Ben's Myrtlewood Builder's Choice #0037

[Elizabeth]

This serial number was on hold for awhile, but now we are officially ON!
Ben's first Schroeder custom is the very well known and recognizable purple and orange beast...
This guitar will be Ben's 'workhorse backup' to his #8 Schroeder custom.
Some of the details have been decided, but the majority of the build and specs will be at Jason's discretion.

Ben's guitar will feature this striking Myrtlewood one-piece top. Also, the guitar will be in the Radio Lane Singlecut shape.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3929511271_9e27b4d0de.jpg

E

[Roscoe]

Great choice with that top Ben.The figure looks like some far off exotic.I guess we all fail to remember how gorgeous our native grown woods can be.The #0008 paint scheme was/is a killer.I did not think you could beat that one.Maybe you did not but they are neck&neck.Congratulations on that beautiful Myrtlewood top.

[WinstaBull]

looks like koa. very nice looking top

[Benster]

with a top like that, this guitar can hardly be called a 'workhorse' or 'backup' anymore..

more like a gorgeous kid sister to #8.. ;)

thanks guys.. and away we go!!! :D

[Roscoe]

Now if that WAS koa this would be the perfect fretboard.Nice color also for a Honduran Mahogany/Curly Redwood top.But this is Big Ben's Thread so let me shut my mouth.

[Benster]

hey no worries Roscoe! that is one beautiful piece of wood :D

i must say, it feels GOOD to have a custom guitar to look forward to again! a familiar feeling! :D

here are some of Jason's pics that i enlarged and brightened up to get a better look at the figure:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f185/bensterr/IMG_9367.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f185/bensterr/IMG_9366.jpg

[Roscoe]

That last photobucket picture just nails it.Thanks for the different view of that top.

[francric]

That's a great looking piece of wood...............

[r9player]

agree great looking piece of Myrtlewood. I had a flamed myrtlewood acoustic once, very similar to maple in properties as far as I could tell.

[Roscoe]

Jason please be discreet and pop in 3 Duncan P-Rails. Myrtlewood covers with no polepiece holes to hide the beast within.Ben i will chip in a few $$$'s on the wood appointments.Just to see how insane it looks.I am not unstable the world just shakes too much!!!!

[Benster]

Roscoe, now that would be insane! :D

[benjyC]

looks like she's gonna be a beaut, especially with the myrtlewood!;)

[Elizabeth]

Body Cutout:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1371/4733913210_16b4318670.jpg

Face angle:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1037/4733269317_a1e031cd51.jpg

[r9player]

Any decisions on a finish? or the rest of the specs?
This could be an insanely awesome guitar!!

[Shadscbr]

Looks great Ben, that top is Sweet!!

Shad

[Benster]

Any decisions on a finish? or the rest of the specs?
This could be an insanely awesome guitar!!

hello Pai! :)

finish is likely to be natural

body is chambered Honduran 'Hogny in Lester-thickness

fingerboard will be Brazilian (what else?) ;)

the rest of the specs are a surprise for now ;)

hint: look at the shape of the cutaway :)

[Elizabeth]

Routing the neck pocket:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5170251825_fd33665e5d_z.jpg

Pickup routes:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5170852690_e86d3e95fb_z.jpg

Removing templates:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5170852668_2f48b18c76_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5170852634_bc6b8fb779_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5170852722_a16109981b_z.jpg

Notice that the pickups are slightly slanted, similar to Lindsey Buckingham's:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3965240550_e3d5a9f85a.jpg

[lookslikemeband]

That's quite awesome!

[Elizabeth]

That's quite awesome!
Thanks! More updates later today. Keep watching!!

[lookslikemeband]

That's what's crazy / cool about J-Diddy. Even though he has his own "brand", it's like no two guit-fiddles are the same.

So MY custom is truly a ONE-OFF, as this will be; etc....

[Benster]

hey Elizabeth, there were a couple of earlier posts in this thread including an update with this picture. somehow they got deleted. something to do with the server?


that aside, ooh lala....

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs494.ash2/76731_501286995850_738725850_7584464_3631643_n.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Not sure why these disappeared, but here they are again!

Carving the top
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5173639904_8d80f23dbf_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5173639600_f8b1c56fc2_z.jpg

Sanding
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5173035795_fe1f5b564d_z.jpg

Cutaways
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5173640062_6177863c0d_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Making the Brazilian rosewood binding
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5173640120_c8a85999ec_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5173640094_978d4ce1b2_z.jpg

Binding
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5173035879_72f51f54a8_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/5173639804_39a2873ca9_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Bound
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5173035989_ed62513e0e_z.jpg

Headstock inlay design idea
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5202539585_058f225890_z.jpg

Hand shaping the inlay
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5203134072_e3324fecd4_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5203134210_53dec49792_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Inlaying the headstock
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5203134236_68eab8244f_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5203134272_3dfbda602a_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5202539941_cae791eeb2_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5203134760_175f5f16a5_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Tuner holes
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5202540385_eeaa42dc5c_z.jpg

Back cavities (a little messy)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5203134364_583651a0dc_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5207/5202539841_4861e50fbe_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5203134628_f061cdf5fa_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Knob recesses
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5202540037_729e77d8d6_z.jpg

5 way switch
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5203134858_e5d86062f1_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5202540507_de3680c0b0_z.jpg

Mock up
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5202540583_25fde76f47_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Preparing the neck for the fingerboard
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5203134716_67a8855f06_z.jpg

Gluing the fingerboard
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5202540561_a559fb237f_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Pressing frets:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5222410274_f49248b117_z.jpg

Filing frets:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5232707315_bbc18139ef_z.jpg

Gluing neck:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5041/5233298946_09611f931a_z.jpg

Glued:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5222410304_c2e4fb3b5a_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

Shaping a tiny 's' inlay for the headstock:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5241775475_5d04c99135_z.jpg

Inlaid:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5242370382_e50741641c_z.jpg

Ready for finish:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5242370458_9e4585f887_z.jpg http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5242370328_2af5cb09f7_z.jpg

[Elizabeth]

First coat of vinyl sealer:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5241775763_5eb8af3b8a_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5241775923_135317d1f2_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5242370702_2939fb1a1d_z.jpg

[sparky_8]

Inlaid:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5242370382_e50741641c_z.jpg



Now that's classy. I love the inlay and the way you integrated the S in there! Very nice work E.

[r9player]

agree nice work on the inlay

[Schroeder]

Here is the final guitar! Check the blog for more detailed picks of the assembly process...

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5409552722_545376264f_o.jpg

The myrtlewood backplate:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5408940355_514cbc4761_o.jpg

[sparky_8]

I feel bad posting before Ben...

That guitar turned out absolutely gorgeous! You can tell each of you thought through the entire guitar. Congrats to Ben and the Schroeder team.

[r9player]

It is soooo amazing looking!! awesome awesome awesome!

[WinstaBull]

el·e·gant   
[el-i-guhnt]
–adjective
1.
tastefully fine or luxurious in dress, style, design, etc.: elegant furnishings.
2.
gracefully refined and dignified, as in tastes, habits, or literary style: an elegant young gentleman; an elegant prosodist.
3.
graceful in form or movement: an elegant wave of the hand.
4.
appropriate to refined taste: a man devoted to elegant pursuits.
5.
excellent; fine; superior: an absolutely elegant wine.
6.
(of scientific, technical, or mathematical theories, solutions, etc.) gracefully concise and simple; admirably succinct.

[Benster]

Thanks so much for the kind words guys! Jason did a spectacular job on this one, Liz tells me he hasn't been able to put it down!
She's been trying to pry it out of his hands! Haha! ;)

Can't wait to have a go at it myself! Woo yeah! :D

[Schroeder]

Video is up!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI_UqZDIo0g

[r9player]

Sweet, very nice!