Neil's Custom Darling

[neilvg]

Bump

[mica]

I never get good pictures of your guitar. I always seem to get it with the finished prepped, ready for the next coat like this:  

 

  Hope to find a better picture opportunity next week for you. From what I understand, there is maybe 1 or 2 more coats of finish, then the final cure, then the rubout, then the setup. I can't say exactly how long that will all take, it depends on the wood of course, but we are close to finishing this guitar.  (Message edited by mica on January 21, 2011)

[David Houck]

I love these inlays!

[slawie]

Am I missing something or does the peghead material/wood grain seem to have changed?
 
Maybe it's the angle of the dangle.
 
slawie

[adriaan]

I'm pretty sure we're still looking at quilted cocobolo, just that before each new coat of finish the previous coat gets sanded, which obscures the figuring underneath.
 
Mighty fine inlays!

[artswork99]

The picture above may have had something like mineral spirits applied to bring out the grain.  Another beautiful job at inlay work.  The bookmatch top is stunning.  Can't wait to see this one all shiny

[briant]

Very nice.  Gold was very much the correct choice for the inlaid logo.
 
Am I missing something or does the peghead material/wood grain seem to have changed?  
 
Maybe it's the angle of the dangle.
 
You monitor colors are probably to blame.  The sanding hides the quilt but it is still visible back there.  All looking quilty and whatnot.

[cje]

I think we're just seeing the tiny scratches left behind from a thorough sanding job.
 
And the gold DOES look nice against the Coco Bolo.

[slawie]

BTW I did forget to mention that this is a beautiful instrument.
The inlays are stunning and the neck recipe looks so nicely balanced.
I am looking forward to seeing the completed project.
Definately not to early to congratulate you Neil.
 
slawie

[jazzyvee]

Are those front and back headstock inlays gonna be backlit by LED's?
That would be a nice touch I think.
 
Jazzyvee
 
(Message edited by jazzyvee on January 24, 2011)

[neilvg]

Can't wait until this is done.  It's been over 2 years!  
 
So this guitar, while not obvious just yet, is not quite standard (beyond its appearance).  It has the neck width of a classical guitar, and will be strung with 12 gauge strings.  Even though I use a plectrum based picking style these days, this guitar will make use of a hybrid fingerstyle.  What's also cool is we got RMC to make a custom width MIDI pickup as well which I will use to trigger samples (I'm thinking cello and other strings) which I will blend with the sound of the active pickups for studio use (and maybe live...).  
 
I can't wait to see the electronics layout we went with too.  Actually, I pretty much can't wait to see the actual guitar body itself, with at least some finish on it.  
 
You guys are right though, the headstock looks totally different after it was sanded.  But I can tell it's the same wood.  Amazing how much the quilts and the volcanic red color comes out with the gloss and finish though!
 
Neil

[neilvg]

Mica:  Any new pics/updates?

[pace]

WOW Neil, cool that this guitar will incorporate an RMC system..... A few of us have had a low-pressure petition for Alembic to at least consider using RMC vs. the Roland GK stuff..... I think it tracks better, and hopefully your Darling will be everything you dreamed it to be.... I really like the BTC top w/ the split back~ lots of cool stuff w/ this guitar, and trust me.... It'll be worth the wait!

[neilvg]

I just heard from Mica today that this guitar has received its last coat.  All that is left now is setup and then rub-out.  And then...  
 
Neil

[neilvg]

Bump - - Any new Pics?