Is your Guitar too HEAVY? Take a DRILL to it!! Weight Relief Insanity!!!

[@Craftlngo]

Ben: _"build another guitar, or..." "Burn it!"_ Oh Talitha! 🤣🤣👍

[@Paullyb79]

I thought he said “BERNARD!"

[@DominusFeles]

🤣

[@rasmeta]

I just simply love how it kind of became a running joke on the channel, much like Ben changing his mind... :D

[@docw85]

I personally would have inlayed a thin cover of wood inside those holes, similar to a control cavity cover. Could even provide some cool contrast by using different woods.

[@FeuerToifel]

had the same thought.

[@Jimjolnir]

Now I don't have to comment...

[@thomasrobertson4213]

Totally, or like put inlays of changing clocks or symbols to tell some sort of story. That said, I’d have just carved a deep tummy cut and arm contour, maybe even a scoop round the back of the lower horn and removed unnecessary weight that way whilst still having a good looking guitar.

[@tonyhomewood8264]

That's a great idea! Either glue the covers in or use a magnet to hold the cover on. Would the covers removed change the sound at all?

[@docw85]

@@thomasrobertson4213 moon phases would work too. 🙂

[@lucentguitars]

A ruler with a 0 in the centre is something I never knew I desperately needed

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

it's one of those tools that, in very specific situations, is just what the doctor ordered!

[@markellis8604]

The concept is dead interesting, I don’t mind the look either. I wonder if carving a valley down the edge with the holes would enhance the look even more? Might even have a bit of a HR Giger look going on!

[@smeemusic]

i have to agree completely with this comment lol. interesting concept, looks cool, yeah carve a valley and yeah i could totally see how it would look a bit Giger ish

[@ravenslaves]

It's refreshing to encounter someone else who appreciates and values the actual wood. And someone who acknowledges the importance of "imperfection".

[@spaceghostpurpz4744]

Wish you would have showed us how it played after make the holes go around more further weight reduction

[@guitarbill417]

Michael Kelly guitars actually does this I believe they call it "enlightened".... However I still love the idea!

[@inflamedcarnie]

After much deliberation, I did it. 20 holes around the perimeter (1 - 1/8"), and 3 strategically placed under the pickguard. It took a *lot* of weight off. I was quite sore the next day, as using a 20v Dewalt on a solid ash Tele was exhausting. It came out great, though. Thank you!

[@mackellmo1083]

Nice!!! Love it! I recently build an offset tele from a piece of pecan wood. It ended up weighing 12.5 lbs. I used the yellow Saburr bit on a Dremel wand and went through the pickups and control cavity. gutting it from the inside. Now its a little over 8.5 lbs.

[@rodneyallen5003]

Love the moment when Ben remembers that friction creates heat ….. ouch ! That’s a touch warm ( hahaha )

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I am here to entertain :) B

[@alexcorona]

Happens to me every time I drill into wood.

[@gregmottram292]

I think I would have routed the back out and made another thin cover. No dust collection points and the holes look a bit out of place and would bug me.

[@georgerobartes5989]

The better alternative to this is to band saw the back off before routing and gluing the back , back on . This only loses a small amount of material after thicknessing and the grain almost matches after refinishing . Its how I build my own because everything is too heavy except for my 3/4 acoustic.

[@trus3683]

@@georgerobartes5989 I built a walnut Explorer and routed large portions of the back out and put a sapele cap on the back to cover. The end result was pretty cool.

[@georgerobartes5989]

@@trus3683I love black walnut . I built a type of Asbory bass with 22 1/2" scale lenth from a single piece of that using rubber strings by Road Toad as I have arthritis , Its trimmed with real ebony parts , nut , markers , bridge etc . I've got 2 on the go a present , a body contoured 59 LPJ DC style with wood salvaged from a 1920s Mahogany fireplaces from East London where I live . A lot of these old town houses are having their fireplaces ripped out and end up in the skip . They don't realise 5hat under the 20 coats of paint is genuine old seasoned Mahogany .The body of that one consists of a book matched Mahogany back cap on a fully routed 3 plank Mahogany body ( I'm running out of the large wide shelves on top of the fire surrounds ) with a book matched Ash top finished in deep blue Tiger Eye . The other is a thinner Melody Maker DC with just a book matched Mahogany top as the rest is glued up leftovers about 5 pieces with neck through , also in 5 pieces with a combination of Mahogany and Maple , the strengthening struts from an old Hammond Organ that was free to anyone who would collect . I bought an old harmonium for £5 the rats and damp had got at but it has real ivory caps on the white keys for markers and ebony black keys for markers on maple or oak fretboards ( from old brown coated furniture , strip of the gunk and the oak is a beautiful honey gold colour ), bridges ,switch knobs and anywhere else it would look good . Generally speaking I only buy fretboard material and really like Mexican Rosewood . Shame it doesn't keep that golden yellow graining for long after planing . For ebony I use the old really tight grained English oak from the harmonium and use Ferrous Sulphate ( Coperas) to turn it ebony black , you can buy it as mordant from craft suppliers as its used to dye wool .Real ebony is related and grows in iron rich soil , so it's really hard to tell the difference as it stains right through the wood . Bog oak is pretty much the same but way too expensive especially when there's so much old wood available that no one wants . Imported white oak is not as dense , hard or have enough tannin to react . Black or European walnut will turn completely black using this stuff too . I hope this gives you a few ideas to source wood cheaply and keep up making guitars . Nothing more satisfying than creating a musical instrument someone will enjoy when you give it away .

[@trus3683]

@@georgerobartes5989 I've made body blanks from Sapele, AfrMahogany, Walnut and a Walnut burl stump. Necks from Curly Maple, Padauk, Purple Heart and Wenge and laminates in the past. So far the walnut is my favorite to work with.

[@juancarlossuarez7486]

@@georgerobartes5989 bro you seriously make that kind of stuff *and simply give it away to people*? How do I apply for a chance to have one?

[@davidhall5233]

I actually loved the look that the step bits left in the holes. Kind of a cool transition and adds a bit of unique visuals to the holes. I know you needed more weight relief on this build, but would love to see those step bit holes incorporated on another build

[@redbed1604]

The reason that Leo Fender made the Telecaster (and Broadcaster) so robust, was so one could use it to fight one's way out of a Beer Joint if necessary.

[@jeffreycollins7297]

FINALLY a good excuse for heavy guitars.

[@giannirocco7492]

This guy's telling the truth,been there and done that!

[@mercedesescobarmusic]

and I did!

[@BigDogDaddyD]

Many years ago had an old Les Paul I lightened for a young man that had muscle development issues. Essentially routed out the whole back, glued in a few support rails, and veneered over. Weighed about a 1/4 of what it weighed originally. Just watched a guy on KZbin make a guitar with resin poured over bubble wrap in a silicone mold.

[@quinceymorris7942]

You do great work, not only have you inspired me to build my own guitar but also to build a diy band saw mill to harvest my own wood for my own guitars! Keep up the beautiful work man!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

That is awesome, thank you.. I will not stop.. have fun with the mill!

[@Oasudude]

This would be fun to glue a veneer over it. remove 2mm from the side, and glue in a thin strip on top, to se if it would make it invisible :) maybe with some fiberglass cloth laminated into the thing so that you wouldn't be able to press your finger through the vaneer :P :P

[@pigfender]

Hey, Ben. If it was me, I’d extend the holes further round the guitar (both for visual effect and to further reduce the weight). I wouldn’t add mesh, but do think the holes would look great with just a narrow ring of brass round them.

[@wls64]

But brass is so heavy maybe Gold Leaf

[@soup4495]

Really a cool idea You left it open ended enough for people to follow your design and make it their own. Gonna try this on my MIM 12string

[@MarioinRmd]

Ben's presentation is great. His skill is superb. This is one of the best guitar building channels on KZbin. The odd thing that Ben does is not entirely to my liking, but such is the case with all art. And that's what Ben does.. A fusion of builder and artist He's a true Artisan. And the most articulate and well spoken person with a head tattoo, that I've ever seen!

[@TheChobyter]

That transition... build another guitar or... burn it! 😂😂😂

[@allofyourdreams]

Can you relieve a neck though? If it has a neckdive :)

[@thomasarussellsr]

As I replied to another comment regarding caps to the holes; I'd go for rosewood caps to match the neck or moon phases or alternate caps. It would take a special customer to appreciate clock faces. Size them to sit a mm below the surface for a better asthetic than just being flush. (Drill a rebate for them to sit into.) If this was going to be a production style body with different main body materials, a whole line of caps could be made that the customer could pick from to customise their own.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

A very cool idea, thank you. At this stage I'm seriously considering a cool wire mesh cup kind of thing but.. well, we all know I change my mind on a dime, don't we? :)

[@MacDorschbert]

Actually 'Michael Kelly Guitars' do the same thing on their enlightened models

[@ObiWanAugus]

I wouldn't leave the holes uncovered, but I don't put a steel mesh on them either. I would make a 1.5mm thick Maple round caps; that give a little contrast to the color of the wood.

[@vectorputz327]

2:47 a Les Paul or my H150 sitting in at 9 lb.+ currently, heavy as all get out, but that neck ...it's sublime

[@eliotmccann2589]

I'd be interested to see how the surgery affects its balance.

[@chassetterfield9559]

Neck dive ?

[@jeffreycollins7297]

@@chassetterfield9559 Have you seen that neck? heck it was diving before he did this.

[@tad5920]

Thanks for helping me decide to not do this. I have considered it many times, but your statement at 9:57 "Would I recommend doing this? No." sums it all up. Great video!

[@cheapskate8656]

I like it. Good way to reduce weight. Looks good as it is. If I had done it I think I would blend all the holes together . ie. widen the outer portion of all the holes until the touch each other.

[@earlelfrink]

I did this very thing to an early 80's peavey T60 about five years ago. It did help the weight issue. I plugged the holes with thin pieces of wood. Still have the guitar and pick it once in a while. It didn't seem to change the tone noticeably.

[@adrian_V99]

Now this man is an expert, not a YT shill for companies.

[@RetroPlus]

0:36 I love the editing where you chose to roll the intro there

[@bigk4755]

I love how Ben embraced that chunk of wood, even with all of it's imperfections. To me that is a real piece of wood, and the imperfections each give it additional character.

[@E.T.musics]

Should i do it to my squire Telecaster?) its the heaviest guitar i have

[@panzerlieb]

I was going to do this to one of my guitars that’s weighs as much as a boat anchor. After watching this I’m thinking I gotta come up with a different solution. Thanks for doing this, it answered a lot of questions I had about the direction of my project.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Glad to help. DC

[@davidf8749]

My PRS SE Soapbar 2 weighs in at about 5.8 pounds and is the most resonant guitar I have. My two other best guitars are about 8.4 to 8.8 pounds. I am tempted to do some weight relief (not for weight but for tone) and am looking at the guitar Russ Ballard had when he was with Argent. My theory is that if there was less mass on the body, it would return more energy back into the vibrating string rather than being damped by the more solid body. I've recently watched some videos where they played tones underneath a metal plate with some powder on it and it created patterns at certain frequencies. Meaning that the position of the weight-relief holes may be important. Down the rabbit-hole I go. :) :)

[@slime_cactus]

I'm wondering how something like this would look on a different guitar with maybe a diffuser sheet over the holes and as as part of the pickguard with some LED's behind them, or do something stylistic with the weight reduction holes like the phases of the moon

[@Johnny.D]

Interesting idea. I have a tele I built that weighs in at 11lbs. Was thinking of removing material from under the pickguard.

[@allendesomer]

Regarding the repetitive holes: a randomized organic piece of artwork would have taken multiple episodes to pull off, but I would have watched them all. 😃

[@RedRose4711]

The old Yamaha SG 2000 was often notoriously heavy, a real beast in fact. Have a go at that one.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

ooh yeah, they are beasts! Very cool, but heavy

[@SladeTakalaLamey]

I think I would have cut holes and filled them with shotgun shell brass caps. Also nice to see you back using metric for once.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I've often wondered how I could work shotgun shells into a build.. cool idea

[@ebutuoy4591]

Hi Ben, I have one of your Raw Descendant(split body) Series , "copper" rodded versions. I, as an old codger find it very heavy. The question is, if it's lightened, will it end up neck heavy? I'm not far, about 45 miles from you, so could make it available for YOUR video. What do you think? I certainly would not tackle such modification myself. ps I watch and love all your vids. Best wishes, Peter, West Sussex.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Hi Peter, drop me an email through Crimson HQ. I would love to make her more playable for you, and would do it on video too.

[@ebutuoy4591]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars Wilco

[@UncleKennysPlace]

Yeah, I have a neck-heavy Gretsch 12-string semi-hollow, and it's not playable unless you attach the strap to the headstock, like a '60's folk singer. Hopefully Ben can help you avoid that.

[@peteannells4218]

They used to do this on lightweight cycle components and labelled them 'drillium'. That was a waste of time too !😉

[@billsguitargarage]

Definitely is staying in line with your recent lite weight/minimal material builds, your GGBO guitars come to mind.

[@glennwhitlock1272]

As I was watching, I felt my temperature rising and my gnashers a-gnashin. I looked over at my beloved Crimson copper rodded guitar and swore that I would never let this bad man, with his impressive range of drill-bits, anywhere near. No Sir. Gonna take me some time to calm down. Ps. Please build a crimson take on a no-frills, Tele-style slab of a guitar, but special enough to be a crimson. Thanks (you might even be forgiven)

[@benodaboy]

You sir, can write a good comment

[@peterlinley6520]

I like the step drill look tbh, I bought a set of three based on your advice on them during a build in early 2020.

[@kzalaska4804]

One of the best features of my shop smith is that I can use it as a horizontal drill press. A job like this would be very simple.

[@philiphurdwell3443]

Hours of fun!!!! Some years ago before I gave up working on the tools I fitted a lot of oak skirting, I had to use a corresponding drill and plug cutter to make seamless oak plugs to put over the screw holes.....I wondered at the time how it would look and sound to drill 100s of holes in a guitar body all the way through and plug the top and bottom with shallow/5mm plugs.....a poker dot natural wood, ultra light body?!!?

[@sootys4024]

I did something similar to balance a cheapo Harley Benton. Lovely thing (especially for the price) but horrifically butt heavy and would flip the neck up if you tried to play seated. Scales, measuring and simple sums to work out how much to remove and where, then drilled about 250g drilled out the back of the body from behind with a fat forstner bit. Like a second electronic cavity but open. Balances wonderfully on the knee now and I was going to respray it anyway...

[@0000song0000]

But what was the actual weight before after? (at the beginning it says that the scale was off somehow by a kilo or ao)

[@eliotmccann2589]

If you can find one, and an owner that will let you, I recommend this surgical procedure on the infamously weighty Peavey T-40 bass.

[@davidrivera5829]

I believe the word your looking for my friend is Aesthetics... And you have delivered some really beautiful guitars with that word...

[@springy-2112]

looks good as it is i wouldn't over do it with mesh etc .. 👍🏻☮♥️

[@stevenleek1254]

I had to watch this. A while back I had a cheap pink guitar that for some reason I liked. I had done a nice wiring job that, sadly, no one would ever see. Then, a flash! I routed the entire cavity till it came through the back side then made a large contour plastic piece for the back. I reasoned that I could now take it into any guitar shop where I was looking for a job, unscrew the cover and display my genius circuitry and nice soldering and so forth. It didn't work. I would take the back cover off and they would only look at me strangely.

[@stephenjames9807]

But what does it sound like??! Did you do any before and after audio clips?

[@ashcustomworks]

Yeah but.... how did it sound afterwards? I have done this on my guitars in the past, but found the same - that it's very difficult to remove a meaningful chunk of weight with round holes. You've gotta go full thinline to get wood like hard ash or sapele down to the mark. I think this is part of the magic of the Blackmachine formula - the easiest way to reduce body weight and increase resonance is to just make it thinner.

[@kaptainkmann7808]

Champer the holes so they almost touch and leave them open , that's my 2 cents anyways LOL. This has made me question tho. If you drilled a hole between the strap button and the jack then pressed in a steel bar leaving the hole open or sealing it afterwards , could you correct a headstock heavy guitar ? Essentially rebalancing the instrument.

[@cheapskate8656]

Kaptain you a brilliant, also I just made a similar comment :)

[@Jluck78]

I have always thought this would be a good idea, thanks for having the gumption to try it, good stuff.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Any time! 😅

[@jonlavigne3270]

If you cover the holes, how would you store snacks in them?

[@CarlisleFox]

Personally if it was my instrument it looks like it is screaming out for those holes to be covered with the same coloured wood as the accents on the back, that dark wood contrast just looks amazing. If you could get the capping absolutely flush but that dark colour I think it would look really visually interesting and tie the whole thing together. I have to say, I'm not someone who could ever afford one of these things but the raw nature on show on the front there is absolutely stunning, what a beautiful instrument.

[@tombrackettjr.9308]

Looks very cool. I am curious where you get the unique wood you use? I have an idea of making a guitar out of live edge and have never seen a video of someone leaving one that way. I have seen live edge where they pour epoxy in but I am talking about a roughness like the back of this guitar.

[@MultiChickena]

i have done same on my practice les Paul style guitar

[@tonyhomewood8264]

The idea of a lightweight model is very appealing to me, as I have a spinal problem which makes full weight guitars difficult. If you were to use a drill press and use an assortment of drill bits, the "honeycomb" effect could be quite intriguing. More please Ben! Love the Channel!

[@tucanman9775]

ET foam home spray insolation is light sand able i would just cap the ends or its a adhesive for monster binding

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I've often considered making a guitar entirely out of that stuff, that could be cool!

[@harrisonandrew]

You are a very brave man Ben. I have a 1978 Les Paul which weighs 4.8 kg - obviously I would never do anything to it. I love it just the way it is. I think your guitar turned out quite nice with the holes. I was wondering what you could fill them with if they had turned out to look terrible. Balsa wood? Some sort of light weight resin? Led lights? Metal mesh, doesn’t appeal to me to be honest. Copper caps maybe? Anyway, very thought provoking.

[@dougcox3990]

I'd add a small radius at the edge of the hole, sand smooth inside and coat the first couple of inches inside. Leave open. No mesh.

[@Fraser-P]

So, what's next? A Swiss Cheese guitar complete with hand carved mouse?

[@DM-kv9kj]

Hi mate, this is just what I've been considering (sort of) with my strat. It's one of those 70s style reissue Fender strats. I love it, all the new pups and tweaks I've made make it sound lovely. Only issue is weight. I've been considering taking to a luthier to cut out just a little chunk of extra wood from under the lower front portion of the pickguard. In doing this, I can get him to install a phase switch on my middle pickup too. I also was wondering if this might slightly improve resonance and feedback and possibly even subtly improve the overall tone? Basically, what I was thinking was taking out as much wood as is reasonably possible, expanding the cavity down closer to the lower point on the body (under the guard). Just wondering if you have any thoughts or recommendations on this? It would only reduce the weight a fraction of course but that's all I want. Do you think it would make any difference whatsoever to feedback and tone?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

removing such a small amount.. no I don't think you will hear a difference tbh, but, it is well worth doing even if only to find out the answer for sure..

[@fattyz1]

I have a squire tele that’s too heavy I’m 65. But it’s beautiful. It’s somewhat custom because my music store made it 6 way sacrificing the tone switch. The idea of making it really custom is appealing. But I’d probably buy a hollow body first. I’d never be really happy with it that’s me with my projects. I assume you can’t do anything with the neck? I read the neck is very heavy and drilling out the body will unbalance it. Any truth in this ? Thanks great video.

[@ryno6101]

I don’t believe in TONE WOOD so I really enjoyed the lightening task. Carbon fiber mesh tape over all the holes.

[@xTheZapper]

Same here, tone wood for violins and acoustics, but on electrics where the sound is generated by a string vibrating in a magnetic field, it's rubbish. Use a nice wood if going with a natural finish, otherwise cheapo Poplar.

[@jaynbob42]

Haha another on point ‘burn it’ edit 😁

[@jacquelinechellis4036]

Evenly spaced holes or descending in size looks cool. Often done on old school hot rods for the same reason. More holes on bottom could get a few more ounces off and still fit the theme. Like it!!

[@jazzFABRYk]

Like that old Ibanez MCxxx much in the past, incredibly sustain and tone, but incredibly heavy too. Would be great to do this to such an old Ibanez…

[@fishypobh4768]

What do you do if the neck is too heavy? I have a kit bass that always tilts down when I play it standing up

[@markscarborough1018]

I made an Explorer replica years ago and it ended up neck heavy. To balance it I drilled two 15mm dia holes (approx. 150mm deep) into the upper part of the mahogany body then bonded in 2 brass rods & capping with mahogany before painting.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

elegant solution, sounds awesome!

[@bhartissimo]

Hmmm... should I do something similar for my set-neck Tele that weights 4.7kg?

[@JbfMusicGuitar]

Looks pretty cool, neat idea as well! Be interested to know it it plays/sounds nay different or feedsback more

[@lotuselanplus2s]

You could always make some short plugs, maybe 1/4 inch thick that can be glued into the top of the holes and then sand to match the guitar body, either match the colour or a darker wood like whats on the back, finish coat the body and youre done.

[@georgerobartes5989]

It looks like what it is , an afterthought. To keep guitar weight down once you have found the piece for the body is to mark out the shape , cavities etc on the front and then band saw 6mm off the back and thickness it , thickness the back of the front slab . Once all the front rounting is done , you simply map that on the back and route out as much material as you want missing the front cavities of course , allowing 8-10 mm , unless you want to produce wiring channels . The thin back is then glued on after arranging your access covers (1mm brass sheet is nice for these and patinates beautifully , but carbon fibre , stainless anything you like works but brass is a natural instrument material and nice to work ), regaining the structural rigidity but without the weight penalty , as in a composite sandwich beam or panel , boat hull etc., for instance . If you have a good jig for you bandsaw and patience, very little is removed from both pieces during thicknessing and the grain mismatch will be almost imperceptible even under a basic oil finish .

[@guitaristforever]

What would be really interesting is to record some demo before you do it and then some after.

[@aalbinger]

ooh, also picture doing this all the way around but at the size of wine corks and then put in 3/8" thick slices of wine cork and stabilize and polish them.

[@stephenpratt8911]

What about milling from the underside? I have a Jackson warrior that I’d like to shave some weight off. I’m thinking take out some material from back the various wings. You ever do that? What would I be sacrificing besides weight? Steve

[@tomcartmill401]

Has there been any change in tone? Is there a difference?

[@martincampbell1990]

Ben, can you get the flash coat you use in a rattle can? Love the look of the side hole/ports!

[@wjamyers]

Did you ever do this to a top-of-line, JV series JB62-115 Fender Japan Jazz Bass? 😢

[@NotThatOneThisOne]

How would one remove a slice, 7mm or so, off the front, to hollow out underneath with the drill and replace the cap? Obviously could use a different cap, but the original wood is lovely. Maybe better to do it from the back? Would have thought you could hollow out under the electrics cover at the back.

[@ianthomson9363]

I found a second-hand double-neck body in a music shop during the 80s and bought the bits to complete it as a Strat/Precision. The lower neck was the bass, which is slightly unusual as most guitars of this type seem to have the guitar below the bass. The body shape is reminiscent of Hayman or Shergold. Anyway, when completed, it weighed 16 pounds. I tried using it on stage but two songs with it on a strap convinced me that it was just too heavy. Playing it sitting down is no better as it cuts off the circulation in your leg. It was very neck-heavy too, until I replaced the guitar's neck plate with a Bass Brace. It has a single scratch plate covering most of the body (though I cut it in two in order to make it less trouble when access to the electrics was needed) and it could definitely do with a bit of weight reduction by routing out the body under the scratchplate. I don't play it now as I prefer a 5-string. Someone had done a great job of designing it, as when it's in playing position on a strap, the frets on the two necks line up perfectly, which is useful as the guitar neck hides the bass neck.

[@marcusadams8067]

Ben, How about weight relieving a 1958 Les Paul…..the fall out would be fun to watch

[@Chris-gq8ts]

Does it sound different now? Like a semi hollow?

[@richpeterson3080]

I have long dreamed of doing weight reduction to a Peavey T-60. Oak?

[@a-star1005]

Hello Sir, perhaps can you put light in her and cover the holes with Crystal's or stones where the light comes through?

[@laratiara1]

You could take a strip of mesh, inlaid covering all holes and the end of the strip pointed or rounded or arrowshaped. Kind of loudspeaker slot or soundhole like

[@billjackson6385]

Any strat builds with a maple neck n board. Tabacco.... ?

[@ResonantFreq528]

I think some type of mesh would be awesome. May have it look like speakers going around the edge.

[@neilmeansneil]

A Belly cut, arm carve and reshaping the neck access cutaway would have lost as much weight, been more comfortable and not looked so unsightly.

[@bayleyclark9271]

Yeah but that's boring

[@adrenalize25]

I'm pretty sure that's something he knows, but wouldn't have made a very interesting video.

[@JeffGillis1]

I like it. I would drill out similar holes in the lower bout as well.

[@dan__________________]

Turn some inlays on the lathe and plug the holes. I'm thinking conical or inverted cone shaped that fits perfectly into the hole made from a lightweight wood or possibly polished aluminum.

[@PeterDad60]

How's the balance when using a strap?

[@rockpilerising]

Could you take out wood between the holes altogether, which would create a cavity you could cap with thin wood bent to shape and flush fitted?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I absolutely could.. the next level would be to remove hardware etc and go much much deeper and bigger..

[@danno94]

does this effect the guitar sustain or sound?

[@rustyaxelrod]

It looks ok to me and quite an interesting concept. As many people build guitars to a theme, I see this one as maybe a “cowboy” guitar with a few horse tack inspired accessories like a strip of leather and bridle rosettes over the holes. A small hand tooled pick guard, a strap with a buckle somewhere maybe and of course a matching shoulder strap. Those accents could look good with the imperfections and nice woody finish if the right shade of leather were used. I realize this would be adding weight back but there is room for more holes around the bottom and maybe even in the forward bout. I don’t remember the electrics on this one but it would need a coil splitter switch so it could have the popping voice the country pickers like. I do think it look a little naked and unfinished with the holes showing, like a unnecessary cover piece has come off and the secrets of its making are showing.