Gallery 2

People love images. I do too. A picture is worth a thousand words. Here are picture galleries of the work in progress that I will be updating on a regular basis. Think of this as an annotated graphical synopsis of the project. People on the go, like me, will find it pleasurable to just scan through the images without having to peruse the details.

Pearl Inlays

I am starting to deviate from the original plan. The logo and fret markers are inlaid Mother of Pearl. Here are a couple of snapshots:

The Fret Markers. The motif is the reverse (white on black) pipe-organ keyboard. Mother of Pearl is just so elegant!

Testing the LED lights. Small white LEDs are inlaid in the middle of each fret marker.

Zooming in on the logo. The logo is hand crafted. For production, it might be better to have it cut using laser or water-jet.

One more snapshot. The gloss is just to protect the inlay. We haven’t even buffed yet. The final result will have a mirror finish!

The Craft

Inlaying decorative shells such as Mother of Pearl (MOP) and Abalone takes time, patience and perseverance to master. The craft involve:

  1. Cutting suitable shells into blanks
  2. Grinding the shell blanks down to a flat surface
  3. Cutting the blanks into the desired shape
  4. Routing the cavity from the wood
  5. Inlaying the shell into the routed-out cavity

Cutting the logo

Shaping the fret markers

Routing the logo cavity

Detail routing using fine tapered router bit

Cavity fully routed out with logo.

Gluing the inlay pieces.

Neck Dressing 

Gorgeous Elegance!

Headstock with locking Grover tuners installed (click to zoom)

Head back (click to zoom)

The Bind

Binding the guitar using stainless steel proved to be very tricky. This is the first time I used stainless steel as binding material.The stainless steel strips are glued in using epoxy formulated for bonding metal and wood.

Stainless Steel Binding (click to zoom)

Applying epoxy specially formulated for bonding metal and wood.

Final wrap with taut tape. Now the neck looks like a Mummy!

Applying epoxy on the back side of the pre-formed binding strip.

Securing the binding with tape: A fully Mummified neck.

Installing Frets

I found this article in the web offering a different approach to fret installation, cutting a wider fret slot and using epoxy to hold the fret. The fret’s tang must be trimmed at the ends using an end-cutter. Epoxy is injected into the slots and the frets are clamped using a clamping caul.

Notched Tang

Injecting epoxy into the fret slots

Frets placed. There’s no need to hammer or press the frets. The frets slide in easily.

Clamping the frets until the epoxy cures overnight.

I still have to write more documentation. I am terribly lagging behind. I’ll definitely have more time in April. Anyway, for now, here are some high resolution pictures.Compare these against the original 3D images.

(Click to zoom)

More to come. Always stay tuned. Catch ‘ya later…

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Bertie
12 years ago

Hi Joel,

I'm making an acoustic guitar for my final major project at uni, I wanted to use bamboo to make the neck, I was hoping you could let me know where you sourced the bamboo from?

Great guitar!

Bertie

colling
colling
12 years ago

hi wonderfull job man , i mean the guitar lookj awesome , masterly done congrats

where i can find the steel binding for sale , thanks in advance keep going man

FC
FC
12 years ago

Oh my goodness, what a beautiful guitar.

zay mayor
zay mayor
11 years ago

When are they gonna go on sale I got to have it

PAUL
PAUL
11 years ago

Suggestions:

Have you considered flipping the headstock upside down so that the tuners are below instead of above the headstock? This would be more ergonomic, and it would also shorten the thinner strings and lengthen the thicker ones, although I don't know whether this has any impact on tuning stability but on paper it makes sense.

I like the fact that the strings don't deviate above the nut (they are perfectly straight all the way to the tuner). I think any serious guitar should be built this way, to prevent "jumping" when tuning.

Another idea for the headstock would be to have 3 tuners on each side and shape the headstock as an arrowhead in order to allow for the strings to stay straight above the nut.

I like the fact that you use single-coil pickups with a fixed bridge. This design is so rare (other than Telecasters, which are so ugly). Usually single-coil guitars have tremolo bridges, and humbucker guitars have fixed bridges, and there is no deviation from that other than the Tele.

Have you thought about using an RMC transducer for the bridge saddles?
http://www.rmcpickup.com/powrbridgest.html
It will allow the guitar to drive Synths like the Roland GR-55.

A good example of this type of guitar is the Godin LGX-SA.
http://www.godinguitars.com/godinlgxsap.htm

I saw you are installing LEDs under the fret markers. I think that's a little cheesy and it could diminish the perception of prestige for such an amazing guitar. I think you are building the perfect guitar and you do not need any "bells and whistles" or gimmicks that have no functional purpose. Less is more.

If you really want to explore the LEDs imbedded under the fretboard, then you should make them functional: give them a purpose to exist. You could build a model that has 6 LEDs on each fret space, and wired them up to light up according to different scale patterns or chords, like the Fretlight guitar.
http://www.fretlight.com/

I like the earlier Freglights that could be used independently from a computer. They just had 2 additional knobs: one with the letters A thru G and the other one with the 7 modes (Major, Minor, Mixolidian, etc.).

No matter what you decide to do, please keep me posted, I want to be one of the first owners of CYCFI guitars, and if I really like it, I would like to be involved in marketing it. I think you have a niche and there is serious potential for your product.

Sincerely,

Paul

949 777 5695

Austin
Austin
11 years ago
Reply to  Joel de Guzman

Since Alvarez doesn't make electrics, I've been looking for something fresh. This is THE coolest guitar I've seen [and I've liked telecasters with f-holes till I saw this.] The body shape isn't trying to make an outrageous statement, I love the idea of going green, and the small fiber optics on top of the guitar neck [I finally have a reason to play in the dark haha] But I really do enjoy that above all it is still a classy looking guitar.

Truly inspiring, keep up the good work!

[and yeah, me and my crew want to sling some of these on stage]

DC
DC
11 years ago

In my humble opinion, I don't think you should do away with fretboard inlays (LED or fibre optic). I've owned guitars in the past with LED fretboard inlays and they are a godsend at times (like Joel stated, during particularly dark gigs, or for special shows, etc.). I agree, they can look tacky, but they can also look quite subdued as well. I think it definitely depends on what inlays they are put behind and the type of guitar they're put in.

There is definitely a demand for LED fretboard inlays and side dots. There is a reason why guitar companies such as Moser Graphite, Ran guitars, Alembic, Warrior, and other custom builders offer them as option on to they're customers. Likewise, there is also a reason why companies that specifically offer retrofitting of LEDS into necks such as Sims UK and Aurora Project UK are around….some people really like 'em. Myself in particular, side dots would be cool, but small fretboard inlays with LEDS that can be activated (and maybe dimmed) if I need them would be the icing on the cake.

Besides, this is a carbon fibre/bamboo guitar. Let's just say it's not exactly conservative to begin with!

Love your design, Joel!

James P
James P
10 years ago

Personally I would like to see stainless frets on that beauty. If you're gluing in nickel silver, then once they wear.. meh. Stainless will last quite a long time, and since this is kind of an art piece, you might as well go for stainless. Also, if you go all out, make one with a fanned/multiscale fretboard. The only difference on the bridge for that would be individual bridge/saddle pieces.

the whole thing has a future vibe to it sooo.. that's my 2 cents. Stainless frets, multiscale fretboard.

Tony VK
Tony VK
10 years ago

Very cool build! I like the side dot led option and the fanned fret idea (optional) would also add to the non-traditional, unique vibe you have going.

I have a couple questions;

Is it still possible to refret using traditional methods (such as heating them with a solder gun and cleaning the slots) since the frets are epoxied in?

Will this cause any fretboard tearout and if so, can this be repaired like new?

Off to peruse your site more thoroughly!

Oleg
Oleg
10 years ago

Hi Joel. Very professional job! Tell me please – what are you covered over epoxy resin? What did you use varnish?

Thanks!

Oleg
Oleg
10 years ago
Reply to  Joel de Guzman

Thank you so much!

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