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That is looking slick Mike!

Joe

Thanks Joe

Well this was interesting, routing through both brass and wood to create the neck mortice. Even using a really old bit it worked pretty well. In hindsight I should have Dremel'd out the metal at the end as the bit didn't really like part but it just ate up the stuff on the top like it wasn't there.

Nice time to have a face shield too with the brass chips. Was it a bit noisy ? I know when I used the 1/8" mill it was pretty loud.

Had to make do with the oversized safety glasses but I made sure and turned the guitar 90º to me. Open ended cuts like that make perfect little launchers for the dust and brass bits. A couple got stuck in my arm.

Yeah, well we know this metal body reso building ain't for girly men.

Das right! This meeting of the He-Man Metal Gittar Club is officially called to order!

Before packing it in and heading for the jam I got the neck attached.
Going with the industrial look here. A couple mondo stainless screws with beveled washers.
I added a small heel block that will get blended in when I profile and carve the neck.

You're moving right along with it. She's coming together pretty quick and looking good.
Hey is that one of your tricone bodies sitting on the floor just below your left hand in the bottom pic?

Sigh.... I built that about 6 years ago for another builder. He made a neck, I connected 'em and got it strung up. He has a friend that has a plating shop and was going to get that done himself. Well the the plater put it in the 'cleanup tank' and accidentally left it in there for a weekend or something. It ate away every bit of exposed solder, leaving gaps all over it. How it stayed together I'll never know but it didn't seem to affect the joints themselves.
Anyway I took it back, re-filled the jgaps, smoothed everything back up and gave it back. Now 6 years later, after sitting in a nice, humidified guitar room it's covered inside and out with some pretty heavy surface rust. He gave it back asking me to look into de-rusting it and touching it up so he can finally have it polished and plated.

I suggested just clear coating it and going with the rustbucket look but he didn't like that idea.
I honestly don't know it it's salvageable as a polished and plated guitar so I decided to wait till this new one is done and see if he likes the painted look. I think that's the best bet.

I should point out a 'Doh! moment on the electric. I had left the center stick extra long and meant to trim it back to just under the length of the fretboard...and forgot. So now my mortice extends beyond the board. I either need to add some frets and a layer of veneer under the board, butt the pickup right up against the end of the board or make a pickup cover to hide the goof. I hate that kind of stuff.

Any way to chisel/route the extra length down and do a patch with brass and solder sorta like body work?
I have a plated body and an unplated body with the tail pieces and plated cover plates if you know of anyone who might be interested. A set of quarterman's and national's too with off brand black T bridges.

I like your neck attachment Mike, form follows function, always good design!
Sorry about your moment, but I'm sure you'll make it a plus.
I would go with the rust-bucket on the tri, but hey to each his own.

Joe

ps. -I'm going to have to join this He-Man club!

The wood underneath is bonded to the top so I can't do any heating of it. I'll just have to cover it up.

I'd be interested in the T-Bridges and National cones but you should finish off the plated body and eBay it or something.

Joe, all are welcome in the club. Remember the first rule: Hot metal looks just like cold metal.

A little farther along.

I like it! It's coming together nicely.

Beautiful job on the neck. But, I especially like your innovation on the back. Doubles the instrument's functionality: During non-musical periods you can lease it to a local deli as an industrial strength cheese grater.

_________________
michael propsom
www.propsomguitars.com

Those louvers look so cool!

And who don't like cheese!
Progress slowed this last week while I messed with other projects and waited on the customer to decide on hardware, etc. Should have a Stew-Mac order in by the weekend though and be able to string it up!

Makin' some noise!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaz4Z9UZ-sA

It's got some Mojo !

Sounds and looks great Mike!
Looks like you've got a winna'!

Joe

nice mike, reaaalllyyy nice!
brass is good stuff to work with.

pretty sweet. I like the "trash can" as well; will that be solder joined as well? Will you make the reso cover look like a can lid?

No, the cover will be a standard 'sieve hole' National style.

Been taking some time off due to the heat and getting a new band rolling. Finishing a tricone and then I should be back at this one in the next week or so. Not a lot to do really other than the finish.

Cool!

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Work continues. I got it electrified the other day and made a quick vid for the customer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctun3U0kSak

It's now apart and I'll be starting the paint this weekend. Hope to be done by Christmas.

Back from the stripers and coated with clear. Just need a final 2,000 grit go over and polishing.