The gate guitar project

the old gate
the old gate

The gate to our new location in Vienna needed replacement.  To me it looked like prime guitar-building material.  Nice weathered Pine boards - resonant and light - with a wonderfully textured surface!  So, in June 2012, a year after moving into our new shop, we finally got around to make guitars out of it - a limited series of 50 (the boards yielded just about enough wood).

 

Now, after 9 years the project is complete.  49 Gate Guitars (2 of them Lefties) and 1 Gate Bass were made. Only scattered pieces of the wood remain and they will be integrated into other projects.

 


Gate Guitar Custom 'BAUDOUIN'  #050

Mahogany body

Mahogany neck w/ Rosewood fingerboard 25 ½"scale

Gotoh vintage style locking tuners

BoneTop P-90 style pickups

ABR bridge

Bigsby B5

3-way switch, vol, tone w/ push-pull for series mode

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom  #049

Meranti body

Maple neck w/Ebony fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Fralin Blues Special Tele pickup in neck, DiMarzio 'Gravity Storm' HB in bridge (splittable) from Thomas Nordegg's stash (Steve Vai's & other's tech).

Wilkinson adjustable tailpiece

Vol, tone w/push-pull for HB split, 3-way switch

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom  #48

Mahogany body

Bird's Eye Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Gotoh vintage style locking tuners

Spalt BoneTop P-90style in neck

Häussel custom HB in bidge

Vintage Strat style tremolo bridge, wide spacing

Volume, tone, 3-way switch

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom  #047

Alder body

Maple neck w/ Katalox fingerboard, 24 ¾" scale

BoneTop P-90 style pickup set

Hipshot fixed bridge

Gotoh vintage style tuners

3-way switch, vol, tone w/push-pull for series mode

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom 'Pasadena Gate'  #046

Alder body

Bird's Eye Maple neck & fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Gotoh vintage style tuners

TV Jones Powertron in neck

BoneTop Blues Special in bridge

Tele style bridge w/bras compensated saddles

Vol, tone, 3-way switch

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #045

Alder Body

Maple neck w/ Rosewood fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Gotoh vintage style locking tuners

Lollar Mini-humbucker in neck

Lindy Fralin HO humbucker in bridge, splittable

Hipshot tremolo with Hipshot Trem-lock

Vol, tone w/push-pull for HB split, 3-way switch

Dunlop Straplocks

3.6 kg

Gate Guitar Custom  #44

Meranti body

Mahogany neck w/Rosewood fingerboard, 24 ¾" scale

Fralin Blues Special Tele pickup in the neck

BoneTop P-90 style pickup in the bridge

Wilkinson adjustable stop tail with locking studs

Gotoh vintage style tuners

3-way switch, vol, tone w/push-pull for series mode

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom Thinline #043

Chambered Mahogany body

Maple neck w/Indian Rosewood fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Gotoh vintage style tuners

BoneTop P-90 in neck

BoneTop Blues Special in bridge

Tele bridge w/compensated brass saddles

Vol, tone w/push-pull for series mode, 3-way switch

Dunlop Straplocks

3.1 kg

Gate Guitar Custom #042

Alder body

Maple neck w/Rosewood fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Gotoh vintage style locking tuners

Lollar Mini-humbucker in neck

Lindy Fralin HO humbucker in bridge, splittable

Hipshot tremolo

Vol, tone w/push-pull for HB split, 3-way switch

Dunlop Straplocks

3.6 kg

Gate Guitar Custom #041

Alder body

Maple neck

Rosewood fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Spalt P-90 style pickups

Vol, tone w/push-pull for series mode, 3-way switch

Hipshot fixed bridge

Dunlop Straplocks

3.3 kg

Gate Guitar Sullivan Custom #040

Mahogany chambered body

Flame Koa neck

Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Spalt BoneTop P-90 in neck

Fralin BoneTop Tele-style in bridge

Tele-bridge w/compensated brass saddles

Vol, tone w/push-pull for series mode

Dunlop Straplocks

 

Gate Guitar Custom 7-String #39

The first Gate 7-string also sports the first 7-string BoneTop pickups.

 

Alder body w/ Purpleheart center & Wenge strips

Maple neck, Bocote fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Hipshot open back tuners /w pearloid buttons

Spalt BoneTop pickup set

Vol, tone w/ push-pull for series mode, 3-way switch

Hipshot fixed bridge

Dunlop Straplocks

3.5kg

Gate Guitar custom  'Memento' #038

This is maybe the most interesting Gate Guitar so far, a  very special instrument. The customer brought a box with some highly personal mementos, each with a deep story attached. Using them all would have filled the surface, and having some of these personal objects clearly visible to all somehow felt invasive. So I decided instead to rout large chambers into the  body, with African power symbols (suggested by the customer) cut into the top  through which one could glimpse the objects. This way all of the objects are represented, but in an unobtrusive, subtle way.  

Mahogany body

Maple neck, Ziricote fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups

ABR bridge and stop tailpiece

Gotho vintage style tuners

Vol, tone , 3-way switch

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom  #037

Figured Pearwood body, chambered

Bird's Eye Maple neck

Katalox fingerboard, 24 3/4" scale

TV Jones Classic in neck

Lindy Fralin Split Blade Tele style in bridge

Reverse Tele bridge w/compensated brass saddles

Vol, tone, 3-way switch

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom  #036  VIENNA STYLE

Hollow Mahogany body
Mahogany neck, 3-bolt solid 
Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style tuners
ABM adjustable wraparound tailpiece
Dunlop Straplocks
Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups
Volume, tone, 3-way w/push-pull for series mode

 The body shape is based on a template for a parlour type acoustic guitar my luthier friend Andreas Neubauer here in Vienna got from an old local luthier’s shop, ca. 1870’s.  The body is hollow except for a block under the tailpiece, with an inset top of old pine (from the old gate to our new shop), finished with a resin coat.  I call the guitars in this series the “Vienna style”.  The graceful curves and the handrubbed finish are reminiscent of the classic well-worn Viennese coffe house chairs.  Direct and dynamic with a nice touch of transparency in the tone.

GATE Guitar Custom  #035  VIENNA STYLE

Hollow Mahogany body
Mahogany neck, 3-bolt solid 
Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style locking tuners
Bigsby tailpiece & rollerbridge
Dunlop Straplocks
Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups
Volume, tone, 3-way w/push-pull for series mode

Gate Guitar Custom  'Dark Bird'  #034

 Pine body

Chunky Mahogany neck

Indian Rosewood fingerboard, 25 ½" scale

TV Jones Superton pickup set

Tone Pros adjustable stoptail

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Volume, tone, 3-way switch

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #033 Vienna Style

Hollow Mahogany body
Mahogany neck, 3-bolt solid 
Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style tuners
Bigsby tailpiece & rollerbridge
Dunlop Straplocks
Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups
Volume, Tone, 3-way w/push-pull for series mode

3.5kg / 7lbs10oz

Gate Guitar Custom #032

 Basswood body

Basswood neck w/ Indian Rosewood fingerboard

25 ½" scale, 22 6150 frets

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Seymour Duncan Antiquity '59 in neck

Lindy Fralin Split Blade HO tele in bridge

Vol, tone, 3-way switch

Tele bridge w/compensated brass saddles

Dunlop Straplocks

3.1 kg

GATE GUITAR CUSTOM #031

Mahogany body

Bird's Eye Maple neck

Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard

25 ½" scale, 22 Dunlop 6150 frets

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Lollar Charlie Christian/Imperial HB combination

3-way, vol, tone

Hipshot fixed bridge

Dunlop Straplocks

3.6 kg

Gate Guitar Custom #030

Mahogany body

Mahogany neck, Madagascar Rw fingerboard

25 ½" scale, 22 Dunlop 6150 frets

Gotoh vintage style locking tuners

ABR bridge, Bigsby B7

BoneTop P-90 style in neck and bridge

Vol, tone w/push-pull for series mode

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #029

Mahogany Body

Mahogany neck, medium fat C

Indian Rosewood fingerboard & headstock overlay

25 1/2" scale, 10-12" radius, 22 Dunlop 6150 frets

2-way truss rod, bone nut, 42mm

Gotoh vintage style tuners

ABR bridge, Bigsby B-5

BoneTop P-90 style in neck

Fralin "Pure PAF" humbucker in bridge

3-way switch, CTS pots and Orange Drop cap

Dunlop Straplocks

3.8 kg

Gate Guitar Custom #028

Mahogany body

Mahogany neck

Indian Rosewood fingerboard

25 ½" scale

Hipshot locking tuners

Rollerbridge and Bigsby B5

Dunlop Straplocks

Spalt Bonetop P-90 style pickups

3-way switch, volume, tone w/push/pull for series mode

Tibetan prayer bead inlays

Gate Guitar Custom #027 Vienna Style

Hollow Mahogany body
Mahogany neck, 3-bolt solid 
Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style tuners
Bigsby tailpiece & rollerbridge
Dunlop Straplocks
Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups
Volume, Tone, 3-way w/push/pull for series mode

3.5kg / 7lbs10oz

Gate Guitar Custom #026 Vienna Style

Hollow Mahogany body
Mahogany neck, 3-bolt solid 
Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style tuners
Tone Pros wraparound adjustable tailpiece
Dunlop Straplocks
Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups
Volume, Tone, 3-way w/push/pull for series mode

3.2kg / 7lbs1oz

Gate Guitar Custom #025 Vienna Style

Hollow Mahogany body
Mahogany neck, 3-bolt solid 
Indian Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style tuners
Tone Pros wraparound adjustable tailpiece
Dunlop Straplocks
Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups
Volume, Tone, 3-way w/push/pull for series mode

Gate Guitar Custom #024 Vienna Style

Hollow Mahogany body
Mahogany neck, 3-bolt solid 
Indian Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style tuners
Tone Pros wraparound adjustable tailpiece
Dunlop Straplocks
Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups
Volume, Tone, 3-way w/push/pull for series mode

Gate Guitar Standard #023

Mahogany body

Bird's eye Maple neck

Bird's eye Maple fingerboard & headstock overlay, 25 1/2" scale

Lindy Fralin HO humbucker splittable in bridge

Blues Special singlecoil in neck

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Hipshot bridge

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Standard #022

Mahogany body

Flame Maple neck

Indian Rosewood fingerboard & headstock overlay, 25 1/2" scale

Lindy Fralin HO humbucker splittable in bridge

Blues Special singlecoil in neck

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Hipshot bridge

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Standard #021

Mahogany body

Flame Maple neck

Indian Rosewood fingerboard & headstock overlay, 25 1/2" scale

Lindy Fralin HO humbucker splittable in bridge

Blues Special singlecoil in neck

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Hipshot bridge

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #020

Mahogany body

Mahogany neck

Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard

25 1/2" scale

Hipshot fixed bridge

Gotoh vintage style tuners

BoneTop P-90 in the neck, Fralin Pure PAF in the bridge position

Dunlop Straplocks

Volume, Tone, 3-way switch

Gate Guitar Custom #019 Vienna Style

Hollow Mahogany (Sapele) body
Mahogany (Honduras) neck, 3-bolt solid joint with machine screws and inserts
Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style tuners
Tone Pros wraparound adjustable tailpiece
Dunlop Straplocks
Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups
Volume, Tone w/ push/pull for series mode, 3-way switch

Gate Guitar Custom #018

Mahogany body

Flame Maple neck

Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard, 25 1/2" scale

Lindy Fralin P-92 in neck, BoneTop Tele-style in bidge

3-way, Vol, Tone w/push/pull for series mode

Vintage brass bridge

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #017

Mahogany body

Mahogany neck w/Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard & headstock overlay, 25 1/2 scale

BoneTop P-90 in the neck, high-output BoneTop Fralin humbucker (12.5k) splittable in the bridge

Volume, tone w/push-pull for humbucker split, 3-way toggle

Tuneamatic bridge w/Bigsby B5

Vintage style Gotoh locking tuners

Dunlop Straplocks

3.8kg/8.3lbs

Gate Guitar Custom #016

Mahogany body

Flame Maple neck w/Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard and headstock overlay, 25 1/2" scale

2 x BoneTop P-90 pickups

Volume, tone, 3-way toggle

Jazzmaster style tremolo w/rollerbridge

Sperzel locking tuners

Dunlop Straplocks

3.5kg/7.7lbs

 

The original satin finish was subsequently polished to a gloss finish (last 2 images)

Gate Guitar Custom #015

Mahogany body

Mahogany neck

Ziricote fingerboard, 25 1/2" scale

Lollar Charlie Christian Tele combination

Compensated Tele bridge w/ brass saddles

Volume, Tone w/ push/pull for series mode

3-way

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #014

Mahogany body, flame Koa neck w/Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard, 25 1/2 scale.  Lollar Imperial humbucker in custom bridge.  Switchable between series/parallel/split mode.  Gotoh vintage style tuners, Dunlop straplocks.

Gate Guitar Custom #013

Mahogany body and neck, Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard, 25 1/2" scale.  BoneTop P-90's, ABR bridge w/ Bigsby, Vintage style Gotoh locking tuners.

gate guitar standard #012

Mahogany body, Maple neck w/Rosewood fingerboard, 25 1/2" scale.  Lindy Fralin "Unbucker" humbucker splittable in bridge, Blues Special singlecoil in the neck position.  Gotoh vintage style tuners, Hipshot bridge, Dunlop straplocks.

Gate Guitar Standard #011

Mahogany body (Honduras)
Maple neck
Rosewood fingerboard
25 1/2” scale
Gotoh vintage style tuners
Pine top from the old gate
Lindy Fralin Strat SC in the neck, Unbucker (splittable) in the bridge position
Hipshot through-the-body bridge
Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #010

Mahogany body and neck, Macassar Ebony fingergboard, 25 1/2" scale, Lollar Firebird minihumbuckers, TonePros bridge and stoptail, Gotoh vintage style tuners.

Gate Guitar Custom Tele #009

Gate Guitar Custom #009.  Mahogany body, fat Maple neck, 25 1/2" scale.  BoneTop P-90 in neck, Fralin Blues Special Tele in bridge, compensated brass saddles, Gotoh vintage style tuners, Dunlop straplocks.

Gate Guitar Standard (Custom) #008

Mahogany body

Mahogany neck w/Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard, 25 1/2" scale

Reverse headstock w/overlay

Hipshot tremolo, Hipshot locking tuners with barrel knobs

Lindy Fralin Unbucker in neck, J Barden two-tone in the middle, Lindy Fralin HO in the bridge

3 3-way switches, one for each pickup: full, split, off (26 sounds)

Volume, tone

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #007 "Lefty"

Mahogany body

Basswood neck w/Rosewood fingerboard

25 ½" scale, 22 Dunlop 6150 frets

Gotoh vintage style tuners

Spalt BoneTop P-90 style pickups

Vol w/push-pull for series  mode, tone

3-way switch

Hipshot fixed bridge

Dunlop Straplocks

Gate Guitar Custom #006 "Pearly Gates"

Mahogany neck and body.  Madagascar Rosewood fingerboard 25 1/2" scale.  Cocobolo headstock overlay.  Gotho vintage style locking tuners, Bigsby B-5, Gotoh tuneamatic bridge.  BoneTop P-90 style pickups.  Switchable series/parallel via Tone push-pull.  Hard bypass via Vol push-pull.

Gate Guitar Custom #005

Mahogany body and neck, Ziricote fingerboard, 25 1/2" scale.  Lollar Charlie Christian Tele combination. Compensated Tele bridge and Gotoh vintage style tuners.

Gate Custom Bass #004

Mahogany body, Maple neck with Cocobolo fingerboard, 34" scale.  Lollar J-Bass pickup combination, Hipshot Ultralite Y tuners, Hondo vintage bridge.

Gate Guitar Custom #003

Gate guitar custom model.  Mahogany body topped with Pine boards from the gate, Mahogany neck w/Rosewood fingerboard, scarf joint and headstock overlay, 25 1/2" scale.  Bigsby vibrato, Gotho ABR bridge, Gotoh vintage style tuners.  BoneTop P-90 style pickups.

Here's Brice Delage performaning with GG #003 at the 2012 Montreal Guitar Show:

Gate Guitars Standard #001 & #002

Based on the successful Totem-X series, these hava a Lindy Fralin SC/H (splittable) combination, Mahogany body, Maple or Maple/Rosewood neck, 25 1/2" scale.  Hipshot bridge and Gotoh vintage style tuners complete the package.