PIC of a design update on my Custom Guitar....

**baimun** · December 15th, 2004, 03:19 PM

As some of you know, I'm currently building another custom guitar. Due to the Swamp ash body blank I'm working with being thicker but narrower than I normally use, I've had to rethink some of the design elements with the body.

I'm trying to come up with a shape that properly ballances "Classic", "Functional", and "Custom". There are certain shapes that just "work" because of a combination of functionality and the way the instrument fits your body.

I didn't want the guitar to exactly be a copy of some other shape, but I also didn't want some kind of bizzarro BC Rich reject.

This is what I'm currently considering:

a new shape

It's a classic single cutaway shape not unlike a Ovation acoustic or Les Paul, but I looked at the shape of the headstock on the neck I'm using and tried to make the semi-generic-ness of that shape into more of a design element by replicating that shape in the lower horn.

So far I'm pretty happy with the tear drop shape, but I'll likely add a bit of an arch to the top, and probably add a bit more carving in the cutaway and on the arm rest (showing the body wood through the figured top.)

Thoughts?

(please excuse the all overness of the hardware colors... I'm undecided on some of that.)

<font color="#cd6600" size="1">[ December 15, 2004 11:19 AM: Message edited by: Baimun ]</font>

**Peter Peeker** · December 15th, 2004, 03:25 PM

looks really nice.
almost telecaster, but not quite...
although I prefer a double cutaway.
but that's just a personal thing.

the headstock kinda looks like a backwards version of this cheapie guitar the wife bought me.

**baimun** · December 15th, 2004, 03:42 PM

I've always been a double cutaway person also..... I just liked the way the line curved around and then continued right through the neck and into the cutaway. One continuous line.

The neck I'm using is a Carvin bolt on neck. I have never been a fan of the headstock shape, but I figured if the horn matched the headstock, it might look better.

**Peter Peeker** · December 15th, 2004, 03:44 PM

I getcha.

love that top, too.
it's beeeYOOteeful! [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

speaking of new instruments, I'll be picking up my Peavey 5-sting next month!! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

our guitarist uses a baritone, and I've had my 4-string tuned down to B for months... [img]confused.gif[/img]
spaghetti, anyone?

**baimun** · December 15th, 2004, 03:58 PM

Sorry to disappoint you Peek, but I'm not going to go with the typical figured wood top..... I'm much too abstract of a person for that. [img]wink.gif[/img]

The Burl wood I have for the top should turn out a bit more like THIS:

a new shape 3

**baimun** · December 15th, 2004, 05:02 PM

I know this is subtle, but on the second version I made the body more tear-drop shaped and less round.

**Peter Peeker** · December 15th, 2004, 05:05 PM

now that ya mention it...
I didn't catch that the first time.

I dig it.

one of these days, I'm gonna get a bass built to MY specs...and it's gonna be the ugliest damn thing on the planet.
you mentioned BC Rich rejects...?
this will make BC Rich cringe in terror. [img]wink.gif[/img]

**baimun** · December 15th, 2004, 05:11 PM

If you need any assistance in finding the best parts for a good price, let me know.

I keep my eye on the Warmoth Showcase pages for things that other people might think are too weird for their use, but is just perfect for me. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Some Unusual Bass Bodies

Notice that the checkerboard ones are different kinds of wood... not paint!

**Peter Peeker** · December 15th, 2004, 05:27 PM

thanks for the link!
although I'm thinking WAY more "out there"...

fr'instance...remember that group ABC?
their bassist had this ENORMOUS bass, made to look the those old sun-shaped clocks...it had to be close to 3' across.
ridiculous, and I loved it. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]