I'm finally getting back to my projects - pointy fans might like this one.

[toejam]

If I tried to play that at band practice, there would be multiple injuries sustained to the guitar, and to my bandmates.

Anyway, here's the fretboard dry fit, just to see what it looks like. It's now radiused, fine sanded, and cut to shape. I just have to do the side dots before it gets glued to the neck.

Multiple injuries to other people from a guitar is fun! Injuries to a guitar is not! Can't wait to see this painted up.

[Cygnus X1]

Mang that thing is sexy...and you got props from the top builders on the forum!

Great stuff Zeegs.

[DMH80]

I love it man!!! I just got a dean ML kit that I'm putting together now from ebay. Your design is killer man!!!

[sully]

Looking great, Zeeg Von Zeegenstone!

[zeegler]

Thanks again guys for all the positive comments.

I worked on the guitar in the OP a little last night. I drilled the tailpiece stud holes, put on the neck, installed the tuners, cut the nut slot, installed the nut, put on a set of strings, made sure everything was lined up correctly, and drilled the bridge stud holes. That part's a little nervewracking since if you screw it up, there's not much you can do do fix it. Sure, you can fill the holes and redrill, but then a transparent finish is out of the question. Anyhow, after a slight truss rod tweak, the thing is playable, and actually plays very nicely. The action is great, and the intonation is dead on. It sounds good unplugged too, which I was concerned about with it being a hard maple body. I also installed some temporary strap buttons, and got the placement right. With radically shaped guitars, you often get nosedive if the buttons aren't located right. It balances very well, with no neck dive at all. It's very comfortable to play. I'm happy with how it's turning out so far.

I'll post a pic or 2 tonight, and then I have to strip it down, route the control cavity, finish sand the body, and then it's time for paint.

[horns666]

Wow Zeegs..Sully..Mike..ect. I'm really proud and NVS of yous. I mean, this is amazing stuff man!!!

I got major OCD amoung a boatload of issues..but it works for me..which is crazy in itself. Fuck, I make a major project of changing strings these days..no shit!

I literally dedicate 3+ hours tweakin' and setting up my main players..all 3 of them. The others are in there time capsules...never to be touched by anyone..including myself.

[zeegler]

Thanks Bill!!

Here's the first one with the bridge and tailpiece installed and mocked up with strings. Still some work to do, but it's getting there.

[Nuclear Vampire]

Sweet! Nice work man!

[zeegler]

I'm stuck with the others for now (waiting for tools and parts), so I started another one. This is a thru-neck version of the first one, a design I call the Raptor.

This one is maple & walnut 5 piece neck, with walnut and padauk stringers just like the Urchin. This one however, has two tone ash body wings.

[zeegler]

Back to the Urchin for a second. Here, the pickup routes are done, and the holes for the tailpiece are drilled. The bridge is just sitting on the body, and is not properly located yet. I'll be drilling the tuning machine holes, and installing a temporary nut this evening. Then I can throw a 1st and 6th string on it to precisely locate the bridge.


As this guitar nears completion, I realize that at some point along the way, I made a couple of errors. First off, in locating the tailpiece, I discovered that somehow, my neck centreline is not perfectly in line with the body. Since this is a neck thru (obviously) I'm not sure how that could have happened. I don't think it will be hugely noticeable, but I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen in the future. Secondly, I used a 3 degree neck angle on this guitar and it turns out that my bridge is going to be on the high side. I'm pretty sure it's going to be okay, but I've already drastically reduced the neck angle on my next build to 2 degrees to bring the bridge down to a more reasonable height.

[guitarguy2237]

God, these things are so fucking awesome. Keep up the awesome work dude!

[walshula]

Nice!!! needs to be painted white/black

[zeegler]

God, these things are so fucking awesome. Keep up the awesome work dude!

Thanks mang!!!

[wilkinsi]

Looks like a BC Rich Bich. Sooo.. are you going for a plain or trans/quilt finish?

[Learn Guitars]

Nice work Zeegler!! Love the lamination dimensions and wood choices. Try indexing your fingerboard and your neck black with some kind of doweling system. It only takes one degree of shift on a 25.5 inch scale to move things enoough to notice.