Custom Flamed Maple 540R project-pics

frankfalbo · #1 11-12-2009, 09:41 PM

Here's something that's about 17 years in the making. I got this wood 17 years ago and glued it together into a blank. Then about 6 years ago I carved it into a Radius shape, a composite of all of my favorite aspects of the different shape migrations from 1987 through 1993. Then I stained it dark brown, thinking I would sand it back and go with an antique violin kind of thing, then I stripped it back to the point where there was just a little brown in the flames, and then a friend of mine came up with this color after I picked the two colors of the burst. It looks different in person. When the guitar is done I'll take pics outside. These are all low light pics with and without flash.

For the bridge, I thought I'd pay homage to the Radius shape by carving a "mini radius" to scale out of this Figured Walnut. I recessed these Steinberger style saddles into the wood (I'll add a metal bottom plate) and then I drilled and threaded the Walnut bridge for allen screws that lock the saddles into place, just like a Steinberger bridge. If I don't like it once it's all together I'll just replace it with a more sculpted piece that is NOT shaped like a Radius, but rather more like G&L's hardtail ASAT and Bass bridges.

The neck is solid Brazillian, with the skunk stripe made from the same piece of wood.

Can't decide between zebra pickups, cream P-Rails, or black at this time. I'll wait until it's all put together but I'm open to suggestions. Here's the rest of the pics: http://s476.photobucket.com/albums/r...ius%20project/

frankfalbo · #2 11-13-2009, 12:34 AM

Updated!

jazzedout · #3 11-13-2009, 02:48 AM

Nice!!! I would go with zebra pickups. Is that a full rosewood neck? Where did you get that?

LonePhantom · #4 11-13-2009, 06:24 AM

Awesome, and the brazillian rosewood neck, brilliant!

Definitely go the Zebra humbuckers.

Hub · #5 11-13-2009, 06:52 AM

Looks awesome! Zebra gets my vote too

nuno · #6 11-13-2009, 08:26 AM

hi Frank, glad to see you here again. great job by the way! i can't help you on the pickups choice though, as i'd put some red ones LOL

marianozz · #7 11-13-2009, 11:17 AM

Hey Frank! Nice to see you back indeed

Heh, thats some crazy looking bridge you got there

Congrats man, that looks great, and i love the solid neck... Black pups would be sad, full cream will detract atention from the body (id have to see outside pics to be sure...) So i guess id go with Zebra as it is

Agent540 · #8 11-13-2009, 11:20 AM

wow ! very nice !

I vote for black PU's ! clear tone PU covers will "distract" eyes from that wondefull top

frankfalbo · #9 11-13-2009, 12:28 PM

Thanks so far guys,

The neck is one solid piece of Rosewood, no fretboard. The body is also solid front-to-back, glue joint down the center. It's not a top and back. You're all pretty much confirming what I've been thinking.

The bridge is the only thing still in question. It's strung through the body though, and I can make pretty much any surround I want at any later date, including brass, aluminum, ebony, whatever, and shape it more like this:

**jim777** · #10 11-13-2009, 01:11 PM

Looks great Frank, and I'd go with the cream P-rails as I've heard nothing but raves about them

frankfalbo · #11 12-22-2009, 12:35 AM

Updates:

And finally the nearly completed build:

I will still install another knob, push pull tone or maybe an active/passive thing. After much deliberation, custom black satin finish pickups, and I will most likely install metal mounting rings. Sorry for the "home grown" pics, I'll try to get some "glamour shots" going at some point. It still looks a lot better to me in person than any picture I've taken. More pics here:
http://s476.photobucket.com/albums/r...ius%20project/