N(u)GD

[Huggy Love]

I picked this thing up about a month & 1/2 ago but she was a pinch fugly & neglected when I got her, so I spent some time giving her some TLC (pup swap, neck reshape,TR adjustment,intonation,finish touchups) and she's ready to roll.

Special Thanks to Django49 for coming up with some arch tops for me.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

sohot

 

[django49]

Cool! Glad I had some extras in my parts drawer.

 

[Rider1260]

Super SWEET !!!!!!
Tell us more - Neck reshape - what pickups - hows it sound etc

 

[Ovibos]

sohot

sofaking hot

 

[Huggy Love]

Super SWEET !!!!!!
Tell us more - Neck reshape - what pickups - hows it sound etc

I did the neck reshape myself (file/caliper/sanding) right now it's satin hand rubbed but I'm considering throwing some lacquer so it matches the rest of the guitar surface-wise. Color stain was tough but I got it done.
It had 245's in it but for me the arch top pups are the best way to get a jazz tone out of these instruments. I'm working on a tune now and will put it to the test and see how it comes across in the recording.

Sounds like my HB II but a little richer and rounder due to the all mahogany build, plays a bit differently than my double cutaway HB, it plays smaller & tighter to best describe how it feels. With the original pups I could see it being a shredder axe, now it's my jazz jam around town piece.

 

[RevBillyG]

Neck reshape?

Sounds kinda drastic.

 

[veinbuster]

Very nice.
Bold move to reshape the neck.
I like my archtop pickups.

 

[ViperDoc]

Neck reshape. Ballz confirmed.

 

[garrettb]

I love those Singlecut Hollowbody models.

 

[László]

Looks great, Huggy!

 

[g.wizz]

Fantastic !!!

 

[owickerman]

Thats a nice guitar, can you describe what kind of reshape you did on the neck?

 

[bodia]

Nice score T! Way to be an owner too! I've got a couple I want to micro mesh the necks on, but I've been too much of a wuss to try it. I'd freak out if I thought about a reshape!

 

[Huggy Love]

Thats a nice guitar, can you describe what kind of reshape you did on the neck?

I was going to take pictures and show a step-by-step on it but getting the finish right was so much of a challenge that I had to concentrate on that.

Step 1-(the scary part) took a file to the back of the neck, using a caliper and the neck on my HB II as a guide, I took measurements and carved it to those specs.
2-(the hard work) tape off the areas that you don't want scratch marks and hand sand to the desired shape and finish.
3-(the real challenge) getting the finish right is actually an ongoing process for me because I'm not completely finished with it and I'm at a fork in the road. First thing I noticed when I carved and sanded was that this guitar was not stained the color but was natural mahogany with two different coats of tinted lacquer, one red and one burgundy. Next I noticed I sanded away the dark grain which I had to re-enhance it by filling the grain with putty that I added pigment to and sanding away the excess, easy. Then I stained it to match the tinted clear coats which went fairly well also and sealed it with a hand rubbed finish, but that's the can of worms that got opened up. I'm on the third go around on this because I've applied medium heavy coats of two different products and I still am not happy with either. I've done thin hand rubbed finishes on maple necks but for some reason I did not like the consistency on this mahogany neck so right now I have it stained with a very light coat of oil finish but I am considering throwing some lacquer on it to match the surface of the rest of the guitar. Still on the fence on that one, got this axe for peanuts so I'm not concerned about resale value at this point.

 

[garrettb]

First thing I noticed when I carved and sanded was that this guitar was not stained the color but was natural mahogany with two different coats of tinted lacquer, one red and one burgundy.

I believe this is the approach on any wood that isn't maple. The color is suspended in the finish coats.

As long as the end result feels good in your hand, I suppose that's all that matters.

 

[markd21]

Very cool, and I admire your skills at modifying!

 

[CVS]

Very impressive - Do you have any "before" pics? I want to admire your handiwork.

 

[shinksma]

I am fairly certain I have the skills to re-shape a neck through filing/sanding in this fashion. I am also certain that the cost of sending a guitar into the PTC for a neck re-shape would be a far more economical prospect than doing it myself, due to the medical costs of anxiety and/or a heart attack that would ensue.

But I have infinite admiration for someone who isn't afraid to just get down to it!

 

[Huggy Love]

Very impressive - Do you have any "before" pics? I want to admire your handiwork.

I was going to take step-by-step pics but I scrapped that idea because I had to concentrate on getting the finish right, but this is what it looked like when I got it with uncovered pups.
It kind of had that mid-70s studio instrument vibe.


*Forgive the blurr* Only "before" pic I had.