7-string Headless Guitar Build (strandberg, limba, BKP content)

[Duke318]

Hey guys, thought I'd throw up some pictures of my strandberg style build. My local luthier is putting it all together for me.

Specs:

7 string

Black Limba Body w/ a layer of ash sandwiched in between

Set-thru Maple neck w/ two purpleheart stripes, macassar ebony fretboard
-The neck was made by Doug at Soulmate guitars.

24 stainless steel jumbo frets, 26.5 scale.

Strandberg headless bridge.

BKP Ceramic Nailbomb calibrated set.

1 push-pull volume, 1 3-way blade.

Nitro-lacquer clear finish.

Progress Pics:

Body rough shaped out, neck pocket routed.

Neck Pocket

Mockup w/ neck not glued in, headstock still needs to be chopped off

Getting closer, body cleaned up a bit, pickups and control cavity routed, bridge not yet mounted.

It shouldn't be long now!

 

[Arcane66]

I love you

 

[CD1221]

love strandberg design. love it to death.

 

[scherzo1928]

love strandberg design. love it to death.

not to mention black limba!

 

[Explorer]

Okay, so in the following photo, your builder looks like he has small wrists and a delicate watch, and the guitar looks like it's the size of a mandolin.

And yet, 26.5" scale!

How huge is your builder, to so dwarf your build? *laugh*

Looks nice. I'm jealous....

 

[Duke318]

Haha, this guitar is tiny in person. I've just received word that the neck has been glued up. Hopefully it will sound bigger than it looks!

 

[Justin Bailey]

very nice

 

[BlackMastodon]

Headless guitars always look tiny, but they do look awesome. Very interested to see how this one is gonna come out. Is it going to be carved out for an ergonomic design too?

 

[dtdb]

Hells yeah! That looks awesome!

*Edit* If you don't have pickup ring plans yet, a pair of polished brass rings would look freakin' sweet IMHO.

http://www.fretsonthenet.com/PR7brass.JPG

 

[Duke318]

Hells yeah! That looks awesome!

*Edit* If you don't have pickup ring plans yet, a pair of polished brass rings would look freakin' sweet IMHO.

http://www.fretsonthenet.com/PR7brass.JPG

Right now the plan is direct mount pickups, but those do look cool.

 

[metalman_ltd]

Looks sweet man can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Duke318]

Got new pics today:

Bridge hasn't been mounted yet. It's going to get recessed slightly.

 

[toiletstand]

damn that looks fine. congrats man!

 

[Duke318]

In progress. It just needs some finishing touches and it'll go out for lacquer within a week.

 

[toiletstand]

gahh i wish it were done now!

 

[Quitty]

Could anyone share some wisdom as for the tone woods used?
I'm only personally familiar with the standard mahogany/alder/basswood and cheapo rosewood/ebony.

How does limba sound? And ash?
What are the differences between macassar and standard ebony?

 

[b7string]

Could anyone share some wisdom as for the tone woods used?
I'm only personally familiar with the standard mahogany/alder/basswood and cheapo rosewood/ebony.

How does limba sound? And ash?
What are the differences between macassar and standard ebony?

I can't speak first hand of the limba, but ash is a bit on the brighter side, less so than maple and more so than alder typically. I've heard that limba or korina (same thing) is on the darker side but not quite as dark and of a different character than mahogany.
Warmoth Custom Guitar Parts - Body Wood Options

Macassar ebony is from a different region I believe, and its usually more figured with pretty chocolate brown and/or reddish or purple streaks in it. "Standard" ebony can mean a variety of things, but typically its what people refer to when they mean a jet black ebony, although its usually dyed to achieve this. Gabon ebony is often considered a "standard" ebony. Both feel and sound very similar though.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong, but this is my understanding)

 

[BlackMastodon]

That heel looks mighty comfy. Then again this whole guitar does with the ergo-shape.

 

[Duke318]

Yeah, we sandwiched the ash because we didn't have enough limba to get the proper thickness. I was playing it yesterday, it sounded loud and bright acoustically.

 

[speedyone]

Very cool guitar!

Ever since seeing Holdsworth play them, they've intrigued me.

Maybe someday when I have extra scratch!