I suppose this is more of a build thread. Finally picked up a Guitar Kits USA Belmont Res o glas body and a 24 fret neck. These fiberglass bodies sound great for playing slide. Instead of making a Valco clone, the guitar will be inspired by the single cut Combo 600/800's hence the Faux Combeaux moniker. I've wanted to do this build for years now.
I have a 1971 Electro lap steel that has a killer pickup but nowadays is way more of a pain to use than just a regular guitar. I'm pulling the pickup for the bridge pickup in this guitar. No, I am not parting out the rest of the body or anything since I've had it 20 years. Pickguardian plastic bass treble surround on order because I will wire this one permanently in series & want no buzz when I touch metal. Next, add a fiber hi gain at the neck and a piezo under the bridge & separate outputs. Master volume, master tone with Torres mid bost/cut. out of phase switching and a separate volume for the piezo.
I have yet to decide on a combo 400/600/800 style bridge or the standard Ric bridge with a trapeze...I may do some test fits to get the neck angle correct with an accent tailpiece & standard bridge in the meantime.
The body is black but I want to go with a chameleon blue/turquoise color changing vinyl wrap. I will go with white lucite for the pickguard because I have some. If I break the guard while making it I'll first get mad at my own stupidity then spring for someone else to make me one in vintage gold. Headstock will look like a combo 600/800 & the neck will be tung oiled.
"Faux Combeaux" Res o glas
Moderator: jingle_jangle
Re: "Faux Combeaux" Res o glas
Not close to done with this one, but had to post some progress. Cheap 'n fat 24 fret neck...can't tell here but I shaped the headstock like a combo 600. I took the entire electronics out of the lap steel and stuck them in, just to get it going. I will have a gold pickguard with a 3 way and different pots so the knobs are not in their final homes. The surround is from pickguardian & I need Tony to make me another lower plate with a cutout so I can adjust the pickup better. I will be getting a 660 bridge to fit the neck width & to replace the completely sub par $14 knock off bridge. Piezo will be under the bridge. More on this one later.
Here is the guitar in it's current state.
Here is the guitar in it's current state.
Re: "Faux Combeaux" Res o glas
Looks like a fun project!