Saturday, November 14, 2009

neckless guitar studies

Slowly but steadily, the neckless guitar project progresses... I have now the wood - it's beech wood, rarely used for solid bodies but - like birch wood - much appreciated usually for drums and speakers...
I decided finally to go for a Wilkinson bridge humbucker... Since the scale of the fretboard is different than the one I used for my calculations, I have to readjust everything a little bit... I realise that the connection between the pickups, the knobs and the jack socket will be problematic... And I'm considering adding a removable leg rest, probably home-made - a Steingerger leg rest is as expensive as a Seymour Duncan pickup!

neckless leg rest small

9 comments:

  1. It looks good so far. Fascinating instrument. The aluminium folding around the leg rest looks cool. But why build a neckless guitar? Is it just for the looks or do you expect better sound or ergonomic benefits?

    /Alex

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  2. Btw, I've noticed in your designs that you like covering the whole top of the guitar bodies with aluminium plate. Then, have you seen this project?

    It's (I believe) a Jazzmaster with a copper covered top and headstock. Not only does it look good on paper, such designs apparently also look well in real life.

    /Alex

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  3. Whoops, forgot the link. Here it is:
    http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=41232

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  4. thanks for the link, it's an interesting project...

    about the neckless guitar, I think that the idea came when I realized how difficult it is to make a good neck from scratch - that was a way to avoid it I guess! then when I developed the concept, I started considering than it would give a very straight and rigid neck that would provide a big sustain with a small body... I also think that - if it works - it could be a very easy way to build a guitar from a 100 x 30 planck that might interest some builders/players...

    It might feel difficult to play this instrument but with a proper guitar technic - that is coming from classical guitar, where you always keep your thumb on the back of the neck - it would not be a problem - but you cannot play it horizontal... I also consider another model with extra strings zither-style on top.

    an finally the metal fronts on my projects are meant for chambered solid bodies. I don't use this for this neckless because I want to keep it easy to build - maybe the next one.

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  5. this is going to be so cool once it's finished.

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  7. Hello, i love your blog and this project! I 've got one question: is there a copyright on the neckless guitar or can i build one myself one day?

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    Replies
    1. hello, thank you for the appreciation! and since I didn't manage to build this guitar yet, please feel free to try because I'm very curious to see if it works... I have the body cut in my living room and think about it often but since I don't have a workshop at the moment, it stays in limbo - and obviously it wants to be built since you contact me now! :-)

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