Amadhunters 2012 Challenge Build thread -- COMPLETED

[Amadhunter]

Thanks Jim,

I've been saving that batch of lumber for about a year for this challenge. That and a few other pieces. I decided at the last minute to use this stuff.
On the brewing, if your gonna go 3 gal, why not go 5? It's no more expensive, and 5 gallons goes pretty fast once bottled/kegged. :)

[RogerC]

those abalone markers look great on the pistachio!

[Amadhunter]

Thank you Roger. I'm diggin em too. :)

[Amadhunter]

Well, came in from work and tried to get at least some small amount of progress done. Got the fretboard radius sanded.

Before shot:



Pencil marks slowly disapearing toward the middle. :)


Lots of pistacio/abalone dust. Tastes nothing like the delectable little green nut.


Radius looking nice and even.


All done sanding, level, and even. I really like working this pistacio. I may end up dying it very lightly to contrast it and the drop top. Not sure just yet. Gonna try some scrap stuff first. :)


Or, I may leave the fb natural, and dye the drop top to contrast.


Tomorrow I hope to have time to fret, and contour the back.

[Colt W. Knight]

Looking good. I have always preferred the look of MOP/Abalone to black and clay dots.

[Amadhunter]

Hey thank you Colt, good to see ya in here again. :) Me too, I'm like a raccoon, I'm into shiny stuff. :)

[emoney]

Something about that grain just really looks great. It flows perfectly for a fretboard.
Nice work.

[Picton]

I'm fascinated by the end grain of that neck wood; you can almost see how dense it must be.

Nice build; very classy. Why the locking nut? Are you putting in a Floyd?

[dilbone]

awesome neck...looks great

[Amadhunter]

Thanks guys, I am indeed installing a Floyd. This will be no ole blues/country tele. The trem, and dual buckers outta soup it right up! :) I may be able to get more of that wood soon, the same crew is coming out to work on another tank. Maybe do a lil horse tradin if it happens. ;)

[Amadhunter]

Ok, I worked off yesterday. Now time to get some frets in this pistacio. :) I'm using some medium wire from stew mac. I usually go with the med/wide, but trying a different one this time.

Gotta clean out those slots first. Handy lil tool there.


Cut the wire to length, and on to the fret press. First time to use it instead of the hammer or drill press. I like it, but wish I'd just gone to harbor freight for the press. The SM press isn't very good quality for the price, but it works well after getting it set up.



Clip em off flush.


Pretty nice, It shouldn't need a lot of leveling I think.


Now to start profiling the back. This stuff is hard, but it shapes nicely with the rasps and ROSS.

[Amadhunter]

Awrighty then! FedEx guy showed up with some goodies. Binding, flame maple/bwb, a new fret dressing file, and a control cav. cover plate. :)




I hadn't initially planned on binding the body, but I think it will tidy it up very nicely. I've never used wood binding, hope I get it right. :) :)

[RogerC]

That binding will be sweet. Make sure and practice because it can be tricky from what i hear. I've never done it, but I hang around an acoustic luthiers forum pretty often and hear the stories lol

[Amadhunter]

You are right Roger, but not having foresight enough to order extra for practice, I'm gonna have to dive right in. :( Hope I don't muff it up.

[Muzikp]

Oh that binding is gorgeous. Doe's stew-mac carry that? I gotta get some.

Nice build you have going here.

[Amadhunter]

Thanks Muzikp, yep, SM has it. Item #2023 Curly Maple B/W/B binding. They have it in several different wood types, and with or without the B/W/B strips.

[Amadhunter]

I finally feel like I'm making some significant progress. Working on the body again today.
First drilling the neck screw holes.


Then routing the neck pocket, adjusting the debth for the drop top thickness.


Then, using the top thickness, planing the body to size.


For a cheapo Ryobi planer, it does pretty well. :)


Measuring and marking for the floyd rose trem.


Hogging out the body to reduce weight. Only doing the bottom and end as the wood is already very light. :)



Like a glove.




Drilling the index holes for the back template, these holes will become the post holes later.



Now to prepare the pistacio drop top. Planing and jointing.



Ok, got it roughed out, and screwed to the body.


Sneak peek with the neck to see what it may end up looking like with the pistacio fb and top. :) I think I'm gonna like it!!!


Now for some glue.

[Picton]

Beautiful!

[Amadhunter]

Thank you Picton. :)

[Muzikp]

Wow this is going to be an awesome guitar.