Wednesday 24th June ’09

the begining.. yet more oil is applied to Jason’s 45rpm.. while in the background Kim works on prototyping some wenge knobs for Nimrods PAF Hollowbody guitar

and then on to Mike’s Robert Fripp Slimline.. various cavities are marked out..

they are pre-drilled on the pillar drill..

and, using various templates from other instruments, routed out..

the first set of wenge knobs.. once the polish is applied they jump up a few levels!!

the final routs are performed, there are rather a few on this beastie!!

I switch wood-dust for metal swarf (don’t you just love that word??)

my gorgeous little milling machine comes into her own

while I prototype the new saddle design in aluminium.. the main body of the saddle will be flat to the body of the trem all the time while the circular section gives you your height adjustment.. with a tight hole you get much more contact between the vibrating string and the bridge than a standard saddle..

back to Mikes guitar..  the headstock shape/straight string pull is markeed out

and, after bandsawing for a while, the bobbin sander makes dust..

the flame maple headstock veneer is prepared..

and the recessed truss rod cover is cut out at this stage..

before everything is clamped up for a while..

a Warwick copy (a customers ebay special) arrives with some bastardised active wiring..

the combination of original wiring and new(old) wiring left a morrass of half-used crap with about ten wires that were either not in use anymore or just disconnected by mistake.. still, after some detective work she ends up repaired and I spend a happy half hour thumping away with some Clapton tracks.. therapy!

the veneer has cured and the excess material is removed..

after that the headstock and cap binding channels are routed

and the carving begins.. I just love those curves!

the neck is next.. a slimfast neck carve is on order here..

much dust (my job description!)

and she ends up a bit lighter.. and a lot more comfortable!

and ready for binding too!

All my best, Ben

Crimson bespoke Guitars UK