Hi guys!
Have a look at these instruments:
http://www.arrogantia.it/ (http://www.arrogantia.it/)
This is DESIGN.
Once my 1987 PRS will be sold, I'll start mine.
I've clear ideas about what I want, after all these years...and after a lot of guitars.
I just needed someone able to synthesize everything within a single guitar: I think I've found this man in Emanuele.
Some tests...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeqPsYRxCfQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeqPsYRxCfQ)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPCYoFk-Mrs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPCYoFk-Mrs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h7O1yrw9U0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h7O1yrw9U0)
Indeed, quite beautiful design, which Italians have always been known for ;)
They have some really good details; I like their use of a very sturdy spring clamp, to avoid spring ringing.
However, I see some ergonomics errors, like the heel being too bulky for proper upper fret access.
I hope I'll have the chance to try those guitars soon....and I'll let you know.
The neck heel is strange in shape, but since those guitars have a good amount of design work having ergonomics in mind, I wouldn't bet that there could be problems accessing upper frets.... :lol:
The whole fretboard is almost completely out of the body... :headbanger:
Looking forward to your comments on those..
BTW, while on the topic of Italian design, I assume you know about Rusti Guitars.
OT, just couldn't help it ;)
Quote from: van Sinn on November 16, 2017, 11:46:04 AM
I assume you know about Rusti Guitars.
No...I don't....but I will! :lol:
Wow!!!
I had a look to Rusti Guitars: awesome works there!
They look like luxury Ibanez RG guitars. :bow:
So, have a look to Bruno Traverso's then:
https://www.Faceb**k.com/brunotraversoguitars/ (https://www.faceb**k.com/brunotraversoguitars/)
I attach a picture of my 2002 Traverso Silky here...that model is out of production, but I can assure is a blast.
By the way, the man who seriously started it all in Italy in the '90s is Galeazzo Frudua, my friend and Master.
Anyway, I prefer Arrogantia due to their uncommon design and hi-tech solutions...
https://www.Faceb**k.com/arrogantia/ (https://www.faceb**k.com/arrogantia/)
Hi folks!
Finally I had some time to spend together with Emanuele at Arrogantia lab.
I tested 3 different guitars and...WOW!!! :whoohoo!:
Awesome fine instruments.
Perfection.
We started thinking about my incoming Pandora Vendetta HH Trem...and it will be a definitive guitar.
I've to thank Magnus and his luthier for the very nice idea of Jescar EVO Gold frets of 2 different measures: jumbo for frets 1-12 and narrow jumbo for frets 13-24 (yes, the guitar will be 24 frets!).
I will use italian made MAMA pickups there, Schaller Vintage bridge and locking tuners.
The body will be made of a one-piece 27 years old padouk table with a marvellous flamed maple top.
Flamed maple neck and makassar ebony engraved fretboard.
Ok, be careful...some guitar p*rn will follow.
Have a look: that's the very first Pandora HH Trem, one of the guitars I had the chance to test.
Let me know what you think about: that's the starting base for my Pandora!
More p*rn!
Do you want more???
...
Game over. :wave:
...and have a look to this one (Virtus model): does it remind you of something?
Burns Tri-Sonics... :bow:
Wauw, looks really nice!!!!!!!!!! 8)
Quote from: MarshallJMP on January 18, 2018, 04:44:46 AM
Wauw, looks really nice!!!!!!!!!! 8)
f*ck yes! :lol:
PS: I've to apply the "fix" to my MP1 yet....but I'm planning to do the job in the next days!!! :banana-dance:
I'm not lazy (ok, just a little...)....I'm overbooked/overloaded.... :banana-skipping-rope-smiley-e
that's some serious p0rnös stuff! I dig the arm contour and the upper fret access. Controls layout would have to be different for me though....just vol, tone and a 3way 4pdt toggle lined up ;-).....
My trem of choice (non locking) would be either the Wilkinson VS100 or the new Gotoh T1802, preferably with the "old" Wilkinson Roller nut:
(http://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13532038_557312531133284_1443095989_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI4NjgyMDY2MDQ4MDE0NTkxNA%3D%3D.2)
and Gotoh Magnum Lock locking tuners.
No beef with Schaller, but quality wise Gotoh is ways more consistent in my book.
Looking forward to hear how you like the mixed frets
DAMN.
That's a fine looking guitar. How's that neck heel feel when you're accessing the upper frets? I like the look of it, but I am wondering about that lump of wood there. I have another guitar like that and it really stretches my thumb!
Beautiful guitar though....man, just a work of art.
The neck heel feeling is wonderful.
This Pandora is 22 frets, mine will be 24: you can access the higher part of the fretboard as if it were a violin.
Plus I've big hands with long, thin fingers and I find it awesome.
The Virtus model has 25 frets and a slightly different neck heel's shape...but the final effect is the same.
The thumb would say a big THANK YOU! in both the cases... :thumb-up:
Quote from: Systematic Chaos on January 18, 2018, 09:37:02 PM
that's some serious p0rnös stuff! I dig the arm contour and the upper fret access. Controls layout would have to be different for me though....just vol, tone and a 3way 4pdt toggle lined up ;-).....
My trem of choice (non locking) would be either the Wilkinson VS100 or the new Gotoh T1802, preferably with the "old" Wilkinson Roller nut:
(http://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13532038_557312531133284_1443095989_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI4NjgyMDY2MDQ4MDE0NTkxNA%3D%3D.2)
and Gotoh Magnum Lock locking tuners.
No beef with Schaller, but quality wise Gotoh is ways more consistent in my book.
Looking forward to hear how you like the mixed frets
I don't know if you ever tried that Schaller Vintage tremolo bridge: it blows the Wilkinson and the Gotoh away very, very easily and you don't need a Wilkinson nut there (I've the original one on my Fender Strat Plus and to be honest I cannot say how much difference it makes if compared to a good, well shaped TUSQ nut...).
It's a Floyd Rose without fine tuning and locking nut: tons of sustain, roller saddles, made of steel with a very good block, FR tremolo arm, harmonics, it works very softly, precisely and gently in both directions (up and down), it perfectly keeps tuning even when you dive b*mb like Eddie for 2 hours.
And it trills like the Devil.
The arm contour is pure love!
Thanks again for the Jescar frets ideas!
I'll let you know!
Ok folks.
Damage is done.
:whoohoo!:
Padouk body...wow....
Looks very serious; looking forward to more pics and a review with clips when finished :bow:
+1
Please keep us all posted, that looks pretty dang amazing
I'll keep you posted guys...
This one will have Jescar EVO Gold mixed frets as SC suggested.... :lol:
And some special, awesome Made in Italy MAMA pickups.
You'll see...
In the meanwhile, have a look to the last guitar Emanuele completed before starting mine...
22 frets, Di Marzio Evolution pickups.
Hey Max, looking good, should be fantastic when it's finished :thumb-up: :whoohoo!:
Quote from: rnolan on February 21, 2018, 09:49:27 PM
Hey Max, looking good, should be fantastic when it's finished :thumb-up: :whoohoo!:
It will be!!! :bow:
Cannot wait to have the baby plugged into my MP1... :headbanger:
Some new pictures with neck... :thumb-up:
Look at that padouk body...
Screwless neck joint video... :lol: :whoohoo!: :bow:
A new guitar is born :whoohoo!:
Quote from: rnolan on February 22, 2018, 07:12:34 AM
A new guitar is born :whoohoo!:
Not yet... :lol: :lol: :lol:
Not born but...p*rn! :lol:
Ok guys.
Some more pictures of work in progress...
:bow:
:whoohoo!:
:whoohoo!: :bow:
It's missing paint and a lot of stuff yet, but I love her already!!!
Vey nice Max, so it's a zero fret setup :thumb-up:
Quote from: rnolan on February 27, 2018, 01:06:24 AM
Vey nice Max, so it's a zero fret setup :thumb-up:
:thumb-up: :thumb-up: :thumb-up:
Nice! Looking forward to seeing it either mixed frets 8)
DAAAAAYUMMM, that's looking sweet. I wouldn't paint it, just clear coat that baby. (that's just me)
Quote from: Dante on March 02, 2018, 06:58:12 AM
DAAAAAYUMMM, that's looking sweet. I wouldn't paint it, just clear coat that baby. (that's just me)
It's painted already, as you see it in the pictures...just some honey/amber on the top, nothing more. :thumb-up:
That padouk deserves no paint...so back, neck, headstock and natural maple binding will be left natural....just the right amount of clear coating and that's it.
Jescar frets installed....waiting for more pictures! :headbanger:
Painting #1
Painting #2
Painting #3
@Dante: look at the red tint of that padouk....100% natural.....clear coating only...
Hey Max, very nice :thumb-up: :thumb-up: :whoohoo!:
Thanks Rich!
It will be an awesome guitar for sure! :thumb-up:
Absolutely :thumb-up: , it's bloody beautiful (but then I like guitars LoL, allot >:D )
Hi guys!
Work is going on.
Padouk is a wonderful tonewood, but it's a pain in the ass when you have to work on it (tons of thin red dust everywhere in the Universe) and paint it...but these are luthier's problems... :lol:
Have a look... :whoohoo!:
...some more red...
Emanuele is naming Our Lord Jesus Christ many times in these days of pain-ting... :banana-skipping-rope-smiley-e
And now...Jescar EVO Gold over ebony!
...last but not least...a wonderful neck!
The note on the heel says: "To Max...one of the most beautiful necks I ever done"...
Proudly made in Cairo Montenotte, Italy.
Quote from: Iperfungus on March 13, 2018, 05:38:54 PM
And now...Jescar EVO Gold over ebony!
58118 on the lower frets and 57110 on the higher frets ?!? Awesome!!
Quote from: Systematic Chaos on March 13, 2018, 08:21:29 PM
Quote from: Iperfungus on March 13, 2018, 05:38:54 PM
And now...Jescar EVO Gold over ebony!
58118 on the lower frets and 57110 on the higher frets ?!? Awesome!!
Ciao Magnus!
They are jumbo on the lower frets (0-12) and narrow jumbo on the higher frets (13-24)...so 57110 on the lower frets...maybe 55090 on the higher frets? By the way, they should be the same frets you have on your RG550LTD: Dunlop 6100 and 6105 size. :banana-rock:
Great pix, Max! I love seeing a guitar come together, especially when i'm not doing it - haha. It's a LOT of work. I understand why it costs so much after building and refinishing a few axes, I have full respect for those that make or refinish guitars.
Nice to see the orange-peel surface of a rough clear coat. That'll smooth out with a few more coats and some wet sanding :thumb-up:
Quote from: Dante on March 14, 2018, 06:22:31 AM
Great pix, Max! I love seeing a guitar come together, especially when i'm not doing it - haha. It's a LOT of work. I understand why it costs so much after building and refinishing a few axes, I have full respect for those that make or refinish guitars.
Nice to see the orange-peel surface of a rough clear coat. That'll smooth out with a few more coats and some wet sanding :thumb-up:
Well...that padouk requires a lot more of coats and wet sanding.... :lol: :lol: :lol:
But it's coming out beautifully!
I share the respect for people doing jobs like this.
And I can say the final cost of this guitar will be a lot more than reasonable, considering materials quality, hours of work, all of the customization I asked for and the overall quality.
Some lovely gold...
Very nice Max :thumb-up: , this guitar is coming along very nicely , bet you can't wait to play it :whoohoo!:
Quote from: rnolan on March 16, 2018, 08:32:27 PM
Very nice Max :thumb-up: , this guitar is coming along very nicely , bet you can't wait to play it :whoohoo!:
Epic winner. :lol:
Ok guys: job done!!!
In a few days I'll go to pick her up... :whoohoo!:
Have a look...
Gold is in the air...
Some natural light...
Compare the different shades of red of this padouk....changing with light...
Jescar EVO Gold.
@Magnus/SC: the kanji ideogram on the pickguard should represent Force...but...since you live in Japan...can you ask someone there to confirm that? :thumb-up:
Hey Max, I think (IIRC) kanji is generally used for foreign words that there isn't a Japanese equivalent for (my daughter studied Japanese for quite a while). But I'm sure SC will know.
Wow the guitar is looking great, interesting clear spring cavity cover :thumb-up: . Is there a reason you went with the plastic jack plate ? rather than a gold metal one. The plastic plates bust over time (as MikeB will attest to, he's recently changed the plate on his LP Classic to a chrome one for that reason).
Quote from: rnolan on March 23, 2018, 01:32:14 AM
Hey Max, I think (IIRC) kanji is generally used for foreign words that there isn't a Japanese equivalent for (my daughter studied Japanese for quite a while). But I'm sure SC will know.
Wow the guitar is looking great, interesting clear spring cavity cover :thumb-up: . Is there a reason you went with the plastic jack plate ? rather than a gold metal one. The plastic plates bust over time (as MikeB will attest to, he's recently changed the plate on his LP Classic to a chrome one for that reason).
Well....I didn't ask Emanuele and he decided for that jack plate since there's a lot of gold on the guitar already and we wanted to avoid it to look tawdry and kitsch.
I've to say I love the cream color over the padouk red with golden screws and jack...and Ema uses high quality parts only, so that jack plate should last for a while.
By the way, I can easily replace it with a gold metal one in 10 seconds later, eventually. :thumb-up:
I agree about the colour, it matches the blond line better than gold will, I hope it lasts well, ideally you could paint a metal plate (I only say this coz Mike had his fail recently).
So pic with you playing it with tat in the shot ? coming soon I hope.
Quote from: rnolan on March 23, 2018, 03:59:29 AM
I agree about the colour, it matches the blond line better than gold will, I hope it lasts well, ideally you could paint a metal plate (I only say this coz Mike had his fail recently).
So pic with you playing it with tat in the shot ? coming soon I hope.
I will pick the guitar up next week! :thumb-up:
Fantastic, have lots of fun :headbanger: :whoohoo!:
Quote from: Iperfungus on March 22, 2018, 04:21:42 PM
@Magnus/SC: the kanji ideogram on the pickguard should represent Force...but...since you live in Japan...can you ask someone there to confirm that? :thumb-up:
Hey Max, just had dinner with my daughter and asked about your scratch plate, the kanji ideogram means force, strength, power and, as with all kanji, is based on the Chinese characters (as opposed to what I previously remembered/thought :facepalm: i.e. that kanji is for foreign words :nono: , that's Kara Kara :thumb-up: , my bad). This means force in an emotional context, not like the "force" that keeps an electron spinning around an atom (scientific context). So yes it does represent force or strength or power :thumb-up:
Quote from: rnolan on March 28, 2018, 04:11:54 AM
Quote from: Iperfungus on March 22, 2018, 04:21:42 PM
@Magnus/SC: the kanji ideogram on the pickguard should represent Force...but...since you live in Japan...can you ask someone there to confirm that? :thumb-up:
Hey Max, just had dinner with my daughter and asked about your scratch plate, the kanji ideogram means force, strength, power and, as with all kanji, is based on the Chinese characters (as opposed to what I previously remembered/thought :facepalm: i.e. that kanji is for foreign words :nono: , that's Kara Kara :thumb-up: , my bad). This means force in an emotional context, not like the "force" that keeps an electron spinning around an atom (scientific context). So yes it does represent force or strength or power :thumb-up:
Sumimasen, I'm late to the party :facepalm:
The kanji is read "chikara" (phonetic Japanese: ちから) and has the meaning of strength/power/force. Its composed of "chi" which means "life" or "power" in a different sense and -kara which translates to "from"
Well better late than never SC :wave: , I kept a few colds ones for you (metaphorically, so your choice of drinks) in case you could make it LoL :banana-jazz-smiley-emoticon: .
Quote from: Systematic Chaos on March 28, 2018, 04:53:07 AM
Quote from: rnolan on March 28, 2018, 04:11:54 AM
Quote from: Iperfungus on March 22, 2018, 04:21:42 PM
@Magnus/SC: the kanji ideogram on the pickguard should represent Force...but...since you live in Japan...can you ask someone there to confirm that? :thumb-up:
Hey Max, just had dinner with my daughter and asked about your scratch plate, the kanji ideogram means force, strength, power and, as with all kanji, is based on the Chinese characters (as opposed to what I previously remembered/thought :facepalm: i.e. that kanji is for foreign words :nono: , that's Kara Kara :thumb-up: , my bad). This means force in an emotional context, not like the "force" that keeps an electron spinning around an atom (scientific context). So yes it does represent force or strength or power :thumb-up:
Sumimasen, I'm late to the party :facepalm:
The kanji is read "chikara" (phonetic Japanese: ちから) and has the meaning of strength/power/force. Its composed of "chi" which means "life" or "power" in a different sense and -kara which translates to "from"
Thanks a lot guys!!!
So this means Force in the Jedi way... :thumb-up:
"May the Force be with you".
Chi is QI, the same of Tai-qi (taijiquan)...the internal force every human being has in the inside.
Wow.
That confirms my thoughts about that kanji and its meaning is exactly what I wanted to have "printed" on the guitar.
The girl who did my tattoo warned me about being careful with usage of japanese and chinese ideograms, since if you use something being not sure about the exact meaning you risk to offend people. ^^
So I wanted to be sure I'm not telling someone "f*ck off you bastard of a motherfucker" when I show the guitar. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Guys....the Beast is in da house... :headbanger:
Sights'n'Sounds or didn't happen C:-)
Quote from: Systematic Chaos on April 03, 2018, 07:28:58 PM
Sights'n'Sounds or didn't happen C:-)
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Some live videos from the lab...and a picture of what I use with her at home... :headbanger:
https://www.Faceb**k.com/arrogantia/videos/810224895840755/ (https://www.faceb**k.com/arrogantia/videos/810224895840755/)
https://www.Faceb**k.com/arrogantia/videos/810232042506707/ (https://www.faceb**k.com/arrogantia/videos/810232042506707/)
https://www.Faceb**k.com/arrogantia/videos/811493435713901/ (https://www.faceb**k.com/arrogantia/videos/811493435713901/)
We used a Blackstar HT-5 Metal head (clean channel) with a Boss GT-1 in the first video and a Boss DS-2 in the last...clean sound is from the little head (and a MXR Carbon Copy delay).
Recorded with a smartphone, so forget the quality...
Italian made Alnico5 MAMA Pickups...OMNIA series...they split like no others: true single coil tone!
Later the videos should be uploaded on YouTube as well..I will modify the post.
NOICE. I was lookin' at those GT-1 pedals just before I found my Nova. Was the gain from the Blackstar or the pedal? Sounds like it was from the pedal...in which case, that didn't suck at all.
Quote from: Dante on April 04, 2018, 11:07:41 PM
NOICE. I was lookin' at those GT-1 pedals just before I found my Nova. Was the gain from the Blackstar or the pedal? Sounds like it was from the pedal...in which case, that didn't suck at all.
:lol:
The Blackstar was set to clean all the time.
The gain/drive you hear is from the GT-1 on a video and from a Boss DS-2 on the other (where I'm playing the Money for nothing main riff).
That small pedalboard isn't bad at all! Some "metal" tones must be reworked to be useful, but some other clean, crunch and overdrive or classic distortion presets are fully usable without being modified.
Interesting toy.
The funny side is how those pedals react to MAMA pickups... :whoohoo!:
It's crazy and awesome!
...and it must be said that these Blackstar amps eat pedals in a wonderful, wonderful way.
The Boss DS-2 inside that small head gives you a very rich rock tone!!!