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Monday 14th September 2009

I’ve been giving the build processes we use a lot of thought recently and have decided to fundamentaly change the way in which we build guitars.  Other than the basic woodwork, like putting together neck blanks etc I’ll be working on just one guitar from start to applying the finish.. then after finishing I’ll take the odd day out to put them together.  Obviously I’ll be building each guitar or bass in the order in which it is ordered..

At the moment I seem to be jumping from job to job and not really getting very far, with the result of annoying both you the customer and myself.. the net result is that most instruments will have the bulk of the work completed in just one week.. (which is not that difficult if I am allowed to concentrate on that instrument!)

Recently you’ve seen a lot of developements here at Crimson Guitars and the most important is the addition of Aki in the finishing department, he is drastically improving the efficiency of the place!  You may also remember the brief appearance of an apprentice in the workshop proper.. he failed utterly and the search is still on for either a skilled apprentice or possibly even a business partner buying in to help continue with our planned expansions.. you have my contact details if you think this may be you?

and on to the work of the day.. not yet single minded, but on the way!!  the binding here is glued on on David’s neck..

and once dry is planed, and then scraped, flush with the fretboard.. I really love the way the purfling has ended up here!!

a visiter..

or two.. are here to help in a design session.. you get the genre?

well here she is.. basically a straight copy of the body shape.. and who can argue with that?

with the addition of some custom wiring and the perfect neck shape!!

back to David’s neck and the binding end-piece is champhered and installed

before the neck is fretted and oiled

Now.. on to Laurences baby.. I’m thinking ‘Distopia’ as the model name..? thoughts, comments.. you know where the forum is..

a lot of sanding and final shaping..

and the stainless steel tubes are installed, they are the perfect ultra-high-end through-body stringing ferrules!!

and rear control plate is machined out of flame maple and shaped on the bobbin sander

ensuring the perfect fit

e voila..

finally.. after much more sanding here she is.. the brightness of the red stain will dull down a bit over the next few days before lacquer is applied!

and while we’re in the mood this doublecut goes through the exact same processes!  though she’s obviously going amber instead!

finally yet more finish is applied to this 45rpm..

and rubbed off.. there’s a bit of a rush on this one as well.. as I mentioned business has not been as organised as it should have been recently!!

Steinar’s 8 string extended range bass is very close to being completed!!

just a few more coats of oil and she’ll be there!

.. they really enjoy buzzing us out here, if we lived in a city the jets and helicopters that regularly kiss the tree-tops would cause a furore!!  Oh well.. at least we have trees!!

Now.. the celtic inlay has finally cured and, after sanding the fretboard flush etc etc, the fret slots are re-cut..

the frets prepared

and installed.. the sharp-eyed among you will no doubt realise there’s a slight difference in the order of this job.. but you’ll see why next week!!

for now the fret’s are left to dry in their slots..
All my best, Ben
Crimson Guitars UK