ViK Guitars Black Lotus 8 Baritone build

[ViK-master]

Thanks for the update photos. I'm curious how that will play when it's done. Here's a question I have about it: Why did you want to add the additional piece of FB on there as opposed to just ending the frets at the 7th string? To keep the string height on the 8th string the same as the others? Because initially I would have assumed the additional piece of FB would be at the same level as the other FB, rather than the frets.

Yep, thus made all the strings will be placed at one radius. Otherwise the 8th string would be lower than others. That would make it inconvinient to slide on it as well as there could be possibility of unwanted touching the edge of the frets when playing 8 rather with your fingers or 8 string touching the frets while sliding. Both would seriously fuck up playability.

 

[Customisbetter]

Another important update

First I planed and sanded the "fretless" ebony part to make it of the same height as the frets are as well as radius.

I was hoping if you would go this route. brilliant.

 

[ViK-master]

So the whole stuff has been glued with hide glue. I cleaned the surfaces and sanded the sides to fit Black Lotus SL-8B model shape

I can't wait to do the carve!

 

[ViK-master]

Inspiration is what really makes things happen. Three days ago we basically had a neck a some raw cut boards for the body. Today we have much more.
This update posted on my forum contains about 50 pics and it describes in details how Black Lotus SL-8B body shape was born.

So today early in the morning my friend Nik picked me up and we moved to the shop to procced with the body.

First raw stage of shaping with chiesels

Nik is trying the carve to get sure it's comfortable

Then details on shaping took part and after that I sanded the body. All handwork due to the shape complicity

It looks fantastic and fits the body quite well.

And it's also a kind of magic. Much like sculpturing when you create (not just do or craft) smth with your hands. This is my favorite part of the job.

 

[ViK-master]

After a coffe break we all exсited and inspired went on with the back side

White ash is pretty dense wood and very hard to carve, much more hard than mahogany.
And this is what you actually pay for...

And in my personal and professional opinion this is the only way how the REAL thing is born. You put love, skills, experience and sweat in what you do and then get it back as a master-piece...

With chiesels and a planner we got here

And then sanded the back side so it look like this

The "heal"... there is actually NO heal! :sarcastic:
Goddamn that thing is mega-comfortable! :git:

So the body is almost done. Some routing and sanding is left before sealing.
We both tired but happy spent maybe an hour or even more just staring at this and smiling like idiots which just'd watched the 8th miracle ;D.
It really hard to believe that only a few hours ago it was just a piece of wood and now..

 

[ViK-master]

The body really "hugs" the body. And looks very natural

Some guys don't need strings to start shredding

And the two brothers' meeting

P.S.> Whenever this guitar is ever sold the buyer MUST include with payment a bottle of good whiskey for Nik for all the stuff he's doing for the guitar through the whole process

 

[NikNik]

Hi Vik!
We had today remarkable time!
Remains very little!
This guitar - super!

 

[Syrinx]

I love how the grain changes on the back where you've done the carving. That is so cool.

 

[Edika]

Awesome awesome awesome and just awesome!!

 

[ViK-master]

Thanks, guys! It's really supportive to know someone does care .

 

[ViK-master]

Today I did some drill work.
First I drilled the angled whole for the input jack

Misplaced strap button whole will make the balance better

And the controls. Every control space is recessed for optimal height.

 

[Ernesto]

That's amazing. I want one, a dark blue one. I'd better start saving up. I can't wait to hear it! It would be cool to get in someone like Tosin Abasi's hands and see what comes out.

 

[ViK-master]

Nik once again visited me today so it got obvious some progress on the Lotus was gonna happen.

So I did the final routing

Placed the stuff inside to get sure everything has enough space

Why not to put the knobs then?

This is how recessed controls are made on this model

Every knob placed on specific height to provide optimal access

Placing the bridge

Backside ferulles, I miss one right now

So basically we have some sanding left before sealer.

And I need an opinion. On previous Lotus I made the ash backside black destressed. I meen the grain of ash were black. I'm not sure whether to stain them this time, natural looks so great. What would you say?

 

[Thrashmanzac]

i say leave it natural, just put a clear coat on it

 

[Customisbetter]

Natural fo sho!

Looking great guys. Truly awesome.

 

[ViK-master]

Thanks, guys! I'll leave it natural then.

 

[ViK-master]

What do all normal people do on Mondays? Right! Get some rest after a hard week.
But that doesn't apply to the two guys with shot brains and some insane love to guitars :haha:. So today me and Nik drove to my shop to make some progress on the beasty 8.

First of all I made cavity cover of ash

I was going to just place the battery inside of the cavity but later I changed my mind and decided to place this battery box. I want the owner of this guitar feel comfortable)).

And then we spent a few hours talking about lots of thing in this life while I was sanding the entire guitar and preparing it for the sealer.

Here's it

And then I sprayed a few coatings of nitro-sealer on the guitar, but mostly on the mahogany as I need the grains on the ash to stay deep for that nice "relief" feel.

The weather was great so we did some shots outside

This guy will be the first one to pick the very first sound of this baritone. I definitly owe that to him for all of his support and help

 

[Empryrean]

I like this!

 

[ViK-master]

I like this!

Thanks! So do I!

I spayed the sealer on the mahogany part once again today after sanding the body

 

[ViK-master]

The two brothers side by side - custom 7 and prototype 8))