Hi all,
I'm pretty new here and have gotten some great advice from members on a Melody Maker project. I thought it might be fun for me to share (one variation) of my process for a custom build. I'll let the pics do the talking as much as I can. Hope you guys/gals enjoy!
African Mahogany Body
Cross cutting on the old Craftsman Radial Arm
Glued up.
Nice grain pattern.
Walnut cap glued up.
Nice figuring!
Not shown, routed a channel in the mahogany for wiring, cap glued on.
Sanding and shaping the body template. Inspired by the Ibanez PF series.
Cut the body, used the radial arm as an overarm router. Not the best way (spindle too slow really) but it works. I'm doing my favorite control route: telecaster plate in back.
More routing.
Scored the recess for the metal plate.
Oops! No big deal, will still thickness sand it.
Carving the belly cut with the angle grinder and an 80 grit disc.
Worst possible way to do a switch cavity.
See what I mean! Talk about bit bite! Again, will disappear with final thickness sanding.
Time to carve the top. I like this 70s style "furniture" detail!
Grind away! This is the fun part!
On to the neck. Cut the truss rod channel. Decided on a scarf "luthier's joint" for the headstock.
Roughed in the shape on the band saw. Then attacked with the angle grinder again!
Volute for the win!
Finished roughing and routing the back. That's just a "relief" idea I had. Love the upper fret access. AND this is a 24 fret guitar, it's LONG!
Decided this would be all wood and metal, so maple inlay fret markers.
Routing the neck angle tenon. See how scientific I am about angles and stuff!
Routed for humbuckers.
Offset mortise and tenon routed.
Blending the neck joint.
My "fret press."
My trick for quickly trimming fret ends.
Almost ready to glue it all up!
Glued and waiting for finishing!
Almost final pics! I glued a walnut veneer on the headstock. I've since installed chrome hardware including covered pickups and metal rings and metal knobs as seen in the last few pics.
