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I love the way you put those woods together. It brings a very interesting element to the Explorer shape. Nice work!

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Thanks for the kind words.
I got some GFS Nashville pickups today. They look like a TV Jones style and sound pretty gutsy on their web site.
Hope to have them installed this weekend.
I'm finding more and more really cool looking local woods. Heck, I have Chinaberry, Willow, Oak, and Ash just in my back yard.
Dan

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I really like the layered wood. It is clearly an explorer, but it is very different at the same time.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I finally finished my Explorer build.
It plays well and sits on the leg nicely.
The GFS pickups sound pretty good, lots of bottom end.
I added the "doorstop" heel since cutting the neck pickup cavity thinned the neck tenon down to about 1/4".
I opted to lose the radii at the body-neck transition which left me with a small neck pocket, but better access to the upper frets.
Schaller roller bridge, Gotoh tuners, skull knob, and end-pin type jack.
Simple wiring: two-position pickup switch, two coil taps, and single volume control.
I had to raise the bridge with a riser block, but I plan to thin it down since one of the saddles is bottomed out.
Purple transtint dye was added to the lacquer, but the blue component quickly faded. It received indirect sunlight while drying.
After spraying, the back and edges were opaque purple. Oh well, I don't mind the burgundy color.
Local Sycamore, Walnut, Chinaberry, and Mesquite fret board. The truss rod cover is Walnut.
Dan

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Well done! I dig it.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Cool!

Thanks Chris!
The body is about 4 inches wider than a standard Explorer.
I can't find a case to fit it.
The pickups are non-potted and will produce feedback when close to my amp.
Weird thing, when I turn down the guitar volume, the high frequency tapers off.
I used a 500K linear taper pot, I may try a 250K audio taper pot.
This guitar is a joy to play. I bought a straight edge to use for leveling the fret board and frets.
The action is very low. I'm finishing up a hollow Tele for myself and will stop building for a while and star playing.
My next project will be to build Champ tube amp kit so I can get real tube distortion.
Cheers,
Dan

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Congrats, that's a beautiful build... Both classic and unique upon closer inspection. I particularly like the how the grain orientation is accentuated by the finish. Your attention to detail achieving a seamless grain match on the rear control plate has not gone unnoticed. Great work!

Thanks Hugh!
I cut the control plate cover out of the back veneer prior to gluing the veneer onto the back of the body.
The edges of the veneers were a real pain to wet sand and polish. I glued sandpaper onto one edge of a small board so I would not sand a gully into the body. This was my second lacquer spraying attempt. I think I've just about figured out the settings on my gun.
Thanks to everyone for great tips and advice.
Dan

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that thing kicks some butt!
i have found explorers quite ergonomic to sit with, which is a huge "must" for me; thus it is one of the few "radical" guitar shapes that i like...

I really like all of this, I like the new take on an old design, and I really like your neck heel and heel transition. Very well done in every aspect!