240410

Saturday 24th April 2010

 

we ended last week with having carved these two beauties..

 

 

and the week starts with the labour of cleaning up all the dust! .. and there was a lot of it!

 

 

Dust cleared.. And after a brief jaunt to catch a runaway dog, we’re back to work.. Clear 45rpm..

 

 

There are a few spots where the filler hasn’t.. filled.. Spots of laquer are dropped in carefully..

 

 

And on to Kirk’s moonshine.. Also out of the spraybooth and probably also needing spots of lacquer in places..

 

 

 

 

I miss the igor.. This is really his job.. And he’s on holiday!

 

 

Ok, on to the eight string fanned fret beastie.. The masking tape of the fretboard is removed..

 

 

And Caroline begins the rubbing down process.. A good place for an apprentice to start learning.. Perfection!

 

 

And I finally crack on with the new tunematic style bridge.. She needs her new saddles installing..

 

 

Success.. Absolute unadulterated success! ..do I sound happy?

 

 

Lightweight aluminium tunematic body with chunky solid brass saddles for a bit of bite!

 

 

Not to mention full adjustability of each saddle.. Without the need for springs..

 

 

At this point I am as sick as a dog with a cough caught from my toddler.. I will try and get some non-dusty work done anyway

 

 

our old friend the Dissident guitar.. We’re trying for a different tone.. hence the new custom bridge

 

 

we turn some custom brass ferrules to add a bit of length, and therefore tension, to this detuned beast!

 

 

Finally I oil the ebony fretboard again..

 

 

Finally the dissident is strung up and we start to hear the effect of the new bridge and saddles!

 

 

In a bid to avoid dust I’ve changed venue and am now rubbing down some lacquered guitars..

 

 

We need a final piece for the custom headless tuning system on the Extended Range Bass..

 

 

And a pristine chunk of brass is to be used for this.

 

 

The brass is cut.. Changing the bandsaw blade kicked up so much dust.. Not good with lungs this shot!

 

 

The mini milling machine comes to the fore and is used to fit the brass plate to the tuning block..

 

 

Almost there..

 

 

The brass plate is threaded and ready..

 

 

The stainless steel bolts are customised on the engineering lathe..

 

 

The ‘crimson’ logo is stuck to the brass plate with masking tape..

 

 

 

 

I never thought that I would have to learn how to engrave in order to build custom guitars.. Oh well.. Needs must..

 

 

The plate is given the brushed steel effect and the engraving tidied up a bit..

 

 

And the tuning block is put together and, finally, installed on the headless extended range bass..

 

 

And finally we start stringing this beast up.. The nut did have to be split into four.. But it’s working!

 

 

She is strung and singing!

 

 

finally this erb is a real instrument.. Wiring next and maybe some fine tuneing of the, um, tuning system..

 

 

Been called to London for the afternoon.. But I managed a sneaky pic of stonehenge as we pass.. Awesome place!

 

 

 

 

Nevio has a very pretty guitar coming on.. Lovely figured maple top..

 

 

I am livid, trying rush the polishing while ill I of course have gone through the lacquer.. However..

 

 

She is keyed to accept the lacquer, and I reiterate my terms and conditions.. No more bloody rushing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course it dries perfectly clear, hard, water and chemical proof.. Genius!

 

 

Now, Nevio’s RF Slim.. The masking is removed from the neck and the goo cleaned off with lighter fluid..

 

 

 

 

So the igor is finally back on Monday to help with the finishing.. Though, as forcast, his bike did not make it back from France:/

 

 

I’m told I should pay igor more.. Or buy him a new bike? Mmm…

 

 

And as the day draws to a close I get to the actual buffing up of the lacquer on Nevio’s custom guitar..

 

 

 

 

Good morning, I have some admin to do up on the office but Caroline continues to work on this stock body..

 

 

Caroline’s doing very very well.. Look out igor…

 

 

And despite some unfortunate blemishes in the wood this beastie is ready for staining..

 

 

we stain her black.. which dissapears the blemishes in the wood..

 

 

the very top layer of the stain is sanded away with 400 grit paper.. leaving a charcoal stain..

 

 

And the neck has a purpleheart fretboard.. So…

 

 

So she is removed to the spraybooth and recieves a metalic purpleburst..

 

 

a better shot here.. but the camera is having trouble seeing the purple?  in person it  just takes her to another level.. Lacquering next..

 

 

I think Jasper died while waiting for someone to kick his toy!

 

 

And the purpleburst has dried so here’s a shot with the part-built neck in place.. Have a great weekend all!
Ben

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