ShortScale.org

I alluded to this in the gear for 2009 thread, but finally I have got my new guitar.
I have been wanting a decent LP for a while - definitely something that suits my current band, and started thinking about it seriously about 9 months ago. Now every LP I have ever played hasn't been quite right...even the Gibsons haven't been worth the £1800 I'd have to spend to get a standard lefty...
I've generally been a bit fed up of not being able to buy a guitar off the shelf that makes me think "yes - just right".
So I was speaking with my friend at Mansons and mentioned this, and asked whether he fancied making me a guitar to spec. He's been making guitars a few years, and is Andy Manson's step son, so has got a good teacher!
I've seen his other work and it's been top notch, so we decided to go for it.

Took about 6 months to build as he does it in his spare time, and the result is just amazing. Exactly what I wanted - the sound is just unbelievable. The finishing is perfect and I love it.
As I said this will be the last guitar I buy for a while - has completed my collection and I think that I am utterly content!

It's brazilian mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard with an ebony veneer on the headstock. The wood is gorgeous and so resonant when played acoustically. It's a really nice weight - lighter than my Jag in fact, only just...
Finish is a bit of black stain, then oiled. Looking for the guitar to wear naturally quite quickly.
The guitar Headstock is his shape - based on an old 70s Manson one. Gotoh tuners.
Flat top - nicely rounded body edges.
2 vol, 2 tone. Bridge coil split on bridge vol via push pull pot.
Pickups are:
Neck - Bareknuckle Mississippi Queen - HB sized P90.
Bridge - Bareknuckle Nailbomb Humbucker.
Pups are in black "battleworn" covers...this is the only thing I'm not 100% on, but I may just replace them with plain black.

The neck is beautifully shapedand feels very comfortable. I spent an afternoon in the shop trying basically every guitar in there to find the kind of shape I wanted. Ended up being based on a 70s Gibson LP Custom. Nice and thin and round so that it doesn't feel too alien from the Fenders.
12" fretboard radius with dot inlays.
Headstock has a Koi inlay I asked for (matches a tattoo I have, kinda).

Anyway, enough talking - here are some pics. I'm getting photo of the build in the week so I'll post those in the projects section.

Iceybomb:













Am really pleased with it. Even the LP haters would like it if they saw/heard it in the flesh!

What a nightmare.









Only kidding, congrats on your new guitar mate.

Haha Cheers mate.

i love the slightly distressed look of the whole thing, don't change them covers!

Zaphod wrote:i love the slightly distressed look of the whole thing, don't change them covers!

Cheers! That's exactly the look I was going for

That's probably the only LP stylee guitar I would want...


Do you still have the Merc?...
Same taste in guitarsWTF?

Same taste indeed!
I've still got the Merc - yes, doesn't get played all that much, but I still like it and how it's different from all my other guitars.

Very nice, demo?

I bought my first ever dist pedal in Mansons, great shop.

Not sure if I like the pickup covers.. but the overall design/look is really nice. It must be amazing to have a one of a kind guitar..

Johno wrote:Very nice, demo?

I bought my first ever dist pedal in Mansons, great shop.

Yeah I'll do a demo soon...can't do video, but will know some samples up. Thanks!

DanHeron wrote:Not sure if I like the pickup covers.. but the overall design/look is really nice. It must be amazing to have a one of a kind guitar..

Cheers. It is great to have this - the best thing was that I was involved and consulted at every stage of the build process so it is exactly what I wanted

nice guitar lamp, what the Mississippi queen like? keeps thinking of a set of those for my les paul custom.

Progrockabuse wrote:nice guitar lamp, what the Mississippi queen like? keeps thinking of a set of those for my les paul custom.

The MQ is great! I often find neck humbuckers too muddy, so this was a step away from that. It's incredibly warm yet has great clarity and it has that P90 bite to it. I like it a lot, and have only heard good things about them on the BKP forum.

LOVE the finish! it reminds me of the elvis costello jazzmaster!

that thing is really cool looking, im not an lp sort of person but that guitar brings some serious respect.
btw, does it have a volute?

Proper classy.

Nice one dude. Great route to go and im surprised more people dont go custom. It looks full of tone, i like the headstock inlay and the whole vibe is quite unique. If Patrick Eggle made a LP i imagine it being like that. Great stuff.

Thanks guys.

robert(original) wrote:that thing is really cool looking, im not an lp sort of person but that guitar brings some serious respect.
btw, does it have a volute?

Yeah it does have a small volute for a bit of extra strength.

ok, all respect is lost.
i hate your guitar now.
not really, im a big hater of volutes tho, im not sure why, i just hate them, they usually feel weird and look like a boob on the back of the neck.

Can't say I like the pickup covers, but of course it's your guitar and they do work well with it.

Other than that, pretty sweet.

robert(original) wrote:ok, all respect is lost.
i hate your guitar now.
not really, im a big hater of volutes tho, im not sure why, i just hate them, they usually feel weird and look like a boob on the back of the neck.

that's fair enough. It's a pretty subtle one, so I'm ok with it, thankfully