My custom doubleneck Jem project

Factory5150 · #1 02-16-2009, 02:45 PM

Hey guys you may have seen the korina doubleneck jem project on evilbay. Well I picked it up and have been working on it and its been a fun project so far.

Here are the pictures. I still have to finish shaping the volute and the heel on the 12 string. Obviously I have to shape the 6 string, which I will most likely start today.

Heres the body, I have not touched this yet, I will most likely leave this one for last. On the 12 string I am going to add another screw/ferrule for stability.

The 24th fret chipped off, and was one of the issues noted in the auction. After I trued the sides of the fretboard to the neck there were still some visible cracks and the bass side of the fret slot was huge so I needed to fill it and reslot it.

Here are the rest of the pics I took.
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6682/guitar005od3.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7891/guitar007nu5.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8991/guitar006ck9.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8706/guitar005pt1.jpg
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8234/guitar004sg8.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5222/guitar003gg4.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4526/guitar002vw6.jpg
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3341/guitar001fu9.jpg

Let me know what you guys think. I will continue to post progress pictures in this thread to keep you guys up to date. I made the 12 string neck a thicker asymmetrical profile and I will most likely do a wizard profile on the 6 string neck.

Chris

taracatac · #2 02-16-2009, 02:59 PM

Great project!

**elcid** · #3 02-16-2009, 03:12 PM

Did you hear that?
It sounded like 1000 Jemsiters popping boners.

Yanic · #4 02-16-2009, 04:04 PM

Very cool . But I think you have to give it the very special something (*it`s got enough space for a really cool swirl*).

Factory5150 · #5 02-16-2009, 04:24 PM

I haven't decided on a paintjob yet. I would hate to cover that awesome black limba. I thought about swirling it, But I have yet to swirl my own personal jem custom. Right now I am profiling the 6 string neck, and its slowly but surely coming along. I have a gold gotoh 12 string bridge and a gold schaller floyd for it. It will be wired with something zebra colored from either duncan or dimarzio. I want something crisp and clear for the 12 string and something thick and gritty for the 6 string. And just an FYI for anyone that cares, it 1000% for sure not be black or white with any *** vai logos on it. Necks are birdseye maple and the boards are ebony with turquoise inlay.

skins345669 · #6 02-16-2009, 05:09 PM

That is just incredible. I can't wait to see this progressing.

Factory5150 · #7 02-16-2009, 05:18 PM

I just got done shaping the 6 string neck..It has a hybrid asymmetrical/wizard profile, and its incredibly comfortable. I will post pictures later this evening when I get done finish sanding the necks.

DaniJem · #8 02-16-2009, 07:41 PM

a lot of work i see there....
good luck

Factory5150 · #9 02-16-2009, 08:30 PM

I don't look at it as a lot of work to do. I find wood working very soothing and relaxing. I just take my time and pay close attention to detail and everything usually goes smoothly. It took a few hours to shape the necks the way I liked them. I feel the biggest pain in the ass is radiusing the fretboard because its just constant sanding and really boring. My dewalt orbital sander broke today, the velcro pad fell apart so that was a minor setback. I will most likely have both necks radiused and finished sanded tomorrow. Ill sand the fretboards to 2500 grit then polish them so they are mirrors before I fret them. The body needs a ton of work before I can bolt the necks on and position the bridge.

Darin · #10 02-16-2009, 09:00 PM

Is it a Jem because the monkey grip? Would it be merely an RG or J-Custom or Prestige without it?

Looks heavy!

Factory5150 · #11 02-16-2009, 09:32 PM

Body is surprisingly light for how big it is. I guess its a Jem because of the lions claw, monkey grip and tree of life inlay. Personally I don't care what its called, I just called it a Jem because of those notable features. However the guitar assembled is going to weigh a ton.

Factory5150 · #12 02-22-2009, 04:43 PM

Sorry I haven't posted updates, I have been busy figuring out what I am going to do with this thing. Today I routed the neck pocket so the 6 string neck will actually fit. I don't have an updated picture of the body but all the tool marks have been removed and the heels have been shaped.

Here is the mirrored fretboard.

Both necks are shaped and finished sanded. All I need to do is buy tuners, nuts and fret wire. Next on the agenda is to mount the 12 string bridge and install the ferrules (string and neck). Somehow the body isnt flat, when I put my straight edge across it gaps in the middle by 1/16 of an inch. Mind you that was not my handywork but the previous owners work. So now I have to figure out how to make it true. the naked eye cannot see it, but it will make wetsanding after paint a pain in the ass.