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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Here goes... spalt maple axis re-top

B

Bob123

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Joined
Mar 25, 2012
Messages
227
Love my axis... hate the top. Kind of a "lame duck" unfortunately. Also, not the hugest fan of the plastic binding...

Pretty experienced in guitar building and modding, so, theres a poignant solution for me. RETOP IT :)

It's a quilt blue axis, nothing special, and its REALLY beat up. Not concerned about any opinions on resale value please. That said, I will respect Mr. Ball's wishes and will not be placing an EBMM logo (it will keep the serial back plate however). Im even removing the "made in san luis obispo" screen on the rear of the headstock.

Disclosure out of the way, lets begin shall we :) (I work quickly, bear with me) Heres a good teaser, more to come tomorrow.
(edit, theres no gaps, thats just the glue)
20141118_181858_resized_zps5e96e593.jpg
 
kestrou

kestrou

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Feb 6, 2013
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1,775
Location
Danville, IL
Please give lots of explanation along the way - because I'm hoping I might learn something! :)

Kevin
 
mtrejo

mtrejo

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Jun 9, 2011
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1,611
Location
Phoenix
Most excellent choice! That's a nice specimen there. Will be watching anxiously. Lots of pictures along the way if you can PLEASE.
 
Stratty316

Stratty316

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May 11, 2009
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Sin City!!!
You should post a before pic of said Axis just so we can see the whole transformation


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
B

Bob123

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Mar 25, 2012
Messages
227
Don't worry guys, I'll go into some modicum of detail for ya.

Its painfully simple though, I will be sending the body through the planer, until it goes to the thickness required, then I will be gluing the top to the body. Then I place it on the router table for about 30 seconds and to to town trimming it to the body.

From there, I will take another trim bit and a plunge router, do some new pickup routes and follow the neck joint.

It's truly not a complicated process, Im kinda shocked its not done more to be honest. Tops on these things are so hit or miss. My EVH was about 300000% better than my axis, but most EVH's have (sorry) (in my taste) terrible tops.

edit: I've done this before as well, sorta. This one didn't come out so well, but it was a long time ago as well, my skills have been sharpened since then ;)

dscf0219ze.jpg
 
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Eric O'Reilly

Eric O'Reilly

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Jun 16, 2013
Messages
968
Location
Revere Mass
I think this is going to be fun! What kind of oil or stain are you rubbing the top with to make the grain stand out better? Danish oil or something to that effect?
 
mr.b

mr.b

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Joined
May 12, 2006
Messages
690
Location
Fife, Scotland
That is a NICE bookmatch. I do like a spalted maple top on guitars so this should look stellar.

I await with baited breath ...
 
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