Brent's Custom Tribute

[mica]

Here's the sketch and template for the custom body shape that blends the Spectrum and Tribute:
 

 
Be aware that the template always looks huge compared to the finished guitar, so I put a standard Tribute over the drawing of the new template to illustrate that your design isn't that much bigger.  
 
The lower horn needed adjusting slightly (between the white arrows)to keep a balanced look with the new slanted bottom (between the green arrows).
 
From our discussion yesterday, I've asked Chip to select a few Coco Bolo tops that fit your general liking. I'll photograph these this afternoon and post them on this thread.

[Brent Forman (brentf)]

Wild! Can you super impose the location of kneck and pickups?  Even a just a line would be helpful.  I think the lower horn needs to be a little larger and the slanted bottom maybe slightly less exaggerated.  Maybe slight changes to both to balance even more.  Everything else looks great! This is the locale of the kneck that I would imagine, is this correct or way off?  Thanks, Brent

[mica]

Is this more what you had in mind?
 

 
I'm a little worried about changing the horn shape too much. With the smaller lower bout, I think the previous enlargement keeps that balanced look.

[Brent Forman (brentf)]

Yes, we are definitely getting close. What if we use this kneck position but put the exaggeration back into the bottom but we move the lower edge (where the right hand green arrow is)inward a hair to make the slanted bottom sharper and less round.  Does that make sense?

[Brent Forman (brentf)]

Hi Mica,
 
See how this strikes ya.

[mica]

Here's the bookmatches to select your top from:  624: Overall darker and less orangey:

  625: Red orange with two bull's eyes:

  628: Darker with neat wavy grain near bottom:

  630: Nice mix of straight and swirly grain:

  Please tell me your preference by the number of the bookmatch, thanks.  I'll get the template modified by Kris to reflect the most recent changes (which look really nice!). I don't think he'll be able to do this until Friday or Monday.

[Brent Forman (brentf)]

Definitely 624.  It would be nice to have it a little lighter if possible but it is also fine as is.  I assume it would come out like the example Tribute in the above picture?
 
Btw, scratch my last body shape.  Check this one out.  I like it much better.  I gave it a little more on the bottom but thinned it through the middle.  I'll explain why offline.  Oh and if looks weird remember to turn the image clockwise 90 degrees, makes much more sense then.

[mica]

Here's what I come up with the smooth out the curves:
 

 
By shaving the right side of the guitar like you did, the pickup selector switches will be a little closer to the strings (about 3/4). This will work fine as long as you don't think it will interfere with your playing.
 
If you like the form, we can make the hard template on Monday and start choppin' wood while you're on vacation.

[Brent Forman (brentf)]

I added a little more thickness to the backside of the lower horn (highlighted in yellow).  I think it gives a more balanced look.

[mica]

Whew! Kris spliced on the template from earlier and applied your changes:

  Here's the sketch from the original template overlaid on the latest template so you can see the changes:  

[Brent Forman (brentf)]

Top picture right?
 
Perfect... Magnificent...

[mica]

Bob's working on the program for routing your guitar, it's the next step. Here's how things look today:

 Front  

 Back  

 A view up the body to get an idea of the contours.  

 Side view of Flame Maple core, not yet sanded smooth and already showing off the figure.  

[Brent Forman (brentf)]

Wow, my birthday was yesterday and this update is a wonderful gift!  It looks beautiful and exactly what I want.  I am really getting excited for this creation.
 
If you have the oppurtunity, it would be great to get another shot of the contours, I can't make them out very clearly, especially towards the rounded bottom of the guitar.
 
thanks,
Brent

[Brent Forman (brentf)]

I was just playing around with the Tribute hardware ontop of my guitar, so I decided to post this.  
 
Do I have the position and scale of the hardware  anywhere close to correct?
 
I can't believe how breathtaking the wood on this guitar is and will be.  Looking forward to your input..
 
thanks,
Brent

[mica]

Here's the template with the map:
 

 
You can see where the pickups and bridge go from it. You can also get an idea of how big the extra electronics compartment will be.