Alkemy Guitares Interview 6 Custom Made Guitar Parts
Alkemy Guitares Interview 6 Guitar Parts
There is a huge choice of aftermarket parts. Do you work with regular suppliers or are you always on the lookout for new suppliers who could offer you something new? Do you have examples to give us?
This is an essential point of my work.
My style being relatively out of the ordinary, there are few or no industrial parts that satisfy me aesthetically.
This is the main reason why I machine most of my hardware.
The devil is in the details! And I prefer to draw pieces that are perfectly coherent with the rest of the instrument.
I machine the prototypes “by hand” myself, I don’t have a CNC, I use a small model making milling machine with handwheels and if a customer order a custom-made instrument I have them CNC machined from my 3D files.
The only parts for which I go through a brand are the Dunlop Straplok “flush mount” for their discretion, their ergonomics.
And, the Tuning Machines as well… Quite simply because gears are very technical parts to be made and to do it myself by hand would be far too much time-consuming! A single Tuning Machine would cost 200 or 300€ …
And, there, we are in the jewelry, not at all in the lutherie !
😂
Not to mention the precision of the parts, which would necessarily be below CNC machining. In short, it’s simply not realistic.
So far I’m using “open” Tuning Machines from Hipshot, most of the time with locks. Mainly with their “industrial” buttons (knurled round knobs) that are out of the ordinary enough to fit my designs.
Same logic for a Floyd Rose, much too long to machine.
In this case, I generally use Schaller.
I also tested a pretty convincing Floyd Rose with piezzo bridges from Graph Tech.
Alkemy Guitares
Interview 6
Custom Made Guitar Parts
Alkemy Guitares
You can contact Frédéric Donval Alkemy Guitars through the contact form on his personal page of Luthiers.com here: https://luthiers.com/listing/alkemy-guitares/
We also invite you to follow him on his various social networks:
- Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Alkemyguitares
- Pinterest : https://www.pinterest.fr/AlkemyGuitares/
- Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/alkemyguitares/
- Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp_5gNxOiblpjrbco49ftkg
Frédéric Donval, founder of Alkemy Guitars
Frédéric Donval is a self-taught luthier since 1996. A woodworker and graduate designer, he likes to call himself “sorcerer’s apprentice”.
He designs and builds extraordinary electric guitars and basses, paying particular attention to the visual identity of the instrument.
In addition to a permanent search for excellence in sound, ergonomics and attention to detail are for him the values he likes to follow throughout his research and manufacturing process.
His style, far from the usual clichés, finds its sources in science fiction, drawing inspiration from the worlds of manga, cyber-punk and Marvel comics.
His passions and inspirations don’t stop there! A fan of motorsports, architecture and furniture, all fields related to design allow him a growing creativity.
Trained as a designer, he knows how to adapt to all styles and loves above all to take on new challenges in order to give life to his clients’ wildest projects.
Frédéric prefers above all to work with craftsmen and manual labor.
He shapes wood as well as metals or carbon fiber to create unique hardware or decorative elements.
He also surrounds himself well when the task requires it and calls upon talented French craftsmen who can assist him.
In the coming weeks, as for others luthiers for plucked string instruments, luthiers for bowed string instruments, amps & effects makers, wood & supplies dealers, lutherie events, jobs, schools & teachers subscribers on our site, you will be able to follow our series of mini-interviews dedicated to the fascinating world of luthiers.
See you soon…
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