Shipping First Orders

I am now shipping some of the first pre-orders - here are a few quick pictures:

Neck Jig

Here is a picture of my neck Jig - it simulates string tension on a neck when you are working on the frets. It is absolutely essential to setting up a guitar properly - The Neck Jig's dial indicators, peg head tensioner and peg head jack let me precisely simulate string tension, including the effect of the truss rod adjustment inside the neck. When I mill the frets, it is as if the strings are still on the guitar! To everyone who has pre-ordered, expect an email shortly. Thanks

Spalted Maple Stratocaster & Telecaster

Been working on a few Stratocasters & Tele - all with a 1 piece mahogany body and spalted maple tops - here are some pics:




They both have matching mahogany necks in the traditional pre-CBS headstock shape with ebony fingerboards & abalone dot markers. The telecaster has no stain on it yet - thats why it still looks "natural". I am hoping the mahogany adds some of its tonal characteristics (it's certainly added it's weight) I have not decided on pickups as yet - possibly a Seymour Duncan Everything Axe Pickup Set for the Strat or something by Lindy Fralin. Any idea's on the pickguard style would be appreciated!

Mitch Mitchell has died

Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell was found dead in a Portland hotel -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7726024.stm

R.I.P.

Gold Plating

Here is a picture of a couple of pickups I just plated with 24 carat gold / cobalt mix. They look really good, also the added cobalt significantly reduces the plating wearing off over time.




I also have some pictures of my prototype for the Series 2 guitar - its come out really nice - the prototype is in a cross between Cherry & Tobacco sunburst - its got a really vintage vibe, but a great modern look with the neck & headstock. Also just finishing the body's for a matched pair of guitars - a Strat and a Tele. Both have 1 piece mahogany body's and capped with spalted maple with a slight vintage tint. I will also post some pictures of them over the next few days. Thanks to everyone who has taken the survey - it is proving to be very useful for my future design considerations.

Finally, the next few weeks are going to really busy so if you email me & I dont get back to you right away, please bear with me, I will answer all emails when I have a chance. Everyone who has pre-ordered a guitar will be contacted shortly before each guitar is ready to ship. Thanks for all the support & check back soon for the new pictures.

SOLD OUT OF BLACK & PURPLE

Sorry to say I have now sold out of Black and Purple as well as the Amber & Tobacco Sunburst.

I still have very a very limited quantity of Blue, Cherry Sunburst, Red & Green.

Also very excited about the hardware - the gold plating is really good quality. I am using an excellent quality plating mix that is 24 carat gold with added cobalt for durability. Tests are showing the gold plating is really hard wearing while retaining a deep gold lustre. I will post some pictures in the next few days. Thanks for all the support.

James L. D'Aquisto Tear Drop

Just pulled this one out of the collection - this is another really intersting guitar.

One of the greatest guitar luthiers in history, James L. D'Aquisto, started his career in arch-top guitar building at the age of 17 at John D'Angelico's studio. He founded his own D'Aquisto brand after the passing of John D'Angelico and is known to have created some of the best-sounding, most sought after arch-top guitars available until his untimely death at the age of 59 in 1995.

The instruments he created in his later years are especially desired and are highly regarded as the “Holy Grail” of arch-top guitars. They are still the inspiration for many arch-top guitar builders.

I purchased this guitar from Ed Roman in Las Vegas - its serial number 003 and its NOT FOR SALE! Check out Ed Romans website - lots of guitars and I love his rants. Go to : http://www.edroman.com/index.htm