This current experimental build is coming along great. Made some custom pickups for it, and I can't wait to hear how they sound.
It just might be a one-off build, but it truly depends on the feedback I get from some players after she is completed.
What do you guys think?
I think embedding a metal strip in the tailpiece, or even the back of the vegetable ivory part of the bridge where it can be hidden except where the strings touch it, can be done without detracting from the look, if the exquisite level of craftsmanship evident in all your work remains the standard. I'm actually confused at the thought it could be a problem, because given the extremely demanding degree of precision you maintain it seems facile to rout a shallow groove to accept a machined metal strip that prevents the wood tailpiece from being eroded by changing strings over the life of the axe.
It doesn't seem to my utterly incompetent eye to be significantly difficult compared to the other precise machining you do, either of the wood or the metal strip and it's embedded connector. However, you might note I continuously express my incapacity to judge your work, because my own carpentry skills - as much as my clients consider me a perfectionist - resembles primitive brutes bashing things with clubs and rocks in comparison to your precision machining and skills as a luthier. I have to acknowledge my incompetence to judge whether some aspect of the job is too difficult, despite that in my ignorance I just don't see why.
I do all my machining with a table saw and a chop saw, hardly ever use a router, and sometimes am bothered to sand away toolmarks, so I can barely comprehend the level of precision you practice as a rule. One of my current clients is sort of outraged that I bullnosed all the exposed razor sharp edges on a hard plastic trim (it much resembles bone when worked, albeit in pieces up to 16' long that fracture conchoidally, like shell or obsidian) that left my fingers bleeding from machining it. It took time, which cost them money, and they aren't very concerned that their wife might get such paper cuts using her craft room. We definitely work to different standards!
I don't have your tools, and am not conversant with the room around the work required to rout the tailpiece with them, which is the obvious limitation that comes to mind. But, don't you have a drill press? Just serially adjoining shallow depressions with the drill that you sand or file to a uniform specific dimension to accept the metal strip that seats the strings seems doable. Even careful work with a sharp chisel, like any wood carving, would suffice. Drilling the back of the tailpiece to connect the ground wire seems simple enough. I could probably do that, since it's hidden, with hand tools and a soldering iron.
My first thought on seeing the thumbnail was that she was a he called Woody, but that's pretty casual and crude for such an exquisite and beautiful creation. Personally I love the beauty of the natural materials you have at hand and use in your work. Battlefield ready spar urethane, or even clear epoxy, that provides maximum clarity, protection, and durability would best reveal and enable that beauty to endure in the hands of hooligans and thugs like end up brandishing guitars on stage, but, as I consistently point out, I am utterly incompetent to advise or judge your work or what you should or shouldn't do.
I will just await the reveal of your best judgment and the beauty of your creation.
Thanks!
Edit: I've never seen a hollow body you made to my recollection, and I really look forward to.
You inspired me not to give up on the whole wooden bridge idea.. so i gave it a good go.
I got a piece of scrap aluminum from an old broken sliding door my mom keeps on the garbage pile in the barn and solved the issue.
hahahaha
I already fed the ground wire using one of the tiny screws on the plate and sent it to the electronics cavity.
Even easier than I thought.
Stain for the finish😀
red? blue? what say ye?
for some reason i could not upload it here... but check this out