J-U-N-I-O-R-B-I-R-D

[Deed_Poll]

So I finally pulled my finger out and finished this design! I couldn't resist making one to check the ergonomics.

This one's made from a chunk of quite plain black korina. It's actually nice and light, especially for the size of it. Very comfortable to hold, like a slightly beefier Jazzmaster. I'm about 6ft with fairly long arms and it fits me very well.

I incorporated a tailpiece ramp initially to help get some more angle out of the vibrato, but after all my aesthetic tweaks it ended up a bit closer to the bridge anyway so it probably won't have any issues. I designed this heater shield style vibrato plate to match. It's inspired by a few different guitars, notably the SG3, Mosrite vibrato, and that weird lucite Fender prototype.

In my changes, I also added a forearm and tummy contour which has the bonus effect of helping the guitar look a bit thinner than it is, and brings out a bit more of the NRFB / SG character.

I did a wide chunky neck pocket like those hollowbody Hamers, mostly because I like the look of it. It reminds me of old Japanese guitars.

Anyways here are some pics, hope you like it!

[Deed_Poll]

A couple more pics

[Bradley-Jazz]

Very, very nice indeed. Classy yet modern, familiar yet different. Great work!

Is that the neck it will keep? What are you going to do with the headstock? Can't help thinking that a reinterpretation of a NRFB six-on-one-side would work really well on there.

[Embenny]

That looks great!

[Stereordinary]

I cannot deny that that is pretty dang cool.

[rank]

beautiful as usual!

[Deed_Poll]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I hope I'll have it all sanded up nice and shiny within the next couple of days. I'm glad this wood is so easy to work on... I've only done one other black korina body before and it was just the same. Perfect chips on the router, and it sands down easily.

Bradley, so yes my original headstock design is this one, basically like a completely simplified version of the long reverse 6-inline style from the Firebird:



But I've also discovered that Warmoth's Mooncaster shape looks pretty cool as well...



I'm thinking trans red would also be a good option for the finish... I was thinking of a burst, but I actually really like some of the patterns on the end grain and I'm not the biggest fan of lighter / more faded bursts with fairly transparent edges.

Maybe the next one will be mahogany with a burst and a white guard more like a Firebird, and I'll make this one look a bit more SG Jr. I'd like to try Pelham blue at service point in the future as well

Cheers!

[Shadoweclipse13]

Can't help thinking that a reinterpretation of a NRFB six-on-one-side would work really well on there.

That's what I'm planning. Deed_Poll and I have been working on the specs for a baritone for me in this body. I'm planning on a righty Warmoth Warhead baritone conversion neck with lefty side dots, and I'm gonna cut the fin off of the headstock shape so it'll be close to a reverse Firebird headstock.

[pscates]

I really like this. I love the inset carve/bevel on the back that roughly follows the perimeter, but is slightly different in places. And the pickguard is my favorite part. It has that little swoop-back at the pickup of those early 50's Fender Precision Basses.

While it doesn't look like them, it gives me the same general vibe as the Rivolta Mondata and Deimel Firestar.

I'd own/play this for sure, in a nice metallic gold (or burgundy mist), tortoiseshell, Jazzmaster pickups and tremolo, etc. You should mock up/render that if you have time.

[countertext]

Damn, brotha. Classy!

[kimson]

Wow, great work, man!

Nevermind the functionality, that tailpiece ramp is a thing of beauty in itself.

[paulnb57]

That, is very nice indeed, will the body be a buyable option?

[Steadyriot.]

How do you do it? How do you keep knocking these amazing designs out?

[Deed_Poll]

Cheers guys! Lovely to have you all along for the ride

Just some sanding progress... I also managed to shave just enough off of the rear route cover for it to fit properly! That'll teach me not to use an allowance (I think 0.1mm on each side will do the job next time!)

I couldn't resist peeling the plastic off the rear route cover either to see it in all its shiny glory

I also thought I'd photograph it without the pickguard so you can see what's going on underneath, not that there's an awful lot going on!










I can't emphasize enough just what a pleasure it is to work with korina. I got this all sanded up within about an hour, and it cut so nicely straight off the machine that I was able to start from 240 grit!

It also helps a bit that it has so many "curvilinear" surfaces (basically, surfaces that are only curved one way, like you could make from paper) so I could use my block / power hand sander to do most of it quite easily. I was a bit scared to hit the edge chamfers with the sander at first considering how easily the wood works, and I was terrified I'd make a flat spot or slip and ruin a sharp edge - but actually it was very controllable and felt natural to shape it this way.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions!

Dan

[kdanie]

I love it too... I think it would look great with the tall 3x3 headstock that you did for me but you have a much more refined design eye than I do.

ken