Routing...

[Jimothy JP7]

I got bored one day and drew this on my ahrG. It was winter then, so I just used sharpies. If I liked it, I figured I'd just paint it on in the spring, but now I'm thinking it would be cool to engrave the pattern in the body. If I were to engrave the black patterns into the wood 1/8th" or less, how would that effect the tone of the guitar, if at all?

 

[andynpeters]

It would emphasise the 2nd harmonics more, you'd have a slight loss on all the frequencies between 453-457hz and the rear coil of the neck humbucker would become 0.5db quieter. The 2nd string would sound a little more like Mariah Carey and the top C# would annoy cats in the next street.

 

[Jimothy JP7]

Wow, I guess that idea is shot. Thanks for the reply, sounds like you know a thing or twelve

 

[andynpeters]

Actually I know nothing at all about it. I also know nothing about routing since they won't let us have sharp objects in here.
Seriously though folks, I doubt if anyone knows what the final effect will be & I guess that's an expensive guitar. If you can afford to risk ruining it......why not give it a whirl.

 

[Jimothy JP7]

Nah it's not too expensive. I think brand new it was like 500 or something, I bought it used on the bay for 200, sanded it down (it was red pearl) and went to town on it. I don't want to totally sabotage the sound if possible, but that guitar is usually in drop B or lower, so I don't know how much it would really matter. I don't really play anything to intricate on it, I just want it to look nice beside my real Petrucci.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Why not rout it, and fill it with black filler? This would look cool and keep the top uniform.

 

[Jimothy JP7]

aaaaaannnnddd I love you. Any suggestions for the filler I use?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Maybe automotive filler mixed with black dye? Maybe!?

 

[Jimothy JP7]

I'll give that a shot. I'll probably start that sometime next week, maybe I'll post pics throughout the process. Thanks for the help!

 

[andynpeters]

As I said before, I know nothing but wouldn't wood filler be better ?
But isn't all this routing, filling,sanding (then laquering??) just going to give you much the same effect as painting and take 5 times as long? Thought the idea was to have a carved relief feel to the top of the guitar?

 

[Jimothy JP7]

This is true. I was thinking routing the sections I wasn't going to stain would make the staining process a little easier, so I wouldnt have to worry about the stain and paint running together and causing whatever mess could happen. I'm no luthier and I'm no craftsman, so I don't really know what I'm going to do yet. I suppose painting would be less troublesome... but I wanted to do something a little different this time.

I guess I'll think on it some more. Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

[brentrocks]

It would emphasise the 2nd harmonics more, you'd have a slight loss on all the frequencies between 453-457hz and the rear coil of the neck humbucker would become 0.5db quieter. The 2nd string would sound a little more like Mariah Carey and the top C# would annoy cats in the next street.

did you sleep at a holiday inn express last night...

 

[andynpeters]

did you sleep at a holiday inn express last night...

Wasssaat?? Don't think they have such things on this side of the Atlantic.
Jimothy if you're really " no craftsman" you be careful with that router....they're sharp and you need ALL your fingers to play 7 strings

 

[brentrocks]

Wasssaat?? Don't think they have such things on this side of the Atlantic.
Jimothy if you're really " no craftsman" you be careful with that router....they're sharp and you need ALL your fingers to play 7 strings

so sorry, i guess that is kind-of an american joke....(you would have needed to see the commercial...LOL) you seem very knowledgable!

 

[Jimothy JP7]

That may also be a good idea. Sanding and painting are pretty safe, but with a router, I risk unnecessary damage to the guitar and myself, so I think my mind is made up. Thanks everybody.