Unorthodox 6-String build mahogany/macasar/MDF/chromesteel

[Goatchrist]

So, it's been a really long while since I last posted.

The situation is this:

I started this guitar sometime in 2015, with a friend who's an experienced luthier and offers courses. (https://www.facebook.com/pg/MarcoGuitars/photos/?ref=page_internal)
I took long breaks for different reasons, but since June I'm at it again.

It's his design and his builds usually are enough unorthodox already, using all kinds of weird materials he finds in his carpenter workshop.
We decided to try out some stuff I know form monitoring people like Strandberg, Rick Toone and others. For example it features an Rick Toone IPNP neck, fanned frets and I had the honor to contribute a little on the bottom "cut-away" and the headshape.
He himself is building one without an IPNP neck profile and a very interesting/unusual wood combo.

Specs:

630mm-675mm scale.
Mahogany neck
2x 2mm carbon fiber reinforcements
Macasar Ebony Fretboard (my father still had some)
Mahogany "wings" or frame
Chrome-steel "resonance-board" 1.5mm thick
Top and and back made out of MDF with smoked eucalyptus veneer

Using Chrome steel as "body" is a bit of an experiment, they built Telecasters with steel plates in it before and they turned out great with a very clear and brilliant sound.
For me that is a bit of a risk, since I haven't heard one.
Everything else is still not decided.

tl/dr
Here are some random pics of the build.

 

[Mr_Mar10]

Mdf? :0

No pics broseph

 

[Goatchrist]

Mdf? :0

No pics broseph

Yes MDF " Medium-desnity fibreboard", it's just the cover, the bridge is mounted on the steel.

Now it should work. Sorry for the quality, I'm a lazy photographer and my cellphone camera is broken.
I try to take some good pictures next time I'm in the workshop.

 

[Wolfhorsky]

I like unorthodox approach. You have some great and fresh ideas. Keep us informed how it went.

 

[Mr_Mar10]

Yeah pics good now... liking that mate

This forum is proper inspiring some days!

 

[Goatchrist]

some new pics:

 

[Goatchrist]

So I make this post to motivate myself to finally finish this build.
My life has changed quite a bit since 2017 and playing and building guitars isn't my main focus anymore.
Still I want to finish this guitar. After having the same string on for a couple of years it should be ready to the final neck adjustments and to finish the frets (edges are still a bit sharp).

When I have done this, I might even do a little adio demo.

I might still find some pictures of the building process, specially the making of th e humbuckers was interesting, it'll take a couple of days.

But if anyone has an interest in a specific step of the build, let me know and I'll search for some pics on some dusty harddisks.
Help me get hyped and I might finish it later this year. Since my workshop is in a different city, I can only go on selected dates.

 

[Rubbishplayer]

Yes MDF " Medium-desnity fibreboard", it's just the cover, the bridge is mounted on the steel.

Well if it's good enough for Danelectro...

 

[Goatchrist]

Well if it's good enough for Danelectro...

The steel or the MDF?
The MDF serves no function but to cover the steel interrior and the mahogany frame.

 

[Grindspine]

The Macassar ebony and smoked eucalyptus look great!

 

[Rubbishplayer]

The steel or the MDF?
The MDF serves no function but to cover the steel interrior and the mahogany frame.

Danelectros are famous for their "masonite" tops and backs. Masonite is ordinary hardboard, the grandfather of MDF.

More here: https://luthierylabs.com/laboratory/materials-hardware/woods-etc/masonite/

 

[littlebadboy]

It turned out into a beautiful guitar! Very well done!

 

[Pingu]

Really great looking multi-layer build! I kind of wish there was some aesthetic of showing the layers and materials, but this is such a clean look too.