Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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pad
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Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Thu Nov 10, 2016 8:08 am

hey,

i wanna build my own vox phantomish guitar,
quick mockup:

Image
Image

Ash CNC routed Body. Lacquered in black with white undercoat.
Supplied Neck with Maple Fretboard and 25.5 Scale.
B5 Bigsby, Rickenbacker Bridge, 1 low output possibly Topmount Pickup? and straight to the Output Jack.

Keep things simple, its my first project!

What shall i keep in mind to build a playable guitar,
as to neckpocket, scale and radius.

any helpful tipps for me?

xxx
pad
Last edited by pad on Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

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pad
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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:02 am

How about this neck? should be alright?
https://www.amazon.de/Kmise-E-Gitarren- ... tarre+hals" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

+

https://www.thomann.de/de/allparts_gb_0 ... bridge.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

= would that work together?

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Toots
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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by Toots » Thu Nov 10, 2016 10:23 am

Fun project.
I would say a Ric-style bridge is good choise for a first build, since the saddles got a wide travel range, so there is room for error. I would measure out the scale length (12:th fret x2, from nut) and place the center of the bridge a tiny bit further back then scale.
You can decide the depth of your neck pocket based on how low your bridge is at lowest setting.
A Ric bridge is maybe 15-16 mm at highest point (D and G saddles) on lowest setting.
I would route the depth of the pocket so that the neck (fret included) is also 15-16 mm high above the body.
Then you can just adjust the bridge up a tiny bit when strung up, and get a nice action without the bridge being too high.
A higher bridge like a tune o matic is around 20mm at lowest. With those I do a angled neck pocket because I don't want the neck that high off the body (or recess the bridge, but I don't like that) But that is a whole other thing.
Don't know if that is useful for you, but just ask if you got specific questions.
(I would stay away from a trem for a first build, but that is just me)

Bridge will most likely fit the neck, aslong as you are comfortable with the narrow spacing of the Ric-style bridge.

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Thu Nov 10, 2016 11:24 am

thanks for your tipps, they are REALY helpful!!! :)
oh god i can't trust myself that i finally build a guitar :?

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by Toots » Thu Nov 10, 2016 11:54 am

No problem.
About the radius. It does'nt say what radius the neck have but I would guess 12", but maybe you should check that. I have one of those bridges and it is a little rough, but I would say it's 10" radius. The saddles are easy to file to correct radius if the difference bothers you. Even if the neck happen to be 9.5" radius.

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Thu Nov 17, 2016 3:16 am

Swamp Ash, Bridge, Neck, Tuners and Neckplate ordered!
Jay!
Last edited by pad on Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by burntumber » Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:18 am

when I had an Eko Ghost 6 it was neck heavy,

when I let go of the neck, it fell south,
and I spent a lot of energy just holding the neck up as I played.

something to consider if you're going to build a Phantom

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:31 am

im not sure, how could neck heaviness could be changed?
in theory just more weight on the other side?

and im thinking about the pick guard material, how about a thin copper sheet on black

and drawing update:
Image

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by noisepunk » Thu Nov 17, 2016 12:18 pm

Just stick a brass block under the tailpiece ;)

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Fri Nov 18, 2016 8:27 am

noisepunk wrote:Just stick a brass block under the tailpiece
got you, sir!

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Sat Dec 03, 2016 4:40 am

has anybody knowledge about wiring? basically i want to have 1 bridge pickup and i wanna go straight to the output jack. Can anybody draw me a diagram how to wire that up?

love,
pad

update: wood + tuners + bridge is in the hood, waiting for the neck for the next step.
im getting serious nervous
Last edited by pad on Sun Dec 04, 2016 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by noisepunk » Sat Dec 03, 2016 10:33 am

pad wrote:2: has anybody knowledge about wiring? basically i want to have 1 bridge pickup and i wanna go straight to the output jack. Can anybody draw me a diagram how to wire that up?
I'm having a little trouble understanding your first question, but for your second question:

The ground (earth) wire goes to the lug further back (in the picture bellow), and the hot wire, which is probably red, goes to the lug which is closer to the camera.
Image
Tip is hot, sleeve is ground.

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Sun Dec 04, 2016 11:36 am

noisepunk wrote:
pad wrote:2: has anybody knowledge about wiring? basically i want to have 1 bridge pickup and i wanna go straight to the output jack. Can anybody draw me a diagram how to wire that up?
I'm having a little trouble understanding your first question, but for your second question:

The ground (earth) wire goes to the lug further back (in the picture bellow), and the hot wire, which is probably red, goes to the lug which is closer to the camera.
Image
Tip is hot, sleeve is ground.
alright sounds easy :)

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:28 am

next step:

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neck cavity is a little bit too tiny, going to sand it proper with hand.
+ bigsby and all misc is ordered!

IM SO SATISFIED!

has anybody a idea where to buy a rickenbacker bridge pickup?
haven't had any luck getting one for a reasonable price..

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Re: Non Traditional Phantom Style Guitar

Post by pad » Fri Jan 13, 2017 10:03 am

Next Step:

-All parts except Pickup are here
-Paddleneck cutted
-Tuners fitted
-Body got sanded and stained
-Cut the Scratchplate
-Drilled all holes

Whats missing:

-Pickup, Bridge and Bigsby fitting
-Polish the Body
-Electronics

<3

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