My first "Custom" Build

[epizootics]

It's 9 degrees outside today. I debated whether or not to stay in, but it's my birthday, soi decided I wanted to. Though the shop heater struggled to keep up with the bitter cold. I took my progress pictures back in the house

Things are shaping up well. Binding turned out okay. I'm just about past the shaping stage and then it'll be on to sanding. Not bad for just over a month of progress working on it here and there.



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Happy birthday Steve!

Not bad at all indeed. Things are shaping up nicely, your design looks refreshing and even cooler in real life. I really like what you did with the back of the headstock, it looks completely intentional. Brian Eno would approve

 

[Steve Holt]

The sawdust really did a pretty good job fixing that hole!

 

[crazydave911]

Nice!

 

[Jim_in_PA]

Incredibly good fix!

 

[Freeman Keller]

Looks good Steve. I would consider reinforcing it with a piece of surgical gauze tape and a little thin CA on the inside.

 

[Steve Holt]

Looks good Steve. I would consider reinforcing it with a piece of surgical gauze tape and a little thin CA on the inside.

Thanks for the tip, but it was always too late for that. There's no access to the inside of the cavity where I broke through. I think it'll be good though. That was 4 fillings of sawdust and woodglue with one more to go.

 

[tomasz]

Nice work Steve! If you are not planning to paint the back solid, try to recreate a patch with glue and sawdust on some piece of scrap to see how it will take stain or lacquer. You may want to be prepped to handle this patch, as it may behave differently than the end grain.

Some idea for you to try next time: I use machine screws in some of my custom builds, which attach to inserts in the neck. That allows me to sculpt the body heel differently while still having screws grabbing down in vertical manner. The hold is actually better than usual wood screws, while it will require to adjust the screws to length. Also being able to tighten them with an Allen wrench vs a screw driver makes a difference. That is often used in the bass world.

Here are pics of two guitars I have handy, one being a bass with 5 attachment points, one a partscaster:

 

[Steve Holt]

Nice work Steve! If you are not planning to paint the back solid, try to recreate a patch with glue and sawdust on some piece of scrap to see how it will take stain or lacquer. You may want to be prepped to handle this patch, as it may behave differently than the end grain.

Some idea for you to try next time: I use machine screws in some of my custom builds, which attach to inserts in the neck. That allows me to sculpt the body heel differently while still having screws grabbing down in vertical manner. The hold is actually better than usual wood screws, while it will require to adjust the screws to length. Also being able to tighten them with an Allen wrench vs a screw driver makes a difference. That is often used in the bass world.

Here are pics of two guitars I have handy, one being a bass with 5 attachment points, one a partscaster:

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Thanks for the tips! For now I like the plates. I always toy with the idea of shaping the back more like you've done, I just haven't yet.

As far as the sawdust matching the color when I finish...it's on my radar. Fingers crossed

 

[Steve Holt]

Nice work Steve! If you are not planning to paint the back solid, try to recreate a patch with glue and sawdust on some piece of scrap to see how it will take stain or lacquer. You may want to be prepped to handle this patch, as it may behave differently than the end grain.

Some idea for you to try next time: I use machine screws in some of my custom builds, which attach to inserts in the neck. That allows me to sculpt the body heel differently while still having screws grabbing down in vertical manner. The hold is actually better than usual wood screws, while it will require to adjust the screws to length. Also being able to tighten them with an Allen wrench vs a screw driver makes a difference. That is often used in the bass world.

Here are pics of two guitars I have handy, one being a bass with 5 attachment points, one a partscaster:

View attachment 936186

View attachment 936187

Thanks for the tips! For now I like the plates. I always toy with the idea of shaping the back more like you've done, I just haven't yet.

As far as the sawdust matching the color when I finish...it's on my radar. Fingers crossed

 

[Steve Holt]

Man no updates in a month! I'll be happy when this winter is over!

 

[nnieman]

Neck shaping day! Got the dots glued in too.

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I love how the back strap on the back of the headstock looks!

The whole build is looking great!

It’s too cold to spray here too (central Ontario)

Nathan

 

[Steve Holt]

I love how the back strap on the back of the headstock looks!

The whole build is looking great!

It’s too cold to spray here too (central Ontario)

Nathan

Thanks! It turned out to be a nice way to save a slightly too thing headstock.

I need to get the frets leveled etc. I've just had other things going on. Like starting a lap steel at the same time

 

[Steve Holt]

It has been a minute since I had some time to work on this one! I held off to work on my lap steel that I had started.

I'm hoping to get it finished up here quick now that I got a fresh boost of motivation!

Today was mostly sanding and then I got the top stained to my liking. Going for a worn jeans look.

 

[crazydave911]

Nice!

 

[Steve Holt]

So here's my first attempt at inlay. Second really as I did some diamonds on the fretboard of my lap steel, but first time doing letters. Up close its definitely a first attempt, but from a distance it looks great! And overall I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out. Just a little more sanding and prep work and I'll be ready to get this thing sprayed with lacquer.

 

[Steve Holt]

Here we go...final stretch!

The wind was crazy today. It has been the last few days. I spray outside so I thought there'd be no way I'd get any spraying in. But by 6 o'clock the wind was gone and the humidity was around 30% - green light to spray. I have to say I'm pretty excited to get this finished up.

 

[Steve Holt]

A couple more spray pictures in better light.

 

[Steve Holt]

I love making bodies and necks from the same wood. It looks so cool from the back when it's all one color.

 

[Steve Holt]

Getting closer. Got some the wet sanding done.

I got it buffed and started assembly but I ran out of time.

Observations so far is that it's super comfortable. The bridge might have to sit a little higher than I planned. I had it all measured out, but something I didn't account for was how much sanding I did on the body to get it leveled out after I did the curved top.