Niall's Chopper (one-piece flame top)

[imported_Schroeder]

Niall is still deciding on the orientation of theone-piece maple top. His neck is the lowest in the group shot. Terrible photo. I will retake in the daylight tomorrow. Beatiful Indian RW neck. Very dark.

It is actually this blank pictured with the quilted maple top that ended up being used on Shad's guitar.

http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL208/995811/7047326/94556371.jpg

Here is the top... As you can see it is a wild one piece top!! Beautiful from any angle.

http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL208/995811/8177603/108907926.jpg

[imported_Shadscbr]

Right on Niall!! You have picked some killer wood. It will be fun to watch your project develop :)

Shad

[imported_JohnnyBoy]

Looks great Niall, I love one piece tops and yours will definitely be gorgeous. Looking forward to watching your guitar come to life.

John

[imported_Bryan]

That one piece top is very intense..Nice choice on wood!!!

[imported_sleepingtiger]

Nibe "wispy" flame! This will be one gorgeous guitar! Great choice Niall!

[imported_Quinny]

Yay, cool stuff! 8) Jason kindly supplied me with a load of pics of the 1 piece top with the Chopper outline in various orientations - incidentally you can check the different ideas on my Gallery page. I narrowed it down to two different outlines, the one above in this thread and 920d on the gallery page. In the end I couldn't decide, both stunning, so I've asked Jason to go ahead and choose himself.

I'm SO excited about this guitar.... going after a kinda PRS Modern Eagle vibe with a twist or two. The guitar is going to have a black limba back, 1 piece maple top, IRW neck, ebony fretboard, PRS RP pickups, satin finish and, a big thing for me, the toggle up where it should be (one of the things I like most about the Chopper). :wink: :lol: I love the look of the neck... should end up a bit darker after buffing and ooling, as dark as possible is all good with me.

I've always wanted a nice one-piece top guitar.... going to finish this in a dark gray-black/charcoal kinda thing, I'm sure it'll look superb.

Cheers guys!

N.

[imported_Schroeder]

Here is Niall's top gluing to the back... It is actually a one-piece but I drew in a centerline so that I could keep everything straight!!

http://www.schroederguitars.com/p/images/Niall/top_glue.gif

[imported_Quinny]

Excellent, how nice to see the build in progress. Thanks Jason!

N.

[imported_vangit]

That's a great one piece top Nial. Great choice.

[imported_WHY_U_TRY]

yes I'm excited to see the one piece flamed top in that finish ! :)

[imported_Schroeder]

Tommy, your top is very similar to this one in terms of flame type. Should both make nice tops!! In fact your black limba bodies are very similar too with the light wood running up the center.

[imported_WHY_U_TRY]

Tommy, your top is very similar to this one in terms of flame type. Should both make nice tops!! In fact your black limba bodies are very similar too with the light wood running up the center.

so this one will be my "one peice top" brother then huh ? :)

[imported_edgarallanpoe]

That is a kick ass top bro.... One piece tops rule. All of my best sounding guitars are either one piece tops or one piece bodies.

One piece bro...its the way to go.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/edgarallanpoe/NikHuber2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/edgarallanpoe/DCP_0013.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/edgarallanpoe/bodydepth.jpg

[imported_DrPCR]

I love that baker, Matte Henderson had some beauts built for him by Gene, I'm lucky I got this one.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/drpcr/baker/baker7string3.jpg

[imported_edgarallanpoe]

Ahhh...so *that* is where that one wound up. That guitar is *sick*. 7 strings just aren't my thang...I have a hard enough time with 6. LOL

I remember the day that Matte's dog knocked the neck off that guitar. He was distraught...looks like Saul Koll did a great job on the replacement. I have yet to check out a Koll...I have heard nothing but great things.

Are we living in a golden age of guitars or what? Look around at all of the great builders. This is a really exciting time...

I can't wait to lay my hands on this Schroeder...

[imported_DrPCR]

I hadn't played or owned a 7 string in ages, I had an ibanez 7 string. When I got this baker from Matte, It just blew me away. The BRW neck is jus amazing. This guitar really tests my skills and when I jump on a 6 string, its like playing a toy guitar.

[imported_Schroeder]

Man, that Baker top is sweet. Speaking of one-piece, it reminds me a lot of the Tour Guitar's top:

http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL208/995811/7937889/110676095.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/drpcr/baker/baker7string3.jpg

[imported_DrPCR]

yes it does, it also has a korina body! seperated at birth :)

[imported_Schroeder]

Rough body cutout...

http://www.schroederguitars.com/p/images/Niall/body-rough.gif
http://www.schroederguitars.com/p/images/Niall/back.gif[/img]

[imported_Shadscbr]

That is going to be beautiful!! :)

Shad

[Schroeder]

Here is a pic of Niall's top carve...

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/Niall%20Carve.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/Niall%20Carve2.jpg

[Schroeder]

Niall's neck is the dark Indian neck on the far right with ebony board and abalone dots...

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Tommy_Brian_Niall%20necks.jpg

[Schroeder]

And the top carve is done, ready for pickup routing and neck pocket routing. I LOVE this guitar design. I think it is a harder design to fall in love with than the doublecut and traditional single cutaway but man it just works for me. Glad you went with the Chopper Niall!! I am also really excited to hear it with the P90s!!

Here it is outside in the white.

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20carve%20complete.jpg

Inside with some mineral spirits on it to enhance the figure.
http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20carve%20complete2.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20carve%20complete3.jpg

[guitarnyc]

damn that is a hot top on that guitar...nice choice...it came out great !
________
GREY'S ANATOMY ADVICE (http://www.tv-gossip.com/greys-anatomy/)

[vangit]

Really dig the design and the wood choice.

[Schroeder]

Here are a couple of process pics of the different stages of carving the lower cutaway on a Chopper...

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/niall%20cutaway%20carve.jpg
http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/niall%20cutaway%20carve2.jpg
http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/niall%20cutaway%20carve3.jpg

[Schroeder]

Well, I had some struggle with the inlay for Niall's guitar but finally got it! Niall requested a black onyx shamrock with a silver outline. It is not as easy as it sounds. Here is the result and how it looks this afternoon. Fretted, neck is fit to the body and it is ready for a neck carve!

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20inlay%20complete.jpg

Here is the "Rolling Chassis" for Niall's guitar:
http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20rolling%20chassis.jpg

[t_hamill]

Wow that is really cool, I'd be interested to hear what you think of the bareknuckles. Have had a few sets of humbuckers but never heard any of their P90's

[Schroeder]

Neck fit and angle are complete!

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20neckfit.jpg

[Schroeder]

Neck carve complete!! Niall I think I nailed your spec you sent. Very pleased with the carve. Nice and round, very comfortabl. This is a killer neck with the darkest IRW neck in my stash!! Still have a bit of shaping to do on the body around the neck heel. But getting close!!

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20neck%20carve.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20neck%20carve2.jpg

[Shadscbr]

Looks great! I love the dark neck and the cool stripes in the limba. That's going to be killer Quinny! :D

Shad

[bsic]

Man, that is one insane looking neck, every time i see it!

Jason, do you have any others that dark in your stash?

[Chun13]

Waow Love the stipes in the limba! Awesome!

[Schroeder]

Glued the neck for Niall's Chopper!! Ready for bridge holes and stain, then I can start the finish.

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/Niall%20neck%20glue.jpg

[vangit]

Always loved that top. What color is it going to be?

[Schroeder]

Here is a mockup of the body... Trying to inspire you to decide on color Niall!! The P90 covers are my first ever attempt at them. I used scraps from your top to make these and oriented the flame to match your top. We can still do the ebony or rosewood if you want. Another moral victory, I have proven to myself that they can be done by hand!! :D

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20mockup.jpg

[Schroeder]

Natural it is!!!!

[guitarnyc]

Ha, that looks great Jason! I was just about to reply to Elizabeth's email and say 'tell J to make it whatever colour he decides is best', but it's settled now.... let's leave it natural. :) Sweet!

Incidentally, the two options myself and J had been discussing were natural and a charcoal kinda thing, inspired by Bzurkpanda's ex-Modern Eagle (search it on BAM, sweet looking fiddle!)..... but natural it is!

Thanks all.

Q.

Wow how Ironic...apparently Bzurkpanda's ME is the one I sent Jason pictures of for my color...I wanted a variation but those were the charcoal pictures I sent...I found them on ebay and after going to his thread, realized it was HIS guitar haha

Funny we both wanted the color inspired by that guitar :D
________
Zoloft Settlements (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/zoloft/)

[Schroeder]

Count me in that group Niall! Amazing stain on an amazing piece of flame. That is one of those "benchmark" guitars in my picture library.

[Schroeder]

Here are some pics just after clear coats today...

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20clearcoat%20small.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20clearcoat%20oblique.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20clearcoat%20back2.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20clearcoat%20back.jpg

[guitarnyc]

very nice ! hmmm that back looks very familiar...any chance it is in relation to my guitar's back Jason ?
________
Fix Ps3 (http://fixps3.info/)

[Schroeder]

very nice ! hmmm that back looks very familiar...any chance it is in relation to my guitar's back Jason ?

Same board!

Michaels too!

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Michael%20K/mike%20back%20complete%201%20small.jpg

[Schroeder]

J, did you do whatever it was you were going to in order to bring out the darker areas a little more? This guitar is gonna breathe and sing! Biting as you want it to be, but mellow and cosy too. Bring it on! :D

Q.

I wiped a touch of really weak brownish amber stain over the entire body before finish. It is subtle but definitely takes the bright white out of the wood and antiques the look a bit. Can't wait to hear this one!! One of my favorite Choppers so far!!

[Schroeder]

Niall's guitar is complete! I am very please to present it to you all. And for the record, I fell in love with P90s yesterday... :D

Niall was the first brave soul to order a Chopper many months ago! And here she is:

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20complete7.jpg

Specs are as follows:

One piece Eastern maple top and pickup covers
Black Limba back
Dark East Indian rosewood neck and knobs
Ebony fingerboard, truss rd cover and back plates
Silver outlined Onyx shamrock inlay at the 12th fret
Bare Knuckles P90 pickups
Stainless steel frets
PRS adjustable stoptail
Grover locking tuners
Zero fret with bone nut
Vintage Natural nitrocellulose finish in satin
Schaller strap lockshttp://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/Niall%20complete10.jpg

Note the raised onyx center dot in the S inlay:

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20complete3.jpg

[Schroeder]

That is our cat Cowboy, the official Schroeder Guitars Shopcat:

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/Niall%20complete12.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20complete.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20complete2.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20complete4.jpg

[Schroeder]

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20complete5.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/niall%20complete6.jpg

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/Niall%20Chopper/Niall%20complete9.jpg

[t_hamill]

Looks killer guys! Can't wait to se some vids.

[goof1073]

Killer...such a nice set of specs on that one...ENJOY!!!

[Shadscbr]

Looks great! Congrats to all :D

Shad

[Paulpuck]

KIller guitar Niall. I love P90's and they are just about the only single coils I play anymore. Enjoy it!!

[vangit]

Wow Niall, fantastic. I fell in love with the Chopper design, great choice

[guitarnyc]

I really like the guitar congrats !

...so this is the offical chopper prototype then ? :D
________
IPAD GUIDE (http://ipadguides.info)

[vangit]

nah...I assume Yellow was the proto over a decade ago. I think this is the first custom ordered Chopper.

[Schroeder]

nah...I assume Yellow was the proto over a decade ago. I think this is the first custom ordered Chopper.

Correct sir!

[goof1073]

nah...I assume Yellow was the proto over a decade ago. I think this is the first custom ordered Chopper. Sounds correct to me Stu...

...but the 3 RTS Choppers were also done before this one, though the TigerBurst didn't beat it by much.

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/4%20choppers%20small.jpg

[vangit]

Sounds correct to me Stu...

...but the 3 RTS Choppers were also done before this one, though the TigerBurst didn't beat it by much.

http://www.schroederguitars.com/photos/4%20choppers%20small.jpg

Great pic!!

[Schroeder]

Sounds correct to me Stu...

...but the 3 RTS Choppers were also done before this one, though the TigerBurst didn't beat it by much.



Yes, but Niall had the courage and foresight to order this a LONG time ago!!!! Before all the hype about the Chopper! ;) I have always appreciated that he trusted me and that he wanted to order the guitar I really knew inside and out. The delays came mostly because I had to figure out how to do a silver outline on the onyx inlay!! I tried literally half a dozen ways (unsuccessfully) before I got it right. So glad that it came out ok. I am really pleased with this guitar.

[goof1073]

Hey I give him all the credit in the world for going after a design that very few people have ever seen...

...but give us RTS Chopper owners some credit too, I mean we liked the Chopper design enough to buy one and stop waiting for a Chopper Tour Guitar to be produced. :p

[Chun13]

Waow Looks awesome !