I've been a bit Sidetracked.....

Greg Covington

Greg Covington

Joined
Oct 28, 1999
Messages
1,563
Still been making knives here but I got a project in my head that I had to get out......

It's a copy of the famous "red Special" or "The Old Lady" guitar.....which was originally made in 1963-64 by Brian May of Queen and his father....only guitar he has ever really played and has to be rock's most famous.

Mine differs in that I am using burl walnut veneer over the body rather than dyed red mahogany.

It does have knife content though! The tremolo which was pretty much designed by Mr. May and his son is called a "knife edge tremolo....and has to he heat treated for wear.

Enjoy the pics:

neck.jpg


body.jpg


twin.jpg


strung.jpg


sixpence.jpg


body.jpg
 
Cool work! Thjose were home-made pickups, too, weren't they? You going to make those, too? You have an old AC30 to get the whole tone?? One of the most awesome tones in rock...

I'm sitting here listening to the girl's Olympic hockey and they're playing Jimi's "Watchtower" in the background. :D
 
fitzo said:
Cool work! Thjose were home-made pickups, too, weren't they? You going to make those, too? You have an old AC30 to get the whole tone?? One of the most awesome tones in rock...

I'm sitting here listening to the girl's Olympic hockey and they're playing Jimi's "Watchtower" in the background. :D
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He originally made the pickups but got frustrated with them then bought Burns Trisonics that he potted in in epoxy. I'm using Adeson pickups which are custom made in the UK to exactly Brian May specs....I am even using the old oil filled capacitor rather than ceramic to get that "tone"

May's sound relies on a AC 30 TB cranked up full blast run thru a Greg Fryer treble booster....it is the blue box u see in one of the pics. He used a Cornish TB83 in the early days....like the We Will Rock you solo...etc.

The Vox AC30 would literally blow ou my windows so I use a Vox AD30 Valetronix with AC30 modeling....so I can keep it quiet and get that tone.

The guitar is real close to spec....birchwood plywood body....hollowed out internally for resonance, surrounding a hard oak core. The neck is mahogany with an oak fretboard....that in now painted black and lacquered.....it would have been easier to use ebony....but the tone is different.

I strung it up acoustically and it plays great....intonation is good, etc....action is nice and low.

The other guitar in the pic is a horribly expensive RS Guitars copy....sound is great....but I wanted to make my own!

Here is the burl veneer on the body:

burl.jpg
 
oh man,I'm insanely jealous.Boy,is that coming out great! Ya,even got the six pence in the cavity.I wish I had that kind of ability and skill.Thanks for sharing,let us know how she sounds when it's finished!
 
TOMBSTONE said:
oh man,I'm insanely jealous.Boy,is that coming out great! Ya,even got the six pence in the cavity.I wish I had that kind of ability and skill.Thanks for sharing,let us know how she sounds when it's finished!
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It is one of those things that I kinda wish I hadn't started....full of hidden surprises and headaches.......

You can see in the first pic the other raw neck....it is all ready for you to start one Tombstone!

My 13 year old is urging me to build a guitar for him.....I was hoping this would be the last guitar I ever built......
 
Greg Covington said:
It is one of those things that I kinda wish I hadn't started....full of hidden surprises and headaches.......

You can see in the first pic the other raw neck....it is all ready for you to start one Tombstone!

My 13 year old is urging me to build a guitar for him.....I was hoping this would be the last guitar I ever built......
Click to expand...

yeah kid always want one for them selves it don't mater what it is :D

Greg,, Bruce has the hold on the cut and shoot
how about a pick and cut from you :D

nice work Guy:thumbup:
 
Greg Covington said:
It is one of those things that I kinda wish I hadn't started....full of hidden surprises and headaches.......

You can see in the first pic the other raw neck....it is all ready for you to start one Tombstone!

My 13 year old is urging me to build a guitar for him.....I was hoping this would be the last guitar I ever built......
Click to expand...


I can just imagine what my special would wind up looking like if I even tried such a task. :barf: Even with the hidden suprises and headaches it looks like it is coming along very well,and when you build one for me it will be that much easier. :D

You should build one for your son,but you should do it together,that would make him appreciate such an awsome instrument so much more.
 
TOMBSTONE said:
You should build one for your son,but you should do it together,that would make him appreciate such an awsome instrument so much more.
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He is wanting something like a Gibson SG...which should be easier since it is a solid body and I really would not have to make the neck.....which was the hardest part.

I'll post some sound files when she goes together.
 
Greg Covington said:
He is wanting something like a Gibson SG...which should be easier since it is a solid body and I really would not have to make the neck.....which was the hardest part.

I'll post some sound files when she goes together.
Click to expand...

That's a good choice,I love the tone on the SG.I can hardly wait to hear those soundclips.
 
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