My quilted maple project

  • Thread starter Thread starter WhiteStrat
  • Start date Start date
WhiteStrat -

I haven't been able to view the pictures in this thread because, I think, my corporate firewall at work has been blocking lots of stuff lately. That's why I haven't chimed in until now.

Your work is beautiful! I'm quite impressed and look forward to updates as the project moves forward.

Well done so far! :)
 
Whitestrat that is going to be a gorgeous guitar. Don't bother with the ribbons and wrapping paper just slide that sucker under my Christmas tree. ;)
 
DrewPeterson7 said:
Bump - any progress? :D
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Just little stuff--strap lok buttons, wiring some things up...oh yeah--I made the plastic cavity covers for the back. I'm out of town for the weekend, but I'll post some updated pics as soon as I get home.
 
ocnor said:
Whitestrat that is going to be a gorgeous guitar. Don't bother with the ribbons and wrapping paper just slide that sucker under my Christmas tree. ;)
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Thanks, ocnor! (But don't hold your breath on December 25! :D)
 
Finally...more progress!

This is an odd pic, but it was a big moment. The holes for the bridge posts were the first holes I had to make in the body. (the pickup and back routes were done by the guy I bought the body from). After all the time I spent finishing the body--I was nervous. Bought a new bit with a brad point, got a depth stopper for the bit, and tested my template and jig about 10 times on a srap board. It was a relief that these two holes ended up perfect:

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Now the wiring begins. The claw for the whammy is in place--needed it for the ground.

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Here's the back with all the goodies wired and hardware installed:

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Here's the back with covers--just sitting in place; not screwed in yet. Instead of black, I made these from the leftovers I had from when I bought a sheet of the tortoise shell plastic for the lap steel I renovated a few months back.

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Now the finished front of the body. All the gold bling is in place.

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Another view of the body top:

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And a close up of the pretty bits:

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About the pickup: it's a Dimarzio Evo 2. I've got the original Evo in another guitar and just love it--very big and expressive. This one is supposed to be the same sound (a tad less hot) with more articulation and the ability to clean up more when you dial back. In other words, more versatile. On a one pickup guitar, I thought that would be good thing.

The "inspiration" guitar (a Music Man Axis, seen in one of the first posts in this thread) has no pickup ring because the pickup is mounted right to the body. The idea is that you trade adjustability for more tone and/or sustain. I don't know if that's true, but I was willing to follow suit and try it. Problem is, that pickup looked like a tall wart sticking up out of the body. So I did mount the pup directly to the body in the cavity. But then I put on a gold ring anyway. In the closeup you'll notice the absence of the two pickup mounting/adjusting screws--just the corner screws are there. Just looks better with the ring--to my eyes anyway.

Thanks for following along! :D
 
The golden touch is perfect for that guitar. Absolutely beautiful. great work so far, Strat.
 
Chili said:
The golden touch is perfect for that guitar. Absolutely beautiful. great work so far, Strat.
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Thanks Chili! I loved the idea of gold hardware, but was also afraid it might look a little to pimped out--but I'm glad I went with it. I'm likin' it.
 
Man, this thing is coming out beautiful. I agree the pickup ring works here; the only pickups I like just sticking out of the wood tend to be soapbar types. The tortoise stuff is a nice touch, too. Are you going to recess the trem cavity cover like the control cover, or just leave it sitting on top?
 
danw said:
Man, this thing is coming out beautiful. I agree the pickup ring works here; the only pickups I like just sticking out of the wood tend to be soapbar types. The tortoise stuff is a nice touch, too. Are you going to recess the trem cavity cover like the control cover, or just leave it sitting on top?
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Thanks, danw! I'm leaving the trem cover on top. Why? I dunno. These routes were done when I bought the unfinished body, and after looking at every example I could find (including my own Strat), the trem cover always sits on top, while the control cavity cover is recessed.

I'm thinking maybe it has something to do with how shallow the trem cavity is, and keeping as much room as possible in there for the springs. I'd sure love to hear if someone knows why they're done like that.
 
Wow...wow...wow...that is one of the purtiest axes I've seen! I love the tortoise shell plastic you chose. It looks so right with the Mahogany body.

The gold hardware adorns it perfectly!! Chrome just wouldn't have looked right on it.

You look to have put a lot of love into this project Strat and getting a beautiful axe in return!!!

Now to await the neck and fingerboard. You're gonna put gold tuners on it aren't you?

Did you decide on inlay dots?...so many questions!!!:D
 
true-eurt said:
Wow...wow...wow...that is one of the purtiest axes I've seen! I love the tortoise shell plastic you chose. It looks so right with the Mahogany body.

The gold hardware adorns it perfectly!! Chrome just wouldn't have looked right on it.

You look to have put a lot of love into this project Strat and getting a beautiful axe in return!!!

Now to await the neck and fingerboard. You're gonna put gold tuners on it aren't you?

Did you decide on inlay dots?...so many questions!!!:D
Click to expand...

Oh yeah...gold tuners. Already got a set of Gotohs on the work bench waiting for their turn. (I think I just made a joke--tuners turn, right...nah, that's bad).

I got antsy and went ahead and bought 'em. At least this way, I can spec out the neck with the right size holes drilled. :D

Dots? That's the one thing I haven't decided. I'm thinking abalone would have a little more than plain black dots, but I'm afraid they won't offer enough contrast against the maple to be seen much.

So many questions...so many decisions. (all fun though!)
 
Here's an idea. I don't work with wood, so I don't know if it's doable.... get some maple stained the same color as the neck. Cut the inlays from the maple except with the woodgrain perpendicular to the grain of the neck. Not high contrast, but I bet it would look cool.
 
If you are going to go with a maple fingerboard just keep in mind a few things. They are a pain to finish, they are a pain to work on down the line. Having said that if you want some shell inlay that will contrast nicely look into New Zealand Paua. It's a type of abalone that is unique to that area and comes in some stunning blue/purple/balck shades. If you have trouble finding dots the right size PM me.

Once again when cutting and fitting test on scrap as has been mentioned inlaying on light coloured timber is quite demanding. You should be OK with dots though.
 
I bet either dots or small rectangles made of a contrasting wood would also look good on this one. Like maybe Bocote or Cocobolo. I also like Chili's idea, but I think I'd stain the inserts the same color as the body if I used maple, just to tie the whole thing together.
 
I have a question for Muttley or Light or anyone else who knows...could the tortoise shell plastic Strat used on the back plate covers, be used for inlay?

That would look most excellent and be quite unusual as I have never seen it before on a neck...of course, maybe it is lousy to use and THAT is why I've never seen it used before!!!:D
 
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