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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink "AstroCaster" build

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New build, after finishing the "Shark". My idea is a modernized silhouette of an acoustic guitar, based on two intersecting guitar pick shapes. Here's what's going on it:
Alder body
Allparts 1-piece maple neck with Tele heel & half paddle headstock for custom shape
(3) StewMac Parsons Street P90's with Fender 5-way switch
Wilkinson WVP6SB contemporary trem
Fender vintage locking tuners
Alpha pots & Orange Drop cap
Colors: black pickguard on a Lime Green Pearl lacquer body

Here's my original concept drawing along with the body pattern & rough-cut body:

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I like it! Very space-Jetsons-style. I think 1961-62 looking at that design! And that COLOR! Yes

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Looking really great, all your builds are inspiring! Can’t wait to see it all come together. Keep up the good work!

Plant ya now, dig ya later!

Thanks guys. Jetsons style is definitely what I had in mind, being an avid watcher as a kid.

Just waiting on the neck to arrive before I start routing- I want to make sure my pattern is correct for the neck pocket.

Here's the knobs I'm using; pretty R2D2-ish, eh?

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VERY Lost in Space-looking.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

This design of mine was originally called 'Shark', but it's long since just been the model 100. The color sketch was from about 2005..

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It evolved into this...

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I also had an 'Astrocaster' or 'Spacecaster' from about the same period. However, this one never became a reality, though a more complicated variant did in the model 200

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Model 200
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Your 'Spacecaster' is a very attractive and clean design, it will be interesting to see it when finished.

John, I've always admired your work because your designs were 'outside of the box'; most guitars up to yours were mainly variations on established designs, or poorly done attempts at originals. I'm sure I've been subconsciously influenced by your great work.

What can you tell me about the tremolo on the model 100? I haven't seen one of those.

The tremolo is a Duesenberg 'Les Trem' it's compact and lends itself well to a variety of guitar designs.

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Thanks John. I've been looking for a tremolo that takes up less realty on a guitar body. I wish someone could design a small trem with a circular base- I could find some uses for that.

I'm having issues trying to get the 1-piece maple half-paddle neck I want, so I can design my own headstock. It's kind of a 'Devo' world out there these days, with customer service a real struggle. Still working on that.

The Wilkinson tremolo arrived yesterday, and it look nice. It's got a couple of features that are supposed to help with tuning stability & intonation; elongated & beveled bridge mounting holes and staggered string passages in the steel block. I'll be mounting this with Callaham hardened steel mounting screws. I also like the arm with no plastic tip- looks more modern to me.

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Neck & locking tuners arrived today after some misfires by me and two suppliers. I can't say enough about these Allparts necks- they are beautifully made. I was waiting for the neck to confirm the fit in my routing templates, and it fits nice & tight. Now I can make some more progress.

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Shaped & carved the headstock today, and fitted the tuners. The neck & headstock will be vintage amber, and the carved area will be painted either lime green pearl or black- suggestions?

Edit: Here's a better photo

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Last edited: May 25, 2019 12:21:55

Neck & body pattern mocked up:

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John_Backlund wrote:

This design of mine was originally called 'Shark', but it's long since just been the model 100. The color sketch was from about 2005..

image

It evolved into this...

image

I also had an 'Astrocaster' or 'Spacecaster' from about the same period. However, this one never became a reality, though a more complicated variant did in the model 200

image

Model 200
image

Your 'Spacecaster' is a very attractive and clean design, it will be interesting to see it when finished.

John, can I ask what the significance of the three 'slash marks' are in your designs?

beerbelly wrote:

John, can I ask what the significance of the three 'slash marks' are in your designs?

Let me try:
It's a common art-deco futuristic design trope from the 1940's to 60's, used extensively with radio front bakelite grilles (and other household items).
The horizontal lines imply speed because, you know, future! space! electricity!
It's a very useful composition element IMO, because it allows addition of detail and movement to a shape but without breaking up the contour. Very cool.

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Thanks John; it makes perfect sense now.

Ariel wrote:

...Very cool.

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Holy Moly, those knobs! You see those knobs??? I mean just LOOK at 'em!

They'd be perfect for this build!!!!

Member in good standing, Mentone Beach Syncopation Reverberation Association

Got the front, back & edges routed today; tomorrow will be rear control cavity and rounding over the edges.

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