2012 May | Crimson Guitars | redefining custom

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The Guitar Builders Blog | 21st of May 2012

The Guitar Builders Blog has been going strong now for the last five years.. four of which are navigable through the menu to the left.. year one ended up being somewhat embarrassing, we have learnt a great deal about guitar building in the last decade after all. As well as following our work daily through the various social media feeds, you can sign up to receive an email update whenever this blog is published, again this can be done through the diary page at crimsonguitars.com.

This week we have a new video, the title says it all.. What more can I say? .. I’m generally known for building guitars rather than breaking them down but when this client threatened to do it himself with a hammer and a set of keys I had to have a go.. of course I ended up using a hammer.. and a set of keys Go figure.. forgive my sacrilege, I do hope you get a naughty thrill watching, I certainly felt naughty doing it!

The oiling process seems to be easier than lacquering, in principle I suppose it is what without a need for a gas mask and spray equipment, one thing it is not, however, is quick. A good finish can take up to ten coats and when you are applying it over a stain you can triple that.. still, it is worth it!
Here is the final finish that can be achieved.. almost lacquer!
The first of the stock Dissident guitars is nearing completion..
The last stage before adding hardware is the fretwork.
Mike is doing the same with the stock Topaz 45rpm guitar..
the frets are blacked
leveled.. although with most new guitars from our workshop this is often not necessary.
I’m always experimenting with new ways to do those same old jobs, instead of using a dremel and mini wheel to buff the frets up I use jewelers rouge on the big wheel. There’s no appreciable difference really, still keeps me on my toes!
The masking is removed and the fretboard oiled.. I love these stainless dot inlays!
I was planning on using a wrap around bridge/tailpiece on this build but, to be frank, that’s just not good enough. I’ve had something in my head for a few years now and will try that out today!
The bandsaw has a new blade installed.. one for cutting metal!
We start with a single thick blank of aluminium.
And the carving begins.. here’s my thinking. From violins to jazz and acoustic guitars such things as adjustable saddles are totally unnecessary, why then do we insist on them with our solid-bodies? While some flexibility is always nice it is not essential and often having several dozen moving parts is very detrimental to the tone of the guitar, one solid metal bridge should be amazing! Let us see.
Alloys can be carved much like wood.. this bridge will be called the ‘Crimson Wave’.. of course 😉
And here we have it in situ.. I must say carving the bottom to fit the extremely curved top was somewhat of a challenge!
As we’re not using a wrap around tailpiece/bridge I need through body stringing.. it is drilled using the pillar drill.
Every so often an extra long drill bit is needed, this one is glued into a stainless steel tube and my aim is met.
Using that drill bit I ran an earth wire through to the control cavity from the sixth string ferrule.
The rear ferrules are installed… the tool fits inside the ferrule and there is no damage to the visible part.. perfection is the watch word here.. watch-word? watchword? ?
The tuners.
The bridge, by its nature, will need adjusting once the strings are on so I will leave it unfinished for now.
The Grover tuners are installed.. this carve is really rather comfortable!
A bone nut is made.. although as I type this I’ve already decided to make another in metal.. such are the vagaries of a guitar builder with a stock instrument!
Pretty.. or pretty boring?
Drawn out flat it’s really rather difficult to see what’s in my mind..
But we’ll have a go.. the prototype is drilled out.
And the fun truly begins. I’ve never tried planishing metal before but there’s really nothing to it, it seems that once you have achieved a certain level of skill in a handy craft picking up a new skill is made that much easier!
Number one all done and mocked up with temporary bolts.. the talk on facebook and twitter made me consider leaving them all beaten like this.. for a while that is!
On now to the ergonomic six string bass I’m building as part of the detachable twin neck guitar.
I’d hoped not to have to put a screw hole in this pristine padouk pickup cover..
However what must be must be..
It’s on to the small bits now, the padouk truss rod cover is cut out with a jewellers saw.
The hollow headstock.. I’m very proud of this!
it seems I’m forever turning padouk on this build.
The two little knobs prettify the steel inserts that help bolt the guitar and bass together.
I love using sticky foil to shield my cavities but the glue can prevent the pieces from creating as proper electrical contact with each other, turn one edge over to ensure it is correct.
The controls are installed
And a pair of custom knobs are turned and oiled, my lathe is one of the most useful machines in my workshop!
If this photo is to be believed this instrument is finished .. would that that were so!
It is very important to vary my work.. this strat has been around for years and I’m finally getting around to refinishing it.
Firstly we start with a black undercoat.
mmm
The first of several coats of kameleon flip flop paint is sprayed..
I do love this finish!! I first used it to great effect on the Petrucci inspired twin neck guitar.
Ok, let us see.
I’m not convinced that the planishing should be kept..
I still have another to make though..
Before I get there it’s back to the lathe to make something to beat against. I made the first cover banging against various parts of a bench vice but that just will not do, I’m already planning on making more of these!
What fun!
polished..
And looking way too rough against the smooth lines of the guitar.
No matter, for now I string her up for the first time.
Richard is in and making dust, this padouk Robert Fripp model is nearly ready for a very very special thing I have planned Just how does one draw an evil grin with parenthesis?
There has been much anticipation and chatter about this rosewood topped Dissident guitar.. the subtle carving is drawn in.
And the final sanding and shaping begins.
Most of our guitars have an all-access neck joint.. comfort is rather important!!