Custom Guitar - The Body

As you've already seen, my custom guitar from Studio 63 Music Works used premium woods throughout the entire project.    I've also already pointed out how the body is a bit bigger, thicker, and curvier than a traditional strat - possibly somewhere between a strat and a PRS.  The "waist" of the guitar was designed slightly asymetrical. This was done for 2 reasons - first, I felt it would possibly help improve the feel and balance when playing the guitar standing up, and second, it helped it to stand out from other strat styled guitars - in particular, I liked the way that the lines would flow when the guitar was held with the neck up at a slight angle, as it usually is when it is played.  An unintended (but very pleasant) byproduct of this styling is that the guitar is remarkably comfortable when playing while sitting.

After the top and bottom of the guitar were joined and the basic shape was created, Andy spent many hours carefully working the contours on the body.  An interesting story I just recently learned is that there were points on both the body and the neck, where Andy worked sanding by hand in the dark - using his hands as the final judge as he fine-tuned the shaping of the body.

  Once the guitar body was complete, it was sent to Pat Wilkins at Wilkins Guitars to be painted.  Of course, I didn't want a stock paint job, so I specified exactly what I was looking for to Pat and he was able to deliver very nicely.  The finish really changes dramatically depending on the lighting - ranging from a tobacco burst with root beer edges in more ambient lighting, to exploding with fiery colors in direct lighting.  The back is finished in what I'd call a dark cherry chocolate - it's not your typical black.

The wood work and paint job on the back are flawless, giving it a mirror like finish - you can see images in the reflection without visible distortion due to how smooth and perfect it is.

While I specified the placement of the knobs and switches, it was Andy who had the great idea to place the switches at an angle instead of moving front to back or top to bottom. Knowing well how I play, he knew that this would be more natural and comfortable - and he was right. The switches are very easily accessed with the angled placement.

Here are a few more photos of the body development:

ready for contouring

freshly painted

the finished project - can you say AMAZING!

This has "custom guitar" written all over it !!!

Like looking in a dark cherry chocolate mirror!

 
I'll wrap up the guitar with a full review of everything shortly, so stay tuned!