MIMF

So I've repeatedly intonated, corrected, measured the fretboard frequencies against my calculated frequencies - apart from a couple of lifting frets which I'll ignore for now - the intonation error for a fret for any string is at maximum 0.28%. I think that will do for now :D Here's some ambient noo...

So there's some issues - neck-string angle, I recessed the jack the wrong way to the way the upwards facing jack is meant to sit so that needs sorting. And the nut + frets need sorting but I miss playing it so here it is for a bit..

The figure is caused by periodic changes in runout, so sometimes you're cutting with the grain and sometimes against it as you go along the grain. Violin makers often carve across the grain to avoid this, and finish up with scrapers and sandpaper. With birdseye that's not an option: there's no 'goo...

Use sharper tools, I think. I have the same on birdseye maple, very easy to get tearout, and very hard to sand it out too, so I left it (also guitar for my own use, and pretty "experimental" too so let's first see if scale length and tuning work out). I’ve experienced birds eye maple with...

I'm currently building a guitar with a flame maple top that runs vertically and grain that runs horizontally. It's 20mm thick and I'm carving the top with a Rustings Danish Oil finish (multiple applications). However I'm seeing some, what could be described as 'chip out' leaving small holes speciall...

Update, I've reapplied the danish oil - I'll let this harden and then use it to prevent any flame chip out during sanding.

Let the body carving begin!

Still have a way to go but starting off..

I've recorded my first ever video :D It's recording the bridge pickup through an audio interface mixed onto the video of me gibbering on (this is why there's a little treble echo in some spots). The audio chain is SD Sentient (no tone controls) -> minifuse 1 @192KHz/24bit with a little pregain -> ga...

An update, I still have alot todo. The idea is that I spend a little time playing and then deciding precisely of the changes I want to make. Some Danish.. and the front is starting to pop. IMG_2169.jpeg The rear - you'll note the temporary electronics :D IMG_2168.jpeg And the head IMG_2170.jpeg So f...

I had a busy afternoon - I slimmed down the fretboard thickness, dropped the nu height, levelled and then releveled after putting in the 16" radius.The I installed the frets, ground and filed but there's still some additional work required on the frets, the fretboard just like the rest of the g...

I calculate that there’a about 188lb or 90kg tension so mu thinking is to carve the neck thickness for 28-30mm.

Still in the build (and a while to go), but testing the neck with it's first set of strings at the moment.

28.625" scale length 7 sting, through neck and fixed bridge.

That was a concern. I did think that there may be quite alot of force, especially with the longer scale length cranking up the tension. I will probably look at the fretboard and nut next, so that should shave off some height. The headstock has a a spar of the purple heart at the back continuing to a...

Still alot todo but I wanted to test the neck.
I still have neck carve, body carve, fretboard flattening, radius, frets, etc

So this is my current thinking on the pickup locations. It's 727mm scale length so a 5.5-6.5% comes a distance from the bridge.

We have addressed this issue many times here. The frequencies will change every time you fret a string so trying to find an optimum position will not prove to be that valuable. Just put a pickup close to the bridge and another close to the fretboard. This will give the greatest variety of sounds po...

Still some cleanup but next is calculating some frequencies and working out how the pickup location will affect sound. I want the sound of this guitar to be a clear bridge tone but a slightly warmer bridge.

The truss rod needs something to push against (in both directions) so solidified glue could cause it to put pressure on the neck inconsistently.

Post maple top bond and just shaped and glued up the alder body blocks, here's the blocks pre glue up (note they're not aligned completely and they're deliberately oversized here in the photo): IMG_1935.jpg Also since the previous photo, the fretboard has been shaped and the neck has been shaped to ...

Clamping up the top this morning: