Lowe Guitars shop notes

[BTL]

The silver logo looks really sharp.

Thank you! It's embossed like a number of other builder's deluxe models, so combined with the roasted maple, it really gives the necks and upgraded vibe.

[BTL]

A little teaser: Here's the 4+4 headstock design. The plan is to offer a 32" scale 8-string conversion neck and BRIDGE that will convert an American-spec bass from 34" scale 4-string to 32" scale 8-string. Added bonus: the bridge will retrofit a standard 5-hole bent-plate bridge with no modification.

Is this something you never knew you wanted but now absolutely must have? Let's hope so!

[BTL]

Not the greatest photos, but it's great to get this project across the finish line. I'm really enjoying building in the new space.

[countertext]

A little teaser: Here's the 4+4 headstock design. The plan is to offer a 32" scale 8-string conversion neck and BRIDGE that will convert an American-spec bass from 34" scale 4-string to 32" scale 8-string. Added bonus: the bridge will retrofit a standard 5-hole bent-plate bridge with no modification.

Is this something you never knew you wanted but now absolutely must have? Let's hope so!

I don’t buy necks very often. Any idea what price range this will fall into?

[BTL]

@countertext Ballpark, about $800 for the neck and about $150 for the bridge.

Here's a current listing on a 4-string neck for basic specs and information, but the 8-string will be tiltback and natural maple vs. roasted:

https://reverb.com/item/39445580-lowe-c ... -nut-width

[BTL]

The daylight photos aren't much better, but this one's heading out the door. Getting a consistent photo setup worked out in the new space is next on the to-do list.

This is the Jayluxe V32 5-string conversion neck prototype. The specs are as follows;

• CNC-milled and finished in the USA
• Roasted swamp ash body with glossy TV Yellow urethane finish
• Lindy Fralin Standard Jazz V pickups
• Roasted maple neck with roasted maple fretboard
• Pearloid blocks and binding
• Satin urethane neck finish
• Black Lowe Custom Guitars logo
• Scary Creative silver ink dry transfer serial number
• Shiny chrome bullet headstock truss rod adjustment
• Carbon fiber reinforcement rods
• Tusq nut
• Hipshot Ultralite shiny chrome machines
• Hipshot shiny chrome string retainer
• Carbon steel inserts for 8-32 machine screws

[BTL]

Ryland sent me some better pics of the Jayluxe V-32 along with is Jayluxe IV-32, so I'm posting them here for posterity.

[BTL]

Back in the saddle...buttoning down the details. Ferrules, strap buttons, and tuning machines aren't glamorous, but they don't install themselves. The Fralin Big Singles come to me on a dogear baseplate, so I made a jig to solder on the brass nuts. It's tough to see, but all of the pickup ring mounting holes have beeswax in them to guarantee serviceability. I'm still using hand-wired plug-and-play wiring harnesses with mil-spec D subminiature connectors. 

The Paradise guitar is pretty much ready to ship. It has a pretty compelling backstory, so I'll probably start a separate thread on it at some point.

[BTL]

The free Corel Paintshop Pro app I got with my camera seems to have tanked on me, and rather than try to reinstall it, I downloaded GIMP. I did some basic color correction in the MS Photos app, then I followed the workflow detailed in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5uVTEItvHo

Here is my photo setup:



Here is the source image:



Here is the masked, straightened and cropped image (6000 x 3000):



Here is the final (draft) collage for social media:



I noticed some masking errors on the image, so I will probably rework the GIMP file and save a better version of the image before posting it on Instagram & Facebook, but I'm pretty happy with the result as a first effort.

[PixMix]

The blue and the cream bass are just so gorgeous!

On the photo set up, I think you might be better off to get one couple of rolls of these background papers in different colors, they might make things simpler. No need to mask, just shoot, do some light color correction, and post.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... _gray.html

[BTL]

@PixMix Thanks! I have arrived at my current setup through lots of trial and error and I’ll admit I still have a lot to learn about photography and editing.

The reason I use a cloth drape is because nearly all of my builds use highly reflective pickups and hardware.

This is the easiest way I have found to capture the look of the hardware without picking up undesirable reflections from the background.

[BTL]

So, based on feedback, here is the same image with a better mask and a 25% gray background...I like it.

Thanks!

[sal paradise]

If you want to tidy up the bum a bit, try this- free browser-based photoshop that’s actually really good. https://www.photopea.com/

So, based on feedback, here is the same image with a better mask and a 25% gray background...I like it.

Thanks!

[BTL]

I'll look into that, thanks!

[BTL]

Thank you, next.