Our recent post about the Artist Ultimate saw Todd leveling the finish before the final clear coats. This morning, he's finished buffing and is wiring the guitar. The Artist Ultimate receives a pair of humbuckers that are built by Seymour in his lab room as opposed to the shop. They are truly hand-wound and are signed by the man himself. Each pickup is measured and then cataloged so that if the owner should want a replacement, Seymour could match it exactly.
As you can see, this pair is serialized #65 which matches the guitar's serial number. That means this guitar is the sixty-fifth Artist Ultimate ever made! The instrument is delivered with all documentation and signed certificates.
We also shoot the electronics cavities including the pickup routs with a nickel based paint from Belgium. It's the most effective (and expensive) stuff there is.
Todd is soldering the electronics using twisted-pair, oxygen-free copper wire from Monster Cable. The toggle switch is custom made for us by Switchcraft with 24k gold contacts. The cavity is closed up with a grounded aluminum cover plate to complete the shielding.
Here are some shots of the finished details that we looked at in the woodshop.
Check out the crisp miter joints and the large pieces of shell in the purfling.
You can almost read the reflection of the Guitar World magazine cover in the headstock. Who is that on the cover? I've got a black Hamer fleece jacket for the first correct answer.
Even the Ivory nut is shaped and buffed to a high gloss.
A little bit of set-up and play testing, then we wait a day to test it again. Any final adjustments can be made at that point, and then it's out the door. Somebody is going to be happy!
Bridget Marquardt and a blue 360?
Posted by: cmatthes | June 15, 2009 at 10:36 AM
It's the GW Buyers guide with Bridget Marquardt on the cover.
Posted by: Brian | June 15, 2009 at 10:47 AM
The one with SRV on the cover, which is usually every other month.
Posted by: Roger T. | June 15, 2009 at 11:05 AM
I got it.
Posted by: The Anti-Matthes | June 15, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Yup. That's Bridget.
Posted by: shane | June 15, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Or it's Metallica whose also on the cover of every magazine except the ones with Led Zepplin
Posted by: Jambo Jenkins | June 15, 2009 at 01:51 PM
I don't know who is on the cover, but you're right, I can almost read it! That guitar is stellar in every detail and the new owner is gonna love it. Do you wire all your guitars with monster wire? Does it make a difference to the sound?
Posted by: Robert | June 15, 2009 at 01:54 PM
Looks like Tom Dumont and Gwen Stefani to me!
Posted by: kerry kruger | June 15, 2009 at 05:49 PM
Is it Zakk Wylde? I can see some blonde and plaid.
Posted by: kyle | June 15, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Tom Dumont !!!
Posted by: DUPONT Rodolphe | June 16, 2009 at 07:53 AM
Definitely Bridget Marquardt
Posted by: Christopher | June 21, 2009 at 09:18 AM