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New Decadent Guitar Project

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Thanks for the comments... what is a Fret Tour... link?

The electronics are being hooked up... the engraved truss rod and trem plate
covers are being delivered this week; Argentariis is finishing off the second
knob engraving this week; and below is the signed peghead in black lacquer.



PegHead.jpg
 
With you now living in Alberta, I bet it would cost less to visit you in Sweden, lol.

I had www.ScottOuderkirk.com create a custom case for the JEM (you send him any case and he does the priming, sketch, and sealing). He did a Hendrix case for me when I had a Hendrix Tribute guitar done. Below you will see some sketched out ideas, along with the final image:
vaisketchone.jpg

vaisketchtwo.jpg

Vaifinal.jpg
 
No one has questioned the bees yet. I didn't know this, but Vai does beekeeping on his off time, as a hobby.
 
I have an idea for a Black Strat (David Gilmour) concept guitar and may get Argentariis to develop little pig tuner keys. The leaf knobs and tuner pegs are shipping this Wednesday:
KnobsandTunersfinal.jpg
 
The neck is set, Locking nut installed - ready to solder in the pickguard and install the bridge spring's and claw.
PegheadwithLockingNutinstalled1.jpg

NeckSet1.jpg
 
Report so far from the luthier:
"Plays like my guitars." This is to be expected and I can't wait, since this is all I play. "Tone is bright but full; very articulate; easy to control feedback." This is exactly what Sublime Pickups set out to do (and this is a mahogany body, which many claim will produce 'dark' tones). "I have fret leveling to do on a few frets; normal setup stuff, another few days and it's playing like I meant it to." Engraved plates on truss rodd and trem yet to be installed.
BDJEM3Build2.jpg

BDJEM3Build4.jpg
 
The mostly-finished product; I'll post higher quality images once I received
the guitar and attached the silver peg heads and knobs:



MostlyFinished.jpg
 
The JEM Sublime is shipping in about a week or so... Casper Guitar Technologies is on the finishes touches. The Sublime Pickups are of an interesting construction. Turned up full, they have very similar tones with great 'punch,' but as you roll off the volume each have unique characteristics. The neck pickup should be incredible for some soaring leads... it was constructed so that there are bell-like overtones that ring out, making for a quality that is not typically in most pickups. Stephen Casper confirmed this as he did a trial run yesterday. Hoping for a bit of a YouTube in the next few days from the luthier.
 
ill a bit of setting up to do (and I have to attach the silver hardware once I receive the guitar)... here is a video of the luthier testing things out (notice the blonde JEM off to the side... a project for himself).
http://youtu.be/GUnJIFOpfOU
 
Brian Johnston said:
ill a bit of setting up to do (and I have to attach the silver hardware once I receive the guitar)... here is a video of the luthier testing things out (notice the blonde JEM off to the side... a project for himself).
http://youtu.be/GUnJIFOpfOU
Click to expand...
Seems to sound very nice with quite a compressed sound and a nice punch dynamic !
 
I have to be honest. Watching this come together, I was thoroughly impressed with your dedication, creativity, and your ability to source and work with the different artisans involved to coordinate it all (SYO can probably attest, THAT's a major accomplishment). But I was seeing something, in total, that was going to be garish and way too over the top to be appealing as anything other than a curiosity.

I was wrong.

That came together well and it's a pretty bada$$ guitar. Still a lot of bling for my taste, but it works well, to my surprise. Congratulations. Looking forward to photos of the completed project that do it justice. And thanks for bringing us along on the journey.
 
Silver hardware shipping today. Update from the luthier:

"Well, it's that time. This thing in amazing. It plays so well it's crazy. Definitely one of my top builds for sure. Over the last several days, I've done some photographing the guitar for my website, adjusting action, pickup height, polishing spots, adjusting the neck, touching up frets general setup stuff and final adjustments. Tonight, I'll be adding the RFID chip as well as the truss rod and trem plates."
 
The knobs are to be replaced (standard ones right now)... a custom whammy bar to be inserted... and the selector switch will be chrome (not white).
Pickguardwithmylar.jpg
 
That's a little 'trademark' touch by Sublime Pickups. You wouldn't believe some of the cool and strange pickups he has created... some really off-the-wall stuff!
 
Guitar received today. I must say that pictures don't do it justice, and particularly the quality of the metal flake paint. The feel of the fingerboard is the best I have experienced... perhaps that has to do with the ebony, but Steve Casper also makes the best necks I have played. Over the next few weeks I plan on recording some music and writing a detailed review, with photos.
 

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