John Kingma's latest 6 string electric.

[John Kingma]

I came up with this body style several years ago and I have been tweaking it ever since. I think I finally have it where I really like it. I call it my BT model because the first couple instruments I made with this shape were Baritones.

BODY - Hackberry with an Ambrosia Maple cap. Finished with a Shellac Sealer and a Poly Clearcoat.

NECK - Mahogany with a Macassar Ebony fretboard with a single "12th fret" marker. Finished with a Shellac Sealer and topped with Tru-Oil. 24 frets with a 12" fretboard radius and a Corian Nut. 25 inch scale length.

PICKUPS - Tele Bridge pickup and a P90 Neck pickup by MJS Custom Pickups in Mississauga, ON. The bridge pickup is great, but this P90 in the neck position has got to be one of my personal favorites.

CONTROLS - Single Volume, Single Tone and a 3 Way Switch

BRIDGE - Wilkinson Bridge with 3 brass compensated saddles.

OTHER DETAILS - I built this for fun and for myself. I had some time on my hands so I decided to build my first 24 fret guitar. I'm not sure why, as I don't have any business going past the 12th fret anyway. ;o) I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. This is one of the better finish jobs I've done but it's still far from perfect. If I were able to change anything though, it would be to move the volume and tone controls a bit down and towards the back. I find that the volume knob interfers with my strumming.

[Samuel Hartpence]

I love the streaks in the ebony. To each their own I suppose.

Also, having the volume knob in reach lets you do volume swells. Maybe you just need to add that to your arsenal, and the knob will be right where you need it!

[John Kingma]

Here is a photo which shows the fretboard better.

[Art Davila]

Nice I always wanted a 24 thru body t style but thats very cool.

[Samuel Hartpence]

Here is a photo which shows the fretboard better.

Why on earth did distributors and manufactures think those wouldn't sell? The assumption that players would prefer extreme figure on all of our woods except the fretboard is just bizarre to me. I love it!

[Hans Bezemer]

That turned out well!

I agree with Samuel, before using a footpedal I used my volume knob a lot. Keep it where it is!

[Mark Langner]

In the 1980's I owned a house with a large hackberry tree just outside the back door. I loved that tree (even though I've never heard anything good about them from anyone else!), and I'm glad to see a really nice instrument made from it.

As I progress, I am more and more a fan of simple design, and of letting wood speak for itself.

Well done.

[John Kingma]

Thanks for the comments.

In the 1980's I owned a house with a large hackberry tree just outside the back door. I loved that tree (even though I've never heard anything good about them from anyone else!), and I'm glad to see a really nice instrument made from it.

I think I have made 15 or more solid body electrics from Hackberry.