The Emerald Ruby Project
 

I love the Cocobolo Woody X20's. But, used the last of what they had in that last batch. Alistair and I tried to find a different veneer to use in my build but I finally decided to wait till the next batch of Cocobolo was found. My patience has been rewarded in spades. Alistair just got in a huge selection of the best of the best in the world of veneers. After watching the videos several times of all that veneer goodness, one particular veneer kept haunting and calling to me.

Unfortunately, I've to get ready for work. I'll continue this later.

Edit:
I have several items made out of Cocobolo and love the reddish hues. My vision has been to have a cocobolo top with a slight reddish wash over it, red CF weave back/sides and to name it ‘Ruby’. Alistair wasn’t too excited about it but said they could do a red transparent finish. The project was shelved when the veneers available just weren't the right fit.

Quite the morning tease!!

Have you guessed which veneer video literally jumped out and grabbed me by the hair to be Ruby’s top?

It’s the heartwood cross in the Ziricote #102 video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAqU...wV0x4&index=38


Within hours of first seeing that video I was emailing Alistair to see if the Ziricote cross was still available. I was totally surprised when he replied it was still available. He even sounded excited about using it for the Ruby project. He could visualize a gothic red cross being born.

I asked Alistair If he could do an experiment for me. I’m a bit concerned that the light colored heartwood of different veneers may have different results with a red overlay. I’d hate go through this and find out after it’s too late that it makes a neon pink. So, I asked him to test scrap pieces of Ziricote, Cocobolo and a couple of other veneers to find the right compliment to red CF just in case the Ziracote cross doesn’t work out. He replied that he would definitely want to do some testing first. He’s busy the rest of this week. But, should be able to do the testing next week. He said he should be able to get the heartwood to turn out to be any color we want.

I also asked if he could take some pics with the template turned 180° to what was in the video.
This is the video:

https://static.rcgroups.net/forums/a...G?d=1522718474

This is the other way around:

https://static.rcgroups.net/forums/a...g?d=1522718458

I think the final orientation will be close to that second pic, maybe an inch or two lower and the heartwood taper under the fretboard used on the headstock.

Now for some superstitious woo-woo stuff. I’m concerned that a blood red gothic cross may invite the wrong energy to it. I want to ward off negative energy, evil spirits and demons. Somewhere on this guitar I want the Latin phrase LAUS DEO permanently incorporated. I have that inscribed on a few other custom made items. It appears on the top cap of the Washington Monument, in DC and means ‘Praise Be To God’. I figure that evil forces will not want to be near anything that praises God.

Maybe I should stick with either a Cocobolo red Ruby or a gold gothic cross (or both ;)). A red gothic cross may need a warning label about being too intense for some viewers.

I don't know if it is possible, but the phrase would look cool if burned into the wood. Nothing gaudy, discreetly placed. Just a thought.

Very cool! It looks very Queensryche!

This will be fun to watch develop!

Haha I ordered a X20 ziricote a few weeks ago, and I was very close to call Sean when I saw the exact same veneer as you chose :)
But I eventually decided to stick to my first choice... can't wait to see how your project will turn out!

Some really good looking stuff here!

Some of the Google images of Ziricote are outstanding.
https://www.google.com/search?q=ziri...w=1010&bih=665

Too late Tof, I already have my deposit paid on the Ziricote cross. :cool:
I was honestly surprised that it was still available several days after the video was posted. It's interesting how things work out sometimes. If this turns out even close to what I visualize, it'll make dozens of class A and B musicians drool and slobber like a guitar porn pinup calendar.

That's what really counts!

I'll have you know that there are a bunch of us class D musicians who are drooling, too! :up:

Too bad it'll have a classless owner:hmm:

From what I'm reading here, you have excellent taste! :) :up:

A guitar like that does indeed add instant class and "Joe Coolness".