Second Build: Mjöllnir Jr.

[RAHAZ]

Thanks to everyone for the wood suggestions a few weeks ago. I am now starting on my templates for my guitar that I named Mjöllnir Jr. This will have a chambered Mahogany body with a flamed Maple top. I am still trying to source the neck wood locally. I was hoping for Maple on a suggestion from BFCG but it's not been easy.

Here's the design and the templates mounted on 3/4" MDF. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic.

[w666]

This one's for you....act fast

8/4" EXTREME CURLY TIGER MAPLE lumber 42"X6 1/2" - eBay (item 250590037584 end time Mar-09-10 14:14:24 PST)

[RAHAZ]

Originally Posted by w666

This one's for you....act fast

8/4" EXTREME CURLY TIGER MAPLE lumber 42"X6 1/2" - eBay (item 250590037584 end time Mar-09-10 14:14:24 PST)

Sexy but it wouldn't work for either the neck or the top.

[Kølabrennern]

Wow, that's going to be awesome, I really like the shape of the cutaways. Take it from a true Norseman

Are you going to rout out the Mjølner shape, or do you have some other interesting plan for this?

[RAHAZ]

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

Wow, that's going to be awesome, I really like the shape of the cutaways. Take it from a true Norseman

Are you going to rout out the Mjølner shape, or do you have some other interesting plan for this?

Thanks! When we came to Norway for a family gathering in 2006 we stopped in Jevnaker which looks to be your neighboring town. We spent 3 weeks driving around Norway and fell in love.

There is a fat Mjöllnir that is the Truss Rod cover at the base of the fretboard. I have been tossing around placing them as the inlays as well. Thought?

[Kølabrennern]

Cool! And yes, Jevnaker is right next to me here, they have an awesome rock club/venue there with a lot of fantastic concerts every year.

Aha, I didn't notice you had the truss rod that way, what an idiot I am, haha. I think it would be ultra nice if you made it out of wood and carved a texture into it or something, sounds like an idea?

As for Mjølners as inlays, I know a cheap guitar manufacturer called Wintersong guitars has done that. I'm not sure, maybe if it was executed better than what they did it would have been cool, I don't think it looks too good to have them inlaid in the direction they did. Have a look:

[RAHAZ]

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

Cool! And yes, Jevnaker is right next to me here, they have an awesome rock club/venue there with a lot of fantastic concerts every year.

Aha, I didn't notice you had the truss rod that way, what an idiot I am, haha. I think it would be ultra nice if you made it out of wood and carved a texture into it or something, sounds like an idea?

As for Mjølners as inlays, I know a cheap guitar manufacturer called Wintersong guitars has done that. I'm not sure, maybe if it was executed better than what they did it would have been cool, I don't think it looks too good to have them inlaid in the direction they did.

We were only in town for a couple of hours before heading to Reinli. That is a beautiful area.

LOL It's subtle. I was definitely going to make it from wood with a chamfered edge. Not sure about any carving in it though.

I agree the inlays don't look right going that direction. Something to price out for sure.

[RAHAZ]

A little more work completed last night and tonight. First of many templates completed. My new Rigid sander combo works like a charm and is plenty quiet enough to work in the garage after the kids have fallen asleep. Thanks for all the recommendations.





And some very wishful thinking.

[RAHAZ]

I also ordered my top woods. When they get here I'll get some shots of the body outline on them. Let me know what you think.

Here is the Jr. Top. It's a 1/4" thick and will be going over a 2 piece chambered Spanish Cedar body:




Here is the Top for my "Standard" version with a carved top. 5/8" thick and will be going over a 2 piece solid Spanish Cedar body:

[RAHAZ]

I found a great deal on Craigslist yesterday. Full set of Grover tuners for $20 in new condition.

Check it out:

[MikeGates]

Holy Shite!

AWESOME deal!

[RAHAZ]

Originally Posted by MikeGates

Holy Shite!

AWESOME deal!

That's what I said!

Still no movement for this week on this build. I'm focusing on the bass while I wait for my wood to come in.

[RAHAZ]

The wood hath arrived.

Both sides have some lighter parts but what do you think? Side 'A'


Or Side 'B'


It'll be a flat top but I am thinking if doing something like this for a finish. Much like what 73Custom did in his recent jaw-dropping build:

[RAHAZ]

Saturday was a productive day for me. I completed the Jr's templates. Next up I will be jig building: Overhead Routing Jig from dimensions 73Custom was kind enough to share and a hinged box jig for neck and pickup planing.

i will also be purchasing the body and neck woods supply of Spanish Cedar and I may be able to slip the truss rod into the budget. Any advise on what type of grain I should look for with the Spanish Cedar?

[Kølabrennern]

I so want this guitar, just from seeing your plans and templates. Gaaaah!

[RAHAZ]

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

I so want this guitar, just from seeing your plans and templates. Gaaaah!

LOL Thanks Lars. Let's hope I do not dissapoint then Here's an update of the plans for the two models. If I can make some time I might try my hand at a rendering for these.

[RAHAZ]

Build is still moving at a sluggish pace. I hope to be placing my Stew-Mac order this weekend as well as getting the mahogany ordered.

In the meantime I decided to Photoshop what it might look like... What do you think? Different material to cover the neck join? It's currently shown as purpleheart because I have leftovers from the bass build. Maybe the Wenge I have left over would look better...

[Cpt_Gonzo]

Looks awesome imho.

Go with that deep red top. Seriously. That would give it some attitude!
Black dye, sanded down and then red dye I guess?

[RAHAZ]

Thanks Capt Gonzo. I'm thinking a dark blue burst now after a chat with my buddy.

[Cpt_Gonzo]

Something like this?

YouTube - DIY GUITAR - Part 9: Staining the Body

YouTube - DIY GUITAR - Part 9: Staining the Body

(Horrible music, turn your speakers off...)

[RAHAZ]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Gonzo

Something like this?

Less green so more like these:


I was floored when I first saw this Briggs "Aquaburst".

[RAHAZ]

After a long hot summer it is time for me to get back to building. I was able to sneak into the garage the past couple nights to make some headway on a couple of these builds.

First one is the Semi-Hollow Body. Mahogany back is at 1.9" thick so it will have a little larger "soundbox" than a Les Paul Florentine. I spent about 3 hours total on the drill press hogging this out.

While routing it out I had my first scare with a router. The setscrew backed out on the ring above the bearing causing the bit to loosen then drop out of the router. When I heard it chattering as I was pulling across I shut it down real quick. Thankfully there was no real damage that will be seen, just a jacked up template and interior route.










The other build will be solid curly Redwood.




The third build still needs the 1/4" top uncupped and some body wood purchased. Probably Spanish Cedar.

[RAHAZ]

So, not much time to work on the builds lately so during my lunch breaks I have been working on my photoshop motivational renderings.

What do you guys think?

[NateM]

I really like the color but I don't really like the toggle switch position. I would either put it in normal LP position or use the idea Briggs had for the aqua burst.

That's just me though!

[RAHAZ]

Thanks for the feedback Nate! Is it an aesthetic or functional dislike of the toggle switch location?

[Reverend D]

For me it would be a functional problem with the switch. I'm one of those rare guys who use the bridge pickup only for leads instead of stepping on a pedal. I do that because I've built amps and they sound the way I want them. Being a blues guy too I don't need really heavy crushing distortion from a pedal. So for me flipping the switch is easier if its closer to my pick hand. I think thats true for quite a few players and putting the switch way out of the loop disrupts motion. Probably just me, but thats my thought on the switch. The rest of the guitar is really cool though!

Regards,

D.

[NateM]

Mine is a bit of both. The functional aspects RevD already covered but I also feel like putting the toggle there takes away from the flame maple's aesthetic contribution to the guitar. On LP's (and all carved tops in general) one of the coolest aspects of them, to me, is the lower curve. I guess the toggle just disrupts the flow of that somehow.

Oh, and before when I said, "normal LP position," I meant in the SG position. I really like the horn on the left side of the guitar and in my opinion, putting a switch where it would be on a LP would again break the flow of the guitar. I think the SG layout would look the best.

[RAHAZ]

Thanks for the input Rev and Nate. I see your points on functionality. I didn't want to throw it anywhere near the upper horn area.

From my graphic below I am now thinking: 1 = Neck Vol, 2 = Bridge Vol, 3 = Master Tone, 4 = 3-way Switch

[Grey]

Aqua

[NateM]

I like that idea! I think keeping the switch with the controls is the best option for this guitar.

The color looks great too!