We just finished applying the last coat of lacquer on this beauty! After the lacquer has properly cured (approx. 1 week) we will be wet sanding with 1200 grit P-grade paper and mineral oil. And then the final buffing stage employing a medium compound and then work to a fine compound to achieve that candy-coated, high gloss finish.
This particular design is called the “Svengali”. It includes a recessed neck heel, rounded and contoured for maximum comfort and fit for the hand when playing in the high registers, and prominent beveled contours (front and back) for playability and aesthetics.
This particular body is made from ash with a spalt maple top which is one of the most beautifully figured woods. The client did not want a forearm contour. Initially we discussed putting a binding around this guitar, however, opted to create a natural, wood binding utilizing a chamfered edge. The edging is devoid of any stain so it increases definition of the body outline when looking at it from all angles. We also applied a subtle brown burst to increase contrast with the natural wood binding, some depth to the top while not obscuring the figured features of the spalt maple.
The ash body was left natural and filled with grain filler for a completely flat and smooth finish to the eye and hand.
We had two options regarding the ash body beneath this laminate top - open grain or closed. Either finish can be stunning. Ash is an open-grain wood and can be stained (or not) and clear coated. Or, the wood can be stained (or not), filled with several coats of grain filler (transparent) so there is absolutely no elevation changes in the grain. The client opted to go with a grain filler.
This guitar was routed for 2 x humbuckers wood mounted, a recessed Original Floyd Rose, a 3-way Switchcraft toggle switch, and two 500K ohm pots (1 v, 1 t). The input will be via a Pure Tone 4-point jack. A faraday box will be created using copper tape in the control cavity which has minimum routing to ensure increased overall weight and mass for improved resonance.
We will marry this piece to a birds-eye, maple neck with a reversed Warhead-style headstock and Schaller, chrome locking tuners. The neck is not yet completed.
Stay frosty!
Nigel \m/