The Vinnie Vincent Forum - Where Freedom Rocks!

It's a 24 fret Gibson 24 & 1/2 inch scale.

Cool. Just looked around on the net and I for one, thought for years that the standard Gibson scale was 24 3/4", since 1992 it's been either 24 9/16" or 24 5/8", depending on where it's been built....hence the easier 24 1/2" term?

I've also been building what I call "Mini" guitars which use a 23 1/2 inch scale. That scale is taken from
the 1950's Gibson Byrdland hollow body concert guitar. I also use the body profile but I miniaturized it
to create a solid body proportioned to a smaller size. See below:

Start of inlay routing on the WG/FB. Shown: using 1/8" bit to hog out maximum amount of wood
before trimming up with 1/16" bit and clean up with 1/32" bit for final fit. I've also got some
clear neoprene tubing with a nozzle down near the cutting bit which is hooked up to an aquarium
air pump to blow away the chips and dust while I'm routing the inlay cavities.

How deep do you "dig" into the fretboard?

The Inlays are .060 (1/16" thick) and that how deep I route the fret board.

Are these going to be available to buy at all? If so, where would we go to buy them?

Sent Tom a PM from here and you'll be able to get what you're after.

...and then start a new thread and watch the master at work

Great to see the progress on this beauty! Thanks for the updates Tom!!

Here's another progress shot of the fret board work for the W/G-VV. I've got all of the inlay cavities routed
and I'm ready to install the inlays. I'm using some 2 part Loctite epoxy to glue the inlays in and then I'll mix
more epoxy with the powdered ebony at the lower right corner area of the photo to fill in the gaps around the
inlays. This filler will be sanded off as I'm adding the 16 inch radius to the F/B.
Once that is done I can glue the F/B to the neck and proceed to install the frets & when that's complete I can
move on to shaping the neck followed by gluing on all of the fins.
Moving onto routing all of the necessary cavities is next and when I'm done with all of that, painting will follow,
so stay tuned in as it's getting closer to completion.



PS: The F/B in the photo looks a bit curved but that's just because of the camera lens distortion. I assure you that the
fretboard is straight as an arrow.

Soooo nice!

Screen shot of my radius blocks and my 18" long X 16"r radius beam.



Sanding the 16" radius with the beam using 80 grit to start.
Then using 120, 220, & 320 grit to finish.



Also, a shot of my tools board just for the heck of it.

I bet Rick offered to buy that neck and body when he was there!

Nice tools Tom!!!

I don't remember that Rick ever said much about the neck and body on the tools board.
That guitar was what I got from Sears (cheap) so I could use the parts for a guitar I built (first one ever).
I modified the body from what was originally a Bat shape which I modified a bit to my own liking.
I then used the body for an experimental paint job. The neck was my first foray into making a fret board as well.
Used Wenge wood for the board and frosted plexiglass for the inlays. Fret slots were hand sawn too.

Believe me, I wanted to be able to walk out of that shop with a few guitars that day. One day I will.

OK By Me Rick. I've got a bunch here waiting for you.

T@AZG

Here's a shot of the fretboard getting all gooped up. I've mixed the Ebony/Inlay powder with epoxy and used
it to fill any gaps between the inlays and the FB Wood. After this sets up I'll be removing the thin cardboard gap
fillers in the fret slots which keep them clean while I do the Gooping. Then I need to use the 16"r. beam to sand down
the high spots and the filler will blend into the ebony wood color.
When that's all done I will glue the FB on the neck and proceed to get the neck shaped and ready for fins.

Prep for gluing FB on neck.


Gluing & clamping FB onto Neck.


Ready for fret work coming up.

That freaks me out a little !
Never knew it was done in that order
Now you have to cut around it all to shape the neck ?

Yep'. I like to leave the bottom of the neck flat which makes it easier to clamp down the FB and so I can put
in the frets with my press. After that's done I 'll shape the neck.
It's not as crazy as it seems. As soon as those procedures are done I'll glue on the fins and start routing the
necessary cavities for the bridge, pickups and electronics.

Tom knows what he's doing alright!!!!

Genebaby wrote:Tom knows what he's doing alright!!!!

True Dat !

This shot shows the start of the fret work. I'm pre-sizing the frets and using fret nippers to
shorten the end tangs so the main tang will fit between the bindings. Once I get them all
modified I can press all of them into the slots on the FB. And after that it's trim all of the fret
ends and file them down flush with the bindings.
The final bit will be to level the frets and polish them up. Then it's onto shaping the neck.

Today I'm in the midst of shaping the neck. Will be gluing on the wings soon and blending the base of the neck into them.

Looking good!

And what pray tell is that hollow body in the background? Hmmmmmmm??????

Hi Shram,
That is one of my "Mini" guitars that I'm also building for a long time customer of mine.
It's also semi-hollow with chambers just under the openings in the laminated front surface.
Otherwise the body is solid Alder, the lam top is Flame Maple with a matching headstock.

!!!!

What a beautiful cherry burst Gibson!!

I built the those first two Mini's several years ago and was working on a distribution deal with a company in Japan.
I sold the first two (see photo) to the company rep and shortly after Japan's economy tanked. So much for almost had it.
We had some really nice cases made at Reunion Blues in San Francisco as well and shortly thereafter they went out of
business. I still make them from time to time now upon request and have one in the works as I write this. Will post photo
when I'm done.

It's getting there . . . . If you look closely the trem and pickup locations are drawn out on the body.
It's now close to routing time which is next.

It looks good now. It's gonna be mind blowing when the paint goes on.

Great !
I keep patiently (im?) checking here for Mr P updates
Love it Tom !

Typical artist at work here. I love what I do and the attention that derives from it.
And, knowing people who can appreciate the results.
Thanks Birnie
Mr. P
PS, That goes for all of you other guys too.

Any plans on making Pear-dimension VVs?

Tom will make it if you order it!

Son of the Ankh,
The guitar I built a while back for Metatron was built to 92 PEAR dimensions. And the original one for Vinnie of course.
While building the original 92 (#1) I created full size blue prints as well so that helped a lot building #2. So if you're
interested I can give you a quote for #3.

AZGuitars wrote:Son of the Ankh,
The guitar I built a while back for Metatron was built to 92 PEAR dimensions. And the original one for Vinnie of course.
While building the original 92 (#1) I created full size blue prints as well so that helped a lot building #2. So if you're
interested I can give you a quote for #3.

Thanks for responding! Unfortunately I'm only fourteen and won't be able to afford anything until a couple years of working.. I was just wondering in case the future brings anything

Thanks for letting me know that. Hopefully I'll still be doing this when you may be ready.
Good luck to both of us.

Tom

AZGuitars wrote:Thanks for letting me know that. Hopefully I'll still be doing this when you may be ready.
Good luck to both of us.

Tom

For sure

Progress Continues:

AZGuitars wrote:Progress Continues:

It looks great Tom! Can't wait to see the finished product!

My address is...

poserboy71 wrote:My address is...

I think we gotta find out TOM'S address, I think a grand heist is in order!

Hey Poser,
In your post, that sounds like a "Send 'TO' (you) Address" to me.
Though you may have a fight on your hands from Arjen.
And to Son of . . . . I now have land mines buried on my property
and vicious Bob Cats roaming around just waiting for more food.

Busted.
As for Tom's place being well "protected" ... Let's just say that I was frisked in a very dark room when I visited him. Not sure why I was asked to cough while holding an apple with my ass cheeks though.

AZGuitars wrote:Hey Poser,
In your post, that sounds like a "Send 'TO' (you) Address" to me.
Though you may have a fight on your hands from Arjen.
And to Son of . . . . I now have land mines buried on my property
and vicious Bob Cats roaming around just waiting for more food.

You never cease to entertain me Tom

Sorry guys but this beauty is coming home with me ) and it's getting more beautiful by the week!! Keep the pictures coming Tom. This is truly exciting!!