New custom project (non-Ibanez?)

[screamndemon69]

I have been waiting 5 months for the handmade parts to arrive and finally received them this last week. I did some "horse trading" (no, there were no HORSES involved!! ), and after great negotiations and hundreds of emails for details and custom mods- I have the project parts in hand!!!
I almost cried when I opened the shipping carton and pulled out the first project: a handmade neck w/ no inlay (yet), side abalone markers, ebony fretboard, Jem style headstock, mahogany overlay on headstock and 24 beautiful frets!! I will eventually be adding a chrome vine, scalloped last 4 frets and some kind of logo- not yet decided on what that will be- any ideas are welcome!
Attatched to this beautiful neck is a handmade mahogany Jem custom style body. It is the sexiest thing I have ever owned with six strings (that are not yet on it!! )!! It has a monkey grip and two humbuckers (a pair of old pups to try out in it- nothing special yet). I doesn't have a lions claw in it and I'm not sure I even want to add it. I will however, add a mid route for a tele-style single coil. The holes for the volume and tone pots and the selector switch will eventually get re-cut to be closer to a Jem style. It has a Jem style input jack already installed.
I spent the other night fine-sanding the body and putting the first coat of stain on it and it looks dead sexy!! I will apply a top coat of tung oil if I can get some info on the application process. I bought a bottle of low gloss tung oil and am nervous of applying it as I have never used it before. Any help- please?
I would like to put a chrome/steel pickguard on it to go with the vine/chrome/mahogany theme and to possibly hide the holes that already exist in the body. I might change my mind just because the wood grain is sooo nice and it would be a shame to cover it up.
I have to give special props to the person that has helped me get my dream projects underway and who also did most of the work himself - none other than forumite - FFALBO (aka Frank). He has taken painstakenly maticulous (sp?) time and effort to salvage a previous un-payed for project and modified it to suit my taste as becoming my first Jem custom. Thanks Frank!! You have helped making my guitar dreams come true!!
I will post a pic as soon as I can get my hands on a digital camera as I am so very proud of how it is shaping up and I know other Jemsiters will enjoy seeing pics as well!
I will update posts with info on the second handmade body (basswood- 100% Jem specs) that he also sent me as it takes shape into my 2nd Jem custom. I'm am thinking it will go the Jeremy Jem911 route to the best of descriptions at this time. I will eventually get a used RG570 for the neck and parts to complete that project.
I will post pics ASAP.
Todd

[screamndemon69]

not ready with the pics yet- but hope to have some soon of the JEM77VCM (vine/chrome/mahogany). i did get the back of the headstock "blessed" by the man "Himself", Mr.Vai, with a signature. he also signed a backplate to go on my 2nd custom Jem.
i just got my last needed part to be able to have it playable and plan to wire it up a.s.a.p. and get it plugged in.
i will still eventually get a pickguard - possibly clear to show the grain - and have LGM do the chrome vine on the ebony fretboard to round out the theme.
i have been thinking of some Gibson nickel covered hums and a tele covered neck pup (in the mid position) to give it a real chrome mahogany look. i think the Gibson pups should sound really nice as they are designed for a mahogany bodied instrument. time will tell.
the 2nd custom is soon to be under construction as the parts are in the works as i write. i have a newer RG570 that will supply the neck and other needed parts for the project on the way (thanks Jim!). that one will take shape with a multi-color red/maroon/black/white swirl job and a PBK style pyramid inlay. i saw a cool one on the herc fede website that is very close to the look that i am aiming for. it was named the "Diablo II". i might go with the "Diablo III" title unless another name hits me.
i'll hopefully be able to post picks soon!

[screamndemon69]

She isn't up and playable yet, but i would like to share pics if i can figure out how to post them. if someone will let me email them a few pics to post or teach me how to post pics (i'm on AOL ), i would be very grateful.
I only need a few things to complete her and have her playable - shorter post screws and a shorter block (not necessary unless i want to put a back plate on.
other mods will come later - chrome vine on the neck, Gibson chrome hums, possible Tele style neck pup for the mid position and a 5 way switch. i might get a clear pickguard fitted to keep her nice and not cover the beautiful grain of the mahogany.
Thanks Frank for all of your support!!
Todd

[Jem7RB MK]

Todd dude,I'll happily host them for ya ... khracing@yahoo.co.uk

Rob

[screamndemon69]

thanks Rob!! pics on the way!!

[Jem7RB MK]

Here they are ... Sheeerrweet looking too :-)









Rob

[screamndemon69]

thanks sooo much Rob!!!! i'm glad i finally get to share something that i'm so proud to own!!! enjoy!!
Todd

[matt_cater]

very nice. i love natural finishes

[jay ratkowski]

It she were mine I'd drop in some duncans and call it done! I love necks with no inlays...

[AndrewTodd]

That's just about the best looking "Jem" I've ever seen!!

The body looks amazing, leave it without the scratchplate, it'd be a crime to hide that wood.

If you'd put a single coil in the middle you'd pretty much have just built my dream guitar!

[screamndemon69]

Thanks again Rob for posting my pics!!
I'm glad you guys are getting to see what i've been lusting after for a LONG time!!! Frank is to thank for the wood work and letting me horse swap some gear for the opportunity to build it as my own.
i would like to put a clear guard on it to protect the wood - but the jury is still out on that. i am also very partial to putting a tele neck pup in the mid position for a nice tone and a really cool look. i don't know what pups will end up staying in it- the pups in it now are the ones Frank gave me for the project and i have yet to hear how they compliment the mahogany. i am still thinking of some Gibson chrome covered hums: hence the look- chrome/mahogany - and the fact that they are designed with mahogany tone in mind seems to be a logical way to go.
i hope The Loop actually sees this thread as he was my inspiration for the mahogany/chrome/Jem look that i saw in one of his virtual Jems. i am still partial to the chrome vine idea, but as Jay said- the "no inlay" look is very sexy as would a JP model side marker at the 12th fret in chrome would also look way cool.
i feel awkward calling it a "Jem" as the monkey grip is really the only Jem feature and i might not even put a mid pup and definitely won't put a lion's claw in it. being MY guitar though, i guess i can call it what i wish. i have dubbed it the "JEM77VCM" - that is if i end up with a chrome vine on it - and of course it will also get a 4 frets scallop as well.
i'll keep you posted on the progress and will bust my a** to have it play as nice as it looks when Jemfest rolls around again!
BTW- yes, that is His signature on the back of the headstock. it was "blessed" by Himself at the '03 House of Blues G3 show in Orlando,FL. He was very kind and signed some other stuff for me as well.
Todd

[screamndemon69]

this project is now in playing condition and is a little different than what i first set out to make. the monkey grip and Jem style input are the only Jem features. the neck is a little thicker than a wizard or Jem neck. it is more like my G&L Climax XL model i have for sale in the classifieds - kind of flat on the back yet a little more thickness than my RG or Jem. i might have Jeremy shape it a little closer to a wizard (II?) or Jem shape whenever i send it for a side-dot abalone inlay on that beautiful ebony fretboard.
i like the sound of the pups in it and don't plan to add a mid pup. the lead is USAF1 and the neck is an AH1. they have superb output and the tones are very usable. i was very suprised at the neck pup getting my fav strat style single tone i so love as opposed to the flatter and fatter hum sound that i had imagined it would be.
i am almost in tears as this project has been in the works for over a year and a half. she is my sexiest guitar i own. BIG thanks to Mr. Falbo!!!! without his help and effort, this project would have never materialized. also BIG thanks to The Loop for his inspiration in his computer renderings that gave me the idea for the overall style i wanted.
i will christen (sp?) this guitar in front of a few 1000 unexpecting people on this sunday at a big festival in a town about an hour outside of Gainesville called Palatka. i hope to get some pics of me onstage with this gorgeous axe and maybe Rob will help me post them - again.
WOO HOO!!!!

[Jem7RB MK]

Pics re-hosted for ya dude !!!

Rob

[Jimi D]

Well that's pretty nice, but I have a custom of my own... My very own Ibanez Jim!





Amazing what you can do with some left over parts, some imagination, and a paint stripper...

[screamndemon69]

very cool. it's like a bad horsie with a twist! my next project is leaning towards a bad horsie direction with a few of my own twists as well.
it's a great feeling to have a one-of custom isn't it?
thanks again Rob!!
Todd