JS/Radius style with fabric finish

[stratoskier]

I'm not quite sure how to introduce this one. It's a little... odd?

It started life as a very weird tobacco burst strat-style body with a single humbucker. After getting it (auction), I discovered that it was routed to some scale other than 25-1/2". I did a bunch of routing (added two singles, new neck pocket, rear control cavity...) and reshaped the body into a JS/Radius style shape. My intention was to redo another burst finish, but I decided I didn't much like the wood grain. Just for fun, it became a fabric finish. It wasn't fun. Word of advice -- don't ever try a fabric finish on a body with all these rounded curves. It was a pain. BTW, the neck and pickups are genuine Ibanez taken from other guitars.

Kind of reminds me of Grandma's old upholstered armchair... or something like that. Anyway, here it is:

[brianxtr]

wow that looks cool!how did you do it?

[Homebake]

mother of god...

[stratoskier]

Originally Posted by Homebake

mother of god...

not sure how to interpret that... No likey?

[The Euphor]

I kind of agree with the "mother of god..." comment. Not really sure what to think of it. BUT! If it's a good guitar, then it's a good guitar. Could use some neon knobs...

[CosmicDebris]

I don't normally comment on stuff like this but you did a really good job. Fabric not my taste but application of it looks very well done and the body shaping good also m8.

[Robstar]

Very cool. It is different therefore i like it.

[stratoskier]

Originally Posted by brianxtr

how did you do it?

Is that "how did you do it?" like on CSI (as in detectives asking the perp "How did you fit that guy into those little ice trays?")

Seriously, I hold no illusions that it's not pretty weird. I guess that was kind of the point. You know, the Donnies are pretty weird (yeah, I know this isn't a Donnie!).

The body shape was done with a comibination of palm sander and hand sanding with blocks. The application of the material was pretty much like the Project Guitar tutorial on this subject -- cut fabric slightly larger than body (2 pieces for front and back); glue with Titebond II using pressure and lots of painter's tape; seal with lacquer sanding sealer to stiffen the fabric; carefully trim and fix imperfections using spot repairs with super glue; apply many, many coats of clear finish. Like I said, it was a PITA. But no one else has one like it, right?

Gotta go -- Satch is on the phone saying he wants one...

Cheers,
Bert

[lerxst6]

Nice work. Definitely a 1 of a kind you got there.

[dimarzio562]

Yeah nice work for sure!

[nuno]

the graphic pattern isn't my thing but hey, that's a great work! congrats.

[yellowshirtguy]

Not really a pattern I would have chosen, but it's a really cool idea, and you did a great job with it!

I'd love to find a maple neck for my radius.

[smooth55]

It's interesting, Floral JS... but the real question is does it match the curtains?
Nice job and it would definitely go well with the Angela Landsbury collection.

[stratoskier]

Originally Posted by smooth55

... it would definitely go well with the Angela Landsbury collection.

These are some of the most fun comments I've ever gotten on one of these projects. Angela Landsbury -- yes! That's what I'll call it -- Angela. So far, we've been calling it Grandma (who, incidentally, is very bummed that I appropriated the fabric from her chair. Now she has to sit on the floor). Even my family is on the fence about this one, but I still think it's a fun, goofy guitar. It'll be interesting to play out with it and see what kind of reaction I get.

[smooth55]

Glad to help with a name. I think it's pretty cool that you were able to build and finish it in such an original fashion.