Electric Build Thread Anyone?? Oxwood '62 Build

[Oxwood_Handmade]

Thought a quick electric build thread might be in order to help introduce my electrics. I didn't plan on doing a build thread so there aren't many photos and they're all out of my iPhone. I'll do better photos/documentation on the next one!

I'm building this one for a life long friend and local musician. He plays out a whole lot and knows musicians from all over the country. Definitely a great guy to have in my corner!

So, right now it's awaiting inter-sand and a few more coats of lacquer. Here are the specs:

Oxwood '62 Model
Alder Body (no chambering)
Maple Bolt On Neck
Rosewood Fingerboard- block inlays
Bigsby B5 Vibrato/ Gotoh Tune-O-Matic Bridge
Dimarzio Area-T bridge pickup
Seymour Duncan Jazz Humbucker neck pickup
Volume/Tone/3 way switch
3 position mini toggle for series/parallel/coil cut on the humbucker
Red with matching headstock
White binding/pickguard/back control cavity cover
25.5" Scale length
Pickguard mounted pickups
Backloaded electronics

This is the first prototype of the '62. I slapped it together with some old strat pickups and made the pickguard out of a piece of acrylic from Home Depot. Semi-hollow with the f-hole, walnut top, ash body, maple neck, wenge fingerboard.



Here is what we did with his:



Laying out block inlays


First mockup of control locations. We then decided to backload and came up with a really cool looking pickguard. You'll have to wait and see that one!


Cavities and binding ledge routed.


Control Cavity


Binding on


It. Is. RED.


Matching Headstock.


After pulling the tape off and scraping the binding clean, it got a couple more coats of clear. (that's my father-in-law's Lincoln in the background. I spray finish at his barn)


I'll post more as I get going on the buffing and assembly. Thanks for looking!

Brad

[Oxwood_Handmade]

Thanks Micheal.

I got the guitar finished up. Very fun to play. Here it is:

[moon]

I like that shape. It's harder than it looks to design a good one. And a Bigsby

[rickwaugh]

Great looking guitar. Very 60s.

[rickwaugh]

I am currently building a strat. Almost done. Having to refinish the top after an "accident". This is done with Tru Oil.

[mikealpine]

Cool shape. If I might offer two suggestions...

1) This may just be me, but I've become a fan of body contours, especially the tummy carve. I play my guitar up high, not much meat on my ribs, and straight-cut guitars literally leave a bruise on my ribs. I sold a very nice LP for that reason. Bought a higher end Tele because it now has a carve. Not sure how others feel, but I'm sure they'll offer opinions.

2) In doing a lot of research on changing pickups in one of my electrics, I discovered winders that wind humbuckers asymmetrically so that, when you split, you don't get as big a volume drop-off. And depending on the single coil pickup, you can get a pair that really work together well when played in combination. I'm doing that with Zhangbucker pickups now in an HSH guitar that has a lot of switching and splitting options. Should be fantastic when done. I realize that these will be a lot more than most mainstream company pickups, but if you're building a custom, why not make it really custom?

Just some thoughts.

[Oxwood_Handmade]

Thanks guys for the comments! That's a nice looking build Rickwaugh, good work!

MikealPine,
I hear ya. This is what was requested. I'd have no problem doing body contours as I mentioned before. Another thing to note, which doesn't affect the edge at your ribs, but the bigsby and tune-o-matic require a steeper neck set which brings the strings quite a bit further off the top than standard Fender guitars which makes the edge on the top side much less noticeable.

Same with the pickups, those were the ones he wanted. I'm familiar with the assymetrical wound humbuckers and it's a neat concept. I don't notice a huge drop in volume when these are split, to be honest.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and compliments!

Brad

[J.R. Rogers]

Looks great, Brad! You have many talents. Thanks for sharing your electric build.

JR

[TjthePhD]

Very interesting to see. Please keep posting things like this - love to see luthiers at work!

[stratokatsu]

The closest thing to a build I've ever done is to make Strats and Teles from parts I gathered. It's like putting together Tinker Toys and making some fine adjustments at the end. There have been a few times I actually didn't burn my fingers.

Here's a recent LP Junior build from parts...

And here's a Tele made from a closeout Guitar Fetish body, Squier neck and the rest stuff I just had laying around.

[Oxwood_Handmade]

Thanks JR!

TjthePhD- I surely will! I have an acoustic I'm in the middle of but will be starting a couple more electrics after that is done. Stay tuned!

Stratokatsu- Those are fine looking geetars! Good work!

Brad

[iim7V7IM7]

A piece of swamp ash for the body...


The body cut and routed...


Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and birdseye maple neck...




Start spraying some dark teal translucent Nitro...


Wire up the pickup guard with some Lollars...


No one else shield's like Ron does...


Add a message for the player not to forget...


Finished instrument...

[rickwaugh]

Nice looking instrument. I do love the grain in swamp ash, don't know why more people don't do it natural. But natural strats always seem to be maple bodies.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

A piece of swamp ash for the body...
<<snippet pics>>
Finished instrument...


<<snippet pic>>

Great build!! I've never heard of Ron Kirn so I just checked out his website. Looks like he does some great work. How did you hear of him?

[arie]

Originally Posted by Oxwood_Handmade

Thanks Micheal.

I got the guitar finished up. Very fun to play. Here it is:

looks nice! very surfy