HR Members guitar design and build thread

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I've been watching this from the sidelines, and I'm very interested what the final product will be. I think the surf design looks appealing, but it seems to me that the lower waistline is too far back. In the rendering it's directly under the bridge. It looks awkward.
 
I've been watching this from the sidelines, and I'm very interested what the final product will be. I think the surf design looks appealing, but it seems to me that the lower waistline is too far back. In the rendering it's directly under the bridge. It looks awkward.
I'm looking at a busy day tomorrow but if I get time I'll try to make the changes you're suggesting. If not it'll have to be Monday. Could you tell me which of the surf designs you prefer?
 
Hey Muttley,
It's appears to me that most of the response has been in favor of a surf style build. If we could officially settle on that and perhaps arrive at a preference for one of the posted designs to continue forward from, we could move on to other steps in the process even as we work on the guitar's design. It would certainly simplify my job.

I have continued to work on the design for the semi-hollow that I preferred. I would love it if I could continue to discuss that guitar if you have the time and are willing. Perhaps that belongs in another thread as it would muddy the waters in this one. I have some thoughts on its construction I'd like some help working through. I have some drawing to do to get my ideas across.

I have really enjoyed this whole process.
 
Hey Muttley,
It's appears to me that most of the response has been in favor of a surf style build.

How did you arrive at that conclusion? I thought that more people were in favor of a chambered double cut.
 
I'm looking at a busy day tomorrow but if I get time I'll try to make the changes you're suggesting. If not it'll have to be Monday. Could you tell me which of the surf designs you prefer?
I just looked at surf III again the one in post #301 It's not bad, but it's too long. the uneven waist needs to be less exaggerated. that would allow for the waist to be further forward and it would shorten everything.

How did you arrive at that conclusion? I thought that more people were in favor of a chambered double cut.
I'm sorry, I spoke up late in this thing. I was wrong in thinking that a surf style guitar was somewhat a consensus. I'm not voting here.

Maybe I'm wrong. Let the people speak.
This would be a great opportunity for a joke about HPL, and Harley Davidsons, but I'll refrain. Seriously though I would've taken a different path altogether. The guitar I'd like to see multi build would resemble a D'Angelico New Yorker, but the size and scale of a thick bodied ES-125. With a rhythm chief at the neck, and a P-90 at the bridge.
 
Had a busy day yesterday at the hospital doing stuff to the knee. All looking though so back to topic in hand...

@Everyone. Yes I think the general view from m0ost seems to be that we run with the surf style. I'd support that because I think it offers the most room for stylising and for a variety of approaches to hardware and doing something a little more distinctive. The vote was pretty much split. If no one has any objections we'll go with that.

The next step is to decide on What woods we might want to use and whether we go chambered hollow, or solid. All the while tweaking the design.

So, Ideas for the outline still wanted...
Ideas for the body structure
Ideas for timber (including finish...)
 
I've been watching this from the sidelines, and I'm very interested what the final product will be. I think the surf design looks appealing, but it seems to me that the lower waistline is too far back. In the rendering it's directly under the bridge. It looks awkward.

Jump in and have your say. The more people who speak up the more interesting the result may be.

The waist on the last surf style is in the right place as far as I see it. It is still the overly large lower left bout that draws my eye.
 
Hey Muttley,
It's appears to me that most of the response has been in favor of a surf style build. If we could officially settle on that and perhaps arrive at a preference for one of the posted designs to continue forward from, we could move on to other steps in the process even as we work on the guitar's design. It would certainly simplify my job.

I have continued to work on the design for the semi-hollow that I preferred. I would love it if I could continue to discuss that guitar if you have the time and are willing. Perhaps that belongs in another thread as it would muddy the waters in this one. I have some thoughts on its construction I'd like some help working through. I have some drawing to do to get my ideas across.

I have really enjoyed this whole process.

We can keep working on that but I think as you say we need to come down one way or the other. To have two parellell discussions on design going would get cluttered. We could start another thread or just label post design #1 or design #2. I'd be happy to contribute either way maybe even build on ultimately if it comes out good.
 
This would be a great opportunity for a joke about HPL, and Harley Davidsons, but I'll refrain. Seriously though I would've taken a different path altogether. The guitar I'd like to see multi build would resemble a D'Angelico New Yorker, but the size and scale of a thick bodied ES-125. With a rhythm chief at the neck, and a P-90 at the bridge.
I can see you and I would get along just fine.

Have you ever played an original D'Angelico? I used to have a 1941 Gibson L-5 Premier. There was a guy that wanted to compare his New Yorker to my guitar just to see the difference. Because the D'angelico was a deliberate copy of the L-5, the guitars were very similar in appearance other than finish and decoration. The L-5 was the better guitar for single string work having a better upper mid-range, but that D'Angelico was like heaven for comping jazz chords. It was incredibly warm and still had amazing note definition. I still prefer the D'Angelico style A and Style B to the New Yorker. Those older models had more character. I only posted this because I don't get to talk about those guitars often. I don't want to sidetrack the thread.
 
I'm throwing one more drawing up before we start to narrow the field. This one is very much the direction I'd like to go. Still not happy with the bolts, but I'll keep trying. I've upsized the body to 16" for the lower bout. This guitar is the same size as a 335.
 

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................................ Seriously though I would've taken a different path altogether. The guitar I'd like to see multi build would resemble a D'Angelico New Yorker, but the size and scale of a thick bodied ES-125. With a rhythm chief at the neck, and a P-90 at the bridge.

Trouble is those are the sorts of guitar that I build for a living. I don't want to go that route... This is about building a guitar that is the combination of many thought processes and the inevitable compromise.

I can see you and I would get along just fine.

Have you ever played an original D'Angelico? I used to have a 1941 Gibson L-5 Premier. There was a guy that wanted to compare his New Yorker to my guitar just to see the difference. Because the D'angelico was a deliberate copy of the L-5, the guitars were very similar in appearance other than finish and decoration. The L-5 was the better guitar for single string work having a better upper mid-range, but that D'Angelico was like heaven for comping jazz chords. It was incredibly warm and still had amazing note definition. I still prefer the D'Angelico style A and Style B to the New Yorker. Those older models had more character. I only posted this because I don't get to talk about those guitars often. I don't want to sidetrack the thread.

I'd have the D'Angelico for for swing gigs and the Gibson for Jump Jive. If I had to choose just one D'Angelico every time...

The sort of thing I build and play myself tries to bridge that gap... Both inspired by but nothing like D'Angelico or Gibson. Thats what we need to do here. Take inspiration and move in our own direction.
 

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Jump in and have your say. The more people who speak up the more interesting the result may be.
Thanks, I'd held back comment before, because on a limited basis I have the resources to design and build on my own, and this is a nice opportunity for those who don't.

The waist on the last surf style is in the right place as far as I see it. It is still the overly large lower left bout that draws my eye.

I hadn't studied the last drawing when I made that post, and I agree that the waist placement is better in that design. IMO it could still be further forward. I agree about the size of the lower bout.

I can see you and I would get along just fine.

Have you ever played an original D'Angelico? I used to have a 1941 Gibson L-5 Premier. There was a guy that wanted to compare his New Yorker to my guitar just to see the difference. Because the D'angelico was a deliberate copy of the L-5, the guitars were very similar in appearance other than finish and decoration. The L-5 was the better guitar for single string work having a better upper mid-range, but that D'Angelico was like heaven for comping jazz chords. It was incredibly warm and still had amazing note definition. I still prefer the D'Angelico style A and Style B to the New Yorker. Those older models had more character. I only posted this because I don't get to talk about those guitars often. I don't want to sidetrack the thread.

I've only ever held one once, and it was very impressive. A bit large for my taste, but super nice.

Trouble is those are the sorts of guitar that I build for a living. I don't want to go that route... This is about building a guitar that is the combination of many thought processes and the inevitable compromise.

Sorry Bud. That post was probably due to my own selfish desire to own such a guitar.


..Take inspiration and move in our own direction.

I concur. I'll submit a surf design based somewhat on the others. I'm curious to see what everyone thinks of it.

I've been gathering materials for a build of my own. It's inspiring to see fresh ideas.

I hope the knee is feeling better.
 
Had a busy day yesterday at the hospital doing stuff to the knee. All looking though so back to topic in hand.
I'm glad to hear you're on the mend. I hope the PT isn't too much of a pain.


The next step is to decide on What woods we might want to use and whether we go chambered hollow, or solid. All the while tweaking the design.

So, Ideas for the outline still wanted...
Ideas for the body structure
Ideas for timber (including finish...)
Can we decide up front that the finish will be transparent? An opaque finish would have a bearing on wood selection for me.

I have been liking the look of black limba(Korina) lately. I'd like to suggest that for wings or the cap. Some have said they like wildly figured maple but I feel just the opposite. I've seen so may cheap guitars with figured maple veneers for the top that the stuff just doesn't have the same charm for me.
 
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