About 15 months or so ago, a trip down to Leicester to see a screening of HAARP inspired me to start seriously looking into getting a custom built guitar and now, finally, it’s here. I’ve seen it from a paper sketch, to a simple line drawing on the computer, to a 3D model, to a rough MDF cut out, then slowly start to build up into the epic instrument that it is now.
Originally I was looking into large companies that were at least several hundred miles away to build this guitar for me, but to my absolute surprise there was a guitar/bass luthier only a 2 minute drive from my house. This has let me work closely with Ian through each and every step of it’s construction, I’ve been able to discuss each intricate detail down to the last wood grain. This guitar hasn’t been built though, it’s been conjured up over the past year into an instrument of massive proportions and I can’t thank Ian enough.
Video of it in action - Scroll further down for more pictures
First, a few pictures of how it’s evolved.
The first MDF cut out
After we talked through the design, it was drawn in 3D on a CAD program and cut into MDF to get a rough shape and feel of what it come out like.
The mahogany cut out
This is the final shape cut into the mahogany.
The hand over
Ian on the left, me holding my axe on the right. This is when the guitar was handed over, pleased I am!
A look at in detail
Full body shot, I’ll pick out the specification as I go along in the more detailed shots.
A close up of the Mahogany body with a blood red stain and high laquer finish. The grain pattern is just incredible and so diverse across the body.
The awesome Wilkinson tremolo arm.
Chrome toggle switch and chrome tone and volume controls.
You can see the larger controls are sunk into the body in really soft and quite deep pockets. The smaller black switches control the Fernandes Sutainer.
The top horn of the guitar, here you can see the Fernandes Sustainer and the Bare Knuckle Mississipi Queen.
Here you can see the Bare Knuckle Nail Bomb next to the bridge.
From the top control down the right hand side, volume, pickup selector, sustainer intensity, tone. The two small black switches from top down, sustainer of/off and 3 way toggle for sustainer mode. Below the bridge is the controls for the Fuzz Factory, toggle on/off, stab and comp.
The neck is flamed birds eye maple which has a super-high gloss finish on back of the neck and on the fret board. Running down the neck is a piece of purple heart wood, which is this wonderful bright purple/pink colour.
A closer look at the neck with the purple heart running through it.
This is a real close up shot of the flamed birds eye maple, even though the neck has such a high gloss finish, which at first I thought would make it hard to play, it so smooth and fast!
On my Ibanez, it has just two offset fret markers on the 12th fret, which I’ve brought through to this guitar too, it’s inlayed with Abalone.
The headstock, with the name ‘Aeon’ in black.
The Speigel locking machine heads. I might not have to tune my guitar ever again!
A few more misc shots
Please leave any questions or comments below
Author: Nouveller
My name is Benjamin Reid, I live in the UK and keep the magic locked into this site.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 at 12:41 pm and is filed under General & tagged with Aeon, Bridge, Custom, Guitar, Mahogany, Neck, Strings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Ben wrote on July 10, 2009
Superb axe! :o)
Can you tell me more about the setup and wiring? Also why you chose each part for the specific setup etc…
I’m looking to make something similar to this but am struggling to find details… especially the fuxx factory and what spec sustainer to use etc…
Nouveller wrote on July 11, 2009
I didn’t personally wire it, so I couldn’t really go into any helpful detail about it, sorry!
Any questions on the Fuzz Factory or the Sustainer I can answer.
Unacceptable67 wrote on July 13, 2009
Dude, thats wicked xD I wish I could build my own, I am to young though, but when I get older, I might, nice job, 100/100
Nouveller wrote on July 13, 2009
Definitely do, it’s so worth it! I didn’t do it myself though!
Unacceptable67 wrote on July 13, 2009
Haha, who did you build it with?
Unacceptable67 wrote on July 13, 2009
Like, when you cut it out, how did you get the shape taht accurate?
Nouveller wrote on July 13, 2009
I drew the original shape in Illustrator, which was then put into a 3D cutting program which then told a machine (which you can see in the first photo) to cut the shape. Ian then spent a lot of time hand sanding and creating all the curves and definitions.
Unacceptable67 wrote on July 13, 2009
Ohhhh so you told the machine to cut it liek that? how did you get it like that, what program did you use, and what machine did you use lol
Nouveller wrote on July 13, 2009
That’s something for Ian to talk about as I couldn’t give you any specifics.
Unacceptable67 wrote on July 14, 2009
Oh all right, sorry, just really concerned how everything works xD
Unacceptable67 wrote on August 12, 2009
Wow, my account got banned…isn’t that great, stupid copyrights..
Nouveller wrote on August 13, 2009
YouTube account? I know a few people who had their account removed too.
Callum Chapman wrote on August 29, 2009
Great outcome, looks awesome. Good video, too!
Unacceptable67 wrote on August 29, 2009
Yep my youtube account.
Unacceptable67 wrote on August 29, 2009
I made a few more though
João Morais wrote on August 31, 2009
Could you please give me your 3D digital scratch of this guitar? it’s just ’cause I’m trying to do one for me, but it’s very difficult for me to work with programs such as solidworks and other…
Give me some feedback to my email/MSN…
neo20morais@gmail.com
Nouveller wrote on August 31, 2009
I didn’t do the 3D model, sorry!
Whit wrote on September 1, 2009
An obvious Muse fan, I wonder if you could answer a question for me. On the DVD of the Haarp tour, Matt gets some wicked sounds from a pair of nobs at the beginning of his “Blackout” solo and the very beginning of “Plug In Baby.” I always thought it was some kind of digital tremolo. Is it actually the Fuzz or compressor or both?
Nouveller wrote on September 1, 2009
He’s adjusting the Fuzz Factory that’s inside his guitar. The two controls on the outside are the ‘comp’ and ’stab’. You can see me doing it to my other guitar here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-jd0_PNKOI
Whit wrote on September 2, 2009
Badass. thanks. You’ve got quite a wicked guitar there. I’m building my own right now so I’m trying to make sure I put everything into it that I’ve lusted over for so long. do you play in a band or just solo stuff?
Nouveller wrote on September 2, 2009
I play in band called Sona, we’ve only been doing covers at the moment though.
sam wrote on October 11, 2009
ur juswt copying muse. be=e original
steven wrote on October 14, 2009
sweet guitar. i was wondering if you could post more pics of the guitar… like the back of it. i am currently making my own and found this helpful. oh also how were you able to paint the name on the neck?? thanks
steven wrote on October 14, 2009
sweet guitar. i am currently making my own in wood shop. i was wondering if you could post more pics… like the back. and how did u paint the name on the neck??
UnAcceptable67 wrote on November 29, 2009
I am back!~
Alin wrote on May 18, 2010
Great guitar there :). Congrats. I’m playing a Gretsch g5122 like this one http://www.chrisguitars.com/gret08-g5122-walnut.jpg
Nouveller wrote on May 18, 2010
Thanks Alin. Liking the Gretsch!
Alin wrote on May 19, 2010
You are very skilled on that guitar. I wonder what is adding the sound that extra pick-up….the one that is closer to the neck.
Nouveller wrote on May 20, 2010
The black one, closest to the neck is a Fernandes Sustainer!
Alin wrote on May 20, 2010
Cool. So that’s responsible for that sweet sustain? :).
Beautiful guitar….enjoy it.