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RNS Guitar Gallery

RNS Siren semi-hollow thinline guitar in various timbers

RNS Siren electric guitar spruce 1

RNS Siren semi-hollow thinline guitar with Spruce soundboard, Fiji Mahogany back and sides and matching Indonesian Rosewood bridge/tailpiece, fretboard, pickup surrounds,headstock veneer and back stripe

RNS Siren semi-hollow thinline guitar with Figured Blackwood soundboard, Blackwood back and sides, matching Indonesian Rosewood bridge/tailpiece and fretboard, Huon Pine pickup surrounds and Figured Blackwood headstock veneer

RNS Siren semi-hollow thinline guitar with Black Walnut soundboard, Rock Maple back and sides, matching Indonesian Rosewood tailpiece and fretboard, Rock Maple pickup surrounds and Black Walnut headstock veneer and back stripe

RNS Siren semi-hollow thinline guitar with Tiger Myrtle soundboard, Blackwood back and sides, matching Gidgee bridge/tailpiece and fretboard, Huon Pine pickup surrounds and Tiger Myrtle headstock veneer

RNS Siren semi-hollow thinline guitar with Casuarina soundboard, Blackwood back and sides, matching Gidgee tailpiece and fretboard, Indonesian Rosewood pickup surrounds and Coastal Banksia headstock veneer

RNS Siren electric guitar New Guinea Rosewood 1

RNS Siren semi-hollow thinline guitar with New Guinea Rosewood/Rock Maple soundboard, Fiji Mahogany back and sides, Indonesian Rosewood bridge/tailpiece and pickup surrounds,Rock Maple fretboard and back stripe and Coastal Banksia headstock veneer

Alternative guitar body designs

RNS Siren electric guitar Maple 1

Carved Rock Maple top, solid body version of the RNS Siren guitar

RNS Harrier electric guitar Tasmanian Myrtle 1

RNS Harrier carved Tasmanian Myrtle top, solid body guitar, being a twin cutaway version of the Siren

RNS Harrier electric guitar Blackwood 1

RNS Harrier semi-hollow thinline guitar, with Tasmanian Blackwood soundboard, being a twin cutaway version of the RNS Siren

RNS LP style solid body guitar, with Portugese Elm top and chambered Mahogany body

RNS T style solid body guitar, with Figured Tasmanian Oak top and chambered Mahogany body

RNS R style semi-hollow body guitar, with Portugese Elm top and chambered Mahogany body

Australian Handcrafted Electric Guitars

Whilst each RNS electric guitar is unique, including ones with familiar styles such as the Les Paul, Telecaster or Rickenbacker, the RNS Siren is my original design (at least, of the hundreds of designs that have been dreamed up since the electric guitar came about, I haven't seen one exactly the same) and forms the basis of a number of variations to suit different preferences.

RNS Siren Semi-Hollow Thinline Guitar Features

The unique, semi-hollow body is designed to provide a lightweight, resonant natural acoustic tone whilst limiting feedback issues usually associated with semi-hollow electric guitars.

Black Wanut guitar 3

Each guitar features carefully selected solid timbers for soundboards, backs, sides, pickup surrounds, rear control plate, bridge and tailpiece.

Body design

The body of the RNS Siren semi-hollow thinline guitar has been designed to offer something a little different without being radical. Larger than a Les Paul, smaller than a 335, it is lightweight (approximately 2.8-2.9kgs or 6.2-6.4 lbs).

Tiger Myrtle guitar 2

Each guitar is constructed with all solid timbers and includes separate soundboard, back and bent sides.

Semi-acoustic guitar 1Guitar soundposts 1

Internally a partial centre block is placed between the pickups with 2 soundposts located near the bridge. This allows the main part of the guitar soundboard to resonate but limits the excessive resonance that can cause feedback issues.

Necks

Necks are designed for comfort, with a medium dimension C meets D neck profile aimed at providing excellent playability for a broad range of guitar player’s needs. Playability is further enhanced with a very smooth oiled finish. Fretboards feature 22 medium jumbo frets, 12 inch radius and pau dot or mother of pearl inlays.

Guitar neck shaping 1

Guitar neck shaping 2

Solid neck construction usually includes a 2 piece Rock Maple ‘sandwich’ with a feature centre strip such as Blackwood or Rosewood, although other timbers are used, such as Australian Blackwood and Mahogany. Each neck includes as an adjustable truss rod. Stability is ensured with a tight fitting set neck/body joint.

Guitar neck joint 1 Guitar neck joint 2

Headstocks are also designed for strength with a scarf joint, reinforced with side laminations and a feature timber headstock veneer. The adjustable truss rod nut is located under a matching feature timber cover.

Guitar headstock Guitar headstock veneer 1

Eack neck includes a handcut bone nut and quality Gotoh tuners.

Timbers/Finish

Each guitar features solid timbers, carefully selected for both tonal qualities and appearance. All timber parts are made in house from larger timber stock.

Tasmanian or Gippsland Blackwood or Rock Maple is generally used for body backs and sides with feature timbers such as Tiger Myrtle, Figured Blackwood, Casuarina and Walnut being used for soundboards.

Guitar timbers 1 Guitar timbers 2

(Above left) Select timbers used to make guitar parts (above right) Rock Maple sides cut from larger slab

Some of the timbers used for pickup surrounds include Huon Pine, Indonesian Rosewood and Rock Maple, with headstock veneers and inlays being made with feature timbers such as Coastal Banksia, Tiger Myrtle and Figured Blackwood. Bindings are usually Rock Maple, with some featuring double binding using contrasting timbers such as Indonesian Rosewood or Australian Red Cedar.

Guitar timbers 3

(Above) Rock Maple binding cut from larger timber stock

Indian or Indonesian Rosewood or Rock Maple is generally used for fretboards but other select timbers such as Australian Gidgee are also used.

Maple guitar fretboard

Gidgee guitar fretboard

(Above top) Rock Maple fretboard (above lower) Australian Gidgee fretboard

The colours you see on the guitars are all natural, with no stains used. These natural colours are brought to life on the soundboard and headstock veneer with acrylic lacquer and on the body back and sides, neck and fretboard with a smooth, oiled finish. All finishes are applied thinly, sufficient to provide protection without impacting on tone.

 

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