The latest project at Aperio was a unique Swamp Ash thinline style custom build. Though hollow, this one has a belly cut which is really cool. In addition, this guitar uses top shelf components- Super Vee Maverick Tele Trem Bridge, Joe Barden Strat style Nashville pickups, Sperzel tuners, 6100 stainless steel frets, Ebony position markers, Black Walnut pick guard and back cover, Rosewood knobs, 7 position wiring. To finish it off the body, neck, pick guard and back plate were finished with multiple coats of Tru-Oil for a truly natural finish. For wearability the fingerboard has multi coats of nitro applied over the Tru-Oil, as Tru-Oil on fingerboards wears quickly. This really is a unique and beautiful guitar. Mike, the owner and I started work on this guitar in November of 2014 and completed it the 1st of March, 2015. It was a great project as we both worked together on specifications and the result was exactly what Mike wanted. It was a real joy to build. I’ve come to know Mike and it was a pleasure to get to know him. Below are a few pics of the final guitar and build process.
Black Walnut Pickguard
Black Walnut Pickguard
Head stock
Head stock
Belly cut and black walnut cover plate
Belly cut and black walnut cover plate
Birds Eye Maple
Birds Eye Maple
Sweet F-hole
Sweet F-hole
Mike enjoying his new Axe.
Mike enjoying his new Axe.
Mike and I enjoying the fruits of our project!
Mike and I enjoying the fruits of our project!
Here are a few pics from the neck build
A full view
A full view
Blank stock of Birds Eye Maple - drilling the tuner holes
Blank stock of Birds Eye Maple - drilling the tuner holes
Working it down
Working it down
Cutting the truss rod slot
Cutting the truss rod slot
Installed truss rod
Installed truss rod
Clamping the skunk stripe
Clamping the skunk stripe
We build two at a time because we had enough wood and to cover mistakes should they happen.
We build two at a time because we had enough wood and to cover mistakes should they happen.
A full view
A full view
The twins headstocks
The twins headstocks
Black Walnut skunk stripe
Black Walnut skunk stripe
Black Walnut skunk stripe
Black Walnut skunk stripe
The heels only have three holes as we were deciding whether or not to go with the tapered heel pocket which we did.
The heels only have three holes as we were deciding whether or not to go with the tapered heel pocket which we did.
Real Ebony position markers
Real Ebony position markers
And finally some pics from the body build
The carve out creating the belly cut profile on the inside.
The carve out creating the belly cut profile on the inside.
Carving out the tail block and lower horn
Carving out the tail block and lower horn
The control cavity and pickup cavities will remove quite a bit more wood.
The control cavity and pickup cavities will remove quite a bit more wood.
Ready for the Swamp Ash cap
Ready for the Swamp Ash cap
The top about to be glued on. You can just see the Aperio brand on the underside of the top
The top about to be glued on. You can just see the Aperio brand on the underside of the top
A 20 ton press converted to a top press the fingers are cut to preload the top before full clamping to distribute the pressure evenly
A 20 ton press converted to a top press the fingers are cut to preload the top before full clamping to distribute the pressure evenly
Cutting the profile
Cutting the profile
F-Hole and all pockets are cut
F-Hole and all pockets are cut
Routing the spring cavity on the back for the Super Vee Maverick tremolo
Routing the spring cavity on the back for the Super Vee Maverick tremolo
First glimpse as we go about checking alignments and pick guard
First glimpse as we go about checking alignments and pick guard
The Super Vee Maverick in place. Making big progress.
The Super Vee Maverick in place. Making big progress.
When you are ready for something unique and ready to take the leap away from the crowd of corporate guitars, give us a call and let’s make something happen!
