peterbright Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Have started the questions to a dealer about a new custom. Please append your thoughts. Eagle (Classic/Golden/Super) - Preferrably Super Short Scale/Byrdland Scale Preferrably Byrdland Single Floating Pickup - Tone & Volume on the PG (Suggestions Welcome) Adirondack Spruce Top (if available) Mahogany (possibly quilted) or Maple Back & Sides (Thoughts - Acoustic Volume primary concern) Tap Tuned Natural Finish
Spectrum13 Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 You might get some pushback on the tap tuned, short scale and quilted hog stuff. Bound headstock? Inlays? Tailpiece, Cupids bow? Cutaway style?
Gitfiddler Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Tap tuning a big 17" box with a floating pickup is a formula for uncontrollable feedback. Otherwise it sounds like a sweet custom build.
Ned Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Fingerboard? Inlays? Split blocks on ebony or plain ebony? Can't quite imagine traps on rosewood on a a big box. Sounds great so far. Living the dream
Kuz Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Tap tuning a big 17" box with a floating pickup is a formula for uncontrollable feedback. Otherwise it sounds like a sweet custom build. While the top maybe thinner and slightly prone to a little more feedback (depending on the application: ie live performances with a large band requiring more volume), tap tuning is ideal for a floating pickup. There is no holes routed out of the top to suppress the acoustic tone like there would be with a mounted humbucker in the top. My Aaron Cowles Unity is 17" tapped tuned with a floater pup and it sounds incredible. I highly doubt anyone could tell the difference in feedback issues with a tap tuned vs non-tapped tuned top.... but you sure can hear the difference in tone!!!
peterbright Posted January 1, 2014 Author Posted January 1, 2014 Ebony Fingerboard with clouds looks nice in my head.
Spectrum13 Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Ebony Fingerboard with clouds looks nice in my head. Suggest u remove head from clouds. Wanted for my 24.75 H147, just 25.5 clouds stocked at England Inlays. A special orders might add a year onto the build time.
big bob Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Aaron was the person who did the tap tuning for Heritage, that may be a problem. I can't imagine the scale length would create a problem. If you are chasing acoustic tone you should stick with a hog back and sides, or see if you could convince the boys to make one from rosewood? Sounds like whatever you decide you will end up with a killer guitar.
Kuz Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Both Aaron and Marv did/does the tap tuning for Heritage. I spoke with Marv about this at 2011 PSP. He said he doesn't carve off as much wood as Aaron did, because he was afraid to the top caving in. Marv said something about some marks on the braces that identifies he did the tap tuning.
Gitfiddler Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Both Aaron and Marv did/does the tap tuning for Heritage. I spoke with Marv about this at 2011 PSP. He said he doesn't carve off as much wood as Aaron did, because he was afraid to the top caving in. Marv said something about some marks on the braces that identifies he did the tap tuning. What kind of marks on the braces is Marv referring to? I've suspected that my '93 Golden Eagle was tap tuned, but have no documented evidence of it. What should I look for on the braces? Marv's initials or a unique carving technique?
peterbright Posted January 1, 2014 Author Posted January 1, 2014 Great Info...split paralelograms then?
Kuz Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 I can't exactly remember, but I think they use a marker for guidelines on where & how far to shave down. I think Marv said he would shave down to the lines on the braces (so some of the lines are still visible) and Aaron shared to just past the lines so no marks were visible. But it would be best to call Heritage to confirm how you can tell.
NoSnowBlower Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 The rim is placed on the top or back. The outline is marked. the tables are then carved to the outline. Right up to the head and tail blocks. The center of the tables are thicker than the outsides. this is carved away,giving a more uniform thickness.Then the magic happens. Look near the sides of your head blocks to see what you got. Hope this helps What kind of marks on the braces is Marv referring to? I've suspected that my '93 Golden Eagle was tap tuned, but have no documented evidence of it. What should I look for on the braces? Marv's initials or a unique carving technique?
Gitfiddler Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 The rim is placed on the top or back. The outline is marked. the tables are then carved to the outline. Right up to the head and tail blocks. The center of the tables are thicker than the outsides. this is carved away,giving a more uniform thickness.Then the magic happens. Look near the sides of your head blocks to see what you got. Hope this helps Thank you! I'll need to purchase a dentist's type mirror from my local drug store to see inside my GE. And apolgies for the slight departure from Peter Bright's original topic, but hopefully this additional information provides more options for your custom build.
bolero Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 hey that's really interesting, I always wondered how they tap tuned !! and peter it sounds like a killer gtr...what kind of pup are you going with?
peterbright Posted January 2, 2014 Author Posted January 2, 2014 looking for suggestions...I've always liked the Kent Armstrongs (American Build)
Gitfiddler Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 looking for suggestions...I've always liked the Kent Armstrongs (American Build) I have KA's in both my Golden Eagle (floater) and Sweet 16 (set-in) and they are sweet and balanced paf's. I communicated directly with Kent and he custom wound them to my specs. One disadvantage of a floating p'up is that it is set at a specific height, and cannot be lowered. If the pickup is too hot, increased instance of dreaded feedback can increase. The only option is to remove it and try another less sensitive pickup. There are other paf floaters (Bartolini, Buscarino, et al), that I would have liked to try, but I'm very happy with the Kent. http://www.archtop.com/ac_access.html
peterbright Posted January 2, 2014 Author Posted January 2, 2014 Getting closer to the final specs with the dealer who is taking them up with Heritage.
Keith7940236 Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 Have they given you an idea of the lead time?
peterbright Posted January 4, 2014 Author Posted January 4, 2014 Still waiting to hear from the dealer. But this is a list of what I asked for. Super Eagle with the standard Super Eagle Inlays (split paralellograms) on an Ebony Board and Eagle on the headstock but bindings like the Eagle Classic #1 Heritage floating pickup with pots and caps as suggested by the dealer Spruce top (red spruce if available) and Mahogany Back and Sides, Locking Tuners
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