Friday 19th September ’08

Thursday.. and we begin where we left off yesterday.. with wiring Jonathan’s new bespoke guitar.. the Graph Tech acoustiphonic preamp is very very good.. and rather simple to install!  (don’t you love it when they tack ‘phonic’ on to the end of a name…

and here she is..

the setup commences!  the dual action truss rod is put to good use

and the tone pro’s tunematic is adjusted to set the intonation..

the pickups are direct-mounted to body and the surounds are just there for appearancees sake.. the pickup height is adjusted for the optimum sound and volume balance..

..pretty..

more setting up is needed on Archies PAF Vine

and a little wiring..

a little sanding on Jason’s guitar.. mostly with the random orbital sander

but the horns are done by hand with various grits of paper and some sharp scrapers..

the figured myrtle veneer is ready for the headstock…. the very last piece to become a permanent part of this beast!

the veneer is glued in place with a foam strip between the clamping caul and the headstock.. this compresses and evens out any air bubbles under the veneer..

on to Fabio’s custom guitar.. the edges are fine tuned with my lovely Japanese saw file..

and some sharp chisels..

the mahogany edges need to be perfectly aligned with the spruce top.. not easy with a drop top guitar!

Bud, Jasper and Kat enjoying what is probably the last bit of sun we’ll see in these parts…

the bobbin sander is utilised to clean up the edges of the guitar..

all the edges are fine tuned, curved over, tidied up etc and then she goes to the sander..

the recessed spruce truss rod cover is chiesled to a parity with the headstock

and cleaned up in its turn..

the staining commences.. even after covering the mahogany cut outs it doesn’t look quite right.. sunbursting is required..

headstock..

and top… ready for lacquering!

Have a great weekend!!

Ben

Crimson bespoke Guitars