Another hand-tool LP from scratch!

[Barnaby]

Hmm...you really think I should change to gold hardware instead of chrome?

I'd need to get a new jack, switch, bridge, tailpiece and tuners. I think I have some gold PU covers that will fit 49.2 and some polepiece screws, as well as other bits and pieces. Then I could use the chrome on the next build, I suppose...

I think I'll wait until the blue is done and see what looks best.

[Epiphania]

I am amazed!

[Seamus]

Originally Posted by cain61

Barnaby. when I was a boy and my Dad was a Naval officer, he brought me back a Japanese puzzle box from a Westpac cruise. The box had special joinery where you slid various wood pieces in a certain order to get into the box. You should use that principle on your cavity cover... and your guitar case!

Cain, I have one of those too! Not sure where my father got it, but I used it to store all my 'treasures' as a wee lad. I'll post a pic later, would be fun to compare.

[Barnaby]

Originally Posted by Epiphania

I am amazed!

Cheers - but it's all done with photoshop and plasticine...

Originally Posted by Seamus

Cain, I have one of those too! Not sure where my father got it, but I used it to store all my 'treasures' as a wee lad. I'll post a pic later, would be fun to compare.

I'd love to see it too.

[emoney]

Another vote for Gold hardware here. I dunnon...I just think with a rich color like that
blue is going to be, it begs for the added bling of gold.

Of course, last I checked, you're the one building it and whatever you decide will be
just "ducky".

[Barnaby]

Originally Posted by emoney

Another vote for Gold hardware here. I dunnon...I just think with a rich color like that
blue is going to be, it begs for the added bling of gold.

Of course, last I checked, you're the one building it and whatever you decide will be
just "ducky".

Hmmmm - I really don't know right now. I agree that it would look very cool. My suspicion is that gold would be better if I cover the pickups, but chrome would be fine if I leave them uncovered. The other downside of gold is that it does wear pretty badly (for me, at least). My first build has already got plenty of spots worn off the front pickup cover, bridge and tailpiece after only a year. Besides, every guitar I've built so far has had gold hardware on it, so maybe a change would be nice...

[emoney]

Funny, that's exactly the motivator for me to use chrome too, this time. The "every guitar
I've done so far..." thing, anyway.

Soooo...what does one think about tuxedo p'ups, then?

[Barnaby]

Originally Posted by emoney

Funny, that's exactly the motivator for me to use chrome too, this time. The "every guitar
I've done so far..." thing, anyway.

Soooo...what does one think about tuxedo p'ups, then?

I wound a pair of zebras for this build, as it happens, although they haven't been fully assembled yet. Nice cream/black butyrate bobbins.

[ptate]

Aged Nickel....Killer....!!!

['59_Standard]

Originally Posted by Barnaby

Hmmmm - I really don't know right now.

Go with what you original intended. Unless you personally desire gold. Its hardware and changeable at anytime -unless the components drill holes sizes are different! Go green for the color too. Ok, I was trying to confuse you there, B. You know that.

[VictOr358]

Originally Posted by Barnaby

Hmmmm - I really don't know right now. I agree that it would look very cool. My suspicion is that gold would be better if I cover the pickups, but chrome would be fine if I leave them uncovered. The other downside of gold is that it does wear pretty badly (for me, at least). My first build has already got plenty of spots worn off the front pickup cover, bridge and tailpiece after only a year. Besides, every guitar I've built so far has had gold hardware on it, so maybe a change would be nice...

If we're voting again... I'd stay with chrome HW. Don't have a proper logical explanation, but this hue of blue would go better with chrome, IMVHO
But satin or mirror polish?

[TravisW]

I'm on board with the chrome, for what that's worth. It fits the "shark" theme better.

[Gabriel]

The blue really makes the flame pop. Reminds me o PRS' whale blue. One of my most favourite colors.

[Barnaby]

Originally Posted by ptate

Aged Nickel....Killer....!!!

My hands seem to have a fairly acidic effect on thins like metal, which was an issue when i was a flute player. It'll age up plenty fast as I play, I promise!

Originally Posted by '59_Standard

Go with what you original intended. Unless you personally desire gold. Its hardware and changeable at anytime -unless the components drill holes sizes are different! Go green for the color too. Ok, I was trying to confuse you there, B. You know that.

Yeah, this is wise, I think...I'll calm down and stay with the chrome.

Originally Posted by VictOr358

If we're voting again... I'd stay with chrome HW. Don't have a proper logical explanation, but this hue of blue would go better with chrome, IMVHO
But satin or mirror polish?

I could always do satin later on. How hard can it be to get the effect with steel wool?

Originally Posted by TravisW

I'm on board with the chrome, for what that's worth. It fits the "shark" theme better.

Right...decided!

Originally Posted by Gabriel

The blue really makes the flame pop. Reminds me o PRS' whale blue. One of my most favourite colors.

Thanks - I hope it comes out well on the guitar itself. Guess I'll find out in a few days.

[fatdaddypreacher]

so long as everyone is weighing in on hardware color, my vote is yes.

work on it, it'll come to you.

besides, it doesn't make us anydifference anyway. it's not like your're gonna do a clip and let us hear it.

...and on another note (pardon the pun) ---have you heard anything on your new builds sibling, JJ? has it been getting played, or what?

this build will be awesome no matter what hw you use...just do it.

[Barnaby]

Originally Posted by fatdaddypreacher

so long as everyone is weighing in on hardware color, my vote is yes.

work on it, it'll come to you.

besides, it doesn't make us anydifference anyway. it's not like your're gonna do a clip and let us hear it.

...and on another note (pardon the pun) ---have you heard anything on your new builds sibling, JJ? has it been getting played, or what?

this build will be awesome no matter what hw you use...just do it.

Cheers FD!

Yes, I've indeed heard back from my brother and his wife several times. She was very happy, as it made her Christmas shopping much easier this year - an amp and other bits and pieces turned up from Santa. My brother tells me that he's making out like a one-note Hendrix on a regular basis, so all is good.

[Barnaby]

The top was prepared today. First, it was sanded to 180, then cleaned with naptha. Here’s a shot before the point of no return.



Then, the top was dampened slightly and stained with a dark blue. The photos don’t really show the colour variations so well. Here is the base colour. This was worked in by hand and got about three wet coats, raising the grain considerably.



The blue was left to dry, then sanded back with 240 grit. Not the ‘test piece’ next to the guitar – everything was tried on that first.



Then, a turqoise colour was put on. I mixed this by first making some green out of blue and yellow, then adding it very slowly. Once that was done, I darkened it by shades and did a two-step burst. Again, the colours here are dark and not at all accurate.



That was then sanded back with 240 and 320 grit.



Finally, a lighter blue was added over the top and the edges were rebursted. It’s much more apparent in the flesh and will certainly come out a lot more with lacquer. The colour is also a bit lighter than this.



Wherever the Loveshark likes to swim, it’s definitely pelagic, so the strong oceanic blue is a good idea. I think it’s taking a holiday around Cephalonia right now…



While I was waiting for various coats to dry, I also made a quick truss rod cover out of Macassar. This came from the same headplate blank that provided the back and switch cavity plates.



It will be worked on over the next few days. I have to admit that I spent most of my time messing around with my new small tube amp, however. I got myself a Blackstar HT-1R. 1 watt of apartment-sized fun. It was on sale here online, so I grabbed it.

[DDDave]

I keep checking each morning before work to see what was next, and completly excited in antisapation of the colour as it ended up on the Guitar,
Now I can relax with a smile. Very Beautiful deep blue sea you got there.

[Barnaby]

Originally Posted by DDDave

I keep checking each morning before work to see what was next, and completly excited in antisapation of the colour as it ended up on the Guitar,
Now I can relax with a smile. Very Beautiful deep blue sea you got there.

Thanks!

It still seems weird to me that you guys seem to enjoy following the progress of my guitar building, but it's incredibly motivating as well. I really appreciate it.

I put the neck and body close together tonight (it's evening in Tokyo) so that the Loveshark can have a swim at last if the mood strikes. One thing I spent a bunch of time doing after finishing up the top which was pretty weird was staining the maple on the inside of the cavities and making sure that things like the switch channel were also stained as far as was possible. It's odd to do, as nobody but me will ever see in there in reality, but I figured why not?

I'm hoping this really comes to life with lacquer. We'll have to see.

[Murkar]

That's wild man, can't wait to see how that top looks under lacquer

[Barnaby]

Originally Posted by Murkar

That's wild man, can't wait to see how that top looks under lacquer

Cheers! Me too - I'll put a couple of coats on tomorrow to protect it during the rest of the finishing, but it'll be at least a month before this is buffed out to get the full effect.

[Cpt_Gonzo]

Good buy on the HT-1R, have one since August. Lovely little amp. Prefer it over my VTX150 and actually made me want a "real" tube amp for band practice again.

Nice tube drive, too.

[Barnaby]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Gonzo

Good buy on the HT-1R, have one since August. Lovely little amp. Prefer it over my VTX150 and actually made me want a "real" tube amp for band practice again.

Nice tube drive, too.

I saw your mention of that in this thread, actually. It was one of the deciding factors. Vielen Dank!

Love the tube tone. It'll hold me over for the next couple of years, I'm sure. After that, if I need something bigger, it'll be time to try making one.

[Ole'Lefty]

Barnaby-you continue to evoke admiration with these builds. I am good handtool- poor[USA euphemism for having many; aka facetious]-an embarrassment of tool riches. I know I could not duplicate the crisp edges you create. Well, there is much more I could not equal. It is truly a privilege to watch you work.

[emoney]

Less wattage = safer levels = better for your hearing. Now that, Mr. Sheen, is a win!

Nice blue....kinda matches my eyes. Was that the real motivator?

[VictOr358]

Yay!

Now tell me, Barnaby, is it my poorly calibrated screen, or you are doing this beautiful blue closer to indigo hue, not cyan?

[Cpt_Gonzo]

Originally Posted by Barnaby

I saw your mention of that in this thread, actually. It was one of the deciding factors. Vielen Dank!

Love the tube tone. It'll hold me over for the next couple of years, I'm sure. After that, if I need something bigger, it'll be time to try making one.

Well...you're welcome, I guess!

Good color choice by the way. I dig it.

[JayDee80]

What a nice ocean for the Loveshark! Great color...

Btw., now I didn't have any time to post something for the last few days, and then there were ideas about hydraulic lifting maple tops, pyrobolts, whiskey bottle cavities and even gold hardware

One hint: If you ever do an archtop jazz guitar: No f-holes. No holes whatsoever. Build it out of oak, and fill it with a nice Spätburgunder from the Palatinate (or Pinot noir, as it it called outside Germany). Barrique aging inside a guitar! You could cooperate with some vintners in selling these...
Of course you would have to manufacture some wine-proof pots and switches first...

[fatdaddypreacher]

as usual, sir barnaby; absolutely stunning. this thing is gonna go nuts with the clear.

[TravisW]

That's going to look spectacular when you shoot nitro.

As far as little tube amps, I built one based on the Firefly schematic. Turned out pretty good, but I think when I get a little more time+money I'm going add another preamp tube and convert it to a JCM800-style preamp section. Building a simple tube amp from schematic is easier than building a guitar, IMHO.