Lowe Shop Notes

[BTL]

James looks pretty happy with his one-of-a-kind Teeluxe.

This one will never be duplicated.

[BTL]

Back in the saddle again:

[BTL]

The Teeluxe on the lower left and the Primaluxe are for me.

I will finally have a guitar and a bass of my very own.

It's been a long time.

The Primaluxe is the last Mighty Mite body I had on hand, and it uses one of my 32" scale conversion necks:

[Dave W]

Looks great in black w/black guard.

[BTL]

Thanks, Dave!

I'm pretty excited about this one.



Every neck I use in my builds gets threaded steel inserts tapped and glued in place.

They are attached using 8-32 stainless steel machine screws.

This maintains a vintage look, but is significantly stronger and more durable than traditional wood screws.

[Basvarken]

I really like that concept of those threaded inserts for bolt on necks.
I've always found it a bit weird that most bolt on neck just screw straight into the wood. I wouldn't be a problem if people never take the neck off.
But somehow all those 7enderistas find it necessary to unscrew the neck whenever they decide to sell it. So they can photograph stamps on the back. 

[Highlander]

Even aircraft use helicoil inserts...

[BTL]

I'm pretty careful, but I stripped out my share of neck screws in my time.

The EZ-Lok 329-008 steel inserts make all the difference in the world.

One detail it's important to noe...I found it to be easier and more precise to locate the "pilot hole" after the hole for the insert has been drilled an tapped.

In the lower left hand corner of the photo, note that the inserts are painted red on the edge.

Those are "sacrificial" inserts that I use to locate the pilot hole after the fact.

Once the insert is in place and the CA adhesive is dry, I use an 8-32 tap to chase the threads of the insert and tap the wood walls of the pilot hole beneath the it.

This ensures that the mounting bolt seats properly all the way into the wood and doesn't exert any back-pressure on the insert.

[BTL]

Wood, paint, and metal...a few of my favorite things.

[BTL]

My goal has been to design a portfolio that is thematically cohesive, musically versatile, and aesthetically diverse.

This current gallery shot makes me feel as though I'm getting closer to that mark.

[BTL]

Here's a nice live shot Four Star Riot with Aaron Akers and his Ridler IV at Ella's Folk Art Cafe.

[BTL]

Here's a fitment mockup of the Ridler VI with most of the parts sitting loose on the body.

Also shown is the Lowe "chopped" bridge that allows for a Bigsby to be retrofitted to a Lowe or any other guitar with a vintage 6+4 string through bridge.

I haven't experimented with it yet, but I'm curious to see if this configuration would allow the Bigsby to serve as a B-bender if one were to string the other 5 strings conventionally.

[Dave W]

Richard Bowden now makes a B Bender model for 3 barrel Tele saddles.

[BTL]

Richard Bowden now makes a B Bender model for 3 barrel Tele saddles.

Cool...I had never seen is work before.

Thanks!

[Dave W]

Richard developed his own bender b/c he played Les Pauls instead of Teles. He leased his original patent to Gibson many years ago, but they never did anything with it. Now he makes models to fit most Fender and Gibson type bridges.

He grew up in Linden, TX with Don Henley. He's probably best known for the country comedy duo Pinkard & Bowden. Good article about him.