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New Guitar Taking Shape
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=37422
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Author:  Stuart Gort [ Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:10 am ]
Post subject:  New Guitar Taking Shape

...or maybe a semi-hollow body standard electric...or maybe both. :)

I liked Verhovenec's lower horn on one of his designs so I had that in mind when I designed this...but I made a point of waiting until I was done with this design to go back and look at his...just to be able to call it mine. Let me know if it's OK to use this and call my own, Verhov.

And Filippo...I like the ports you made on one of your designs. If you don't mind me designing something based on that, I'm inclined to think they would go nicely with this shape.

What do you think, Gents?

Author:  dzsmith [ Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Shape - Maybe Baritone

I like it!
It reminds me a bit of a Jaguar for some reason - maybe the slant.

Author:  Stuart Gort [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Shape - Maybe Baritone

dzsmith wrote:
I like it!
It reminds me a bit of a Jaguar for some reason - maybe the slant.


Really? That's about as close to a Jaguar shape as I'll get I imagine. I've seen some things I like....when a builder has taken the basic Jaguar shape and embellished it...but generally I like the creativity of making my own shapes. This scares me a little though. The electric guitar world is absolutely STUFFED with builders that recreate or embellish the typical Strat, Tele, Les Paul, and to a lesser extent, Jaguar shapes. I truly wonder how much of a market there is for the builders of original shapes.

It goes to show you how much impact those original shapes have had on the average mind, in terms of what constitutes a legitimate electric guitar. I'd guess over 90% of the pictures you see of someone playing an electric guitar show someone with a guitar that has one of those shapes.

Author:  dzsmith [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Shape - Maybe Baritone

Zlurgh wrote:
dzsmith wrote:
I like it!
It reminds me a bit of a Jaguar for some reason - maybe the slant.


Really? That's about as close to a Jaguar shape as I'll get I imagine. I've seen some things I like....when a builder has taken the basic Jaguar shape and embellished it...but generally I like the creativity of making my own shapes. This scares me a little though. The electric guitar world is absolutely STUFFED with builders that recreate or embellish the typical Strat, Tele, Les Paul, and to a lesser extent, Jaguar shapes. I truly wonder how much of a market there is for the builders of original shapes.

It goes to show you how much impact those original shapes have had on the average mind, in terms of what constitutes a legitimate electric guitar. I'd guess over 90% of the pictures you see of someone playing an electric guitar show someone with a guitar that has one of those shapes.

Sorry I compared it to a Jag - I must have the shapes of mainstream guitars imprinted in my mind. I'm pretty much an anti-Fender guy, and I certainly meant no disrespect.

Author:  Stuart Gort [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Shape - Maybe Baritone

dzsmith wrote:
....and I certainly meant no disrespect.


I didn't take it that way. Truth is...I like Fender shapes. The only thing I have against Fender came after owning a manufacturing business and recognizing the whole product line is, and has always been, an exercise in the art of cheap manufacturing.

Author:  dzsmith [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 7:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Shape - Maybe Baritone

My first guitar was an original Mustang. My gear contained the worthless tremolo arm and a screw driver used to tighten the "bolt-on" neck. Gotta love the Tele sound though.
BTW I'm digging my teenie little Yamaha amp.
When you design a new axe, do create a cardboard mockup to test the "feel"?

Author:  Chameleon [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Shape - Maybe Baritone

Its a little too conservative for my taste. Not that I'd rather it look like a flying v. It doesn't jump at me, or inspire me to play it.

Two cents for what it's worth.

Author:  Stuart Gort [ Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Shape - Maybe Baritone

dzsmith wrote:
BTW I'm digging my teenie little Yamaha amp. When you design a new axe, do create a cardboard mockup to test the "feel"?


I was going to PM you and ask about that little amp...glad you like it. When I played it I got a sound out of it that sounded similar to my full rig. I'm looking for a little shop amp that approximates that sound. Think I'll pick one up.

No, I don't make a mockup but I have a pretty good idea how this one will hang. Note that the end shape of the body will place the strap button slightly inward which will cause the guitar to hang slightly to the right off the strap....compared to my first guitar. That's going to place the fretboard about 2" closer to the body...and be a little more ergonomic.

Author:  Stuart Gort [ Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guitar Taking Shape

Got the basic design and top carve shape complete today. These organic shapes are murder with cad. If there was any mathematical description of these shapes it would be a few, simple buttons clicks to get this...but since it's an organic shape it takes days of tweaking to get the wrinkles out. Whatever wrinkles show now will come out in seconds with sandpaper. Since it has to be sanded for finishing anyway...the trick is to learn when to stop fiddling with wrinkles...otherwise one could driven to suicide trying to get this perfect. :)

Author:  dzsmith [ Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guitar Taking Shape

Rock on!
That is sick! I bet it's going to feel good with the smooth curves.
I'm using Mechanical Desktop for my designs although I have yet to learn how to model complex shapes.
It's still too dang hot here in Central Texas to work in the shop.
If you have a chance, post the rear view as well.

Author:  Ken McKay [ Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guitar Taking Shape

Zlurgh wrote:
Got the basic design and top carve shape complete today. These organic shapes are murder with cad. If there was any mathematical description of these shapes it would be a few, simple buttons clicks to get this...but since it's an organic shape it takes days of tweaking to get the wrinkles out. Whatever wrinkles show now will come out in seconds with sandpaper. Since it has to be sanded for finishing anyway...the trick is to learn when to stop fiddling with wrinkles...otherwise one could driven to suicide trying to get this perfect. :)

That is good.

Can you show a side view?

Author:  Stuart Gort [ Sat Aug 25, 2012 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guitar Taking Shape

I haven't drawn anything more than the top surface yet. I upgraded my Solidworks since I drew my first guitar and there are more surfacing tools available. I'm looking forward to drawing the back since I know a certain aspect o that is going to be easier with these new tools.

I'll post that when I have it done.

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Author:  Ken McKay [ Sun Aug 26, 2012 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guitar Taking Shape

Your arching looks good to me, I am conservative in my view of what looks right though. I am just curious about how your fingerboard is going to sit and where the strings will sit in relation to your arching. I am also confused as to how you rendered that without knowing a long arch and side arching first, but I am not a rendering kind of guy, more of a clay, plaster, wood kind of guy. My envy for your skills should be evident.

Author:  Stuart Gort [ Sun Aug 26, 2012 11:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guitar Taking Shape

Ken McKay wrote:
Your arching looks good to me, I am conservative in my view of what looks right though. I am just curious about how your fingerboard is going to sit and where the strings will sit in relation to your arching. I am also confused as to how you rendered that without knowing a long arch and side arching first, but I am not a rendering kind of guy, more of a clay, plaster, wood kind of guy. My envy for your skills should be evident.


All aspects of 'arching' with this guitar are based upon my first chambered design. The scale, string heights, bridge, neck width, and taper are the same. The fundamental difference, besides the shape, is that this will be a semi-hollow body with ports. The attache .jpg shows fingerboard placement better than the first one in this thread but check out the photo of the red one. This guitar will have virtually the same geometry near the fretboard/body joint.

Author:  charliewood [ Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guitar Taking Shape

Stuart
I think its a pretty cool design, run with it.... btw loved your other design too by the way..
Cheers
Charliewood

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