7 string SG

[jwade]

I was going to make my own TAM100ish guitar, but plans changed and instead will be making a 7 string SG.

Specs:

24.75" scale
African mahogany body/neck
ebony fingerboard
4&3 headstock of my own design
Dimarzio 'new 7' pickups to be rewound
ABM tuneomatic bridge/tailpiece (chrome)
2 volume 1 tone (Flying V control setup)
white matte/crackled finish

Still undecided if I should do a pickguard, and I'm waiting to find out if I'm able to get MOP block inlays shipped here.

For some reason, decided to use the table router. Horrifying. Never again on an SG body. Goddamn.

 

[Daf57]

Great start! Subbed for updates.

 

[vansinn]

Cute project! Looks like Kaya mahogany, yes?

24 5/8" scale sounds a Bit short to me for the low string; why not give it a small amount of multiscaling.. It would at least make it more suitable for drop-A, which can be very sexy for some styles. I would put a Sperzel D-Thing on the low string, hehe.

 

[pondman]

Nice one

 

[rockskate4x]

I go to drop G on my epiphone I love the idea of a short mahogany 7. If you can do drop E on 27" you can certainly do drop A on the various gibby and imitation guitar scales (between 24.5 and 24.875 depending on factory. Many gibsons and epiphones are actually 24.562.)

 

[jwade]

This will have the TOM angled a hair more than you usually see as means of compensating for using up to a 70 for a low B/A. I decided on a 5/32nds compensation, which should be perfect as my 6 string SG has always served me exceptionally for down tuning, with the notable intonation issues that arise from using anything higher than a 64 for the low B/A


Oh and yes that's Khaya mahogany.

 

[Pikka Bird]

For some reason, decided to use the table router. Horrifying. Never again on an SG body. Goddamn.

Elaborate? Looks like it got a little crazy in that picture with the template still attached. Did you route too much at a time?

 

[jwade]

There are just a lot of areas on an SG where you end up routing over end grain. I was lucky though, I was trying to stay clear of most of those areas to avoid any blow-out, got a little too close and had one minor little glitch, but it sanded out easily.

End grain + router = profanity

 

[Rick]

That is a sick idea.

 

[celticelk]

Gibson-scale 7 = YES. Can't wait to watch this emerge!

 

[jwade]

Didn't get much done on the SG yesterday/today as I've been finishing up an acoustic. Sapele mahogany back/sides/top, spalted maple burl rosette, curly maple binding, ebony fingerboard/headstock veneer, and the bridge will be ebony as well.

I did get a little bit done on the SG though. Oh also, made a little spec change. Going with a ziricote fingerboard now

Tomorrow morning, I'm glueing on the headstock veneer, doing the neck/headstock shape, and hopefully the various body cavities.

 

[XxJoshxX]

You should do an acoustic thread, that sapele top looks really nice!

 

[jwade]

Thanks! I think I will.

 

[eddiewarlock]

sapele es a beautiful and cheap wood. Very resonant too.

 

[jwade]

Agreed. I'm thinking of doing a neck-through Explorer out of sapele at some point.

 

[alvaro89]

I'm following the process ! 7Strings SG is a good idea !

 

[jwade]

What's left, final shaping/sanding the neck, carving the body bevels, round-over the heel for fitting/gluing, and then by Tuesday or Wednesday, should be ready for finishing.

Starting an 8 string Iceman next week as well, and doing a series of Tung Oil coats on the acoustic during the week.

 

[pondman]

 

[jwade]

Getting pretty close now. What's left: shaping/fitting the neck heel before gluing in the neck, routing the pickup cavities, doing frets, and then finishing. Might do an inlaid logo medallion thing on the headstock, not sure as I don't have any jewelers blades at the moment. We'll see!

 

[Lickers]

Nice to see another SG 7er.

Did you oversize the body or are you keeping it the same as a stock SG?