bob493 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Figured I'd post a blog here as well. Retopping my EBMM Axis model. EBMM's are some of the best sounding, playing, and feeling guitars on the planet. However, unless you strike a jackpot, youre usually left with a lack luster top. mine is a blue quilt model, and while it's "pretty" its not that great. It's pretty beat up and needs some work anyway, so I figured I'd go ham and retop it. Not an overly complicated process, but it should leave with me a unique, great looking guitar that looks as good as it sounds and plays. The quilt looks GREAT from one angle, but dead on, its very washed out. I could easily recolor it and clear, but I am also not a huge fan of the plastic binding and I don't care for the switch right next to the bridge (hence the EVH mod). So I get to knock out like 12 birds with one stone with a retop Pleasant enough, but heres my new top Will post updates as they come, will start when I get the wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Nice bookmatch, that should really dress up your axe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I'm looking forward to watching this one! As a guitar player, I find this very interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I dont have photoshop, but I do have mspaint and 20 minutes of free time. This should be something close to the end result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I'll wait for the real thing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I'll wait for the real thing... Gosh yeah, me too! Cant wait to see how cool it looks under some clear coat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Got the wood in today. Let it acclimate for 24 hours, so im gluing it up now. Here she is ' And heres a neat trick I learned from a violin maker. I always got frustrated gluing tops together like this, it to clamp up without it bowing some place is rather difficult, and jigs were quite the pain to deal with. This simple, effective solution has worked every time for me. Its pretty self explanatory, but if you need a better descriptiojn of whats going on, lemme know. This is about the right height then push it down, and clamp it down the middle. Don't forget your wax paper, or you're in for a rough day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 That's going to be stunning! I typically use backing tape on one side but, this method works well too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 That's going to be stunning! I typically use backing tape on one side but, this method works well too! Tape would work Its just an incredibly simple, fool proof method to get great clamping pressure across the entire piece. I can't find my freaking jig, I promise im not ignoring you haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Couple hours of clamping, gonna leave it over night before I do anything brutal to it. Should come out quite lovely, even have a ton left over for a headstock cap. (thats not a gap in the middle there, thats just the glue ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I do it a similar way Bob but use a series of nails knocked into a build board. Then each of the jointed sound boards are placed onto the build board with a thin strip of timber underneath at the joint and the back edge of the soundboards simply butt up against the nails. That's only because most of the sound boards I get are odd sizes some with waney edges. Good tip about the wax paper to stop you glueing the soundboard down to the bench too. Then I extract the thin strip and push down on the boards. A great project so far. Are you going to keep the top flat or do you have a carve in mind for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Just gonna be a flat top for now, my next full build is a carved top neck through wolfgang. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Sweet! I love the through neck design. I've always been amazed that bolt-on necks don't come apart more often, considering all the stress that relatively small joint is under. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Sweet! I love the through neck design. I've always been amazed that bolt-on necks don't come apart more often, considering all the stress that relatively small joint is under. In my opinion, a PROPER bolt on neck is the best way to go. The stresses of 6 string guitar is typically around 100 pounds, a 7 string would be around 110 pounds. So considering the surface area of a typical guitar joint, that equates to around 13-14lbs/inch. Not a horrible amount of stress considering. The real issue is when its a sloppy fit, and thats where the havoc can be played. If you smash a guitar, it will almost never explode at the neck joint, almost always the body or the head stock. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 The force that the joint is subjected to is not that much only about 80 to 100 lbs on a six string (dependant upon the string gauge). I've never seen a joint come apart (glued or screwed) unless somebody has been messing. I like the thru neck design too. Les Paul was right when he created his "plank" and then put wings on it so it looked like an acoustic guitar shape. Edit: LOL Bob was adding a note at the same time as me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 In my opinion, a PROPER bolt on neck is the best way to go. Absolutely agreed. Sound transmission bare wood on bare wood is better for sustain - no glue or paint to interfere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I use a plate joining jig I built from some 1x2 oak, a biscuit joiner, some rope and 3/4 1x6 pine. It's similar to this jig http://www.lmii.com/products/tools-services/specialty-tools/plate-joining-jig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I understand that string tension isn't terribly high, but it isn't the only force acting on the joint, either. Anyway, I agree about through necks having better sustain, and I just like the appearance. I recently watched a video on Youtube where a luthier used a router and a collection of jigs & sleds to carve and entire Les Paul style guitar from this huge slab of wood. Don't know how the finished product sounds, but it sure looked awesome. I'll edit in the link if I can find it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I understand that string tension isn't terribly high, but it isn't the only force acting on the joint, either. Anyway, I agree about through necks having better sustain, and I just like the appearance. I recently watched a video on Youtube where a luthier used a router and a collection of jigs & sleds to carve and entire Les Paul style guitar from this huge slab of wood. Don't know how the finished product sounds, but it sure looked awesome. I'll edit in the link if I can find it again. A PROPER (key word is proper here...) bolt on will perform just as well as a neck through guitar in any circumstance. If anything a bolt on is better, because you can remove it, tweak it, set the angle, etc without seriously modifying the guitar. Set necks are pretty poor in comparison. The ONLY good set necks are the long tenon ones , and those are rare now. Dave thomas mcnaught is a huge influence on my build style, check out his "set through" neck design, its pretty sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 I hate michigan winters :-/ too cold to work long in the shop, but I got some good work done today. Should be a good looking pair when I get around to finishing these bad boys xD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Super nice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Super nice! Thanks! Lets hope she ends up as nice as she started (nicer would be the goal ) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted December 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Update, coming along 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 WOW! Looking stunning! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 A real beauty Bob Is it a spalted maple? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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