Hamm's beer guitar build

[Beerbelly]

Originally from the land of Sky Blue Waters, needing a winter project, and perhaps influenced by several of said refreshments, I decided to build a Hamm's beer guitar.
I had a chunk of basswood lying around, so I mocked up an idea and went shopping for everything else. My buddy in the sign business is printing the can image, I found a cheap but grubby neck online with a surprisingly nice rosewood board, and ordered a lipstick, a bridge and tuners, all in gold to match the can's colors. Also, a wall-mount bottle opener to use as a tailpiece.
I cleaned, oiled & polished the grubby neck frets, and made a beer bottle truss rod cover. Then I drilled the bottle opener and painted it gold. Just waiting for other parts before the build begins.

The plan is to offer this as a Hamm's collectible on eBay or Craigslist, or a Hamm's beer museum.

 

[J A]

Originally from the land of Sky Blue Waters, needing a winter project, and perhaps influenced by several of said refreshments, I decided to build a Hamm's beer guitar.
I had a chunk of basswood lying around, so I mocked up an idea and went shopping for everything else. My buddy in the sign business is printing the can image, I found a cheap but grubby neck online with a surprisingly nice rosewood board, and ordered a lipstick, a bridge and tuners, all in gold to match the can's colors. Also, a wall-mount bottle opener to use as a tailpiece.
I cleaned, oiled & polished the grubby neck frets, and made a beer bottle truss rod cover. Then I drilled the bottle opener and painted it gold. Just waiting for other parts before the build begins.

The plan is to offer this as a Hamm's collectible on eBay or Craigslist, or a Hamm's beer museum.

Love it!!

 

[Beerbelly]

Knobs:

 

[Craigerrr]

I love it!

 

[Beerbelly]

Headstock with Hamm's bear logo photoshopped in; waiting for decal:

 

[HighVoltageMan!]

Awesome! I wonder how it will play?

Are you expect a "lite" sounding guitar? If I listen to a "heavy" sounding guitar, I can only take a song or two. I can listen to a "lite" guitar all night.

 

[Donoroto]

I think it might have a bit of a dark tone, unlike Hamm’s…

@Beerbelly More seriously, I am interested in hearing how you plan to form the body, and of what material?

 

[Beerbelly]

I think it might have a bit of a dark tone, unlike Hamm’s…

@Beerbelly More seriously, I am interested in hearing how you plan to form the body, and of what material?

The body will be Alder, shaped like the can. The image will be a digital print applied to a thin sheet of plastic, also shaped like the can, and adhered to the body. It will be a fully functional electric guitar.

 

[J A]

The body will be Alder, shaped like the can. The image will be a digital print applied to a thin sheet of plastic, also shaped like the can, and adhered to the body. It will be a fully functional electric guitar.

A full slab-shaped body like this can get a little chunky. Depending on the size of the actual body and the availability of wood that's more on the light end of the range, alder would be a good choice. If your alder selection is a little heavy for this particular body blank, paulownia is a good alternative.

 

[Beerbelly]

Progress:

 

[Donoroto]

Simply love that sanding block.

 

[Beerbelly]

Neck attached and headstock decal applied:

 

[J A]

Proportions look pretty good!
It'll be cool!

 

[Beerbelly]

Major router work done:

 

[Donoroto]

Major router work done:

View attachment 33429View attachment 33430

CNC?

 

[Beerbelly]

Nope, all done with a small hand router and patterns I built.

 

[Beerbelly]

Mocked up. Still more to do, but I had to see how it would look:

 

[HighVoltageMan!]

I like the bottle opener bridge. The string distance between the bridge and the saddle is in an arch, is that going to cause trouble with the intonation or am I looking at that wrong?

 

[Beerbelly]

Intonation occurs where the strings pass over the bridge; the tailpiece can be practically any configuration:

 

[J A]

I like the bottle opener bridge. The string distance between the bridge and the saddle is in an arch, is that going to cause trouble with the intonation or am I looking at that wrong?

The distance between the tailpiece and the bridge is irrelevant to intonation. Tailpieces on acoustics and electrics come in all shapes and sizes. The shape, mass and location of the tailpiece does have an impact on overall tone and, to some extent, the feel of the strings.