So the custom guitar build is almost finished! Since the last post I've glued the neck on, made a bridge, and put on the tuning gears. I will let it sit under tension for a day or two then finish it off with a pickguard and LR Baggs pickup. I'm still calling this guitar the custom build so if you have a good name for this guitar based on the Kalamazoo KG-11 leave it in the comments section and if I like it, we will call it that name. I've already got the wood for the next custom. That one will be rosewood back and sides, spruce top, and red cedar braces. This guitar sounds amazing, and I made a short clip of it. Keep in mind that my musical abilities are suffering right now as I have a torn muscle in my left shoulder making it hard to hold my fretting hand up on the neck. Once this guitar is completely finished, I will put up a better video going over all of the things this awesome guitar has going on.
4 Comments
Progress on the custom guitar slowed a bit as I was having issues with my spray guns, but I have fixed the problem and moved forward. After a few more coats of nitrocellulose lacquer, it was time for sanding. I started to level the surface with 320 grit sandpaper then 600 and finally 1500. I have to wait a few more days for the finish to harden then I'll be able to buff the body to a shine. The neck is getting the same treatment and is still a few days behind the body. If all goes to plan, I'll be gluing the neck to the body next week... I'm excited! The pictures below show the body sanded to 600 grit. And these pictures show the body sanded to 1500 grit. I could easily buy a guitar neck online, but there's something special about carving a neck from a block of wood. And besides, can you really call it a custom guitar if it has a manufactured neck? Hmmmm... Check out the beginning stages of the process in the video below. Exiting times!
I am starting a NEW custom build based on the 1930s Kalamazoo Model KG-11. Before I build the guitar, I am making the template and molds so that I can replicate the process with consistency. A few changes will be made from the original, though. The KG-11 has a v-shaped neck and narrow fingerboard. The custom model (yet to be named) will have a slightly wider fingerboard and c-shaped neck. Also, the KG-11 used ladder bracing and I will be going with custom x-bracing to give it a special sound. Follow each day's progress the The Full Custom photo gallery on Facebook and on Instagram @RobertBrooks1911. Stay tuned! |
AuthorMy name is Robert Brooks, and I'm the guitar doctor around here. I love the fact that I can take an old guitar that others have given up on and restore it to sound even better than it did brand new. From time to time, I'll invite you to follow my process on this page. Archives
October 2019
Categories
All
|