Redemption x3: Ripthorn's 2023 Brotherhood Build(s)

[Ripthorn]

I wasn't sure if I was going to do a brotherhood build this go round, but have since decided that not only will I build one, I'll build 3. To set the stage, I recently finished off a build of my Photon design. The problem was that, while it looked great, it was some shoddy work by my standards. It all started with my CNC taking a "detour" while cutting the body and then the fact that I opted to make the neck by hand and thus the fit between the two wasn't very good. The last straw was the chuck key falling out of my drill press and onto the finished body when drilling the last two holes of the whole thing. This resulted in an ugly chip in the back that I was able to fill enough so that it didn't show in photos, but every time I picked up the guitar, I couldn't hardly stand it because of all the mistakes. So I sold that one off yesterday for not much more than the cost of materials, bought the stuff for another go, and decided that I would make 3 of them this time. Two will be Pelham blue, just like the first one, and one will be heritage cherry. Why, you ask? Because this design was heavily inspired by the SG. Not necessarily in its lines, but in the overall ethos of it: thin, lots of bevels, batwing-esque pickguard, and color schemes.

I also took time to redesign the headstock to be more in line with the overall design aesthetic. I'm happy with how it turned out. Now to crank them out. Bodies will be poplar x2 for the Pelham blue and alder for the heritage cherry. Necks will be either cherry or maple, with care taken to avoid neck dive. Pickups will be firebird style, 24" scale length, and a hardtail bridge. I started processing lumber today, but it was mostly planing and resawing, so not a lot that is worthy of photos.

 

[crazydave911]

Sweet, can't wait

 

[Ripthorn]

I got my body blanks joined and glued yesterday and turned my eyes toward fretboards. I decided each will have one slightly different, so I planned and sanded one Pau Ferro, one cocobolo, and one Macassar ebony. These ought to make some pretty nice boards, I think.

 

[Ripthorn]

I had some play time in the shop today, so I got the body blanks processed as much as I can without the neck, then cleaned up the neck blanks, routed and drilled the headstocks, and routed for truss rods. I'll be out of town for a couple days, but I'm very pleased with progress to this point.

 

[Ripthorn]

I got my fretboards slotted, radiused, tapered, bound, and sanded. Got one board glued into a neck, but nowhere near enough clamps to glue up all three at the same time. Moving right along.

 

[Ripthorn]

After some good work today, I now have 2 GSO's, with the third one coming after the heel block is done being glued up.

 

[Ripthorn]

And, side dots installed.

 

[Ripthorn]

Got the face dots installed. Aluminum tubing and 1/8" wood plugs made using a shop made plug cutter.

 

[Wheelhouse]

Interesting heel design.

 

[Ripthorn]

Interesting heel design.

The tongue of the heel goes under the neck pickup. Very common in many guitars.

 

[Ripthorn]

One neck carved and shaped, two more to go.

 

[Ripthorn]

Neck #2 is all carved. One more to go.

 

[Ripthorn]

Had a bunch of time in the shop today. Finished carving the last neck, carved the bevels, sanded the body edges, and routed the round overs. They just need final sanding and fret jobs before finishing.

 

[BB]

Very, very cool!

 

[Ripthorn]

Got the fretboards sanded and with one coat of oil before fretting.

 

[Ripthorn]

I had a little time and was able to cut and install frets. Still need to bevel, level, crown, and polish.

 

[Ripthorn]

I got the frets all crowned and polished, then put some Rubio Monocoat on the two maple necks. The Doug fir is got done wood hardener that needs to be sanded back prior to finishing.

 

[Ripthorn]

I got the third neck finished, finish sanded the bodies, and made the pickguards and cover plates. Time to clean up the shop in preparation for finishing...

 

[RiversQC]

Looking really good. You work fast!

 

[Ripthorn]

First coat of sealer on each of the bodies (the third one is hanging elsewhere). Yes, I forgot to mask the one neck pocket. That will get fixed before next coats.