Another Deco Steel Build

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 28 Apr 2008 8:12 am

Here is my latest project. It was a request for one based on one of my deco designs, but in a 22.5" scale.

African mahogany (Khaya) and maple
22.5" scale
P90
bone nut, 3/8" string spacing
The finish is a amber shellac wash coat to pop the grain a bit and topped with Tru Oil.

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Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 28 Apr 2008 8:52 am

Beautiful as always, Tom. I love the two tone headstock!
Peter

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 28 Apr 2008 8:53 am

Tom, that is one pretty guitar. Great job as usual.

Paul Smith · Post by **Paul Smith** » 28 Apr 2008 9:17 am

Hello Tom,

What a gorgeous guitar!!! Cant wait to get mine

smitty

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 28 Apr 2008 9:35 am

Thanks all, I was very happy with the way this one came out.

Smitty, yours is looking sweet, birdseye and mahogany go together so well, first coats of finish start today

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 28 Apr 2008 12:16 pm

I am always curious about what type of ready made bridges you (all)use. I like the 3/8" string spacing but it adds up to wider than most bridges and pick up pole spacing.
Tom, I love the look of your components. my home build ones are a sorry site by comparison.
stock would improve, but where and what?

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 28 Apr 2008 1:08 pm

Tom,

So far I have liked them all but this one is my favorite so far!! That's the doggy I want!!!

Darrell Urbien · Post by **Darrell Urbien** » 28 Apr 2008 3:39 pm

Wow, nice! Who needs a New Yorker, when you can have a Californian! Now if you can only figure out how to put the hidden pickup in there...

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 28 Apr 2008 6:46 pm

Thanks again all, I really do enjoy building them, its a great creative outlet for me.
My mechanical and artistic sides get to get together and have some fun

Randy ... the bridge is a Hipshot copy thats made by Mighty Mite, the spacing on them is just a couple mm wider, than 3/8.
I've been wanting to pick up a small milling machine and build my own, got a bunch of ideas and so little time.

Jim ... I love them all, but the deco style has always been one of my favorites

Darell ... I actually have been looking into doing a hidden pickup, my winder buddy and I were discussing that just the other day

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 28 Apr 2008 7:01 pm

I do like that "new yorker" shape. I have a friend that has a big cnc machine shop and we where discussing making a New Yorker out of billet aluminum. Maybe have steps where the colors change. Polish it up like a tricone national. It is very fun to think about! Damn G.A.S.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 28 Apr 2008 10:37 pm

That's very nice Tom, and a great nostalgic design, specially for us old guys

I often wondered about using billet aluminum as opposed to cast. I wondered if it would have "ring" to the sound.
I'll just keep wondering! I don't want to build anymore guitars.

Daryl Smetana · Post by **Daryl Smetana** » 30 Apr 2008 6:34 am

Tom, you make simple look elegant...sweet. I love the way you accentuate design elements with different woods. I am amazed at the creativity on this forum. Another fine build. Also loved the previous art deco steel. Can't wait to see your next creation.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 1 May 2008 7:03 am

Jim ... you should give it a try, some stepped and or tooled areas would work nice.

Thanks Bill

and you bring up a good point of formed billet vs cast.
Its my understanding that the crystalline structure of cast is one element that is important to the tone.
The safe answer is cast a billet large enough to CNC

Thanks Daryl, I get lucky sometimes

And you are correct, there is some fantastic talent on this forum, yourself included

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