First project

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 2:58 am

In addition to projects in every major brand of guitar, I have purchased and started work on my first body blank. I am making shit up now! You won't believe what they are, neither. My studio looks like a Fender bomb went off.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 2:59 am

pics god dammit!

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:23 am

Where to start? The Coronados alone are overwhelming. This is what I did tonight. I have two small pieces of ash sandwiched together. The board started as an eight foot length (for $15). One end had a split that I glued. It's a sturdy board with hypnotic grain.

I have been talking about doing this for years now. Aug built the yellow mandocaster. It works, but the bridge is too close to the neck, so the saddles are cranked back and the top strong buzzes at the saddle spring. I thought that since the Mandocaster is the shortest scale of all, it should be offset to match the Musicmaster. When I saw this Telelele I knew I wasn't thinking SMALL enough.

I just bought a roundover bit, so I may have something to look at by the weekend!

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:52 pm

U has sa tite A$h, I waNa taP Dat AsHhhh

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:52 pm

northern or swamp ash?

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:13 am

I forgot to ask. I can't wait to cut it. I will be working on two this weekend. I have no idea what to expect.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:13 am

If it's northern ash, it'll be heavy as fuck. It's not easy to tool either, it loves to tear out while routing. Jazzmaster body 6 - 7 lbs (vintage alder were right at 4 lbs). I dropped this one off my bench, it almost took my toez out.

Ash has amazing grains, any idea on finish yet?

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:12 am

I cut out the bodies today. The grainy ash is hard and heavy. The alder, less so. But as ukes, they are half the size of guitar bodies. It's scary fun. I will post pics tomorrow.

Cagethelephant · Post by **Cagethelephant** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:47 pm

Such a sad thing to see that body in the fire:(

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:03 pm

Here's where we stand with the tiny offset ukulele project. I got two bodies underway. One was a smaller prototype with spare wood to practice routing. Even at 11 inches, it was a lot of sanding. Just for fun I made them extra thick so you don't forget you're holding it.

Without a proper template I effed the neck pocket, so now I am doubling back and making one. I put more scrap in and will take another shot at it before trying it on the ash. I seem to have no shortage of necks right now. I plan on making a few of these, some mandos, and maybe a lefty model.

cooter · Post by **cooter** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:43 pm

Hey Chris,
I stumbled onto a guy over at reranch that makes handwound mando/uke pickups.
Price is a little better than the cheapest price I could find on a SD mando pickup.
Let me know if you want his email addy.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:47 pm

Wouldn't a rails pickup be good for this?

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:42 pm

Of course I want his addy.

I happen to have been scouring ebay for some time and picked up a few pickups along the way, including some four pole P90s. I will use them when I work my way up to the set neck Gibsons I have in the queue. I also found a few bridges.

cooter · Post by **cooter** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:12 pm