Friday 6th February ’09

once again the begining is the application of more finish to a few guitars…

then the begining, finally, of the next batch of instruments..

various bits and pieces are marked out in preperation.. this will be the rosewood top on one of Nimrod’s guitars..

and here is the begining of Roberts next guitar.. a one piece dody in a particularly pretty piece of African mahogany..

this piece of brazilian mahogany will be used in necks.. after the screws of it;s former life are removed

the bookmatched maple top for Stuarts custom 45rpm is planed perfectly flat

as is the body..

the top is roughed out on the bandsaw, leaving just a few mil to the final shape..

and, eventually the neck pocket is cut and fitted

 the wiring cavity is routed..

 and, finally, the top is glued in place

 next up the body of Roberts next guitar (to be fitted with the Ghost piezo/MIDI system and the hipshot ballbearing trem…)

 the table saw is used for the first time in ages to start prepping the timber for Nimrods necks..

 Roberts body is routed, using a template and a bearing cutter..

..while the snow still lies on the ground.. we’re rather lucky here, most of the rest of the country had an inch or two more and had a collective attack of the stupids.. schools closed etc etc.. we just can’t deal with it!

 the back of Roberts next hollow body..

 planed flat by hand.. with a very very sharp plane!

 this piece of maple is split on the bandsaw

 and jointed.. again using the jack plane.. this will soon grace Tim Peters next guitar.. a 45rpm..

we have a delivery of binding etc.. this stuff was bought on a whim but is rather attractive.. anyone out there want it on their guitar?

 I do feel like a real luthier when I look at the wall of binding!

 prep work continues.. this time on Steinars new 05Ric Extended range bass..

 this massive chunk of figured pearwood (about three feet across) is to be part of several bespoke guitars..

 one of them will be a PAF based bass guitar..

 pretty.. inspiring.. mmm

 the pearwood is slowly reduced in size to more manageable chunks..

 and this 6 foot length os figured maple is split down the middle (the joy of having a new blade in the saw is very apparant!)

 the planer thicknesser is brought out to help with the process of building Steinar’s 8 string neck..

 once through the planer thicknesser each piece is planed by hand, a much finer process which will give me a perfect joint (hopefully.. wood does sometimes have a mind of its own!)

 eventually glue is applied to the pearwood and maple..

 and, after removing the clamps from Stuarts guitar, Steinars neck starts becoming a reality!!

 another few pieces of figured pearwood are brought out..

 jointed and glued.. this will soon start becoming a left handed PAF type!!

Have a great weekend!

Ben

Crimson Custom Guitars HQ