Bobber - A Bit Different

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Sat Aug 31, 2019 2:29 pm

VPO wrote:
Sat Aug 31, 2019 2:21 pm
Rgand wrote:
Sat Aug 31, 2019 2:15 pm
Amon 7.L wrote:
Sat Aug 31, 2019 8:56 am
Neat!
It's coming along pretty good.
I love them switch'n'switches too. It's definitely going to have a huge array of sound palette.
Thanks. Those little switches are simple push on/push off switches I intend to use for coil splits on the pickups. I haven't done coil splits before. It'll be fun to try.
Yes for the push on/off switches!
:thumbsup:

They're nice and low, too. Probably won't get accidentally whacked.

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Sun Sep 01, 2019 12:37 pm

After rummaging around in my scrap bin, I found just enough stainless of the right thickness to make the control plate. Except for drilling the mounting screw holes to size and countersinking them, it's pretty much done. After I mount the PG and control plate to make sure everything is right, I'll run the control pate down to the polishing shop to be brought up the a mirror finish. The shop is appropriately named Mirror Image and the work is second to none.

Image

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Mon Sep 02, 2019 3:56 pm

Good progress today. I enlarged the PG screw holes and countersank them. Same with the control plate, except I left them a slight bit shallow so when it's back from polishing, they can be cleaned up with the countersink.

I made room in the pickup rout for the neck pickup screws with a 1/2" Forstner bit. Then I routed for the bridge pickup.

Image

That done, all the pieces went back together to make sure everything fits.

Image

I'm not sure I like the big gap around the bridge pickup. I do have a chrome cover with the center open but that will probably affect tone. I'd like a black cover anyway. I do have a black plastic one but it won't fit on the pickup. The bridge pickup may or may not get a cover but it'll depend on my mood when I start the wiring. I might cut a piece of black pickguard material to put under the plate to hide the gap.

The 1" knobs look a bit small so I ordered some 1.3" ones to try. Those will be here in a week or so.

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Wed Sep 04, 2019 2:12 pm

My intention today was to do the string through holes and ferrules but since everything was still on the body, I decided to see about strap button placement. Having no reference, I tried it partway down from the upper rear point.

Image

It was fine and only tipped outward a little more than a guitar with a rounded butt. It was certainly comfortable but I really wanted to have the best possible location for the rear button. Filling another hole was no big deal considering the ones already done on this body. It will be painted anyway so I moved the rear strap button to the centerline and gave that a go.

Image

It still tipped outward some but less than the higher button location. The centerline location was my preference so I drilled and plugged the upper hole. Then I started on the string through holes but ran out of time today.

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Thu Sep 05, 2019 11:44 am

I finished up the string through holes. Since this guitar is somewhat of a test bed for ideas, I decided to try one of those ferrule plates. It's at least as much work as doing the individual ferrules but it has an interesting look to it. Those are on sale right now on Amazon for $5 and free shipping. You can find nicer ones for upwards of $50 if you look around. :D

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:27 pm

All the wiring is done. I set things in place and plugged it in to test things. It all worked as could be expected. The jury is out of the coil splits. On both pickups, when the twisted pairs are grounded, one coil just gets diminished while the other one sounds normal. Also, I think the live coil is the inside one on both rather than the outside ones. I could switch wires around but I want to hear it this way first so any changes will be made after it's done. Then I'll be able to tell if the coil splits were worth the effort.

Image

Now it comes all apart again and the control plate goes in to the shop for polishing. Then it's sanding. And sanding. And sanding. Everyone's favorite task. :D Then the final decision needs to be made as to the actual color. I'll take a small piece of the pickguard in and match it up with the paint chips at the paint store. We'll see what I end up with.

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Fri Sep 27, 2019 6:35 am

I didn't like the gap around the pickup in the bridge plate. I put a pickup cover on it, an open one so it wouldn't have too much affect on the tone. I also noticed that I had the pickup in upside down on the trial fit. That's corrected, too. :D

Image

Image

Once the finish is done on the body, it'll be ready to go together. I trashed a shoulder or two a couple months ago so sanding and polishing is a bitch. This time the finish will get done by someone else. A couple months from now it should be a living, breathing guitar.

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Fri Sep 27, 2019 4:15 pm

I chose the color today at the paint store. Here's a mockup of it with what's close to the actual color chip. It should look something like this when done.

Image

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Sun Dec 22, 2019 12:43 pm

It looks like the finish is about done and I'll be able to start assembly after Christmas. By next year, it should be done. :w00t:

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BTL
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by BTL » Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:50 pm

Looking forward to it!
Owner, Lowe Custom Guitars

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Amon 7.L
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Amon 7.L » Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:54 pm

Rgand wrote:
Sun Dec 22, 2019 12:43 pm
It looks like the finish is about done and I'll be able to start assembly after Christmas. By next year, it should be done. :w00t:
No sneak peak? Come on, we're curious :D

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Sun Dec 22, 2019 10:20 pm

Amon 7.L wrote:
Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:54 pm
Rgand wrote:
Sun Dec 22, 2019 12:43 pm
It looks like the finish is about done and I'll be able to start assembly after Christmas. By next year, it should be done. :w00t:
No sneak peak? Come on, we're curious :D
It's still at the finisher's but I'll have it in a couple days. Will take photos when I have it. I'm itching for a look, myself.

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Sun Dec 22, 2019 10:21 pm

BeeTL wrote:
Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:50 pm
Looking forward to it!
I'll plus 1 that. ;D

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Rgand
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by Rgand » Thu Dec 26, 2019 9:22 am

Yestereday my wife and I spent Christmas day at my sister's in Modesto. It so happens that she lives just a few blocks from Greg, the guy who does the most spectacular nitro finishes. I swung by and got to meet him. I also got to see some of his guitars. what spectacular work! The man's truly talented.

Greg was finished with my guitar body so I picked it up. It's amazing! It's like looking into a pool of liquid paint. This morning, the rain stopped and I was able to get a photo of it. In the photo, the finish is so glassy and flawless you can see the clouds reflecting in it. I'm really excited about this. Thank you, Greg! I know where I'll get any nitro finishes done from now on.

Image

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BTL
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Re: Bobber - A Bit Different

Post by BTL » Fri Dec 27, 2019 4:28 pm

Looking good!
Owner, Lowe Custom Guitars

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