McCreed
Halfnote
Posts: 76
Formerly Known As: Mick Reid @ FDP
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Post by McCreed on Jan 23, 2020 5:51:51 GMT -5
That's really sweet Leftee!
The Alder ST body I have was going to be a trans-blue but it's, as Peegoo said, "fairly unremarkable and sometimes with unattractive grain". I tried dyeing already and it just ain't happening, so it's gonna get solid colour metallic lacquer.
I really need to get my "building mojo" back. Also waiting for this shocking humidity to break. Hopefully the two coincide. Lately I just can't be arsed to do any work on it.
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Post by Leftee on Jan 23, 2020 8:10:59 GMT -5
Thanks Mick!
Sorry. I think you’re stuck with that moniker.
It’ll come back to you. I think that, when it leaves, it’s best to leave it alone. It’s one of those things that is best not forced.
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Post by LTB on Jan 23, 2020 20:31:54 GMT -5
Leftee, that is a beautiful job! Padauck is a nice wood. Saw some at Rockford when making a wooden stand for my Bowie Knife and had to have it. Had never heard of it before then.
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McCreed
Halfnote
Posts: 76
Formerly Known As: Mick Reid @ FDP
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Post by McCreed on Jan 23, 2020 21:44:20 GMT -5
Well, it is my name...
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Post by Leftee on Jan 25, 2020 14:53:23 GMT -5
This is done!
Just got through the initial plug-in. This does “Les Paul” really well, especially considering it looks nothing like one.
I still need to lower the nut slots a little more and fine tune the intonation and action. Everything is just ball-parked now.
8lbs 13oz with things and strap buttons. It hang very nice.
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Post by jefe46 on Jan 25, 2020 16:48:12 GMT -5
"That actually has nice-looking grain for alder. Usually it's like poplar: fairly unremarkable and sometimes with unattractive grain.That actually has nice-looking grain for alder. Usually it's like poplar: fairly unremarkable and sometimes with unattractive grain."
Poplar being light cream to yellow to green and brown streaks is fairly uniform in grain density. Boring but commonly used for items to be painted. Great for pallets and base frames for overstuffed furniture and Barca Loungers.
Alder was marketed in the West, specifically Oregon (I was there as a guest speaker for the State/Fed forum on harvesting and marketing alder back in the 80s when I was hustling wood) . The main sell point was C H E A P and considered a nuisance by loggers. Now it is pricey for the good straight grained even colored stuff which is commonly sold as a substitute for cherry. Easily worked and abundant. Marc(k) Platen of Wildwood Banjos So of Bend Oregon, formerly Arcata, Ca., made his fortune selling alder Strat and Tele bodies to Fender USA and Japan which was his financial support for making banjos.
Martin guitar uses laminated alder blocks for the mortise and tenon neck joints (not the dovetail neck models).
If you are going to stain Alder, use analine (sp) alcohol or water based dyes. Greasy kid stuff (oil based stains) won't work well.
Save all your cut offs and saw dust for the BBQ grille.
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Post by Leftee on Jan 25, 2020 17:12:48 GMT -5
All I use is alcohol-cut dyes.
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Post by mtracy on Jan 26, 2020 8:23:19 GMT -5
Very pretty, in a non-sparkly way.
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Post by Leftee on Jan 26, 2020 8:25:49 GMT -5
Very pretty, in a non-sparkly way. I feel the need for sparkle. ✨
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Post by Leftee on Jan 29, 2020 18:20:13 GMT -5
I spent some quality time with this guitar and two of my Les Pauls last night.
This sounds closest to my Trib Gold Top with the ‘57 Classic+ / Classic. That is a pretty mean sounding LP. This guitar has a bit more girth to the bridge pickup tones.
Against my Trad the difference is more noticeable - in the bridge pickup. The bridge pickup in this guitar sounds a bit more bold and brassy. It’s LP-sounding but the Trad has that sweet top end and a more focused tone.
One of the difference in the layout is that the bridge pickup is about a half inch further from the saddles than on a LP.
I’m going to build another one of these. Next one, mahogany back, Padouk top. Mahogany neck with ebony board. But I’ll either have them move the bridge pickup rout .5” south or not rout it and I will do it.
The neck pickup position and tones are groovy.
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