120410

Monday 12th April 2010

The igor has roughed out these new saddles for the our distressed custom tunematic and they’re looking nice and solid..

And a once over for the green 45rpm and she too is ready for boxing up and shipping out..

and the igor polishes up the saddles..

Ok, I need to demonstrate carving at the show this weekend and need guitars to carve.. Here’s mr pearsons guitar neck in need of a body..

The neck is planed flat and square in preperation for her mahogany wings..

the igor succesfully installes some side dots in the two Dave’s necks..

I started this neck several years back.. She shall now be finished..

The padouk fretboard was way too thick so the excess is bandsawed away..

The luthier’s apprentice.. The igor starts work on a beautiful piece of figured maple.. A good sharp tool is needed..

Finally the wings of Daves slimline guitar are planed ready for jointing to the through neck..

Igor is a tool… But he’s pretty sharp.. Nicely done..

The neck break angle is marked out..

And my last, physical, job of the day is to clamp the new wings to Dave’s neck.. Good night all!

I started building this stock guitar several years back.. We’ll put her together at the show this weekend..

English walnut top will be lovely in the end.. It even has some flame! Got to figure out the control and pickup layout..

We’re going with three single coils and a single volume, stacked tones and a five way blade switch..

I use the pillar drill to predrill all the cavities that will be routed this weekend…

Nicely done that man.. She’s ready for the marking out of tone chambers…

On the new slimline we want more tone.. Therefore we’ve designed a new set of larger tone chambers..

The pickup cavities are predrilled as well..

Just back from picking up the new poster for the show tomorrow…

The new template for the 45rpm tone chambers is finished..

Now, another part built body.. This is a 45rpm for Tim..

The binding channel is routed around the top of this 45rpm…

The 45rpm blank has a one piece mahogany body and this needs thicknessing on the pin router..

The pickup and control positions are marked out on the 45rpm..

This stock neck has her fretboard profiled… Purpleheart this time..

The igor has finished predrilling these cavities….

The same treatment is given to this maple neck with rosewood fretboard.. Fretboard is profiled etc..

Surveying the damage.. Everything is packed and ready to go tomorrow.. See you at Yandles in Somerset..

Good morning… Setting up for the show.. Bonus is we’re in a marquee.. It’s a pity it’s actually sunny though!

Like my new tshirt.. is this is the start of merchandising!!

And here we go… So far lots of talking! But I’m about to make dust!

My first job is to rout the pickup cavities in this 45rpm.. While the igor looks for a tool we forgot to bring!!

Now on to some quieter work.. The fret positions are marked out.. PRS scale on this one..

I manage to get the first few fret slots cut.. in between talking.. a lot!

Oh and I caved in here and had to buy a few new tools!!! This is a beautiful beautiful piece of engineering!! Mmmm

it is a very busy show!

I finally begin carving the top of the wenge topped twin.. Dusty girl! and of course we’re using the new tool!!!

A bit of routing on this prototype guitar…

And the new prototype is carved as well..

a funny sight, the igor interviewing a prospective new aprentice… not the pretty one though…

A new little japanese saw helps to cut the fret slots in this new neck.. It’s very very sharp!

mmm.. you gotta have a laugh..

The igor marks out the fret slots in the neck with the purpleheart fretboard…

and does some oiling.. the guy on the right doesn’t look too happy with me though..?

Wahay.. I finally get to use a soundwave as an inlay!.. Rickety bench though, especially with igor polishing a guitar on the other end..!

This inlay is going to be one of my next tattoos! I love it!

All my best to you and yours!!

Ben

{sfh}redefining|400|110|5|5|0.3|0|0|0|1|0|14|0|1{/sfh}