Going to make some meteoras!

[Elias Graves]

Where did you get the witch hat knobs?

Which ones? And whichever ones, I probably couldn’t tell you

 

[Elias Graves]

So here is the day’s work. I used three different templates to make the one template for the top routs on this one but they are all done!

 

[Elias Graves]

SN3 now has a b/w/b pickguard!

 

[Elias Graves]

Minor update. I did the edge roundover on SN3 and put in on the scale. 4.9 pounds. A little more to lose with the forearm and belly cuts so maybe 4.5 when complete.
The gray mark you’re seeing is an epoxy plug where I repaired a crack.

 

[Elias Graves]

The question is how do you make holes for a string-through bridge?
You need 1/8” holes from the front side which are easy enough to get right using a template. I prefer using the actual bridge as the guide.
But a 1/8” bit will wander as it goes through 1 3/4” of hardwood so you need a way to align the 1/8” hole on the front with a 5/16” hole on the back.
Before CNC, machinists used a simple pin alignment jig for the job. Here’s mine.
a piece of plywood bolted to my drill press table with a 1/8” pin sticking out of it that aligns precisely with the chuck on the press.

 

[Elias Graves]

 

[dodgechargerfan]

Genius!

 

[Elias Graves]

It is genius. Wish I could take credit for it.
It damn well works though!!!

 

[Elias Graves]

It’s time to make some comfort contours. I’m roughing out the shape with a die grinder and coarse burr bit. A rasp, file, sanding block and paper will finish up.
Here I am beginning the rough shaping.

 

[Elias Graves]

Here’s my poor epoxy-patched body from yesterday.

 

[Elias Graves]

And with the top roughed in.

 

[Elias Graves]

Now I flip it over and repeat on the other side. I do make some measurement and reference marks but this part of the job is mostly free hand work.
My many years of carving seat and back cushions helps a lot here!

 

[Elias Graves]

There we go. I like that.

 

[Elias Graves]

Very nice!!! The meteora is very angular.

 

[Elias Graves]

On to the ash firebird!

 

[tiger roach]

Wow these are gonna be cool guitars.

 

[Elias Graves]

Wow these are gonna be cool guitars.

Thanks. It’s looking that way.

 

[Elias Graves]

Not much update today. Foo and I went to the farm for his birthday yesterday and jammed with some nephews.
But I got the jack plate drilled and mounted on SN 3 and now I’m doing grain filler!

 

[Elias Graves]

The Martin style aluminum U channel truss rod weighs about half what the Stewmac Hot Rod weighs. Apart from Martin, word is John Suhr uses the same item. Supposedly the aluminum channel adds stiffness without resorting to adding carbon fiber rods down the neck.
Also, added some

trim rings to the uncovered humbuckers.

 

[Elias Graves]

Knobs for SN2. Grain filler on sn 2, sn1 sanded down to 400 grit ready for tru oil!