Mojotron's 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

[Mojotron]

Due the shortage of misguided financial endeavors, baseless opinion, unrestrained lethargy and self deprecation in the world - plus my inability to pass a router without picking it up - I'm IN!

I know I did not finish on time last year... And, I said I was going to keep it simple this year and finish on time... Well, forget that, I got even crazier ideas this year

[RogerC]

WOOT! Good luck man!

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by RogerC

WOOT! Good luck man!

Thanks!! Ya this is going to be great.

[Muzikp]

I like the practical assessment of your current situation...and the reckless abandon to ignore the practical assessment. Good luck

[gitlvr]

Glad to see you in! Good luck!

[crazydave911]

Originally Posted by Muzikp

I like the practical assessment of your current situation...and the reckless abandon to ignore the practical assessment. Good luck

What he said


Good to see ya back

Dave

[kwerk]

Good luck, Mojo! Nice to see the old crew back for more!

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by Muzikp

I like the practical assessment of your current situation...and the reckless abandon to ignore the practical assessment. Good luck

Originally Posted by crazydave911

What he said


Good to see ya back

Dave

Life is more interesting that way Thanks! May as well leave it all on the field - can't take it with you and you only get to make so many guitars - we are going to make some awesome stuff this year!

Originally Posted by gitlvr

Glad to see you in! Good luck!

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by kwerk

Good luck, Mojo! Nice to see the old crew back for more!

Ya - I see a lot of friends with threads - I think we must have finally gotten over that burn out from last year. This is great!! Ya don't have any gator skin do ya?

[hockeygoon]

Here's to seeing your finished guitar! I'm sure you'll finish.

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by hockeygoon

Here's to seeing your finished guitar! I'm sure you'll finish.

Thanks!! I always finish.. on time - on so much.... I'm planing on it this time. Last year's guitar, though late, has been my main axe all year - this year I'm going to build on top of the design changes I did last year.

[kwerk]

Originally Posted by Mojotron

Ya - I see a lot of friends with threads - I think we must have finally gotten over that burn out from last year. This is great!! Ya don't have any gator skin do ya?

Nope. I'm stitching mine together out of several small lizards.

[flatfive]

Do it Mojotron! I think the challenge you'll be facing is to
not load yourself with *too* many challenges.

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by flatfive

Do it Mojotron! I think the challenge you'll be facing is to
not load yourself with *too* many challenges.

Thanks! And, oh don't I know it Glenn! I've not built a guitar since wrapping up the 2011 Challenge build - but that one ended up being my favorite so far.

[Mojotron]

Deep Thought #1:
Thoughts on this years Challenge build:
1) I'm going to leverage the design I came up with for last year's challenge build. Here are the motivations from last year:
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/3118911-post1.html
And, the neck analysis I did back then:
http://mojotronics.com/images/Guitar...e_analysis.pdf

2) I'm thinking of making the bridge plate out of 1/8" thick brass, and I've been playing with a new bridge design - but I may just go with Leo's 3 saddle design if I can't work out the mechanicals on the saddles for the design I'm working on.

3) I have to get the balance better than last year's challenge build. Part of the problem with last year's build was that the Cherry wood I used for the neck was insanely heavy/dense - like it was Ironwood or something really dense. I'm thinking this year I may use something that is a big more straight forward and go with some Khaya Ivorensis or perhaps push the envelope a little and use a super light Maple like Silver Maple for the neck. On the other hand Bigleaf Maple is only about 13-15% heavier and significantly stiffer/harder - could be a great compromise of weight/mechanical properties.

4) Fret board: I'm going to use a dark Rosewood or Rosewood-like wood. Perhaps it's time to see if I'm one of the lucky ones that have a Pau Ferro/Morado alergy?

5) Body wood: I have some great ribbon-grained Khaya Ivorensis, but I also have a really nice Alder board. I also have some nice Bigleaf for a top... Still thinking on this.

[Guitarnut]

Glad to see you in it Mojo!

It's gonna be a great yaer...I can feel it!

Mark

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by Guitarnut

Glad to see you in it Mojo!

It's gonna be a great yaer...I can feel it!

Mark

Yep - me too Mark - this is great already!

[adirondak5]

It just wouldn't be right without some "Mojo" , glad you are in.

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by adirondak5

It just wouldn't be right without some "Mojo" , glad you are in.

Thanks Herb!! I'm in the same place as you... "I will by the weekend..." as far as sorting out what to do - been thinking about a lot of ideas the last 8 months or so. A lot of my blades/bits are coming back from getting sharpened Friday - so I think Friday night I get the planer out and start gluing, Saturday morning I fire up the router and things get busy

[Mojotron]

Deep Thought #2:
Pickups/tone: I'm looking to replace the more standard Tele that I use for "Humbucker" tones with the wider/longer neck design from last years challenge. I'll likely wind my own and make them close to a Gibson Classic pickup set - maybe the neck pickup under-wound a bit and the bridge pickup over-wound a bit. I have a few sets from Mojotone, but they are a little wider than the PAF bobbins. Magnets... I have a ton of A5 magnets that are a little weak - I guess one could think of them as "Alnico-4" magnets, I'll likely use them. I love the Alnico-2's that I've had - much softer tone - if I can find some I may go with those.

[whodatpat]

Looking forward to the thread. Glad you are in.