My first custom

[xsouldriverx]

So i just dropped off the deposit check with luthier extraordinaire Cris Mirabella for my first custom guitar (built for me that is).

specs so far:
solid body cinnaburst Carved top Lp with sharp florentine cutaway

Top wood: flamed maple
Body and neck wood: black korina or an exotic burl if it will work right
Fingerboard: As black as an Ebony as i can get
Scale length: 25 or 25 1/2 (24 3/4 is a bit short and makes drop tunes floppy)
Numbr of fretse: TBD
Fret size & Material: TBD maybe stainless steel
Neck shape: TBD
Bridge: probs a fishmann piezo t-o-m with string though instead of a stop tail
Pups: tom andersons h1- neck h3+ bridge
Nut material: GLASS!!!!
Tuners: sperzel nickle open back locking (Sperzel Locking Tuners about 1/4th of the way down)
Other misc. details: creme binding, gold hardware, trap MOP inlays with the 12th fret maybe having something special.

Im hoping this is a real showpiece type guitar

Comments, criticisms, questions, suggestions?

if not, let the longest year in my life begin! (hopefully in that time ill be able to sell my gibby to fund this)

 

[kspeed]

I like the 25" scale on my PRS as a nice midpoint between my Ibby's, Fenders, and Gibby's. I don't play lower than dropped D on it, but the strings (10 gauge) never feel floppy. If the cutaway is deeper than a typical LP you might consider 24 frets.

 

[xsouldriverx]

i was considering 24 frets b/c with the longer scales it doesnt effect the pickups very much, if i use all 24 frets or not thats another story. i also edited the frets to possibly be stainless steel.

 

[Ole'Lefty]

As a happy owner of a stock 2007 Antique Classic, all mahogany, wine, I am interested in how your may disappoint you.( I have had a couple custom acoustics, one I built half -so I understand an "exactly what I want" guitar). I would guess that the custom will be brighter by far-just a guess.Ole'Lefty

 

[xsouldriverx]

I am interested in how your may disappoint you.

as in, how does my stock gibson dissapoint me? or do you mean how my custom made guitar may disappoint me?

 

[Ole'Lefty]

The Gibson. What do you like about it-what don't you like? And I am NOT being critical of you wanting a custom. In the next six months I plan to build around six of them.Ole'Lefty

 

[xsouldriverx]

the gibson, although having really nice harmonics in the upper strings, is just too dark overall. i upgraded pups, caps (.15s) , and pots (1000s) but its still so dark. i use a pull/push pit to split the Hb and even with it split and playing drop tuned i just get darkness. i cant blame it on the amp because i have other all mahogany guitars that i play on it, and they all sound superb. my gibson was a wee bit of an impulse buy to be perfectly honest. its a real looker but wine red has always been my second choice to cinnaburst and i never liked pickguards or the snot green inlays.

to be honest lefty, i wish i knew about custom guitars and luthiers before buying the gibson. for a small waiting period and about $1k more i could of had exactly what i wanted. and not something that covers most of my wants but leaves some untouched. this isnt a knock on the gibson, its a great guitar and i play it when i want to get something really bluesy going. just working with cris i know i can get EXACTLY what i want out of a guitar and he will really try his best to get things right by the customer. he will make make mock necks so you can pick your favorite contour, he will get samples of wood and glue them together to replicate how a guitar would be and show you how they sound together, he has a good relationship with a bunch of manufacturers and can get almost anything under the sun, and he is willing to work with you and has a great reputation for it. Not saying other builders wont do this, but it all pushed me to ditch the factory made lp for something that is fitted for me.

by the way ole'lefty, i never thought you were being critical i just didnt know what you were referring to. from what i read of your stuff here, i dont think youre very critical of many things. more of the ask questions to understand people train of thought, and give out advice as i can type of guy. correct me if im wrong on that.

 

[vladmaximus]

pics please....

 

[Ole'Lefty]

I take that as a kind compliment. I am curious about almost everything and feel good just trying to be helpful.O'L

 

[xsouldriverx]

@vlad: nothing has been done yet. i mostly made this due to my excitement and for people to put in their input about things im undecided about such as scale length fret type and size etc. when i get pictures i will post though
@the leftster: it was a compliment