diablo175

Murkat, I got yer sensitive right here.

The slant in my design is kinda necessary given the extended 27 fret board. Yeah, you could shoe horn two together parallel but then it'd start to look like the Nightswan config and frankly, I think that's uglier than a slanted humbucker.

LOL. The two pups smooshed together looks kinda silly, IMO. But yeah, I got a lot of commentary over at the JCF Online about the bothersome aesthetics of the neck p'up slant against the edge of the fretboard.

Here's a better shot w/ the Cali:

I thought it was a Caliablo?... Hmm. The only Diablo-esque feature would be the humbucker in the neck pos. Hardly significant enough to warrant being likened to a Diablo. Maybe ya'll should just minimize the Diablo aspect by calling it a Calio. Mostly Califonian with just a hint of Diablo.

Good call! But it's an alcohol-based marker and Sharpies are permanent so I'm guessing it'll be fine especially since it'll be on top of either a leather vest and/or a t-shirt.

...and instant customized strap for the Custom Cali. The pic does not do it justice but the color is damn-near spot on!

It's a gee-tar.

Using your post HSB0531, I'll offer up a blanket thank you to all for the heaping helping of compliments. While I can't take credit for building such an amazing ax, I can take a small level of satisfaction in having come up with the paint design and the specs. Good to know that shit-ton of money I dropped on post secondary art education/training wasn't for naught.

The play of the trem on my BCR modded Barney Sparkle bears this out. So it shall be- two stock springs and the claw arm flush to the cavity!

Yeah 'cuz the photos aren't enough! If what JackAss said is true about the p'ups being Duncan Custom/59, it actually is a little less punchy than my BCR Greg modded '89 purple metal flake Cali LE, with a Custom and a HotRails. The Checkered has great resonance unplugged and very good sustain but is just a hair less dynamic than the Barney Sparkle. The '59 sounds great despite being slanted a bit. Was a little concerned that the off kilter position would somehow adversely effect the p'ups classic tone but not so. A little less responsive on the trem as well. Doing a A/B comparison, the Barney Sparkle has two stock springs vs. the two heavy duty noiseless I put in the Checkered. The Checkered has a tad stiffer tension and is certainly within acceptable parameters but not quite right for a guitar of this cost, wait time, er... caliber. Rest assured, it is still a killer ax and sounded great in rehearsal last night. Just needs a few more tweaks- a big brass block and maybe a switch back to the stock springs to get the tension just right. It'd mean screwing in the claw arm to almost flush agai9nst the cavity but might be worth it to get that beloved yet elusive, spongy trem play.

Nothing went wrong, your mind just fixated on a powerful stimuli- the image of a kick ass guitar.

No issues with timing for me - I was told from the get go it would take a while. I think it took 13 months total... Was well worth the wait. I know that Diablo175 will be super stoked with his Californian, it is seriously cool... Diablo is super stoked. Beyond seriously cool. Can't thank the hella-talented crew out in CT and Unca Greg for making this happen. This guitarist's wet dream come true. No shit.

That would explain why mine was all sticky and... oh, that was after I took possession of it. Uhh, never mind.

Only some checked Vans. Wouldn't want to borrow another member of the HFC's gimick, now would I?

Me, too. I'm currently standing here, sock-less. What a conundrum.

In a word, yes.

Not sure how that combo eventually came to be; I don't recall specifying p'ups when I ordered. But kudos to you and/or to BCR Greg for making that combo the final choice. You guys ROCK!

I KNEW it! To be honest I did NOT know what was in there as of this morning but after I played it for the first time at BCR Music, I knew they were the Duncan Custom/'59 set.

Let me guess. He is going to put a wraptail bridge on it. Just HOW did you get any kind of checkerboard finish at all? I'm guessing Greg's calling in a shit-ton of favors had something to do with the Checkerboard getting thru. Either that or the boys in the Hamer shop knew the writing was on the wall and said "Fuck it! Let's let it happen."

Annnnnnndddd Greg for the win!

I AM a rock star in my own mind...

I'll be right out!

Mahogany body 25.5 scale Maple neck, set Ebony board, bound and boomered Reverse head stock Black tuners Recessed OFR or Schaller- black One volume knob, one 3 way toggle switch Two Humbuckers neck slanted- Seymour Duncans Custom/'59 presumably but honestly don't know. Schaller strap locks

I doubt it. What, your still posting? your ass aint out the door and on your way over to Greg's yet? thats some bullsit right there. Oh ya, nice guit. I wish. Two things: 1) much as that guitar is the most exciting thing to happen to me since, well, getting my last custom ax, I gotta job or two to report to. 2) if I'm not mistaken, Greg has a minor tweak to perform before I can claim it.