Update 9/28/2011!!

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated this site. I have got the Koa top TBM-4 complete and ready to be sold. Let me tell you this things kills. The tone is just to good. Please check it out and let me know what you think.

Also I have been working on the MG-1 and TBM-4v. I will post pictures of those soon. As for the SC290 I have not done as much to it other than get the neck pocket completed. The pictures are not that good but I am going to do some betters one soon.

Update! 7/25/2011

I got some good work done yesterday on 3 of the instruments I am working on.

First up the SC290: I got the neck pocket cut and fingerboard radiused down to a 16" but need to get it to 12" radius.

Basses- MG-1 & TBM V4: I got the necks ready for final sanding and then time for frets.

On the basses I made a new neck pocket template with epoxy and I need it to cure for a day or so before using it. So next time I will be able to do the neck pockets on the 2 basses. After that I will route the pick ups in the TBM-V4 and SC290. I also need to do the control cavities on these 2 instruments and then I can sand and finish. Here are some pictures. Until next time.

Update 7/23/2011

Quick update on the Koa top TBM bass. I got it all buffed and ready for assembly. I did something different with the finish. It is all Nitro Lacquer but I did the top and face of the head stock gloss and did everything else satin finish. It came out really well and I like the way it feels, nice and silky smooth. This bass will be for sale at this point so please let me know if you are interested. As far as specs go:

Neck: maple with rosewood f-board 24 frets

Body: swamp ash with flame koa top

Pick-up: Bartolini MM style (moved a little forward to get a good mix of a Music Man meets a P Bass)

Electronics: all passive Volume, Tone may do a coil tap and a blend pot (can be upgraded to active electronics).

Hardware: All black Hip Shot Bridge and Gotoh Tuners

Hope you like it!

As for the other instruments I will be working on them tomorrow and will post an update as soon as possible.

Update 6/21/2011!!

Well it has been so long since I have seen the koa top TBM, that I nearly forgot all about it. I picked it up from my Fathers house on Fathers day and I think it is ready to be sanded and buffed. Check out the pictures and I will post more when I get it sanded. I may sand it back and leave as a semi gloss finish, not sure yet. Also this may be the last time I use Nitro Lacquer as my finish. The time it takes to paint a guitar is too long. I am going to try a new finish and will update with the results. Until next time.

Update 6/13/2011!

I got some work done this week and wanted to share.

SC290 (guitar): I got the fingerboard profiled and glued on. Once dry I will shape the neck down to size.

MG-1 & TBM-V4: I worked on the back of the maple board neck getting the transition point smoothed out on the back of the neck. Also did a little more radiusing on the fingerboard. With these I am about to the point of needing to paint them. I am just not sure what color I want to go with and which neck to put on which body. Let me know what you think? Both will have chrome hardware. So let me know what color body and pick guard? Here are some pictures.

Update!! 5/24/2011

Quick update on the basses. Worked on both necks and got them pretty much ready to fret. The maple board neck is radiused and side dots have been added. Just a couple of spots that need sanding and it will be ready for frets. The rosewood board neck has a couple of spots that need sanding and I got the fingerboard drilled for fret dots then found out I am out of pearl dots. So once those come in and put in I should be able to fret it. I will finish up these necks and start on the neck pockets in the bodies, after that just sand them and start painting. For the guitar I am building it has been put to the side just for the moment, I want to get these basses ready for paint and then I will concentrate on the guitar. Until next time.

Update 4/2/2011

First off, Congrats to the Navy Seal's for killing scum of the earth binladen!

MG-1- I got the neck shaped with minor items needed. I have a couple of chisel marks needed to be removed around the transition marks. Next up will be to add the fret dots on the face and side then dial in the fingerboard. Until next time.

Update!! 4/19/2011

Quick update. I worked on the rosewood and maple bass neck today. I got the fingerboard profiled and radiused to 100 grit with a 16" radius. Next I will shape the back of the neck before going back and adding the fret dots and smoothing out the fingerboard. Happy Easter to everyone.

Update!!! 4/11/2011

With this nice weather I have not worked much, instead spending time with the family and getting the yard back in shape. Anyway, I did work on another bass neck and got the fingerboard slotted and glued on. I am glad now that both bass necks are ready for shaping. Next will be to get the guitar/SC290 neck to the same point. Here is a pick of the bass neck. I will update you soon.

Update! 3/28/2011

I worked on one of the bass necks and got a lot done. I got the fingerboard radius started and dots added. I also got the back of the neck roughed in. I also worked on the body of the MG-1 adding the neck bolt holes and the washer cut outs. Hope you like it!

Update! 3/21/2011

Quick update on the just the TBM-v22. I got the f-board glued on and dots on the f-board for visual purposes at the moment. I plan on using black face and side dots. Hope you like the way it looks. Next time you should see this neck with the face and side dots in as well as the f-board profiled to the neck. I hope to have the f-board radiused as well. For the other instruments I should be able to get the f-boards glued on. Take care and until next time.

3/14/2011 Update!!

Updates on current instruments!

First up the SC290 (guitar)- I got the control layout drilled and routed. The control cavity still needs to be cleaned up. Next up for it will be to get the fingerboard glued on the neck and start shaping.

MG-1- Got the truss rod epoxied into the neck and got the body routed and ready for the neck pocket and final sanding.

TBM-V4- Got the fingerboard slotted and glued on the neck. After that will be to shape the neck and rout the body before sanding starts.

My main goal next work session will be to have all the fingerboards on the necks and start shaping. Also be on the lookout for a different take on the SC290, (think Dano)! Until next time.

Update 2/22/2011!!!

I got my MG-1 re-fretted and add the MOP face dots to it. Now the bass looks complete. I will be adding face dots to all MG-1's from this point on unless requested other wise.

I will be working on my other instruments this week and will post progress pictures.

Update 2/14/2011!!!

First off happy v-day to everyone.

I got some good work done yesterday on the SC290 (formaly the no name guitar) and the neck to the original MG-1 I built.

First up the MG-1: As I mentioned before the neck had a fret buzz that I could not get rid of safly by filing the frets down. So I removed the frets and re-leveled the fingerboard. During that time I deceided to add MOP face as I wanted to originaly but deceided against. So now I just need to add the frets and get everything leveled and cleaned up and put this beast back together.

SC290: I got the wings added to the headstock and the face of the headstock leveled out. I also added MOP face dots the fingerboard. You can get a good idea now of what the guitar will look like when complete. I am so ready to see this thing complete.

Until next time.

Update 2/2/2011!!!

Quick update for everyone. I was able to get some more nitro on the Koa top TBM-4 . It still needs more finish on the body and neck but is getting close now. I need to add some amber to the neck to get rid of that milky white color. Then it will be ready for buffing and assembly and set up. I hope to get an update of the SC290 guitar this week.

Update!!! 1/24/2011

Well I am happy to say this guitar is coming along really well. I tried some new techniques that are working out really well. You can see in the photos I got the neck profiled and the truss rod epoxied into place. Along with the fretboard slotted and cut to length. Next up will be to glue the f-board on and shape it add the ears to the heard stock to make it wide enough and start shaping the neck. I need to make some jigs along the way but I think things will start coming together now. Until next time.

Update!!! 1/17/2011

I was able to get the neck cut out of the billet of Mahogany. In the photo you can see the headstock being glued on. I do a scarf joint for all my tilt back headstock's, they are much stronger than cutting the neck from a single neck blank. It also saves wood which always helps. I hope to have more for you soon.

Updates!!! 1/13/2011

First off Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

Here are some pictures off the subject of guitars. Here is my Son with all of his toys he got from Santa.

Also we just had a good size winter storm here and this is my Wife and Son sledding down the hill together.

Here is a view from my car during the Winter storm.

I did get one gift for Christmas that I am so happy about. This Bugera V22 combo. Man that sings. It has a killer old school sound. Anyone looking for an all tube amp, you need to give one of these a go, it is unbeatable!

Now down to business.

I got some work done over the holidays and getting that much closer. First off the MG-1: I was able to get the belly cutout done and the forearm cutout as well the control cavity drilled and ready for routing.

The No name guitar: I got the lap cutout done. I also got the full scale sketch done of the guitar along with the neck blank some what cut out. It still needs to be cut down to size. The billet for the neck should make about 8 necks, so the neck blank you see in the pic beside the sketch should yield about 4 necks.

I hope to get to spray the last of the finish on the Koa TBM bass this week. If I can that done I can start getting it together. Also if I can get the Koa bass, the No Name guitar and my current MG-1 back together, I am going to try and set up a booth at the Spartanburg Guitar show. So I have my fingers crossed I can get the work done.

Well I hope to have more to show next week. Talk to you soon.