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Dolan Custom Guitars - Honey Roasted Maple 5 String.


Dolando
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Hello, I have done a couple of build diaries from parts, but thought I'd share a scratch build with you all, so I hope you enjoy seeing thus come together. It's a custom shape, but it's based on a deluxe jazz and a few other shapes I like the feel of.

The specs are;[list]
[*]1 piece Swamp Ash Body with Honey Roasted maple cap and wenge veneer pinstripe
[*]5 piece multi laminate neck - Honey roasted maple/wenge/birdseye maple
[*]Birdseye maple fingerboard
[*]20" radius with stainless steel frets
[*]2 way truss rod
[*]Hipshot hardware
[*]Nordstrand Big Splits
[*]Glockenklang 3 band preamp
[/list]
The wood I'm using;


[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/Number11_zpsda458c85.jpg.html"][/url]

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/EE390DFB-A67B-418F-9476-CAB65C199841_zpsxmwduvg0.jpg.html"][/url]

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/646F5190-8844-4F21-9D5C-A3F4EA5BB0E7_zpsvaoket1d.jpg.html"][/url]

The initial Plans....I have since redrawn this more accurately before I started building.

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/DC393EEF-AD60-4C87-BECF-F12E1472570E_zps8snjexuv.jpg.html"][/url]

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/0289849D-2170-4DF4-8D28-57E0322ED99C_zpsykkjitmx.jpg.html"][/url]

The first job was glue the cap together, After it was taken down to thickness using a drum sander, I jointed the edges on a planer and once I was happy with the join, I then roughed up the edges slightly with 180 grit sandpaper to give the glue some surface to grab onto. On a jig I then clamped it up just tight enough to pinch together but being careful not to put a bend in the wood.

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/A9F6AFCA-322D-4213-822F-930D1850376E_zpsl2pqe6y7.jpg.html"][/url]

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/61EA8AA6-DA49-4DB4-8D74-DF59F4FD861F_zpszw2znasy.jpg.html"][/url]

After cleaning up the cap, I then cut out an oversized rough shape of the body shape so it's a lot easier to clamp up. I did this on all three pieces oversized by about 10mm.

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/AD834A1F-6508-4925-845B-1CF08466C778_zpsbbyazh04.jpg.html"][/url]

I used a synthetic glue rather than a PVA based glue like Titebond as i was using an oily wood like wenge as a pinstripe, and this would react with the PVA based glue.

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/D8695785-57F6-49C2-A509-812AA005F0B5_zps7jv5elkg.jpg.html"][/url]

It was then just the case of clamping all this together making sure that the centre line was matched up on all pieces. I have cut these all around 10mm oversized to give me a little margin for error incase anything does slip.

[url="http://s917.photobucket.com/user/DolanCustomGuitars/media/Dolan%20Custom%20Guitars%20Build/1EAC1015-AAAB-4466-9FCE-8052B5025A24_zpssibud1ta.jpg.html"][/url]


I will have more photos of this very soon...

next step is to unclamp clean up and draw on the final shape and trip off the as much excess with the bandsaw ready for routing the final shape.

Edited by Dolando
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[quote name='Dolando' timestamp='1442902388' post='2870293']
Thanks, I am a little further than this now, so will add some [b]pore[/b] photos when I get a chance. :)
[/quote]

Wow, they will be close ups!! :unsure:

Great looking build, will be keeping an eye open for updates.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hello all, I've made a little more progress on this bass, and I'm really liking how its turning out. Ive taken inspiration from a particular Fodera bass I've seen. And thought the contrast between the roasted maple and white maple fingerboard should look really nice.

I trimmed the excess off the edges with my bandsaw to give my route a little less work to do, then I went round the whole body using flush cutter bits. I used top and bottom bearing cutters so I could chose the appropriate way to route according to grain direction.

82906611-E186-484C-9ED4-5EFAB11B7746_zpsedituqb4.jpg&key=250ee4e0d3c7b3fcce736263ddd01941f00e7acbd5b27b8709f40b211f39a9d8

I also went round top and bottom with a 6.3mm roundover bit. The top was also thinessed so that the veneer would be at the start of the round over. It's all in the details. :)

4956E371-2166-4611-9910-BD5A79DCC074_zpsjk8jrn9e.jpg&key=18d83a1fa74ed2f881115426a29ab5eac458ba0bd6970e9918191dfc8a2e2101

This is what it will look like when tru oil is applied!

F7DA26F9-E000-4889-BF53-B3243856B1D7_zpslsni9jwf.jpg&key=b275b10b36083ba5a9e5f9116302fdf9cfe1e8784792896bfe5bdb6d993ef712

The back....

4D3483FC-B929-4722-9E86-25388BDE9E70_zps71fmktv8.jpg&key=3ddf6211563b8552c4d2e6a27c3fdbd96273c530d5741428bc048b23e17dab52

Fingerboard wood has also been prepared ready for slotting.

252F3285-C0D5-41EC-8DB9-877A57E88DB3_zpsm0iipgfw.jpg&key=af7ace8e358906d6eb3373816c92e01cc872794c93c07ad947504beab459f7f4

I have also managed to get the multi laminate neck glued up, is a bit hectic and can be fiddly, but well worth the effort.

B2472B43-2531-4D49-84B8-FC111E13EE25_zpsk5tfucbn.jpg&key=839472dd0871cfc95bc5f002b8e0bbb7e84babf18d99b8a11c6ead3ee20107de

I rasped off the excess then but it through a belt sander to finish the last 1mm down to flush. When oiled will look stunning!

A5759808-3CD2-4375-9DBB-1CB6777AEE19_zpskqclfeop.jpg&key=8ffc26c8e7637e5da834c4400d5ec3d1502e488db13130380aca7a20826d0e04

Next I will be slotting the fingerboard and routing the truss rod cavity.

Edited by Dolando
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Is there a reason why fretboards exist?

I was just thinking to myself that I quite like the laminated neck that you've made and supposed that it would be nice to keep the lamination visible rather than cover it with a fretboard.

Could you not apply the frets directly onto a 'naked' neck?

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[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1445018293' post='2888264']
Is there a reason why fretboards exist?

I was just thinking to myself that I quite like the laminated neck that you've made and supposed that it would be nice to keep the lamination visible rather than cover it with a fretboard.

Could you not apply the frets directly onto a 'naked' neck?
[/quote]

I don't see why not. Fender have made 1 piece necks for years. I'm sure you could radius and slot that if you left the extra height. You would just have to put the truss rod in the back, but if you were really clever you could hide the skunk stripe in the white maple strip, and it would be completely hidden in the pattern. :) hmmmm....

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Thanks all for the very kind words, its always nice to hear, So really appreciate it, especially that its my own design (loosely based on a few classics). I can't wait to get some finish on this. All that maple is going look awesome! :)

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1445088078' post='2888720']
Gotta say I'm impressed mate. Doesn't seem any time ago you were just dabbling in putting together Warmoth self builds and now you're producing some really classy looking stuff of your own design. Looking forward to seeing the finished article!
[/quote]

Hey mate, how are things? :) Yea those were the start of an addiction, I'm constantly looking at new tools or techniques, I think I may have a slight problem. :) I'll make sure to bring with me next time I'm back in norfolk and you can have a play on it, and maybe build you one in the near future. :)

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  • 1 year later...

Birdseye maple fingerboard was slotted with a jig
089AA3B1-748D-4BE8-9F78-3EFBBE4442EA_zps

Here are the parts put together, started to see what it will look like now....

4600E299-EFD1-404F-99FD-3D18C4EFBCD4_zps

I love the contrast between the normal maple and roasted maple

089AA3B1-748D-4BE8-9F78-3EFBBE4442EA_zps

As promised truss duel action truss rod channel has been routed to depth and cut out wider parts with a chisel. No need to glue in truss rod, just held in place with silicone sealer!

AA01B09C-79B8-4C33-B591-02188D3ED595_zps

I didn't get a photo of the fretboard gluing, but I used a caul that only put pressure on the outer edges to help prevent glue in the truss rod which would be a disaster!

Fretboard radius is 10" and done with a mixture of a levelling beam and a radius block, making sure to check each edge is the same thickness and is being radius'd evenly.

39492CF2-27FC-42F7-BC1A-8BA8529AAC1B_zps

Oh and lastly, I made a little progress on the volute!

025ABEFC-208C-4DA7-A47B-51794EFDDA01_zps

More coming soon...

Edited by Dolando
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[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1481707773' post='3194372']
It's progressing well. I always make a mental tick when other builders describe a technique and I can think "yes...I do that too!" Example, clamping the fretboard at the sides and not the middle....
[/quote]

Thanks! Yea I do that all the time :)

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1481710474' post='3194392']
Great seeing how creative some of you clever BCers are!
[/quote]

Thank you! :)

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I will never use normal side dots again....

71059CF8-3CED-449C-A6C0-271D1A007869_zpsgj9k0nwc.jpg&key=ae9e0270bd301cb1b9c77b877c04ee7440bd36c3a3990cc6fb503a6f37055806

Took a bit of time but managed to get the control cavity mapped out and routed. There's a lot to get in there, and didn't want a huge cavity. I've also made it so I have room if I want to install CTS pots on a new build.

70A5FDDC-4A5B-4B87-B468-CC8171875297_zpso3odoprz.jpg&key=aedb26ee3029b1e2ce80a2641dfb7b250775c6d2074b6955c6faed7aa5c8402c

The headstock is all routed out and the volute is definitely starting to look a lot cleaner.

C2A660D9-FA22-4359-82CD-7CD091F6E739_zps

I also realised that i didn't take any photos of the neck carving....well here it is mostly finished!

C5AD2443-9E6E-4991-9B61-D4F682549927_zps7fe0zovl.jpg&key=bc56114ce6abc39ebb718a1ea52ea7a3e2899e1fbb7dc4a7e8e2fc4a435e7fe2

And finally with tuners installed!

1F01653E-9E7E-4B70-A595-CFB6CA6C45B1_zpsw4lm2yzz.jpg&key=b976cc3b2d13d3e2693cdda3784925e9720fdfbd2fdafc8c04df1aea37d96606[/url]


Also just about managed to get the control cover made. I couldn't think of what to make this cover from for aged and then my now fiencee said well you've used wenge in the accent line and in the neck, why not use wenge? I really don't know why i never thought of that!?

DC2FA670-641F-41F0-8FB8-3B988A10B305_zpsv1g9oeqg.jpg&key=ad2fbf0e7b474c2b3d7bb213d641cb6d73430fe9636fe97af178946fc672b921

And lastly for now...I got the belly contour roughed out. hand carving is the best bit of building!

F7EA20E8-B9F8-4C63-B8A0-1CBA62D4D1A6_zpsrrkq7rjv.jpg&key=4967096ff6df42fc892dbdd24de517e15425a676c8f0924aa21a521e5c6b3524

That's all for now....

Edited by Dolando
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