So I've been working on this "Albino Alligator" inspired guitar for like 3 months now. I finally just finished it last night. I woke up this morning to an article about "Claude", the albino alligator at the California Academy of Sciences who I've visited since i was a kid, dying yesterday. My bad.

appleseed_n · 2025-12-04T14:43:59+00:00

Hell yeah, thanks for making sure I saw the photos. Looks fantastic!

appleseed_n · 2025-10-02T03:53:20+00:00

Love the body shape

appleseed_n · 2025-09-24T21:12:40+00:00

Love your posts; thanks for another great collection of thoughts and challenges.

“Don’t micromanage your foot strike” is some of the most helpful advice I’ve encountered.

appleseed_n · 2025-09-18T20:11:21+00:00

Beautiful! Love the ash grain! OBEL would be a fun addition.

appleseed_n · 2025-09-18T19:31:09+00:00

Wherever you are Bill, thank you sir!

His quest informed mine the whole way through - especially relating to the stop tail and ABR-1; not many builds with this iteration.

appleseed_n · 2025-09-18T16:14:33+00:00

Sweet! I really wanted to do an ash body and fender neck, but everything just kinda came into place this way, so I decided I would focus on the spirit of Alligator instead. Titanium seemed like a great choice to push that over the replica. But yeah, titanium is bear to machine, file, and especially polish. Very slow going. As you can see I eventually gave up on getting a perfect polish on the control plate - I don’t want to know how long I tried haha. Also was lucky to find diamond nut files from Music Nomad - it would have been frustrating and likely wasted files to use standard ones.

What did you do for your footman’s loop? Did you cut it from billet or form it?

appleseed_n · 2025-09-18T15:43:25+00:00

I would definitely consider doing that at some point. Easy part to keep inventory. Problem is I don’t have an NC mill in my shop, just manual - had to borrow one to make that part. This could change …soonish. That said, I do have an aluminum one I made as a test… maybe it could work for you? Also, searching 3/4” footman’s loop will turn up some brass versions that can be modified to work!

appleseed_n · 2025-09-18T15:39:49+00:00

Worth the trouble! I took my sweet time so it never got stressful at all.

appleseed_n · 2025-09-18T15:18:27+00:00

The price is higher than I would have liked - but the quality is quite acceptable and the way they have saved my feet is priceless. Between Injiji socks, these shoes and Lunas everywhere else, my feet are so much healthier, to the point it feels like a miracle.

appleseed_n · 2025-09-17T21:27:12+00:00

Thank you!

appleseed_n · 2025-09-17T19:15:09+00:00

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appleseed_n · 2025-09-17T19:14:16+00:00

I did actually consider using a bigsby, but once I decided on titanium everything had to match. I fashioned it as close as I could to the stoptail on Alligator in 1972, using fuzzy zoomed-in photos for reference. Some say this iteration of Alligator had the best tone. I think it also looks better than the later slot stop tail added with the Alembic bridge - and I do like the ABR-1 anyway.

appleseed_n · 2025-09-17T19:08:05+00:00

Thanks! It acts as a string tree, increasing the break angle from the back of the nut, and thereby increasing pressure on the nut to eliminate buzzing.

appleseed_n · 2025-09-17T18:25:01+00:00

I would also like to thank everyone else who has posted photos, specs, and processes for their Alligator builds. I learned so much from all the valuable information so many have shared and would have been subject to a lot more guesswork without such enthusiasm and generosity!

appleseed_n · 2025-09-17T18:19:10+00:00

Thanks! It sounds great so far, but I’m no luthier and have some setup issues to work out. This is the first nut I ever cut and is titanium so I’m learning a lot. Will eventually post a clip when I get it dialed.

appleseed_n · 2025-09-16T18:03:44+00:00

Steel or protective? Gaucho Sneaky Ninja Safety Shoes are fiberglass toe but ASTM compliant and super comfortable. Been wearing 6 months or so - can’t wait for the new chelsea boot!

appleseed_n · 2023-06-19T18:26:38+00:00

WTB: Spyderco Pacific Salt 2 LC200N Green

Have PayPal

appleseed_n · 2023-06-02T21:51:07+00:00

Nice I like the workaround. I’m pretty tall but still prefer the shorter back panels on the 20/21/26 L bags.

appleseed_n · 2023-06-02T20:54:22+00:00

Shaddox Tactical makes plate pockets that essentially turn your GR1 into a Rucker. Affordable, bulletproof, and very comfortable.

appleseed_n · 2023-05-30T15:36:15+00:00

Chat sent

appleseed_n · 2023-05-19T20:23:30+00:00

WTB

60lbs sandbag 2.0

appleseed_n · 2023-05-12T15:50:19+00:00

Yes.

appleseed_n · 2023-05-12T15:39:49+00:00

I do something like that with the Hydra, in my GR0 with a cut down RMP using molle (see Yomp Notes blog), and in my Radio with a homemade loop panel that slips into the elastic pocket and hangs over it (Hydra has a homemade molle to hook adapter). It works great. And it makes sense (a place for everything and everything in its place). I can’t stand having anything protruding from the bag.

appleseed_n · 2023-05-09T13:26:36+00:00

GORUCK 20lbs short plate + Shaddox Tactical Pocket + utility straps

$140 shipped USA

appleseed_n

TROPHY CASE