Searls Guitars - 2014 - Ballarat

[demonx]

Rather than make a new thread for every guitar I post pics of, I figured I'd start a running thread that I can just add to from time to time and not clutter up the forum.

I'll kickstart it by posting a few pics of builds I've either finished or are in progress for over the last few months.

Lets start around xmas time, I had a few pickups.

Chris with his All mahogany Warhorse with Rosewood board, single pickup guitar


Sam and his Workhorse (two pickup version of the Warhorse)


David with his Workhorse (two pickup version of the Warhorse)


Jayden with his Baritone Workhorse


A version of the above guitars with Black Walnut wings:


A few of the above guitars getting oiled by my assistant

[demonx]

Moving on there was also this Warhorse, however with a distressed finish:
The owner just received this a few weeks ago and it has safely arrived in its NSW home


Also there is this E7, distressed finish, its complete at the moment however I'm yet to take photoa. Gets picked up in a couple weeks.


Moving on there is Daynes Rimu topped SS6, I won't post many of this as it has it's own thread:


Warbird #2 - same again, it has it's own thread, but I like it enough to post it here as well!


That is most of the finished ones. It's been a slow year guitar wise as I've been working on a massive non guitar related project that has been consuming most of my time, doing a huge shopfit for my partners business, which has been a full time job for the last few months.

[demonx]

Ok, so here is where the thread really begins - the in progress build pics.

I've sold all my demo guitars, so in the latest batch I've put one in there for myself, this all Aussie timber SS7 (seven string superstrat) which features Spalted Sassafras top, Queensland Maple back, Tasmanian Blackwood neckthru, Wandoo fingerboard with Tiger Myrtle binding




Also on the go at the moment is this Cocobolo top/fingerboard SS7 which has a Black Limba neckthru and Tasmanian Blackwood back:




Also worth a mention is this LP7, flamed Maple neckthru with Black Limba body:

[demonx]

Another random pic of an all Aussie timber guitar I've been working on today:


A couple more random pics from this year:

[needsmorecowbel]

Really like how you blended the cocobolo drop top into the limba thru neck (treble side)

Stu

[Taffy Evans]

Nice variety of guitars there. Busy little vegimite

[demonx]

Nice variety of guitars there. Busy little vegimite

Thanks Taffy.

Here is a couple pics of Mathews E7 I just took earlier today.

Mathew's E7 - aka "Warhound" as he named it.
Distressed with red features and oil finish.

[demonx]

A couple teaser pics from a build I string up today.

I'm still yet to do a photoshoot, I hope the weather is good enough tomorrow to get some decent snaps of this beauty!

[demonx]

Another one I finished up this week.

This is Jon's All Aussie Timber SS7

27" scale
16" radius
24 frets
Recessed kahlerbridge

Tasmanian Blackwood 3 piece handcarved Neckthru
Tasmanian Tiger Myrtle top
Tasmanian Sassafras body
Queens Ebony fingerboard
Tiger Myrtle Binding
White side dots - Small

Kahler 7300 Hybrid
Floyd Rose Lock nut
Grover Straplock system
Grover Tuners

CTS volume pot 500k
CTS Push pull Tone 500k
Bareknuckle Juggernaut Calibrated Soapbar pickups









More pics here: http://searlsguitars.com.au/Gallery/043/043.html

[needsmorecowbel]

that tiger myrtle looks like a cross between myrtle and bacon rimu. Crazzzzy

[Mat]

That hidden control idea is awesome. First time I've seen that on an electric!

[demonx]

That hidden control idea is awesome. First time I've seen that on an electric!

First time I've ever seen it too!

[colburge]

I've been following you on Facebook, and absolutely rate your work mate, the warbird is my favorite.


cheers

Col

[demonx]

Thanks heaps! I appreciate it

[demonx]

I'm a bit behind on posting updates. I've been extra flat out on non guitar work, however it's mostly over so I'm back in the workshop every day.

Catching up on the sealing of this one:



Have been cutting up several slabs to make guitar blanks:





Got a new toy for doing radius sanding and fret leveling - love it by the way. Very cool gadget.



Jon picked up his SS7



Also - something different. Taking on an acoustic build as a side project for myself (like I have time!!) Should be interesting!

[demonx]

Cocobolo Sapwood SS7

Black Limba neckthru
Cocobolo fingerboard with Cocobolo Binding
Tasmanian Blackwood back

27" scale
16" radius
24 frets - Dunlop 6150

Kahler 7327 bridge
Floyd Rose locknut
Grover tuners
Grover straplock system

Lace Deathbar bridge
Lace X-Bare neck
Switchcraft jack
CTS pots

[scuffle]

hey allan looks great! shouldn't take long to sell that one

have you had any issues with the CTS pots? I bought a pack of 10 or so and every one seems to have a fair bit of movement when i pull and push them. have you ever encountered this?

[demonx]

have you had any issues with the CTS pots? I bought a pack of 10 or so and every one seems to have a fair bit of movement when i pull and push them. have you ever encountered this?

CTS are the best quality I've found and I don't see a need to change.

You didn't happen to buy them from eBay? There's a lot of fake rubbish on eBay so I only but from genuine dealers to be guaranteed a true item, I might pay more, but its guaranteed genuine and quality.

I have however accidentally ordered a batch of the wrong model and didn't like them.

There's pull/push and there's push/push and I disliked the push/push as it felt crap to use.

I'm always open to hear opinions on better components, but until something extraordinary pops up I'll continue to use CTS and switchcraft.

[scuffle]

yeh i got them because i have heard they are awesome and no i didnt buy them oiff ebay I must have just gotten a crap batch?
I get most of my parts from allparts (realparts.com.au) so i dont think i would be getting dodgy stuff.
i was just ordering some bourns mini pots so i might get another pack of CTS and give it another try.

hows the acoustic coming along? ive got one on the go but i dont get a lot of time to spend on it

[demonx]

Have not touched the acoustic for a while, have been too busy doing CAD modelling to even touch real timber. Last thing I did on the acoustic was start the rosette.