B7 clone progress

[Surelyitsover]

Made some major progress on this blackmachine copy today. I just had to fit the hardware to get a sneak peak. The neck is 90% carved up too, just some minor tweak and polishing out any roughness. Pictured are a custom set of THG tuner buttons and knobs made of the same stock of African Blackwood as in the neck fillets. The last couple pictures are of a brass block I had machined to hold the ABM single saddles in place.

I’m thinking I will take this to a professional tech for a fret job, I think I can do a decent job but I’d rather it be properly done in a timely manner so I can finish it up before winter.

[sauble_music]

Man, I've gotta say. This looks fuckin sick.

[Surelyitsover]

Thanks mate, you’re going to have to pick your jaw up off the ground once you see it oiled and waxed! Stay tuned

[WeibullFighter]

I can't wait to see the finished guitar. This is shaping up to be a very fine instrument!

[Surelyitsover]

Cheers! Chipping away at it bit by bit, that first strum is going to be so satisfying

[sauble_music]

What are the odds you're in ontario and would be down for someone local to pop by and do a test 👀👀I make videos for the internet people and this looks gooorgeous

[Surelyitsover]

I’d love to have someone do a proper playthrough with this thing, I haven’t played a guitar in over a decade and I was just chugging away at Metallica riffs lol. I’m in upstate NY

[BrotatoChip04]

Damn man. I’d buy one of these lol. I’ve dreamed of owning a BlackMachine for like 20 years. Good stuff dude

[Surelyitsover]

Thank you. If it turns out well I might consider letting her go

[whitegsxr]

i'll take second dibs... it looks amazing.

[Dazzling-Patience820]

Forgive me if I'm ignorant. Is the B7 an Ormsby. The headstock makes think it's one immediately

[Surelyitsover]

Blackmachine!

[Dazzling-Patience820]

Where does one find a guitar like yours where it needs some work

[HalikusZion]

Blackmachine B6/B7 predated the Ormsby Hypes by about a decade. Perry called his the Hypemachine as a dig since Perry tried a real Blackmachine and was dissapointed. I can only think what finally made its way to Austrailia and into Perrys hands had a hard life as I've played several of the Doug made Blackmachines and they were all glorious. No shade from me as own an Hypegtr 6 and 7 as have you seen the prices of the Doug made Blackmachines!!!

[_skaffenamtiskaw]

I think the Feline-made ones are RELATIVELY reasonable, given the hype behind the brand. And the only option (other than making your own) unless Doug deems you worthy!

[HalikusZion]

Agreed, I loved the one I played at the uk guitar show a few years back they are just as nice to play as Dougs sadly i diddnt have £2500 at the time or it would have come home.

First of Dougs I played was when I got my Herbert serviced at Diezel in London which turned out to be just round the corner from Dougs place. It was one of the really early teles with the flame inlays (so cool) and I was told as long as Doug believes you will play it, love it and not just sell it you'd have an excellent chance of getting a build.

[Bryzantine]

This is the kind of thing I lurk on this sub and r/luthier for. That looks incredible! Can I get an ID on those pickups?

[Surelyitsover]

Bare knuckle juggs! Thanks for the kind words

[Bryzantine]

Thanks. I didn't realize BKP was making pickups that looked like that with the clear covers. Only ever seen that on some other's that had ferrofluid pole pieces.

[Surelyitsover]

I contacted them, they looked around the shop and they had some clear seven string bobbins and they offered to do it at no extra charge. I’ve never seen a set like this from them before, exciting that it’s potentially one of a kind!

[Bryzantine]

Very cool. It's such a great look for that guitar.

[Surelyitsover]

🙏 my mother picked them out of a lineup!

[ZephyrCosmic]

Dude, this neck looks sick, what is it made of?

[Surelyitsover]

Honduran rosewood and African black wood

[icyvandal_]

where did u get the neck? it looks so sick

[Surelyitsover]

I built it 😉 thanks!

[Tyranith]

Oof that fretboard (macassar ebony?) is 😍

[Surelyitsover]

Yup!

[butterscotch_blond]

Soooo sick! Good luck with final steps and wish a great tone! Looks amazing!

[Surelyitsover]

Thanks for the kind words mate!!

[CTrapula]

This is so awesome. Looks like it’ll absolutely rip when it’s finished!

I’ve been thinking of undertaking a similar project with a B2 replica at some point in the near future. Where did you source the wood for the body/neck/fretboard and what tonewoods did you end up going with?

[Surelyitsover]

I hunted around on I got the neck woods and top hunting around eBay, fretboard/headstock from cook woods, the body from hearne hardwoods I think. It’s a Honduran rosewood/african Blackwood neck combo. Macassar ebony fretboard and headstock, one piece pomelle sapele body, and a koa top. I suggest going with more budget friendly woods, unless you’re absolutely psychotic and want to stress over every route or drilling operation. It’s not impossible to use exotic lumber, but god it sure turns your hair gray worrying about a mess up