Kemp Guitars 2017-2018 Build Thread

xKempGuitars · August 2017

Next build... How about a Strat-body? Lefty? And what about an archtop body? Reverse headstock? Yep! Oh, and I've got a fair bit of Wenge and Maple to use up so we'll have some of that too Now to decide on the colour...

xKempGuitars · August 2017

The left-handed archtop Strat-body build taking shape. Going with a blue on this one, black Gotoh hardware and Super Distortion pickup…

Image: https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20841054_1118463061630372_5745654929709099366_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=a7c0efa5464d120b7d8620f101b39e8e&oe=5D001AE0

AustrianJohn · August 2017

Arghhh - you make awesome guitars out of wonderful wood, then paint them orange and green - shudders! ;-)

xKempGuitars · August 2017

AustrianJohn said:

Arghhh - you make awesome guitars out of wonderful wood, then paint them orange and green - shudders! ;-)

Hahaha! I know, it's a sin. I knew I'd be spraying but they only had that perfect qsawn stuff in. Next Sapele build will probably be natural

TTony · August 2017

KempGuitars said:

Not "my thing" in terms of colour or style for something that I'd buy/play, but I do like the simplicity of the design - look like they'd be most effective.

TTony · August 2017

AustrianJohn said:

Arghhh - you make awesome guitars out of wonderful wood, then paint them orange and green - shudders! ;-)

And this

xKempGuitars · September 2017

We are back online having recently moved house. Unfortunately, not much to report on the build-front as I've been unpacking boxes... DC3 is nearly ready for oil finish, that leftie Strat-body is ready for spraying (delayed as a result of the move) and the Buckeye Burl top for the custom 8-string multiscale KR3 is now dry enough to use.

The DC3 (which I'm not sure about now as a body shape) will be left natural as the Sapele has a little figure in addition to the q'sawn straight grain. It's accompanied with a Maple/Wenge neck, Makore fretboard and black head plate/veneer. Routed for HS pickup configuration and Gotoh TOM bridge...

kd3150917jpg

I've also started making a little progress on an 8-string Multiscale neck-thru V, starting with the Wenge/Maple neck, on to which I'm gluing a Marblewood fretboard and Buckeye Burl head plate (to mirror the Buckeye top on the Swamp Ash body) - close-up...

xKempGuitars · September 2017

On the bench at the moment... Includes the custom 8-string multiscale KR3 I've spoken of before. The 3-piece Wenge and Maple (thru-body) neck with Marblewood fretboard is ready to glue Swamp Ash wings to before a figured Buckeye Burl top goes on...

Image: https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21731270_1135202563289755_399886780472773713_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=a81aa755da72848458435504904f26d0&oe=5CFA8A56

And that leftie Archtop Strat-body that I was last seen working on last month...

Image: https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22089215_1142340362575975_6472306208716245642_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=e2a2dafe3462a8120046452ded6bece9&oe=5CEC7F4F

SHOCK BLUE!!

xKempGuitars · September 2017

All glued up; KR3 with it's Swamp Ash (body) wings and Buckeye Burl top...

xKempGuitars · September 2017

Finished... Lefty archtop Strat-body offering some great harmonics and balanced tone! Alder body, Maple/Wenge neck, Indian Rosewood fretboard (24 frets), Gotoh hardware and Super Distortion pup...

(Edit: it's changed colour?! Yes, this was blue but now it's red... I also added a neck pup)

xKempGuitars · October 2017

Prototype DC-III ready for assembly - still not sure whether I like it or not. Fantastic upper fret access and lightweight for a Sapele body (archtop). Neck is Maple and Wenge 3-piece with Makore fretboard. Gotoh TOM bridge/381 tuners and Kent Armstrong Super Distortion (bridge)/STH-1 (neck) pickups. Will be finishing this one up and testing it out over the next couple of days.

xKempGuitars · October 2017

Prototype DC-III finished and setup. Plays (shreds) seamlessly with excellent upper fret access and superb high gain tone from those Kent Armstrongs... And that's if I do say so myself Keeping it back for a week to settle but it is available as stock...

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TTony · October 2017

Much nicer finish

darcym · October 2017

I like the longer lower horn on the earlier version, and the non-fan fretting of the later version, lovely work. (The lime green looks fantastic)

Megii · October 2017

Not my kind of guitar at all, but that blue LH DS is a thing of beauty.

xKempGuitars · October 2017

Latest on that custom KR3 (V)... Ready for hardware mounts and routs... Just waiting for pickup (custom 16 degree angled BKP Painkiller) and ABM 3210's...

xKempGuitars · October 2017

darcym said:

I like the longer lower horn on the earlier version, and the non-fan fretting of the later version, lovely work. (The lime green looks fantastic)

TTony said:

Much nicer finish

Megii said:

Not my kind of guitar at all, but that blue LH DS is a thing of beauty.

Need to get multiquote on here

Thanks guys, comments are all good to read and take in... Especially on the colours and the DC3 shape. Going to do more DC3's as it has now grown on me... Perhaps Lime Green?

webrthomson · October 2017

KempGuitars said:

Latest on that custom KR3 (V)... Ready for hardware mounts and routs... Just waiting for pickup (custom 16 degree angled BKP Painkiller) and ABM 3210's...

Now that is a bad ass looking V - nice work Matt!

Ross

xKempGuitars · October 2017

webrthomson said:

KempGuitars said:

Latest on that custom KR3 (V)... Ready for hardware mounts and routs... Just waiting for pickup (custom 16 degree angled BKP Painkiller) and ABM 3210's...
[PICS REMOVED}

Now that is a bad ass looking V - nice work Matt!

Ross

Thanks Ross

BigMonka · October 2017

KempGuitars said:

On the bench at the moment... Includes the custom 8-string multiscale KR3 I've spoken of before. The 3-piece Wenge and Maple (thru-body) neck with Marblewood fretboard is ready to glue Swamp Ash wings to before a figured Buckeye Burl top goes on...

Those are three amazing looking necks, I've never seen a marblewood or makore fretboard before :-o

xKempGuitars · October 2017

BigMonka said:

KempGuitars said:

On the bench at the moment... Includes the custom 8-string multiscale KR3 I've spoken of before. The 3-piece Wenge and Maple (thru-body) neck with Marblewood fretboard is ready to glue Swamp Ash wings to before a figured Buckeye Burl top goes on...

Those are three amazing looking necks, I've never seen a marblewood or makore fretboard before :-o

Thanks BigMonka. Marblewood is a new one to me. It's not seen much, at least not over here (UK), although this fretboard blank was acquired from a UK supplier (I've also seen US suppliers selling it as tops). Not particularly nice to work with - smells funny and tears out like a-plenty. As for Makore, again, not overly popular but it is used a fair bit in acoustics - often seen with strong mottling figure. It's similar colour to Sapele (which I like), tighter grained/denser and that's why I chose to use it on a couple of my Sapele builds.

xKempGuitars · October 2017

And whilst I'm here, a quick round of "name that wood". Been told to post more so here's a selection of fretboard blanks just delivered forin my next batch of builds (customs and a stock)...

xKempGuitars · November 2017

Arrived at the workshop: BKP Painkiller w/ Aged Cream coils and custom 16 degree baseplate for the Buckeye 8-string KR3...

The KR3 has since been shot with clear and now curing nicely.

Whilst I wait for that, started on the next batch of custom builds - lefty DC, 7-string DC3 and 8-string thru-neck DC - all using two of my favourite woods (Sapele and Wenge)…

Image: https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23032595_1161696027307075_2200386236866596752_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=f59357779f5751fcf94d8a6e49058198&oe=5CFA74AD

xKempGuitars · November 2017

PS. Don't forget, you have the chance to win a custom from Kemp Guitars...

[COMPETITION NOW CLOSED]

xKempGuitars · November 2017

Geometry 101... Scarf joint angles for multiscale (left- and right-handed) and single-scale (90 degree scarf)

xKempGuitars · November 2017

It's that time again, the blanket is out! Won't be too long now before this one is finished...

Although I did have to dedicate some time today to admiring this Ziricote drop-top that arrived from the US over the weekend. Love this stuff and this top is going on one of three new custom builds just started - 8-string multiscale DC (Wenge/Maple thru-neck, Sapele wings, Bocote fretboard, BKP and Hipshot hardware)... Watch this space for updates

xKempGuitars · November 2017

Finished: Custom 8-string KR3 - Buckeye Burl top on Swamp Ash body (wings), Wenge/Maple 3-piece thru-neck, Marblewood fretboard, ABM 3210s, Hipshot Grip-lock, BKP Painkiller (custom 16 degree baseplate) w/ aged cream coils...

webrthomson · November 2017

Now that is the most bad ass Rhoads style V I've ever seen - nice one Matt!

Image: http://www.kempguitars.co.uk/forums/peanew2.jpg

Hell yeah, you aint playing blooze on that

Fr3t · November 2017

Love this thread. Awesome build you have there!

xKempGuitars · November 2017

webrthomson said:

Now that is the most bad ass Rhoads style V I've ever seen - nice one Matt!

Hell yeah, you aint playing blooze on that

Definitely not

Thanks Ross

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