My latest build completed!

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Mike Baker
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Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:21 am

My latest build completed!

Post by Mike Baker »

Hi! This is what I'm calling my Faux Acoustic. Basically, I was looking to get an amplified acoustic sound from an electric guitar sized instrument. I think it worked pretty well.
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Mike Baker
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:21 am

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Mike Baker »

Mike Baker
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:21 am

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Mike Baker »

Some specs.
The top is Sitka, body is White Ash. Flamed maple neck and Rosewood board.
24.562" Gibson scale. Corian nut, bone saddle.
The body shape is an L-00, but I wanted to join the neck at the 16th fret, like a lot of electrics, so that I had easy access to the higher frets. This changed the location of the bridge, and necessitated a change in the bracing.
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The top is truely flat. No dome.

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Pickup and electronics are the Schatten SBT and Fishman Powerjack endpin pre.

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I wanted a stage acoustic that sounded good through an amp or PA, and as simple as I could make it. I think i achieved that. I love this guitar!
Thanks for looking.
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Mark Swanson
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Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
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Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Mark Swanson »

I built something similar to this. And if through your research or by luck, you came to the same choice I did- it holds the reason why this works well.
You made the top like an acoustic guitar! That's what makes it work. If you had simply put the bridge and pickup on a solid body, it would not work nearly as well. The pickup needs to "hear" a mostly acoustic response, so it can do what it's supposed to do.
Good job, Mike!
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
Mike Baker
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Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:21 am

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Mike Baker »

Thanks, Mark!
As to the top, I couldn't see any reason why, if I used an acoustic top, the pickup wouldn't pick it up and give me a decent acoustic sound. From what I've read doing research for this, the top is one of the major components in producing an acoustic guitar's sound. So I thought if I wanted an acoustic sound, that was the easiest way to obtain one. I think it worked pretty well.
Gordon Bellerose
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Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

That's a great looking guitar. Great work for your first build.
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
Warren May
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Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:00 pm

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Warren May »

That's a really nice looking guitar. Everything goes together very well in terms of colors and trim. I like it a lot. :)
Mike Baker
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Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:21 am

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Mike Baker »

Warren, thanks a lot. Gordon, thanks also. But this is my 5th build, not my first. Although IMO the first and the 5th aren't that far apart. Got a lot left to learn. Just getting started in this, IMO. I appreciate everyone's interest and comments.
Markku Nyytäjä
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Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Markku Nyytäjä »

Cool! Nice wood and beautifully built. Any sound clips?
Mike Baker
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Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:21 am

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Mike Baker »

Markku Nyytäjä wrote:Cool! Nice wood and beautifully built. Any sound clips?
Thanks, Markku! There's a link to a sound clip at the bottom of the second post in this thread.
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Hans Bezemer
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Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Hans Bezemer »

I like it a lot! Good work.
How thick is the topplate?
Do you have some more work-in-progress-photo's?

Hans
Mike Baker
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Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:21 am

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Mike Baker »

Thanks to all who've replied so far!
Hans, the top plate is .118". If I build again I'll actually go a little thinner. I don't think I'd have any problems there.
As to more build progress pics, I've got the entire build posted on a couple of different forums, but as far as I'm aware the board rules don't allow me to link to either of them. Of all the photos I've got, I wouldn't know where to start for posting here.
Jason Rodgers
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Location: Portland, OR

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Jason Rodgers »

This has a great look. Good work!

Any reason why you settled on that particular bracing scheme? Have you built a "normal" acoustic? My guess is one would have more predictable results if one just built their typical top, but forgot the soundhole.

Glad it worked out.
-Ruining perfectly good wood, one day at a time.
Mike Baker
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:21 am

Re: My latest build completed!

Post by Mike Baker »

Thanks, Jason. To answer your questions: No, I've not built a standard acoustic, but I'm planning one soon.
As to the bracing scheme, my plan at first was a standard X brace, but I wanted to join the neck at the 16th fret like an electric. When I did this, I couldn't make the standard X bracing fit. This was my compromise. I think it worked well, but there's no way of knowing for certain what the difference might have been. Might try another with a more standard bracing scheme at a later date so I can compare.
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