The HeX

I absolutely adore the ML, X-type and Stealth shapes… and yes, I love Dimebag too (“Floods” and “The Sleep” are objectively the best guitar solos ever made, fight me). Since I couldn't find any Dean or Solar Type X models that had the aesthetics and specs I liked, I decided to make my own variant, The HeX. This is my first scratch build, but fifth body - first go at a neck.

25.5” scale length, bolt-on, 12 inch radius, reverse Fender-style headstock design, no cavities - front and back are completely intact. Pickup is wired to a switch that sits flush with the edge. I have really fallen in love with natural looking guitars, so I tried to keep it as natural as possible. Semi-gloss/satin finish, absolutely no grainfiller on wire-brushed ash. The texture is incredible. Biggest challenge was the Katalox fretboard; hard as a nail took forever to sand the radius. It plays beautifully, and setup and intonated without issues - I am beyond happy with the result. Hopefully this guitar will survive long enough to be played by one of my sons (one of which's birth delayed this build by half a year).

Full specs list:

• European northern ash, 3-piece. Tru Oil finish.
• Carbon fiber reinforced quartersawn european sycamore neck. C shape. Tru oiled.
• 12 inch radius Katalox fretboard, no inlays.
• Bill and Becky L500XL bridge pickup with fixed 470k resistor.
• Gotoh SG381 MG-t locking tuners.
• Jescar FS55095NS frets.
• Schaller 3D-6 black topload bridge.
• Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut.