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Tuesday 3rd March ’09

I can’t believe it’s March already!! … one thing that hasn’t change though is the process of building a whole load of necks.. some Zebrano and figured purpleheart are brought out for Gary’s blinged out guitar.,.. (my only excues for that last sentence is that I’m running very low on sleep right now!!)

the center piece of zebrano is cut into a wedge shape and then everything is run through the planer/thicknesser..

my hand plane is now in desperate need of a quick sharpen.. dealing with hardwoods like these necessitate razor sharp tools!

every piece is planed perfectly flat

and then clamped up..

I now have quite a few neck blanks ready for truss rods etc.. a begining is begun on prepping them all.. excess timber and veneer is bandsawed off

..and then I delve into the depths of the planer/thicknesser.. she needed a good oiling.. as ever your tools are more important than anything else in the workshop!

eventually every blank is planed flat.. here is Nick’s bass neck with blue tinted pin stripes..

..just a few necks in potentia..

on to the stock Scorpio eight string.. she is covered in a coat of oil

which is left to cure for half an hour before being rubbed up..

the post arrives.. some particularly gorgeous bespoke pickups for Nick’s bass and some new distressed covered humbuckers… Andy at Wizard pickups is a bloody genius!!

also in the post is an updated design from 05Ric for Steinars 8 string touch guitar..

and it’s on to Nimrods two bespoke guitars..

the bocote bit’s of neck one are planed flat

veneers selected..

and yet another neck blank is clamped up.. at this point my frustration comes to a head and I ordered 20 new g-clamps.. when every clamp I have is on a neck blank for 24 hours it does kind of limit the work that can be performed!!

..a chunk of bubinga is brought out.. and dampened to bring out the grain..

the chunk is bookmatched on the bandsaw…

clamped abnd left to cure.. next to the guitar that will soon have this top.. a new model, the PAF Hollow,

the control layout is marked out

the cavity predrilled

and then routed.. and this is only the begining of the machining madness!!

first off the back and neck need carving..

a very dusty job, so in the interests of a long and (relatively) healthy life dust masks and ear defenders are a must!!

the ergonomic carving is begun.. some gentle curves in this case..

now begins the fun.. the pillar drill is brought to bear.. each hole stops 5mm short of going through the carved back..

and then the carving begins.. starting off with my lignum vitae mallet and a sharp gouge..

half way through the interior is starting to take the form of the back..

and here she is.. a very  very light guitar-to-be.. under the bridge and tailpiece I will be installing hardwood tone-posts to strengthen proceedings.. oh, and of course she will have the beautiful bubinga top on her complete with f-holes..

All my best,

Ben

Crimson Bespoke Guitars UK