Sneek Peek ... Pettingill P6 Deluxe Prototype

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 10 Aug 2013 8:29 am

A quick fitting of parts before final sanding and finish.

.

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 10 Aug 2013 8:32 am

WOW!!!
Is that Bloodwood?

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 10 Aug 2013 8:50 am

Thanks Don

... its been a long time coming, but I'm very happy with how it has shaped up.

The plates and inlay are African padauk. When first cut or sanded, its a very bright orange and turns to real nice and rich reddish color with time.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 10 Aug 2013 9:05 am

Gorgeous, Tom. Pettinbacher?

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 10 Aug 2013 9:15 am

Thanks Rick!

Pettinbacher?

LoL ... no .. Rickenbacker is already too lawsuit happy, so just Pettingill P6 Deluxe.

On that note, here is the "ELECTRO" inspired artwork for the headstock badge / logo. I'm going to try my hand at etching some nickel silver first and if that falls down, I'll look at having it engraved instead.

.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Aug 2013 3:13 am

That's spectacular Tom. One aesthetic aspect I've often wondered about ... in so many builders beautiful electric designs (and this goes for Teles and other standard electrics too) why don't builders countersink and plug the screws with a matching or contrasting color wood plug? Is there a practical reason I'm missing?

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 11 Aug 2013 3:17 am

Another masterpiece ...

John RJ Wilson · Post by **John RJ Wilson** » 11 Aug 2013 3:25 am

Andy Volk wrote:That's spectacular Tom. One aesthetic aspect I've often wondered about ... in so many builders beautiful electric designs (and this goes for Teles and other standard electrics too) why don't builders countersink and plug the screws with a matching or contrasting color wood plug? Is there a practical reason I'm missing?

With a Tele and any other "front loaded" guitar you need to be able to remove the scratchplate to service,I would have thought. I'll leave the experts to discuss anything else. Interesting point.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 11 Aug 2013 3:51 am

@Tom: Gorgeous work, as always! Yummm!

@Andy: at least these are dainty screws. I've seen so many otherwise-nice looking electric guitars with a bunch of ugly machine-screw heads showing all over the pick-guard. Ruins it for me.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Aug 2013 4:19 am

My skateboarding sons often used colored screws on their skateboard decks. Like so ... http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/skateboard-screws.html.

Could colored screws be a steel guitar design element? Discuss.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Aug 2013 4:20 am

My skateboarding sons often used colored screws on their skateboard decks. Like so ... http://tinyurl.com/kb9lcyu

Could colored screws be a steel guitar design element? Discuss.

Not that Tom's guitar isn't just about perfect as is.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 11 Aug 2013 5:32 am

I'm fortunate enough to own one of Tom's masterpieces. I won't pretend to speak for him, but I'm sure the exposed screws are a tribute to the vintage era of Tom's design. Tom's a master craftsman. His creations are completely stunning.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 11 Aug 2013 9:05 am

Thanks all! It is much appreciated!

Andy ... I guess its really both as Rick speculates, as thats just the way it has always been done and ultimately the most efficient way to do it. There are other ways to do it and I'm certainly open to alternatives.

I thought about just gluing the non control plates down, but that can create a bit of a hassle with the finishing schedule whether you glue them down first or mask and fasten after finish. Hidden position, alignment and, registration then need to be addressed.
Another option would be to adapt a method using small neo magnets to hold them in place like I've seen some builders use for recessed control cavities. The challenge there again is that without a recess, hidden registering pins would be needed to position and keep alignment. Not an impossible task, but definitely a bit of work.

As to screws in general, I've looked into colored screws and there are not a lot of good options. Painted head screws are out there, but the finish is not very durable and they can look tacky when the paint flakes.
Anodized aluminum is more durable, but the most common screws are a fine machine thread and the color selection tends to be rather bright and loud like purple, green, red, blue, etc.

Wood plugs are certainly an option for something that does not require future removal or access. Another possible solution would be removable plastic screw plugs / caps, but then thats something that can get lost over time.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Aug 2013 6:33 pm

Thanks for your reply, Tom. Interesting. You certainly wouldn't want to mess up the tasteful, elegant aesthetic of your guitars with electric blue screws. THough they'd probably be at home on this kind of ax .....http://www.fender.com/custom-life/dia-de-los-muertos/

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Aug 2013 6:39 pm

That guitar so wants a Tom Pettingill-made wooden concentric knob...

Very nice, Tom.

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 11 Aug 2013 7:54 pm

Ooooh , La La !!!

A real beauty, as usual !!!

How about a reverse color scheme in Purpleheart with Birdseye maple accents....

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 11 Aug 2013 8:15 pm

You could try magnets to hold on the plates, more and more guys are using them for back plates on 6 strings ...

That's a beautiful guitar Tom !!!

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 11 Aug 2013 9:51 pm

Just gorgeous Tom. I assume you will be doing a Tru-Oil finish? What is the "body" wood...mahogany?

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 12 Aug 2013 1:02 am

Nice guitar, Tom, but there is no way the chrome will take to those plates!

On a more serious note,I (in my infinite wisdom) think you should build a 7 or 8 string version.

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 12 Aug 2013 6:07 am

Killer stuff Tom!

Steve Hamill · Post by **Steve Hamill** » 12 Aug 2013 6:31 am

Stephen Abruzzo wrote:Just gorgeous Tom. I assume you will be doing a Tru-Oil finish? What is the "body" wood...mahogany?

My guess is Ash. I love the tone of it on the old Fender pedals, as well as Teles and Strats.

I love it Tom. I've got this hunk of Koa...

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 12 Aug 2013 6:37 am

Thanks everyone!

Mike ... though I do plan to make a wood knob set for it, I've been on the fence whether I'll end up using it. Maybe I'm just tired of wood knobs, but something about just a little chrome there kind of looks right, or to say, balances with the big hunk of chrome in the horseshoe.

Stan ... There are so many great ways to go and purple heart and birdseye would certainly rock. A paduk body / neck with maple plates / a reverse would look sharp too. Another stunning combo I think would be is a rosewood body / neck and maple burl plates. It just so happens that I've got a big hunk of cocobolo rosewood in my stash big enough for a 1 piece body. Add some gold mother of pearl inlay and ...

Matthew ... as I mentioned earlier, I did think of using little neo magnets, but opted not to on this build. I do plan on using them in a future build though, but probably first with just a simple recessed cover plate.

Stephen ... definitely getting one of my Tru Oil finishes. The body is maple and it should finish out pretty much like FPS-001.

David ... LoL .. if they can bronze a baby shoe, they should be able to get a little chrome to stick

And back to that serious note, E? ... a 7 or 8 is certainly doable on the woodworking side, but with Lollar out,the Horseshoe could be a challenge. The good news is that I'm sure our most talented Mr Aiello could cook something killer up.

Steve ... Mmmmm ... Koa

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 18 Aug 2013 9:48 am

Still a ways to go, but she is starting to shape up.

.

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 18 Aug 2013 10:47 am

ooooh!!!

Hugh Roche · Post by **Hugh Roche** » 18 Aug 2013 2:41 pm

what a beauty. what does the back of the neck look like, any tone chambers? Will she hold still?

The Steel Guitar Forum

Sneek Peek ... Pettingill P6 Deluxe Prototype

Sneek Peek ... Pettingill P6 Deluxe Prototype

Body wood