logicbdj

I'm having Casper Guitar Technologies craft a new guitar. The shaped will be a slightly modified Vai Jem. The outer edges will be a dark French roast brown (almost black), possibly in alligator or leather look paint. The inside (within the edging) will be a dark metalic brown. The neck also will be stained dark to match the dark edges of the body. Pictures will follow as it develops. For now, here are photos of the scratch plate, the vine inlay and proposed headstock shape.

Attached Images

 

logicbdj

vine inlay:

Attached Images

 

logicbdj

Headstock:

Attached Images

 

logicbdj

Headstock pins (silver) from Argentariis:

Attached Images

 

Wisthekiller

Continue... I am interested in this...

__________________
Check my Firebird build!-Comment on that bitch so I don't have to double post, even if it's a friendly "YOU SUCK!"

Upright fretted electric bass build!

R_Gallagher_Fan

Man you have way too much money to spend! You're the guy who got the Hendrix guitar, right?

__________________
Cort G260
VHT Special 6 Ultra
Like old Japanese amps? http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/foru...d.php?t=1591982
MY BAND-BAGELS
https://soundcloud.com/phantom1052/...-school-of-rock

logicbdj

Ya, that's me, lol. This likely will be the last project (unless I want an acoustic). The first Casper guitar I had made offers a particular attack, tone, etc... modern sounding in many ways. The Hendrix model is at the other end of the spectrum (e.g., classic vs. modern). I'm now going for something between, but with this one I'm going all out on the ornamentation. I suspect Evolution pickups will be part of this model, with the centre pickup still undecided.

logicbdj

By the way... I can get this built and customized to the hilt (actual silver hardware) for the same price as a Les Paul (which can run $2500 or more). Finding a luthier with skills who is not super well known or popular (e.g., Stephen Casper) certainly helps. You have custom guitars by Suhr, etc., that do not sound any better... do not play any better... do not look any better... but can cost at least double to triple of what I'm getting my guitars made for. My luthier has a different job to make money and has been doing this for 25 years as a serious hobby. Because he's not well known (yet), there is no high demand from him, and all that factors into the pricing.

logicbdj

I've been a fan of Timber Tones for some time... quality wood picks, and a company that has been extending into shell and bone material. They've gone that extra step recently with their Treasure Tones (silver, gold and platinum picks). To match the silver hardware of the guitar, I'm going to get the solid silver Treasure Tone:

http://www.timber-tones-shop.com/so...ctrum-234-p.asp

Attached Images

 

logicbdj

Will be using Gotoh tuners... a 1:21 gear ratio: a world first... the SG510 series.

R_Gallagher_Fan

What does that 1:21 gear ratio mean?

__________________
Cort G260
VHT Special 6 Ultra
Like old Japanese amps? http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/foru...d.php?t=1591982
MY BAND-BAGELS
https://soundcloud.com/phantom1052/...-school-of-rock

logicbdj

It's the turning of the gears... for one turn of the knob/key/peg, the innards (gear) turns 1.21 times. Greater turning inside, means less turning of the peg when tuning, adding new strings, etc.

R_Gallagher_Fan

So does this make it easier to tune and make it less likely to go out of tune?

__________________
Cort G260
VHT Special 6 Ultra
Like old Japanese amps? http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/foru...d.php?t=1591982
MY BAND-BAGELS
https://soundcloud.com/phantom1052/...-school-of-rock

W4RP1G

I think you mean 21:1 ratio. 21 knob rotations for 1 post rotation.

That would make fine tuning easier, though I think the standard 18:1 grovers are pretty damn easy to tune. Still I prefer Gotoh and more options, so that's pretty cool.

__________________
Homemade pickup winder!

R_Gallagher_Fan

Wait, why are you buying solid silver picks? Just use an old coin.

__________________
Cort G260
VHT Special 6 Ultra
Like old Japanese amps? http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/foru...d.php?t=1591982
MY BAND-BAGELS
https://soundcloud.com/phantom1052/...-school-of-rock

logicbdj

The ratio is 1:21, as per the website. My understanding is that a full turn creates a 2.1 internal rotation. I'm not sure I would want to crank something 21 times just to have the post turn one revolution!

I prefer the taper and angle of his picks, as opposed to a coin.

R_Gallagher_Fan

You can angle any pick anyway you want and the taper is the shape of a cone, e.g. conical, so I don't see what you mean there. I'm guessing you just like the sound.

__________________
Cort G260
VHT Special 6 Ultra
Like old Japanese amps? http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/foru...d.php?t=1591982
MY BAND-BAGELS
https://soundcloud.com/phantom1052/...-school-of-rock

logicbdj

I'm talking about comparing his picks to a coin.

W4RP1G

I'm not sure why, but Gotoh writes it opposite of everyone else. Maybe it's a Japanese thing.

Either way, the tuners are a 21:1 ratio with is only 3 more turns than Grovers or 5 more than the regular Gotohs. And yes, you will be turning the key 21 times for 1 rotations. It might sound like a lot, but it's really not. Try tuning a banjo with 4:1 tuners. That really sucks. Or even worse, a violin which is just 1.

__________________
Homemade pickup winder!