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The Spaceship – The voyage continues
The mission: To boldly go where no Jazz Guitar has ever gone before…
Captains Log
Star Date: 22712.5
It seems so long ago when this journey began… like the dawn of time. As if nothing ever existed before we embarked on this unearthly path. None of the brave pioneers who originally set out on this mission could have foresorn the possibilty of any of the events to befall us. Those of us that survived have formed a new society, one based on baked beans and sausages, and now, well over half way through the assignment and still accelerating towards our distant goal, things are again running smoothly in this intergalactic class starship we have come to call Bailey World.
When the aliens left it took some considerable time to clear up the mess, but having two large anuses 18″ apart cannot be easy, especially with the plumbing we have around here, designed essentially as it is, for humans only. Seargeant Davies’ attempt to rig up a dual funnel type device and try to catch some of the foul effluent had been fruitless as the phenomenal pressure these creatures produce proved too much for even her technical aboundments.
Meanwhile, as things have been a bit calmer, I have had some time to concentrate on the contruction of our latest specialised ‘Jazz Class’ Spaceship, meticulously and painstakingly installing the additional ‘….nice’ and a little extra ‘….cool’ just to be doubly sure.
This is Steve’s Arcthtop jazz guitar I have been making for some time. As you can see work has progressed somewhat since the last update. The top and back have been glued onto the sides so the body is complete. The truss rod slot is cut and the headstock angle is cut. My next job is to rough out the neck and then cut the dovetail to fit the neck to the body.
…All systems are go…
Update:
Further studies have revealed that the fetid odour was imbued with a substance of hallucinagenic properties. I am not an intergalactic starship commander but a lowly earthbound guitarmaker, and Carol is angry.
…back to work…
Design Your Own Guitar – 1 Day Course
Saturday 25 Feb 2012 at the Bailey Workshop
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- James guitar-design
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- Nick
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- Steve
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- Ian
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- Alex
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- Allan
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- six new guitar designers!
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- A full course
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- Guitar design workshop
Design Your Own Guitar – 1 day course
Ever wanted to design your own guitar? Or get a custom guitar but don’t know where to start? Want to build your own dream guitar?
Design your own Guitar is our newest course and is rapidly becoming a favourite. It is a great way to get a feel for the workshop and decide whether to come back on another course to actually build it, or have me do it. Of course there is no obligation, some of our ‘designers’ just want to make a drawing and leave it at that. You could even have the guitar made elsewhere, or build it at home under your own steam, in your own time, either way this course is an excellent starting point. But if you do decide to go ahead and commission your design we will deduct the price of this course from the total price.
The idea is to begin with a blank sheet of paper and work through the entire design process, making vital decisions as we go, to finish with a custom guitar drawing of your very own. We try and pack in as much useful information as humanly possible including answering any questions as they arise.
The course covers all aspects of the design including discussions on construction styles, wood, hardware, bridges, tuners, pickups and electrics. All participants leave with a working drawing. The course also includes our Guitar Magic DVD and Bailey T Shirt to take away with you, and a work shop tour including a visit to the wood room.
It is worth pointing out that three of our participants this time had been bought the course as a gift, another increasing trend we are finding, and what a present to get!
There is much myth and confusion around the world of guitar design, this course aims to fix that.
Make it real!
This time it looks like four of the designs will eventually be made into guitars.
Allan is considering commissioning me to make his design for him. Nick and Alex have already themselves booked on our build your own guitar course.
James came to find out more about guitars and to get to know us a bit better, he is Nick’s father.
Ian also wanted just to learn, but by lunch was talking about signing up to build his own, and left with that familiar glint in his eye.
Steve has already built a few guitars at home on his own and wanted to fill in a few gaps in his knowledge.
Overall it was a very enjoyable day, and considerably less stressful for everyone as no wood was cut – a great introduction to the world of guitar making.
Design your own guitar ¦ Check Prices and Availability ¦ Other courses
Bailey Custom Bandsman Build – Norwegian Wood – Part 1
Making the Neck – Stage 1
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- installing the truss rod
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- The neck is cut out
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- Test fitting the trussrod
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- The neck is marked out
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- The blanks are prepared
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- Fretboard and Neck Blanks
This guitar is based on the Bailey Bandsman with a few extra custom options.
I usually start by making the fretboard, as it is very handy to have for marking out the neck. Instead of using a drawing and transferring measurements, I can use the real thing, so it is quicker and more accurate.
The trussrod slot is much easier to do while the neck is still a square block of wood, using a simple fence guide on the router. Then the headstock angle is rough cut on the bandsaw, before routing it perfectly flat using my jig.
Then the rest of the neck can be cut out. This is a two stage process:
1 – Roughly bandsaw the neck leaving 2-3mm outside the line.
2 – ‘Profile’ the neck using the router to copy a pattern into the wood.
After this, I route the back surface of the headstock until it is the correct thickness for the tuners, usually about 15-15.5mm.
Now the back of the headstock is nice and flat I am able to drill the tuner holes on the pedestal drill.
Having done all that it is time to install the truss rod. A small fillet of wood is glued over the rod to hold it in place. This avoids any problems caused by a loose fitting rod which may otherwise rattle or buzz while playing.
Next job is to glue the fretboard on. I also have to glue the cap to the body blank pretty soon so I can start work on the body…keep an eye on the blog to see how work is progressing
As you can see, all my guitars are individually handmade. I do not have a pile of necks and bodies to go through like in the old days at the factory, so I have the luxury of totally dedicating myself to each one. People often ask me which guitar I enjoy making the most – the truth is, it is always the one I am making right now!
Imagine watching your custom guitar take shape with regular updates and pics? If you are interested, have a look at some more of our guitars. Any of these can be customised to your own preferences, or if you have an idea for your own shape we can build it for you, Contact Us with your required spec for a quote.
Bailey Custom Bandsman- Norwegian Wood
I once had some wood, or should I say, it once had me…
Kristian ordered his custom Bandsman through our online shop from the comfort of his home in Norway. We have many guitars all over the world but this will be a one of a kind in the country where it is going. A search through the wood room turned up these particularly stunning pieces. You can watch this guitar being made as I will make regular progress updates here on the blog. I can’t wait to see it myself!
Body wood
The back of the body is a single piece of mahogany and will be capped with Flame Maple.
Neck wood
The neck is a perfectly quartersawn single piece of Mahogany with an Ebony fretboard, headstock veneer and truss rod cover.
Inlays
No front dots- Mother of Pearl side dots only
Mother of Pearl Bailey Logo on headstock
Hardware
Tuners and bridge will be Gotoh 510’s chrome finish.
Pickups
Bareknuckle P90’s – A ‘Blue Note’ in the neck position and a ‘Nantucket’ for the bridge pickup, with Ebony pick up covers.
Finish
Tobacco burst all over with satin lacquer
Newsflash – Seymour Duncan Preston Reed and Bailey Guitars
Preston Reed Turns The Acoustic Guitar into a Journey (from Seymour Duncan’s Blog)
Preston plays his Signature Bailey Baritone
Seymour Duncan have published a blog about Preston Reed using their D-tar pick-up in his new Signature Jumbo acoustic. The Jumbo is the second in the Preston Reed Signature series guitar after the Baritone which is now his main instrument.
Patrick Eggle Factory Tour circa 1992 (Now Closed) – recently found footage
Where I started my guitar making career 20 years ago!
Recently rediscovered and sent to me by an old friend (Thanx J) this video shows me working in the old Patrick Eggle factory in Coventry, my first guitar making job. When the factory closed I went on to work for Rob Williams for a while before setting up Bailey Guitars in 1996. Watching it really bought a little tear to my eye and a smile to my face (check out the hairstyles!)
Thanks to Patrick, Andrew Selby, and Rob Williams, each for giving me a chance to work in this great industry.
Preston Reed Signature Baritone – One Year On
Preston’s Signature Baritone is one year old!
He has written a blog about it. Here he is playing it:
Check prices and availability
Build your own acoustic guitar – BYOA-016
Doreen made this here in the Bailey workshop on our Build your own acoustic guitar course – a Xmas gift for her man Andy, lucky bloke!
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- Custom fretboard inlay
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- Custom headstock inlay
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- Custom headstock shape
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- Binding detail
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- Rosewood back and sides
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- Rear view
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- Spalted maple rosette
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- Custom logo on body
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- BYOA-016
This guitar was finished in December but I have not published it till now because I did not want to ruin the surprise…it is actually a joint ‘significant’ birthday and Xmas gift rolled into one. I hope it gives both of them a lot of pleasure for years to come (I’m sure Andy will let her have a go from time to time!).
All the features of the design were chosen by Doreen including the Dreadnought shape, Rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top and Mahogany neck. Rosewood was also used for the binding, fretboard, bridge and headstock veneer.
She also chose some other custom options to make the guitar a very personal and unique special gift. The soundboard has a Spalted maple rosette and an ‘all seeing eye’ logo on the body behind the bridge. Mother of pearl was used to inlay the initials on the 12th fret and ‘Doreen’ on the headstock.
She has worked really hard to make this guitar in time for Xmas and I think you will agree she did a fantastic job- well done Doreen!
Interested in making your own guitar? | More courses | More BYO Guitars