Riley Mac Custom Guitars

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Riley Mac Custom Guitars

Just a regular guy with a hobby and a desire to build a hand crafted guitar at an affordable price. Take a look and see what Riley Mac can do for you.

03/05/2025

To briefly summarize what’s on the bench…we have 2 lp style bodies in the works. 1 with a nice flame maple cap and the other. Strictly
Paint grade build. 2 t style bodies and 2 S style…1 pair with flame maple top and the other pair has a nice quilted koa top.

Variety of neck formats. Flat headstock, tilt back headstock, hickory, curly maple, birdseye maple, mahogany, cherry, nogal, canary wood. Fretboards in bubinga, eibara, paduak, rosewood, Curley and birdseye maple, nogal, and canary wood.

Going to see what fits together. Trying out some new pickups from some small shop builders. Should be terrific. More to come as I have time.

02/05/2025

Long time between posts. Not been idle, just preoccupied. Got 6 in the works right now.

22/08/2023

New techniques used and lessons learned.
1. CNC routing fret markers
Learned I should actually count to 24…evidently I stop at 23. Hmmmm

2. Planned (and routed) for direct mount pickups.
Learned I should consider the neck angle before I do this.

3. CNC pickup ring for bridge pickup (because of #2).

4. Partial tap on middle pickup.
Learned that I split the middle and bridge to coils that were out of phase…turns out I like this little goof.

5. Original plan was for a set neck, but decided the tenon wasn’t going to work very well for that. Modified plan and have 2 bolts from back (into threaded inserts) and 2 more through the tenon into the body (also threaded inserts). Great solution!

6. Blade switch!
Learned I should make a better jig for this rout. Too much slop in my setup resulted in a much wider slot than anticipated.

7. Referring back to #1, should have contrast painted the fret marker voids before filling. The markers would not have faded into the finish as bad.

8. Fade finish! Ok, this one turned out exactly as I planned.

01/08/2023

Been trying a bunch of new techniques. Some didn’t pan out like I thought. Had a thought to try a fade finish on a project. Obviously not complete…only color on this one so far.

21/05/2022

Delay delay and more delay…or perhaps just getting sidetracked? Came to realize I need some better quality solutions to common tasks. Spent last couple months updating main bench top, zero clearance inserts, router table (inspired by DIYMontreal), and a fun little side project of pizza peel. Next up is improved drill press table, then back to the guitar work!

14/12/2021

Shop is a mess, but actually had quality time last couple days to get back at it.

Working out some fine details on a CNC machine (thank God for foam board), back to carving the body, and finally put fretboard on the rough neck. Lots more to do, so let’s see how it goes.

30/08/2021

Been another long spell. Getting ready to get back at it. Spent last few months working other projects and building jigs. Time to try building guitars again.

06/04/2021

Been a while again, but back at a new one. Chambered body. Walnut back with curly maple top. Will be set neck, just getting to carving the top for now.

10/12/2020

Just listed these two on FB marketplace. $275 for the Strat and $1850 for the beauty.

20/08/2020

Done...finally. Curly Afromosia carved top on ash back. Maple neck 12” radius with wenge dot inlay. Target coatings water base lacquer...absolutely awesome stuff. Iron Gear pickups, alchemist 90 neck and Rolling Mill (OW) bridge. 1 volume 2 tone. Bridge tone is p/p for series parallel. Fully shielded with copper. IMHO she’s a smooth operator!

26/07/2020

Coming together now. Sucks it takes me so long to get to this point.

02/06/2020

Like that cover pic? Coming soon...the sister to that one. Will be a bit of a LP-tele hybrid, same figured top.

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