My latest

[cypressfarms]

I guess we all have hobbies....I have way too many, one of which is guitars. I've been playing and building guitars for 20 years. I give lessons and do minor repair work for extra income, and I also build 5 to 6 guitars a year (If I have the time). Here's the latest. The owner wanted a "hot rodded" Stratocaster; so this girl is hot! It looks normal from the outside, but I did a bunch of trick wiring to make her cry like a baby or scream with the flick of a switch.

Here she is; I still have to install the bridge and tune it up, and set the action:

 

[Isomade]

I call :bs: . There is no way you are that talented, I have read too many of your posts :lol: if your really able to do that, prove it. I'll send you my shipping address. :banana:

Very nice work by the way.

 

[LRTX1]

I like it, although more of a Tele fan when it comes to electrics. Martins are my first love and will always be high on my list.

 

[cypressfarms]

I call :bs: . There is no way you are that talented, I have read too many of your posts :lol: if your really able to do that, prove it.

I don't mind you calling my bluff Isom, here are some more done over the last few years:

A Candy Apple red tele that the guy wanted to sound like a Les Paul - so I bought Les Paul pickups and viola!:

A purple Paul Reed Smith shaped guitar, with curly maple top and mahogany back - the guy had to have this color, no joke!:

A slightly tinted Paul Reed Smith shaped guitar. This one was for a good friend, I did it for what it cost me; last time I do that :

In all seriousness, I troll on Ebay looking for parts that I like. I may see a body that's already painted, or an original Fender neck, or anything of interest. Although I have done many from scratch, I prefer to buy the necks (I like Warmoth - compound radius), and build around that. Saves me a bunch of time - of which I never have enough of.

And Isom, I have shipped guitars across the country before. Be careful what you ask for. When I was sick, there were a couple of people that really helped me out a lot. I thanked them by making them each a sunburst strat almost the same as the one I posted earlier.

LRTX1, my favorite of all time is a Tele. I have a Mexican tele that I hot rodded, and I've been offered thousands for it. I bring it with me when I give lessons. I set it up with extremely low action, installed a "treble bleed", and a few other tricks, and it's not something I will probably ever sell - even though it only cost me $350 bucks new about 5 years ago. Just last week at a lesson (this guy has way too much money), I had someone laugh when I pulled the tele out (He has a Les Paul Supreme - maybe $5,000 or so). I asked him if he wanted to play the tele and he laughed. He finally straped it on, and he didn't put it down for an hour and a half, and the Les Paul Supreme just sat in the corner. I now have to set up all three of his guitars for him ;-) I like Martins as well. Who wouldn't want a D-45??? I'm more of a Gibson acoustic person, though. I particularly like Jumbos. You must fingerpick a lot to like Martins?

 

[farmwriter]

I am super envious of people who can build anything and people with musical talent of any sort. I am green from my toes up!

 

[rockridgecattle]

very nice!

 

[cypressfarms]

I am super envious of people who can build anything and people with musical talent of any sort. I am green from my toes up!

Well I've always done woodworking (building armoires, tables, etc.) and I've always played/liked guitars. It was a natural progression to build them. I wish I could play as good as some of the people that I've made guitars for. I'm a average player; I give lessons to beginners (mostly kids), but by no means am I as gifted as some of the pros that we all pay money to see. Right now I'd pay money (and have) to see Keith Urban anytime - he's the real thing. He plays all his own solos. This guy is scary good with a guitar.

 

[peg4x4]

My son builds guitars also.. He is on a forum called "project guitar".. I think he does darn good.
Those you have are real nice-do you have vidio of you playing??

 

[LRTX1]

LRTX1, my favorite of all time is a Tele. I have a Mexican tele that I hot rodded, and I've been offered thousands for it. I bring it with me when I give lessons. I set it up with extremely low action, installed a "treble bleed", and a few other tricks, and it's not something I will probably ever sell - even though it only cost me $350 bucks new about 5 years ago. Just last week at a lesson (this guy has way too much money), I had someone laugh when I pulled the tele out (He has a Les Paul Supreme - maybe $5,000 or so). I asked him if he wanted to play the tele and he laughed. He finally straped it on, and he didn't put it down for an hour and a half, and the Les Paul Supreme just sat in the corner. I now have to set up all three of his guitars for him I like Martins as well. Who wouldn't want a D-45??? I'm more of a Gibson acoustic person, though. I particularly like Jumbos. You must fingerpick a lot to like Martins?

Thats all I do is fingerpick, I do use a thumb pick. If it is good enough for Chet...and Mr Reed it's good enough for me. I like and play all kinds of music, mainly delta/chicago blues sound. Enjoy playing a lot of ragtime like Blind Blake. Then there is Bakersfield sound that turns me on as well, everyone needs a little Buck/Dwight in their life.

 

[Jogeephus]

Nice work. :tiphat:

 

[bigbull338]

those are some sweet looking guitars.do or have you ever built a double neck guitar.

 

[TexasBred]

That my friend is a God given talent. I'm sure it takes a lot of hard work and patience.

 

[cypressfarms]

My son builds guitars also.. He is on a forum called "project guitar".. I think he does darn good.
Those you have are real nice-do you have vidio of you playing??

No video that I know of. I give lessons and let the student video it if they want so they can practice to later. Haven't seen me pop up on you tube yet. I'm not the type to do instructional videos on you tube anyway.

Thats all I do is fingerpick, I do use a thumb pick. If it is good enough for Chet...and Mr Reed it's good enough for me. I like and play all kinds of music, mainly delta/chicago blues sound. Enjoy playing a lot of ragtime like Blind Blake. Then there is Bakersfield sound that turns me on as well, everyone needs a little Buck/Dwight in their life.

I couldn't agree more - when I give lessons I always include at least one lesson on different types of music. I am no fingerpicker, by any means, but showing someone how to play Blackbird (Beatles) or Dust in the Wind (Kansas) makes students who only know how to strum freak out. LRTX1, Buddy Guy is from my parents really small home town (less than 100), and he comes back to do local shows from time to time. He may be the best blues guitarist I've ever seen in person. He's really something to watch. But to fingerpicking, I think some of the most talented guitarists are bluegrass players, but don't tell anyone I said that ;-)

do or have you ever built a double neck guitar.

Never have, but it wouldn't be that much different. The trick, I would think, would be to make sure your truss rod(s) on the 12 string part were stout enough.

I'm way to picky, though. I'm my worst critic, as far as guitar building. I'll sand a guitar down and refinish it because of something that I don't like (that no one else seems to see). With most of the guitars I do, I almost have to make myself quit working on them; I have a tendancy to pick each one apart so much that I would never finish anything if I didn't.

I'll see if I can pull up some more pics of some other guitars I've done. I never seem to take enough good pics of completed guitars to show other people who may be potential guitar buyers what they could choose from. Just like I do with woodworking - I start with something in my mind and just make it.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Its too bad my metalic endeavors don't turn out as good as your Cypress. That's some really nice work.

 

[LRTX1]

I couldn't agree more - when I give lessons I always include at least one lesson on different types of music. I am no fingerpicker, by any means, but showing someone how to play Blackbird (Beatles) or Dust in the Wind (Kansas) makes students who only know how to strum freak out. LRTX1, Buddy Guy is from my parents really small home town (less than 100), and he comes back to do local shows from time to time. He may be the best blues guitarist I've ever seen in person. He's really something to watch. But to fingerpicking, I think some of the most talented guitarists are bluegrass players, but don't tell anyone I said that

Buddy Guy's "Blues Singer" has to be my all time favorite album, if you haven't heard it..it's a must. As far as Bluegrass goes.....theres a reason the bada$$'s play bluegrass....because they can and normal joes like me can't.

 

[bigbull338]

well you do a great job building them.