
The neck & headstock routed to the template. The end of the headstock will need to be "sharpened up" to match the horns, but that's no biggie. I figure to put the 24th fret right on the carve line. This gives you total access to the first 22, and at least availability to the last to. This also places the strap button at the 12th fret, so that ensures no balance issues with the lack of weight in the body. I'm also going to extend the bevel in the forearm area into the body a bit. It's too shallow as it sits right now. The pencil line is where it will end up.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
King Of The Hill
I know this has nothing to do with guitars, but this is the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. The adult elephant kicks the baby down the hill! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
"Experts" at Guitar Center
No, not the employees... the customers. From craigslist, Birmingham, Al, 4/12/2009. This about sums it up!
This is a special thanks to all of the guys that put on a free concert at guitar center everyday, we appreciate everything you do for our community.
Like when I go in to actually purchase something, you come sit right next to me and play your "top shelf" ibanez through any solid state monster in the store, and show me how fast you can tap.
Or like when I am asking someone a question and you stepped up to the plate and instead tell us all how incredible your band is.
Another reason I am so impressed by you guys is how you find time to come to guitar center every day when you're always out on the road touring. It's already pretty hard to sift through the wealth of knowledge available behind the counter, but when you add your countless years of experience in to the equation, there is no end.
Another way that you guys have changed my life is through my use of equipment. Over the years I've always thought that boutique pedals and custom tube configurations really contributed to my overall tone, yet you proved me wrong. Just from watching you play both measures you know from Free Bird, I learned that all I really need is a digitech floor board or a line 6 product to get the job done.
Just hearing you guys really shred on your speed metal makes me wonder why people still listen to bands like The Beatles, Coldplay or U2.
Thanks again for all you've done for me personally, you've really taught me that everything I thought I knew must be wrong, I am forever in debt to you. Because of this, I am now looking for a new drummer. Currently my drummer plays with a metronome and is way too solid and tasteful, consider him gone!
If you are one of those guys in the drum dept. that knows that fast double bass is so much more important than keeping time, you're the one for me.
So what if you don't own a drum set and therefore never practice, who needs practice when you're a prodigy?
Who cares if you came in 7th place at last years drum off, the judges were conspiring against you.
Last but not least, I am also holding auditions for a bass player. Currently my bass player plays through this stupid little ampeg 8x10 cab & head with a few vintage fender basses, and all he knows how to do is stay with the kick drum.
Who cares that he's never made a mistake, or that he could write a book on music theory, what matters is that he can't slap. If there's one thing that can make any passionately slow song sound even better, that would be slap bass.
So what if these pocket bass players like Adam Clayton are living in mansions and you're working at the mall, you know that slap bass is what's gonna bring in the big bucks. don't worry, you'll get your chance, the world won't know what hit'em.
This is a special thanks to all of the guys that put on a free concert at guitar center everyday, we appreciate everything you do for our community.
Like when I go in to actually purchase something, you come sit right next to me and play your "top shelf" ibanez through any solid state monster in the store, and show me how fast you can tap.
Or like when I am asking someone a question and you stepped up to the plate and instead tell us all how incredible your band is.
Another reason I am so impressed by you guys is how you find time to come to guitar center every day when you're always out on the road touring. It's already pretty hard to sift through the wealth of knowledge available behind the counter, but when you add your countless years of experience in to the equation, there is no end.
Another way that you guys have changed my life is through my use of equipment. Over the years I've always thought that boutique pedals and custom tube configurations really contributed to my overall tone, yet you proved me wrong. Just from watching you play both measures you know from Free Bird, I learned that all I really need is a digitech floor board or a line 6 product to get the job done.
Just hearing you guys really shred on your speed metal makes me wonder why people still listen to bands like The Beatles, Coldplay or U2.
Thanks again for all you've done for me personally, you've really taught me that everything I thought I knew must be wrong, I am forever in debt to you. Because of this, I am now looking for a new drummer. Currently my drummer plays with a metronome and is way too solid and tasteful, consider him gone!
If you are one of those guys in the drum dept. that knows that fast double bass is so much more important than keeping time, you're the one for me.
So what if you don't own a drum set and therefore never practice, who needs practice when you're a prodigy?
Who cares if you came in 7th place at last years drum off, the judges were conspiring against you.
Last but not least, I am also holding auditions for a bass player. Currently my bass player plays through this stupid little ampeg 8x10 cab & head with a few vintage fender basses, and all he knows how to do is stay with the kick drum.
Who cares that he's never made a mistake, or that he could write a book on music theory, what matters is that he can't slap. If there's one thing that can make any passionately slow song sound even better, that would be slap bass.
So what if these pocket bass players like Adam Clayton are living in mansions and you're working at the mall, you know that slap bass is what's gonna bring in the big bucks. don't worry, you'll get your chance, the world won't know what hit'em.
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