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Topic: Aluminum Guitar build, 8 strings, Custom Mesquite Pickup |
W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2014 7:12 am |
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I'm getting close to completing another guitar. This build is solid polished aluminum, 8 strings. Scale is 22.5"
A few WIP photos:
I decided to make my own hand wound pickup for this guitar.
I used mesquite for the flatwork. Spacing is .400". Magnets are A2, resistance is 5.26K. Wax potted, taped with vintage spec cloth tape. Shielded wiring (although not really needed, as the solid body provides excellent shielding.)
I'm going for a smoother sound. I am going to make another pickup, probably, with a hotter wind. Not sure which I will like better.
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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Don McGregor
From:
Memphis, Tennessee
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Posted 1 Nov 2014 8:12 am
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| This is SWEET!Simple lines, totally functional, and built to last forever. I really like this. |
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Johnne Lee Ables
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2014 6:55 am Great work, as always, Wayne!
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Not quite up to the standard of my tone bar you built for me, but ....
Nah, just jokin'...
This is a very nice steel. I can hardly wait to hear it.
j
_________________
Justice S10-Pro 5x4 C6
Roland Cube 80GX
Wonderful Wife
"In the course of a long life a wise man will be prepared to abandon his baggage several times." |
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2014 11:43 am
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What is the most common/typical tuning for 8 string C6 ??
I'm thinking for Hawaiian music (I'm gunna pretend to play Hawaiian music  ) I've never played an 8 string yet.
I'm ready to put strings on it.
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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Rick Barnhart
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2014 11:53 am
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You might try A C E G A C E G. Low to high
_________________
Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe. |
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Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 2 Nov 2014 12:06 pm
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The majority of 8 String C6th tuning string sets are supplied: lo to hi E C A G E C A E. One tuning variation is to raise the third string to C sharp. But there are quite a few other C6 tunings used. Search the Forum and you'll see many more.
Regards,
Keith |
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Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 2 Nov 2014 12:50 pm
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Please ignore my last post, mine is tuned lo to ho: A C E G A C E G and my 6 string is C E G A C E.
Keith. |
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2014 1:21 pm
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Thanks guys!
I went with: A C E G A C E G
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2014 9:52 am
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Here' some pics of the finished guitar. I will be replacing some of the 4-40 bolts with button top bolts. I ran out and had to use the taller ones.
I was goofing around when I made the big volume/tone knobs. However, does make it easy to turn them while playing.
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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Mike Spieth
From:
Santa Fe, New Mexico
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Posted 3 Nov 2014 12:39 pm
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| Wow...beautiful! The big knobs are kind of anatomical. I'd keep them. |
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 3 Nov 2014 12:53 pm Another Cool One !!
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What is the Fret Board Material ?
Looks like you plan to inlay the lines and dots, ?
More Aluminum would look awesome 
Your Design gets more refined each build, keep it going.
GeorgeBoards |
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Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 3 Nov 2014 1:06 pm
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Mr Johnson,
That's a masterpiece whatever way you look at it. Do you seal the polished Aluminium with anything once it's finished?
I imagine the guitar will have a huge amount of sustain and look forward to a sound clip.
Keith |
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2014 1:38 pm Re: Another Cool One !!
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| George Piburn wrote: |
What is the Fret Board Material ?
Looks like you plan to inlay the lines and dots, ?
More Aluminum would look awesome
Your Design gets more refined each build, keep it going.
GeorgeBoards |
The fretboard is made from poplar.
I have in a few guitars put aluminum dots in. Lately I have not been doing so. If you look at it from top you can see the shiny polished aluminum through the holes. I've considered buying mother of pearl dots.
Listening to your suggestion last time, I did make the headstock a bit longer to make less bend in the strings from the nut to the tuners, but still not perfectly straight, as your designs are.
Thank you.
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2014 1:49 pm
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| Keith Glendinning wrote: |
Mr Johnson,
That's a masterpiece whatever way you look at it. Do you seal the polished Aluminium with anything once it's finished?
I imagine the guitar will have a huge amount of sustain and look forward to a sound clip.
Keith |
I put a coat of wax on. Polished aluminum stays polished and shiny a super long time. Once in a great while it can be polished with aluminum/mag wheel polish. It's kind of big to anodize, and anodizing takes away the shiny.
Sustain is intense.
I barely can play a six string, let alone an 8, but, I'll try and record something.
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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Per Berner
From:
Skovde, Sweden
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Posted 4 Nov 2014 6:49 am
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| Those big knobs are mega-cool. I'll steal that idea for my next build! |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 7 Nov 2014 6:44 pm
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Outstanding job on that guitar !  |
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