Angela Rose Guitar
Timeline: Oct - Mar 2023
The Angela Rose Guitar is a uniquely designed and visually striking electric guitar. Crafted from resin, the guitar features intricately embedded flowers suspended within its transparent body. It is not only a work of art with its captivating appearance, but it is also a fully functional instrument that produces an excellent tone. The Angela Rose Guitar is a testament to the creativity and innovation that can be achieved in guitar design, and it has garnered widespread admiration from millions around the globe through social media.
Viral TikTok Video
In January of 2023 I posted a video on TikTok showcasing the progress work of the guitar body and it gained over 2.2 million views and 440k likes in under a week.
Process Work
Stage One: Mockup & Test Pieces
First mockup
Lasercut template
Done to find the right sized cavity for the pickup, bass plate, neck, and bridge placement
Lasercut template w/ parts & neck
To check that everything would fit
Resin & flower test piece
Test piece made to make sure the flowers would cure properly in the resin
Spraypaint HDF test pieces
Test to see if the spraypaint would adhere to the high density foam well. Done in preperation for the mold negative
Silicone test
Test to see if the silicone would work with the spraypainted HDF pieces
First mockup
Lasercut template
Done to find the right sized cavity for the pickup, bass plate, neck, and bridge placement
Lasercut template w/ parts & neck
To check that everything would fit
Resin & flower test piece
Test piece made to make sure the flowers would cure properly in the resin
Spraypaint HDF test pieces
Test to see if the spraypaint would adhere to the high density foam well. Done in preperation for the mold negative
Silicone test
Test to see if the silicone would work with the spraypainted HDF pieces
First mockup
Lasercut template
Done to find the right sized cavity for the pickup, bass plate, neck, and bridge placement
Lasercut template w/ parts & neck
To check that everything would fit
Resin & flower test piece
Test piece made to make sure the flowers would cure properly in the resin
Spraypaint HDF test pieces
Test to see if the spraypaint would adhere to the high density foam well. Done in preperation for the mold negative
Silicone test
Test to see if the silicone would work with the spraypainted HDF pieces
Stage Two: Mouldmaking & Pour
CNC-ed CAD model on high density foam
Used as the negative for the mold
Applying bondo on mold negative
Bondo was used to fill the pores of the HDF to ensure a smooth mold
Spraypainted mold negative
Spraypainted with white automotive primer to fill any more pores & with a clear laquer to ensure the mold doesn't absorb the white primer
Preparing the mold negative
Adhering the mold negative with clay to a piece of MDF so that the silicone mold can be made on top of it
First silicone layer
Done in thin layers with a paintbrush
Filling the cavities
Using sponges to fill the cavities. Removing the mould from the guitar is easier if these areas are fully made silicone
Final silicone pour
Adds thickness
Plaster casing
Creating three pieces of plaster casings around the mold that stay together with keys. This ensures that the mold will not collapse from the weight of the epoxy
Final mold
CNC-ed CAD model on high density foam
Used as the negative for the mold
Applying bondo on mold negative
Bondo was used to fill the pores of the HDF to ensure a smooth mold
Spraypainted mold negative
Spraypainted with white automotive primer to fill any more pores & with a clear laquer to ensure the mold doesn't absorb the white primer
Preparing the mold negative
Adhering the mold negative with clay to a piece of MDF so that the silicone mold can be made on top of it
First silicone layer
Done in thin layers with a paintbrush
Filling the cavities
Using sponges to fill the cavities. Removing the mould from the guitar is easier if these areas are fully made silicone
Final silicone pour
Adds thickness
Plaster casing
Creating three pieces of plaster casings around the mold that stay together with keys. This ensures that the mold will not collapse from the weight of the epoxy
Final mold
CNC-ed CAD model on high density foam
Used as the negative for the mold
Applying bondo on mold negative
Bondo was used to fill the pores of the HDF to ensure a smooth mold
Spraypainted mold negative
Spraypainted with white automotive primer to fill any more pores & with a clear laquer to ensure the mold doesn't absorb the white primer
Preparing the mold negative
Adhering the mold negative with clay to a piece of MDF so that the silicone mold can be made on top of it
First silicone layer
Done in thin layers with a paintbrush
Filling the cavities
Using sponges to fill the cavities. Removing the mould from the guitar is easier if these areas are fully made silicone
Final silicone pour
Adds thickness
Plaster casing
Creating three pieces of plaster casings around the mold that stay together with keys. This ensures that the mold will not collapse from the weight of the epoxy
Final mold
Stage Three: Body
Resin pour
Body after it cured
Neck & pickup cavities
Back of guitar
Some flowers and leaves stuck out, so they were grinded down
Grinding down the back
This removed pieces that were sticking out
Second pour
Done to hide imperfections of the back of the original pour
Resin pour
Body after it cured
Neck & pickup cavities
Back of guitar
Some flowers and leaves stuck out, so they were grinded down
Grinding down the back
This removed pieces that were sticking out
Second pour
Done to hide imperfections of the back of the original pour
Resin pour
Body after it cured
Neck & pickup cavities
Back of guitar
Some flowers and leaves stuck out, so they were grinded down
Grinding down the back
This removed pieces that were sticking out
Second pour
Done to hide imperfections of the back of the original pour
Step Four: Neck
Cutting the headstock
Done on the bandsaw using my own design
Drilling setup for tuning pegs
Ensuring the tuning pegs are okay
Drilling setup for screws
Screws hold the tuning pegs in
Oiling the fretboard
Tape is used to ensure that the oil doesn't go on the maple neck; lemon oil cannot be applied to maple
Taping fretboard
Tape ensures that the tung oil used on the neck doesn't go on the fretboard
Oiling the neck & headstock
Using tung oil
Cutting the headstock
Done on the bandsaw using my own design
Drilling setup for tuning pegs
Ensuring the tuning pegs are okay
Drilling setup for screws
Screws hold the tuning pegs in
Oiling the fretboard
Tape is used to ensure that the oil doesn't go on the maple neck; lemon oil cannot be applied to maple
Taping fretboard
Tape ensures that the tung oil used on the neck doesn't go on the fretboard
Oiling the neck & headstock
Using tung oil
Cutting the headstock
Done on the bandsaw using my own design
Drilling setup for tuning pegs
Ensuring the tuning pegs are okay
Drilling setup for screws
Screws hold the tuning pegs in
Oiling the fretboard
Tape is used to ensure that the oil doesn't go on the maple neck; lemon oil cannot be applied to maple
Taping fretboard
Tape ensures that the tung oil used on the neck doesn't go on the fretboard
Oiling the neck & headstock
Using tung oil
Dimensions
Body: 12.25 x 38.5"
Neck Dimensions
Scalelength: 25.5”
# of Frets: 22
Fretboard Radius: 9”
Neck Shape: C/D type
Nut Width: 1 ⅝”
Electronics & Parts
- PAF 36th Anniversary Bridge Pickup
- Volume knob
- Push/Pull tone knob
- Chrome hardtail bridge
- Chrome bass plate
- Chrome 3+3 tuners
- Chrome pickup ring
Body
- Slow cure epoxy resin
- Flowers
Neck
- Hard Maple
- Indian Rosewood
- Nail art decal fret markers
- Lemon oil finish on fretboard
- Tung oil on neck
Mold
- Plaster
- Rebound Silicone
Final Product
Central Gallery Exhibition
The Angela Rose Guitar was chosen to be featured alongside a small handful of other pieces in Central Gallery. Located in Chinatown, downtown Toronto, the exhibition runs through April 2023.