Bob

This page details the hand made custom 'Rossi' guitar built during 2007 for Bob from London. Bob's guitar is a replica of Rossi's main guitar in its Lace Sensor configuration, i.e. with Lace Sensor pickups and the G&L bridge, but with a couple of interesting changes: It has been finished as new, but with the body green all over - front, sides and the back - and there's no 'hole'. Since the bridge is a 'top loader', Tony was asked not to bother putting any string holes through the body. The neck is an exact reproduction of the real thing, but with a flatter finger board since Bob is used to playing a Gibson. It is the standard width at the nut, but has been made with a flatter 12" radius. It of course has the all important extra fret squeezed in on the end! Click here for some more great pictures of Bob's guitar! Check out what Bob thinks of his new Rossi special!



This rack of bodies contains both part made bodies for Tony's 'Finesse' range and a selection of hand made Alder and Baseball Bat Ash bodies...	... however Bob's guitar is to be made from Swamp Ash, and the above picture shows the two pieces of Swamp Ash selected along with one of Tony's templates.	Says Tony, 'I'll probably make Bob's body as a two-piece and as you can see the selected pieces of Swamp Ash show a lovely grain pattern which will be visible through the green finish'


Bob's Fender Lace Sensor pickups.	'Blue' in the neck positions, 'Silver' in the middle, and 'Red' for the bridge..	Note how Tony has converted the 'Red' Lace Sensor for fitting to a Tele type bridge plate.


Three bridges from the latest batch to arrive from the States..	a close-up picture of Bob's G&L Saddle Lock bridge unit.	The two-piece body is taking shape...


.. and just in case there is any doubt who this guitar is being made for!	This end-on shot shows the body being shaped from 2 pieces of Swamp Ash.	Almost there now with the body..


The body is now fully routed, and showing a lovely grain pattern...	which is even more prominent from the back view.	This end-on shot shows how Tony has perfectly book-matched the two pieces..


.. of swamp ash, as shown again from the back end of the guitar.	The body has now been stamped with it's serial number and signed by Tony.	Work starts on the replica neck..


.. two necks in fact as Tony is making one for the 'Live Aid' copy as well.	Bob's is shown on the left, slightly thicker for that Gibson feel.	The front of the neck is routed ready for installation of the truss rod.


Both necks now have truss rods fitted.	Bob's maple neck and separate maple finger board..	'BOBS', just in case there is any doubt!


The body is now sealed, and a view from the front..	.. and back.	Bob's neck (and the 'Live Aid' replica) is taking shape..


.. note the correct spacing of the 12th fret position markers.	Bob's body has been 'wet flatted' and is now ready for polishing..	Note that as per Bob's instructions the body has been finished green front, back and sides, and there is no Rossi 'hole'.


Bob's two-piece maple neck nears completion, but there is a problem. Tony explains: 'The final layers of lacquer revealed a small "birds eye" knot on the finger board between the first and second frets, which I hadn't noticed up until this point. Though some players could see something like this as perhaps a subtle identifier, probably better even than a serial number, it was still a fault on an otherwise knot-free finger board. So I contacted Bob straight away, sending him detailed pictures, and he opted for a new neck. Sincere apologies to Bob for the delay this will cause.'


The new neck is now complete, and can be see in the photographs above next to the original (the new neck is the one at the bottom with the nut fitted - the neck at the top of the picture is a Finesse neck, ready for a Finesse Rossi replica). The picture on the right clearly shows the correct twelfth fret 'dot' spacing, and that all important extra fret - just as per the real thing!


These pictures of Bob's body were taken in Tony's workshop on Saturday 10th November, and show the body all polished and ready for assembly (the white is wax residue). It is absolutely stunning, with the most beautiful grain pattern. The 'streaks' in the photos are just the sun through Tony's workshop window!


As per Bob's specification, the same green finish has been applied front, back and sides. Bob - it's gorgeous mate!	The tuners have now been fitted...	.. and can been seen in this close-up.


Dual-line 'Klusons' have been used, just as per the real thing.	'KLUSON DELUXE'	Vintage style tweed case

Real-time Replicas