The Snake is a combination of an African mahogany body with an American maple top and a 3-piece African mahogany neck with a maple fret board. McSwain cut each of the 2046 individual scales from pieces of broken black lip abalone shell. Once the scales were cut, each piece was inlaid on the contoured Snake's body which continues up the back of the guitar neck. The eyes are LEDs with real rubies on the ends which glow bright red when the volume knob is pulled up. We think McSwain went slightly insane from cutting 2046 tiny individual scales!!!! Once the Snake was complete, Slash was kind enough to sign the back of the guitar for the client, Daniel Morris of Historical Design in NYC. This was the 5th McSwain Guitar that Daniel has added to his growing collection.