My custom PRS-style guitar being built

PeachyDragon · 2012-01-17T14:02:23+00:00

So MikeM stated in a nice way, that maybe I should make a topic about my guitar I'm having built rather than spamming every other thread about it. ? I was planning on doing this eventually but now is as good a time as any. I based the design of my guitar on a Hamer I own... only to see that an image of the Hamer fits PERFECTLY over an image of a Santana PRS. ? Same thing to me now. I have sorted out the general CAD drawings of the guitar and the inlays to be cut. Now I just need to sort out the final hardware choices with the Luthier in order to have him finish the CAD and cut the body shape... then take it from there. I made a PDf file with many pictures and technical specs of what I want for him as well. Here is the basic CAD drawing. Well, it's actually a fraction of the drawing... it's a VERY extensive drawing. I blurred out some inlays and details I'm changing anyway. And here is 7 of the 8 pages of the PDF I made for reference. (The 8th page contained the technical specs) Here are some of the initial specs... Might change. Chambered Mahogany Body Flame maple carved top Bolt on Neck with the first two pickups mounted on the neck. Buzz Feiten Tuning Wooden pickup rings Wooden Electronics cavity plate. Solid bridge (1 or 2 piece) Chrome Hardware Deep red or green stain for the top. Scale: 25 inches (635 millimeters) 24 frets Center of neck pickup 19.385” (492.37900 millimeters ) from the nut. Neck (width 46mm at 0 fret ... 51mm at 12th fret) Neck (string spacing 40mm at 0 fret ... 49mm at bridge) Neck Depth: 29mm at nut and 31 mm at 12th fret (huge, I know... we are going to refine this if needed) locking strap buttons Body will be roughly 47 mm thick at the edge (including the thin edge of the carved top) Maple inlays on the neck. Inlays on the headstock are still being discussed. Probably flame maple headstock cover with inlays in that. Pickup Heights Bridge pickup: Top(treble) E: 2.5mm Bottom E: 2.75mm Middle pickup: Top(treble) E: 3.0mm Bottom E: 3.25mm Neck pickup: Top(treble) E: 3.25mm Bottom E: 3.5mm Electonics: 3 Single Coil Adeson Burns Tri-sonics Pickups in series 1 tone and 1 volume with 1 bypass toggle switch for these 3 mini toggle switches (3-way) which will be off in the center position, on in the up position and on but out of phase in the down position. I've already seen the wood for the maple top. It's awesome. it's 2 thirds of a R4000 block of wood. It's not the most figured top you can get but I'm honestly more of a fan of the middle of the range flame maple.

PeachyDragon

Another update

Wizard

I'm always amazed by woodwork shops that don't have sawdust ...

deefstes

PeachyDragon wrote Another update

Ooh, looky at that nice grain on the fretboard. Will that show in the final product?

PeachyDragon

The final fretboard will be darker, but it will show.

Manfred-Klose

what are you doing for inlays on the fretboard ?

aja

Wizard wrote I'm always amazed by woodwork shops that don't have sawdust ...

Hmmm, a kitchen with pneumatic tools? Cool! 8)

PeachyDragon

Manfred Klose wrote what are you doing for inlays on the fretboard ?

I'm just using dot inlays. I actually got Luminlays... they are a bit overpriced...
and by a bit I mean hugely overpriced.

In therms of the dots, I am using the Brian May system since it makes sense.
instead of dots 1,1,1,1,12,1,1,1,1,12
I am going to have 1,1,2,1,3,1,1,2,1,3
There is also a motif that I want to have inlayed...but I might have to consider
other alternatives for the time being.

aubs1

PeachyDragon wrote
Manfred Klose wrote what are you doing for inlays on the fretboard ?
I'm just using dot inlays. .....

Nahhhhh, gotta be birds!!! ?

Reinhard

Aubs1 wrote
PeachyDragon wrote
Manfred Klose wrote what are you doing for inlays on the fretboard ?
I'm just using dot inlays. .....
Nahhhhh, gotta be birds!!! ?

Or moons ?

Manfred-Klose

In therms of the dots, I am using the Brian May system since it makes sense.

peach, i used that on my first build, not exactly brian may, but it looks really cool :

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/setup-mods-and-repair/manny%27s-first-build%28in-progress%29/15/

aja

PeachyDragon wrote There is also a motif that I want to have inlayed...but I might have to consider
other alternatives for the time being.

These things are like tattoos. Rather leave it blank and look at the finished guitar and then decide...

PeachyDragon

Manfred Klose wrote
In therms of the dots, I am using the Brian May system since it makes sense.
peach, i used that on my first build, not exactly brian may, but it looks really cool :

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/setup-mods-and-repair/manny%27s-first-build%28in-progress%29/15/

Awesome stuff. It makes sense to me.

PeachyDragon

aja wrote
PeachyDragon wrote There is also a motif that I want to have inlayed...but I might have to consider
other alternatives for the time being.
These things are like tattoos. Rather leave it blank and look at the finished guitar and then decide...

To be honest, after much consideration and deliberation I have been thinking
about having the inlays I designed made as custom inlaystickers first so I would
have the option of removing them if I wished at some point... But the only company
that offers that service is booked so far ahead that they aren't even taking custom
orders right now.

PeachyDragon

More pics and updates:

Manfred-Klose

wow very nice
you must be excited to play this, out of experience i can tell you, dont rush things, build the guitar as if you are taking a walk in the park.

PeachyDragon

Manfred Klose wrote wow very nice
you must be excited to play this, out of experience i can tell you, dont rush things, build the guitar as if you are taking a walk in the park.

Really? Do tell me about your experience?

PeachyDragon

I am not sure about the whole pickup ring issue...
option one is to make little pieces of wood that can go
into the little holes beside the pickups.
Option 2 is to have wooden pickup rings, which I might like
and option 3 is to have chrome pickup rings.
Any opinions on this?
I always think guitars without rings look cheap and
unpolished although I understand that it will preserve the
beauty of the wood as well.

costafonix

looking great :applause:
have you considered maybe using metal pickup rings, like brass?

PeachyDragon

CostaFonix wrote looking great :applause:
have you considered maybe using metal pickup rings, like brass?

I have thought of chrome, to match the pickups and bridge.
Here's a pic of these pickups with the standard scratch plate and rings. Well, except for the circular cut
into the top ring... that's not standard.

AlanRatcliffe

Single-coil surrounds always look out of place on a good wooden top IMO. Wooden surrounds are a little better, but still look out of place. Anyway, Tri-Sonics don't look as bad without surrounds as Strat singles, because they don't have the extra "ear" where the wires connect on a Strat single.

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