Billy Bo.
Now here's an idea..........................................
A customer approached me with a suggestion for a one off build based on the Gretsch Billy Bo. The Billy Gibbons Bo Diddley hybrid that has been applauded as a seriously cool looking guitar. So..... a Billy Bo but not the guitar a tenor ukulele "interpretation". So the brief stands as a Billy Bo shaped tenor ukulele with all of the controls that can be played acoustically and electrically. After drawing, making templates etc I made a model from MDF to check out the ergonomics.
I have started work on the body, an all mahogany affair, which has been a challenge to balance the body shape the constructional and acoustic requirements. As you can see from the photos I have built a 50mm deep acoustic "box" and have braced the back in a fairly conventional way allowing space for an access plate. The front has a rectangular soundhole where the neck pickup would be so fits in with the aesthetic of the design.
Check out the Gretsch site for details of the original.
http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2410508815
Access to the electricvs is via a panel in the rear . I wanted the back to look "complete" so cut out the access panel from the mahogany so the grain all matches.
I have made the hole where the rhythmn pickup would be into the soundhole and lined with plastic binding.
Update 24-08-2012. Have fitted the neck but not glued in and started shaping the profile. The inlays on the fingerboard stand out nicely. Starting to look like a rill 'un.
Ok here we go. Master volume,treble, mid,bass boost and cut. Piezo built into the bridge nice range of tones and pretty cool looking. Lot of r+d and interesting challenges along the way but I'm happy with the results and the sound.
Quite punch acoustically and very flexible through the amp.
