This is where it all started -- my first "from scratch" guitar body. I built this because I couldn't find a high-quality, fixed bridge Ibanez RG with an original Wizard neck. At the time, that was my dream guitar, and since I couldn't buy one, I decided to build it.
I copied my RG520 to get the body shape.
The blank was purchased from Gallery Hardwoods.
I ran into some trouble early on. I was a little too agressive with the router, and I didn't listen when the wood was telling me to cool it. Luckily, the router I had at the time wasn't powerful enough to take a serious chunk out of the guitar. I fixed these little tear-outs without too much trouble.
Body ready for paint.
Some of the hardware. I'm still quite proud of the steel control cavity cover held on by magnets, as well as the machined brass string retainer. I eventually replaced the Corian nut with a Delrin one.
Buffing the finish
I finished this guitar in 2006, and it has been my main go-to guitar ever since. While my more recent builds have surpassed it in outright build quality, there is something unbeatable about a solid piece of mahogany with a Wizard neck and two DiMarzio humbuckers. It just rocks.
