This is possibly my last post of 2013 so I would like to wish all my readers a Happy Xmas and I hope Santa brings you all a nice guitar.
So I would like to end on a high note with this my latest guitar. a commission from a Gentleman in Norway who contacted me requiring a guitar like a Harmony Stratotone H44.
Pic From http://harmony.demont.net/model.php?id=131
Small body. fat wide tapered neck the originals have 25.25" scale length. The neck is a maple through neck with two wings glued either side.
I sent a couple of sketches and I set to work on the agreed design. and here is the finished product.
Like the Original Maple neck through using two pieces of maple laminated together along the length for added stability. Sapele wings. Neck is a slightly shorter 25" scale.
My trade mark antique finish
The customer wanted a basic utilitarian look, a workhorse guitar
The original H44 fret board joins on top of the body which doesn't leave much room for adjustment. and doesn't leave much string break angle on the bridge. I reduced the body part of the maple approx. 4mm lower than the neck (not including the fretboard). It looks like a glued in neck but it is all one piece.
The legendary Dearmond moustache gold foil pickup supplied by the customer. Neck has real mother of pearl marker dots and mother of pearloid binding. along with pearloid scratch plate. The Pickup is wired up to 50k pots and a 0.1uf oil in paper capacitor like the originals.
The whole guitar has been given the ShonKy Antique finish looks great against the pearl.
Standard Korean tailpiece and unusual Bullet control knobs. Also a recessed tele type jack cup rather than a plate.
hand carved Bubinga Bridge with hand carved corian Compensated saddle
The neck is fat. really fat the dimensions are pretty close to the original stratotones I had to guess the neck profile though so I went for a round C. A real handfull but surprisingly comfortable.
Hand Carved corian Nut. No reason for the bumpy shape I just like it. Yes that is a truss rod cover. I put one in however as the neck is so massive I don't think .. A/ it's ever going to need adjusting B/ the truss rod would actually be able to move the neck. however the cover is a nice decorative addition.
Kluson 3 on a plate machine heads with white buttons. The only ones that where going to look right. The Customer wanted the basic square headstock which I had done on the firewood special.
This build went incredibly well. the only problems I had was applying the finish as the temperature had dropped considerably during November and I had to wait longer between coats for the stain to dry and I had promised the guitar to be finished and delivered by mid December. It was good in the end and I just managed to do it. the great thing was when I first strung it up it was almost perfect requiring only a slight fret dress and lowering of the bridge. I had a concern that the neck being as fat as it was would be too straight but somehow (luck rather than judgement methinks) it had perfect relief.
Soundwise as soon as I played this before even plugging it in it had a bluesey tone which was a good start so I plugged it in. and wow! again spot on. wow pure Blues tone. Lovely clear syrupy on clean. put some gain and it growls. I now have to make one for myself.....one day!
The guitar now lives in it's new home in Norway and the owner is very happy (Phew!) He has been kind enough to write an extensive review which can be found on the Archive pages of my website Here
See you in the new year.
So I would like to end on a high note with this my latest guitar. a commission from a Gentleman in Norway who contacted me requiring a guitar like a Harmony Stratotone H44.
Pic From http://harmony.demont.net/model.php?id=131
Small body. fat wide tapered neck the originals have 25.25" scale length. The neck is a maple through neck with two wings glued either side.
I sent a couple of sketches and I set to work on the agreed design. and here is the finished product.
My trade mark antique finish
The customer wanted a basic utilitarian look, a workhorse guitar
The original H44 fret board joins on top of the body which doesn't leave much room for adjustment. and doesn't leave much string break angle on the bridge. I reduced the body part of the maple approx. 4mm lower than the neck (not including the fretboard). It looks like a glued in neck but it is all one piece.
The legendary Dearmond moustache gold foil pickup supplied by the customer. Neck has real mother of pearl marker dots and mother of pearloid binding. along with pearloid scratch plate. The Pickup is wired up to 50k pots and a 0.1uf oil in paper capacitor like the originals.
The whole guitar has been given the ShonKy Antique finish looks great against the pearl.
The neck is fat. really fat the dimensions are pretty close to the original stratotones I had to guess the neck profile though so I went for a round C. A real handfull but surprisingly comfortable.
Hand Carved corian Nut. No reason for the bumpy shape I just like it. Yes that is a truss rod cover. I put one in however as the neck is so massive I don't think .. A/ it's ever going to need adjusting B/ the truss rod would actually be able to move the neck. however the cover is a nice decorative addition.
This build went incredibly well. the only problems I had was applying the finish as the temperature had dropped considerably during November and I had to wait longer between coats for the stain to dry and I had promised the guitar to be finished and delivered by mid December. It was good in the end and I just managed to do it. the great thing was when I first strung it up it was almost perfect requiring only a slight fret dress and lowering of the bridge. I had a concern that the neck being as fat as it was would be too straight but somehow (luck rather than judgement methinks) it had perfect relief.
Soundwise as soon as I played this before even plugging it in it had a bluesey tone which was a good start so I plugged it in. and wow! again spot on. wow pure Blues tone. Lovely clear syrupy on clean. put some gain and it growls. I now have to make one for myself.....one day!
The guitar now lives in it's new home in Norway and the owner is very happy (Phew!) He has been kind enough to write an extensive review which can be found on the Archive pages of my website Here
See you in the new year.
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