OP
Here is my H-H-H diagram for the three humbucker Studiocaster....tone control over all three pickups with conventional Stratocaster controls...
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Von Herndon Custom Gibson Scale Stratocasters:
- Thread starter Inspector #20
- Start date
OP
Neck profile design taking shape...basically 1" thick from 12th Fret to the nut...43mm wide at the nut and 57mm wide at the heel...
OP
And the fun begins....
OP
Ok,
After a lot of discussion and a few refusals because of the details, I have found a guitar builder in China that has agreed to produce my prototype Studiocaster. The builder has a lot of experience and an impressive production facility.
To begin with, this guitar will be constructed with a one piece mahogany body, routed for 3 humbuckers and a Floyd Rose Tremolo
The 22 fret neck is being built to 1950's spec 'U' profile from a solid piece of mahogany. It will use a standard style Fender truss rod. We opted to build this on a 25.5" scale as the switch to 24.75" created too many complications -
The neck only will be bound with cream binding to match the triple cream humbuckers
The fretboard is AAA grade ebony with the tiny Fender style fretwire (Dunlop #6230)
The entire guitar will be finished front and back in a very high gloss jet black polyurethane - like a Les Paul - no wood will be visible
The 11 hole pickguard will be fitted with 3 high output cream colored humbuckers. We are using Artecs for this build - 16.9k bridge 52mm spacing - 10.5k middle 50mm spacing - 8.8k neck 50mm spacing
The electronics will feature my "Triple Tone" modification I like to do on all Stratocasters where every pickup's tone can be controlled by the stock Fender layout - not my invention, but a super useful modification
We are using the Korean made licensed Floyd Rose with 'R3' (43mm) locking nut
Internal cavities will be coated with shielding paint and the back of the pickguard will employ the .015" aluminum shield I use on all Strat-style builds.
Looking forward to this one....Total freedom in the build process!!!!
After a lot of discussion and a few refusals because of the details, I have found a guitar builder in China that has agreed to produce my prototype Studiocaster. The builder has a lot of experience and an impressive production facility.
To begin with, this guitar will be constructed with a one piece mahogany body, routed for 3 humbuckers and a Floyd Rose Tremolo
The 22 fret neck is being built to 1950's spec 'U' profile from a solid piece of mahogany. It will use a standard style Fender truss rod. We opted to build this on a 25.5" scale as the switch to 24.75" created too many complications -
The neck only will be bound with cream binding to match the triple cream humbuckers
The fretboard is AAA grade ebony with the tiny Fender style fretwire (Dunlop #6230)
The entire guitar will be finished front and back in a very high gloss jet black polyurethane - like a Les Paul - no wood will be visible
The 11 hole pickguard will be fitted with 3 high output cream colored humbuckers. We are using Artecs for this build - 16.9k bridge 52mm spacing - 10.5k middle 50mm spacing - 8.8k neck 50mm spacing
The electronics will feature my "Triple Tone" modification I like to do on all Stratocasters where every pickup's tone can be controlled by the stock Fender layout - not my invention, but a super useful modification
We are using the Korean made licensed Floyd Rose with 'R3' (43mm) locking nut
Internal cavities will be coated with shielding paint and the back of the pickguard will employ the .015" aluminum shield I use on all Strat-style builds.
Looking forward to this one....Total freedom in the build process!!!!
Are you going to use stainless steel frets?
If you go with the small fretwire, you may want to consider it. I've seen other posts where you say that you put a lot of pressure on the neck.
Small, regular fretwire may wear down a little quickly. Stainless steel would be more durable.
Just a thought.
If you go with the small fretwire, you may want to consider it. I've seen other posts where you say that you put a lot of pressure on the neck.
Small, regular fretwire may wear down a little quickly. Stainless steel would be more durable.
Just a thought.
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OP
Good idea indeed...I got used to the small wire over the years as I tend to pull notes sharp when clamping down on the neck...
OP
Ok!
Two Von Herndon Studiocaster prototypes are now in production with two different builders. This will give me a feel for each factory's abilities and quality control. The prototypes will take 14-16 days to produce, but after that, regular production time can be reduced.
I am currently designing a third Von Herndon Studiocaster model - this is a left handed model that will go to my son, Marc Von Herndon - Serial # VHO - 0003 - This model will be known as the "Quietcaster Traditional."
It will feature three, noiseless passive single coil pickups, similar to a DiMarzio. It will feature a 5 way switch and my "Triple Tone" wiring so every pickup has tone control. It will feature a traditional Fender synchronized tremolo, but with roller saddles and a roller nut.
This will be a more traditional Strat-style designed to stay in tune better and give a traditional singe coil tone, yet provide full shielding for quiet performance....
Two Von Herndon Studiocaster prototypes are now in production with two different builders. This will give me a feel for each factory's abilities and quality control. The prototypes will take 14-16 days to produce, but after that, regular production time can be reduced.
I am currently designing a third Von Herndon Studiocaster model - this is a left handed model that will go to my son, Marc Von Herndon - Serial # VHO - 0003 - This model will be known as the "Quietcaster Traditional."
It will feature three, noiseless passive single coil pickups, similar to a DiMarzio. It will feature a 5 way switch and my "Triple Tone" wiring so every pickup has tone control. It will feature a traditional Fender synchronized tremolo, but with roller saddles and a roller nut.
This will be a more traditional Strat-style designed to stay in tune better and give a traditional singe coil tone, yet provide full shielding for quiet performance....
OP
Von Herndon 24.7" scale "Stagecrafter Custom" model...
OP
Well this looks interesting. What's up with the top picture pickup configuration?
6 single coils!
OP
No. It was used to make the image look like humbuckers.
OP
The custom headstock in the design and modeling phase....have a few bugs to work out.... 
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Sounds like he's becoming a vendor.
OP
Hey, Wav...
The project started as a one-off guitar for me. The prototype sold the first time I let somebody play it. That led to another prototype, and that one sold too. Then I got to thinking, why not build a Tele-style with Humbuckers and a Strat bridge??? Then, why not have a Tele built with dual humbuckers and a Floyd Rose??? So, now I have decided to produce guitars for sale and to do that I need to create my own headstock to avoid copyright infringement. I did not realize how much work goes into a headstock.
So, basically, there will be (4) guitars offered:
100% Mahogany USA made triple-humbucker Strat 24.7" Scale (officailly named the SessionCrafter) built from all Warmoth and Carvin parts and fully customizable
Chinese Made 100% mahogany version of this Strat-style guitar with either 24.7" or 25.5" scale - dual or triple humbuckers - fully customizable
Chinese made 100% mahogany Tele-Style, Strat hardtail bridge, 2 volume/2 tone and a 3 way switch, twin humbuckers
Chinese made 100% mahogany Tele-Style, twin humbuckers with Floyd Rose
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OP
My original concept of the "Snake Head" style headstock, sketched out by hand a couple of days ago:
The shape was inspired by this image:
The sketch in the modeling phase...Uh oh....
Oh boy...my headstock doesn't look so good....
Hmmmm...not enough meat for the tuners to bolt on properly....
Looks like I have a lot of things that must be changed. Trying to strike a balance between a good looking (yet unique) headstock and a mathematically/structurally sound headstock is more work than I imagined it would be.
The shape was inspired by this image:
The sketch in the modeling phase...Uh oh....
Oh boy...my headstock doesn't look so good....
Hmmmm...not enough meat for the tuners to bolt on properly....
Looks like I have a lot of things that must be changed. Trying to strike a balance between a good looking (yet unique) headstock and a mathematically/structurally sound headstock is more work than I imagined it would be.
OP
Now, I am toying with the idea of building a backtilt into the headstock to eliminate the need for string trees of any kind. Since this neck will be used on all Von Herndon guitars, I wanted to maintain Leo's concept of keeping the strings running straight through the nut. The problem is, a backtilt increases production cost and production time and exposes the headstock to the potential for sharp blows....and keeping the strings on a straight pull through the nut so the headstock can be used with a without a locking tremolo...So many things to consider...
Well my birthday is coming up if you wanna give me a present
OP
Patent Application successfully filed under 87481615. The chalk sketch of the finished "Ship's Bow" headstock design submitted along with the "Von Herndon" Trade name and Model Designations "StageCrafter" and "SessionCrafter."
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