Guest Luthier Series - Peter Crossley (Crossley Guitars)

[Peter Crossley]

I figured as much, but what about Neck/Fretboard woods?
(Right about now I'm hoping the answer isn't Mahogany/Ebony or Rosewood...)
See the Mahogany/Maple combo has that EQ I like but alone it lacks certain frequencies that give that attack that say Ash has with a maple neck...

As for trem, it doesn't necessarily have to be a Floyd (copy), I was hoping you had an alternative in mind...

This is where it may get hard to source, because I use the mahogany/maple body mix with a Queensland maple
neck, quite often laminated with something like Tasmanian myrtle, purple heart, american maple, english sycamore, or silky oak.
I then put an ebony board on top of that. that gives the spank of the ebony but moderates it with the neck timbers. Very precise almost staccato, if played quickly, yet with a clear sustain when you dwell on the frets.

No, sorry about the trem mate.. I dont really know of a valid alternative.
Its just the way I'm built.....

[Peter Crossley]

If you had to pick two guitars in the world that influenced you to build your own instruments, based on

1. The one that you looked at and thought "I could do a better job than that"

and

2. The one you looked at and said "I Wish to be able to build that well one day."

What were they?

First of all
love the Avatar... Nectar of the Gods

Without specifically naming brands lets just say that 1./ was named after a recently deceased great guitar player, and 2./ the maker of Carlos Santana's guitar of choice.
I gotta say here though that I used to own a 1,/ and the quality of late just aint there.... sad huh

[guitfiddle]

First of all
love the Avatar... Nectar of the Gods

[jimijames]

Just a few more questions, I promise!

What's your favorite amp?

Have you ever thought about branching out into amp/effects building?

I've noticed most of your guitars have humbuckers - do you prefer them over single coils, and if so, why?

What sound do you go for with most of your guitars? Is there a particular tone you're aiming for, or are you going for something unique?

Thanks again for doing this, you really do make drool-worthy guitars!

[scottish]

Me again, pete. I was just in the lab (i work as a research scientist) and someone at the bench next to me had an "OH SH!T" moment. You know, where the second you've done something you realize you just made a horrible mistake and screwed something up oh so badly.

Have you ever been building a guitar and had one of these moments? If so and you dont mind sharing it, what was it and were you able to fix it?

Also, while we are at it, id like to learn a little about Peter Crossley the man and not just the luthier. Do you have any hobbies/pass times you love to do when you arent busy with guitars? Also what kind of music inspires you and your playing?

Cheers, and thanks again!

[Evan Skopp]

If you were younger and less experienced and had the opportunity to apprentice with any guitar builder in the world, who would that be?

[B2D]

Hi Pete! Great to have you here and thanks for doing this!

How much capital (monetary or otherwise) did you have to obtain in order to start and sustain your business?

[Peter Crossley]

Just a few more questions, I promise!

What's your favorite amp?

Have you ever thought about branching out into amp/effects building?

I've noticed most of your guitars have humbuckers - do you prefer them over single coils, and if so, why?

What sound do you go for with most of your guitars? Is there a particular tone you're aiming for, or are you going for something unique?

Thanks again for doing this, you really do make drool-worthy guitars!

My favorite amp is the one I'm playing now which is a MI Audio Revelation
4 channels of madness. If I didnt have that, maybe a Cornford Hellcat

No I used to be an Electrical Engineer, and I am well and truly over circuits!!

Yeah I like humbuckers, I also wire the bucker so that they individually split via the vol-neck tone-bridge to get a quasi single pole sound.
I like the buckers because they get closer to the sound thats in my head.. if that makes any sense...
I have noticed that my guitars dont sound like the usual suspects. Yet they all exhibit the same "type" of sound. I like it, but its hard to describe.

[Peter Crossley]

Me again, pete. I was just in the lab (i work as a research scientist) and someone at the bench next to me had an "OH SH!T" moment. You know, where the second you've done something you realize you just made a horrible mistake and screwed something up oh so badly.

Have you ever been building a guitar and had one of these moments? If so and you dont mind sharing it, what was it and were you able to fix it?

Also, while we are at it, id like to learn a little about Peter Crossley the man and not just the luthier. Do you have any hobbies/pass times you love to do when you arent busy with guitars? Also what kind of music inspires you and your playing?

Cheers, and thanks again!

you betcha !!!
sometimes they can be saved other times they become expensive firewood!!

I have had a guitar body on the spindle cutter and just drifted slightly in the attention game. The body bit hard and splintered a 3" piece straight off a lovely piece of quilted maple............. agggggghhhhh.
nothing could save it i'm afraid.

A couple of years ago I used to competively race yachts. I have a 26' foot racing yacht moored in Port Phillip bay.
I got quite good at it, winning the club Aggregate championships for a few years running.
I lost interest in it and havn't raced for quite a while now.
What I love is Aussie Rules Football, my team has just finished on top of the ladder. St Kilda. We are now favorites for the Grand Final, but we have only ever won one Grand Final in 150 years..........
So as a supporter this is all very new and unfamiliar territory.
The music I love is very mixed. from classical to metal..and back again.
if it is played with heart and soul I'm all for it.

I have a trio that is rehearsing some original stuff, no vocals just instrumentals..
guitar/bass/drums

Oh and drinking beer...

but thats more of a religeon than a pastime here in OZ...

[BloodRose]

I'm sneaking a sec on the computer.

First, Peter, It's been a pleasure just having you as a forum Bro and glad you are part of the family! Sometimes retailers or what have you only make appearances to advertise.. So, I respect that you are involved.
You're creations appear amazing and with you and some of the other builders we have on the sight, Ive been inspired to build my own one day! (Thanks to all !)

Im sorry if this has been asked, I am sneaking a minute on the comp and havent had the chance to read all the others yet.
My main question is the development of your neck/body joint. First, are they neckthru or set? The neck/body contours on yours appear to be completely unobstructed. Ive always wondered why that isnt more common. If they are set, how do you do it?

Also, my biggest fear of building a guitar is truss rod installment. Is that a difficult thing to learn?

If these have been covered, please just say covered and I'LL read thru when I get the chance.

Thanks again and look forward to seeing further creations from you!

[Peter Crossley]

If you were younger and less experienced and had the opportunity to apprentice with any guitar builder in the world, who would that be?

Definetly Robert Benedetto.

The guy is a genius.

[Iron Horse]

My favorite amp is the one I'm playing now which is a MI Audio Revelation
4 channels of madness. If I didnt have that, maybe a Cornford Hellcat

That amp is very interesting, yet there seems to be very little info on it in the net excluding the MI Audio site. So, could you tell us something about this amp?

[dd12939]

What led you to choose the Master Volume/Master Tone control setup over VVT or VVTT (or something else)?

[Peter Crossley]

Hi Pete! Great to have you here and thanks for doing this!

How much capital (monetary or otherwise) did you have to obtain in order to start and sustain your business?

Well I use the workshop that i built in my backyard as a workplace, so I dont have any overheads for factory/studio rental. Thats a big plus.

I slowly accumulated tools, with every guitar sale I put money aside for tools/materials.

Hard to put a monetry figure on it, other than it is fairlly substantial. and I'm never going to get rich!!!
But thats not why I do it..

I did have to work as an engineer for a long time to be able to get to a point of being relatively self supporting.

[Evan Skopp]

Definetly Robert Benedetto.

The guy is a genius.

And a great guy to boot. Thanks, Pete.

[Peter Crossley]

I'm sneaking a sec on the computer.

First, Peter, It's been a pleasure just having you as a forum Bro and glad you are part of the family! Sometimes retailers or what have you only make appearances to advertise.. So, I respect that you are involved.
You're creations appear amazing and with you and some of the other builders we have on the sight, Ive been inspired to build my own one day! (Thanks to all !)

Im sorry if this has been asked, I am sneaking a minute on the comp and havent had the chance to read all the others yet.
My main question is the development of your neck/body joint. First, are they neckthru or set? The neck/body contours on yours appear to be completely unobstructed. Ive always wondered why that isnt more common. If they are set, how do you do it?

Also, my biggest fear of building a guitar is truss rod installment. Is that a difficult thing to learn?

If these have been covered, please just say covered and I'LL read thru when I get the chance.

Thanks again and look forward to seeing further creations from you!

The guitars are set necks with a tenon joint.
The angle is equally divisible into 360 degrees, making it a "natural" number.
the tricky part is that I have to also incorporate the neck angle, which ranges from 1.75 to 3.5 degrees (depending on bridge type) into this cut as well. So I have one angle in one plane and another in the adjacent plane.
Its a bit hard to describe, and it took me quite a bit of development time to get it right. Could be why its not more common.

Dont freak out about truss rod installation, thats an easy one. Check out the "Make your own Electric Guitar" book by Melvyn Hiscock. He explains a couple of ways to do it, in easy to understand words.
Well worth the few bucks it costs.

[Peter Crossley]

That amp is very interesting, yet there seems to be very little info on it in the net excluding the MI Audio site. So, could you tell us something about this amp?

Ok its fully power scalable. so by changing tubes you can get the amp to range from 1/4 watt to 120 watts. Biasing is made very easy with multimeter test points inside the cabinet and potetiometrs to adjust the biasing, complete with really easy to understand instructions . The manual is actually a small book. A refreshing change from the amp manuals that say " volume control, this controls the volume"
Four channels, each voiced differently, each with 3 gain stages.
Four freely assignable effects loops, assign 1 to four separate loops to each channel
Hi/Lo/off negative feedback with presence and depth control
3 power amp gain settings
3 tube configurations fixed/cathode/cathode dynamic
2 screen configurations pentode/triode
2 master volumes
Midi controllable on all settings

I have mine set around 50 watts with 6L6G tubes, I have had it with EL34's as well, I prefer the 6L6's. It can take up to KT88's
I am running 2 1 x12 cabs with eminence wizards in them.
I love this amp.
I believe they are not too far away from delivery to the US.

Hope this helps
also you could email Michael at MI Audio for details
michael@miaudio.com

[ginormous]

Hello from Kentucky!

Have you ever built any basses?

What has computerized drafting and milling added to the luthier's craft, and what has it taken away?

[Peter Crossley]

What led you to choose the Master Volume/Master Tone control setup over VVT or VVTT (or something else)?

I really like simplicity.

and with a 3 way selector and individual coil splits you have most bases covered.

[Peter Crossley]

Hello from Kentucky!

Have you ever built any basses?

What has computerized drafting and milling added to the luthier's craft, and what has it taken away?

I built a replacement bass neck for a good friend.
Basses are on the horizon!!!

I think that CNC's may have made some of us a little lazy, I do understand that they take away a lot of the drudgery type work, and they are also eminently repeatable. but sometimes I wonder if the timber misses out by not being handled....