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I think his amp blew up.


Virgil?

You there?

Hope he didn't get electrocuted...

Gotta be careful with those vintage tube amps...

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http://www.tinyhouseandland.com

I wish I knew how to say spectacular in German!

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"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

spektakulär!

Well, this has been quite the day - I finished my second guitar and there are certain elements I like better about this guitar and it has been one heck of a journey - the frets are really low and so is the action and to be quite honest, it's probably one of the easiest guitars I have ever played in my life - the pups are warm and creamy (as opposed to tepid and dreamy) PHENOMENAL clean tones that are coming out of this guitar as opposed to the Dueling Dragons, however, it has some very tones when pushed - the versatility of this guitar at first notice is it's variety of sounds which I would attribute to the pups mainly... I do have the coil taps accessible via 2 mini toggles. The neck is almost a c-shaped neck and was told by a couple of people that is it similar to the feel of an Ernie Ball neck. I have quite a few things to do still, mostly on the marketing side of things, and actually only played it for a few minutes today and finished the wiring 10 minutes before my first student showed up. Still need to get the neck relief, intonation and a few minor clean-up details. Photo shoot, video and sound clips coming soon gang! Thank you all for your support. V

BTW, WTF is this good for: ???
This was the look on my face when I first worked with cocobolo - so really, we need to get rid of this emoticon.... NOW!

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

great job, dude! You now officially build guitarS.

Ah yes, pluralism at its finest!

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

BTW, this guitar is VERY heavy - my PRS custom 22 always seemed a bit heavy at 8 lbs and the Silver willow with the finish, electronics, strings etc. (Minus the trussrod cover LOL) weighs in at a WHOPPING 11 pounds! - Still shy of some LP's out there that I hear weigh in at up to 13 lbs! Cocobolo is a VERY heavy, dense & oily wood - my guess is that 3 lbs of this weight is tree oil from a cocobolo tree! YIKES

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

4th build: Scratch neck!
That'll be fun

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Actually my 4th build neck is DONE (Insert "Woot Woot" Here LOL)

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

Ah, the Dreamcather. I thought that was this one for some reason. Okay, so the dotted neck is #3 then?

5th neck: Scratch build.......?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

YES! Indeed - the blanks that are sent to me actually require so many different tweakings, I may end up doing better on my own - I had ordered a few necks before I got all of the equipment, so now I can probably do fine. I also have a new headstock design I am implementing.

(Edit) Dreamcatcher is #4 and "Triple G" is No. 3

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

So did I miss the finished pics?

Hehehe - no, you are correct sir!

Today I set the neck relief, bridge height, intonation and cleaned the guitar up - it's finally done!

I am actually putting together a video & pics of the finished product (and parts of the build), so everyone gets to hear what it sounds like and looks like - I shot some video today outside to show the guitar with light hitting it in a well-lit setting - tonight I plan to video some studio stuff and tomorrow as well and should have the video done before Friday - thanks for checking it out! Stay tuned!

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

Makes sense. Why post finished pics when you can make a full on video, complete with sound bites and narration?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Since it be so heavy,
a good excuse to play it in the seated position.
Dat's why I like playing lap steel.
I wish I had weighed my first build,
a Strat made of b.e. maple.
It outweighed yer lightweight Silver Willow, I'm sure!
Sustain forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1/2" square STEEL hollow rod reinforcement.
Made it whilst young.

I once made an all Purpleheart telecaster that weighed 10 pounds. A friend of mine dropped it in a parking lot on hard asphalt. It got just a few light dings on the lower bout and horn where it landed, and didn't even go out of tune. It had just a light tung oil finish.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

WoooHooo!
Today I shot some hand-held video outside in the sun to show the killer shine & contoured top... followed by tonight a short filming of me explaining the build & guitar specs for 5 minutes, followed by me plugging it in & playing it clean at various pup settings then playing a little dirty with some low-down blues in G... Then I moved on to the photo shoot - may take some more pics tomorrow - should have a vid by Friday & cool pics - thanks!

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

Can't wait to see the final pics !
I guess you decided against the "SERIOUS design things that should bring it down to almost half the current weight"?

I think mother-of-pearl is actually lighter than cocobolo!

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

The FINAL!

Name: Silver Willow
Serial#: 0002
Birthdate: 3/5/2012
Style: Double-cutaway carved top/set neck
22 frets
25" scale
12" Radius fretboard
2-way Trussrod
Tuners: 4/top 2/bottom Chrome Gotoh's
Nut: Black Tusq
Pickups:
Neck: DiMarzio PAF® 36th Anniversary DP103
Bridge: DiMarzio Air Norton™ DP160
Electronics: Custom inlaid Vol & Tone knobs
3-way Toggle 2 mini DP switches (For coil tap)
Bridge: Pigtail Wraparound
Body: Cocobolo bottom, Zebrawood middle, Bookmatched Padauk top
Neck: 6 Piece Skunk-stripe: Padauk center, Zebrawood on outside of Padauk, Cocobolo outside of Zebrawood.
Fretboard: Cocobolo
Headstock: Padauk laminate.
Body Inlays: Gabon Ebony & Sterling Silver
Fingerboard Inlays: Recon Stone, Gold mother-of-pearl, Green Abalone & Paua Abalone
More info here: http://www.virgilguitar.com







































Video showing the guitar & demo of pickup sounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbIYBl5qIw8&feature=plcp&context=C44a598eVDvjVQa1PpcFO_bJudUuJFOLQG0NgRBgtiz2G3zuJ7I1A%3D

MUSIC video featuring the Silver Willow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya94cF3MFnI&feature=plcp&context=C44fbd10VDvjVQa1PpcFO_bJudUuJFOHV3TCe_dDudpX807jR1fsQ%3D

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

Wow, that sho' am shiney.

Nice job there Virgil. Might I suggest strap locks, you don't want to drop that on your big toe.

Steve

Thanks Steve!
Yeah this shine requires OSHA-approved sunglasses fo sho - you are apparently were reading my mind about the strap locks... I was also thinking of a special embroidered harness

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

Well done. I really like the inlay on the knobs.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Beautiful.
I got sucked into yer vids,
now I'm late for work.
Nice playing too!

TY Chris - sometimes the littlest things make the biggest impressions!

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar