🛠️ Discovering the Alchemist 8-String #0032: The Custom Crafting Process

The Alchemist 8-String guitar, Series #0032, is a custom-built masterpiece of precision crafted by Dark Art Guitars for the artist Iván Ferrús. Its creation involved a process of modern lutherie, where cutting-edge technology merged with traditional craftsmanship to bring an unparalleled sonic instrument to life.

Phase 1: Conceptualization and Material Selection

Phase 2: CNC Machining and Neck Construction

Phase 3: The Art of Finishing and Final Assembly

Pic: Dark Art Guitars

Everything began with the design. Following the consultation phase, a virtual 3D model of the guitar was created, ensuring that every contour, angle, and specification (including the scale) was perfect before the first piece of wood was cut.

• The Tonal Heart: Swamp Ash was selected for the body, known for its resonance and lightness, and a spectacular Buckeye Burl top, which would serve as the canvas for the finish.

• Extreme Stability: The neck, designed to withstand the tension of 8 strings, was constructed using a laminate of Wenge and Maple woods—a combination that guarantees maximum rigidity and stability.

• The Scale: Multiscale Precision: The multiscale (Fan Fret) length was defined as 25.5 to 27 inches, crucial for ensuring that the low eighth string maintained crystal-clear definition and a comfortable tension feel.

Dark Art Guitars utilizes CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology to ensure millimetric precision in the most critical steps:

• Cutting and Contouring: The CNC router is responsible for shaping the body and creating the perfect routings for the electronics and the neck joint, minimizing tolerances and maximizing contact between the woods.

• Fretboard and Luminescence: The Ebony fretboard was cut with absolute precision for the multiscale slots, and the recesses were prepared for the installation of the custom luminous inlays (Custom Glow Inlays)—a functional and visually stunning detail.

• Fretwork: After gluing (if applicable) and shaping the neck, the fretwork (installation, leveling, and crowning of the frets) is carried out with the utmost care, guaranteeing low action and no buzzing across the entire scale.

The finishing was the process that transformed the wood into a piece of art:

• Stain and Depth: A deep green stain was applied to the Buckeye Burl, whose grain was enhanced by hand. The body was complemented with a black burst on the edges and back to create a high-contrast visual effect.

• High-Gloss Finish: The instrument was covered with several coats of high-gloss 2K Polyurethane—a process that requires meticulous sanding and buffing to achieve that mirror-like finish that protects and magnifies the top's grain.

The final step was the assembly of the high-end electronics and hardware:

• Electronics: Fishman Fluence Tosin Abasi pickups were installed, ensuring that the guitar's monstrous chug sound is captured with total clarity and power.

• Headless Hardware: The Nova Guitarparts bridge system and the custom Dark Art headpiece were mounted and adjusted for the 8-string headless configuration, optimizing intonation and tuning convenience.

• The result is the Alchemist 8-String #0032, a precision guitar that combines the stability and sonic power required for modern metal with a unique and unforgettable aesthetic.
  

  
  All images created by Dark Art Guitars Official.

Gallery

Images of the entire construction process up to its final phase.