18 replies to this topic

[Merco_61]

The headstock blank with the outline in pencil.

PES_2018-09-12_20-54-10_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The body with the non-standard holes for the supplied pickguard plugged.

PES_2018-09-15_14-19-07_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The headstock roughly shaped and the fretboard taped off for protection.

PES_2018-09-15_14-20-09_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

...and from the back.

PES_2018-09-15_14-20-27_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The heel of the neck.

PES_2018-09-15_14-20-41_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The better pickguard that will replace the kit supplied one.

PES_2018-09-15_14-21-48_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The body with the hole plugs cut down.

PES_2018-09-15_14-40-20_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

[Nikon Shooter]

I have some great whiskeys, a Strat and some

cool amps should you be in the vicinity!

[TBonz]

Your Build Peter?  Keep the thread updated as you move through it!

[Merco_61]

It doesn't change much as I am in the phase when I sand everything down, wet the surface to raise the fibres and then sand it with the same grit, followed by the same procedure with a finer grit. I am finished with the 320 grit now and it is time for the really timeconsuming 600 grit finish sanding with two wetting stages. Then comes the Tru-Oil with two treatments per day with a cutting stage with steel wool to start each day. There will be more photos when I have finished the sanding, and then more again after the first oil treatment.

 

I have some better pickups than what came in the kit on order, and some upgraded electronics as well.

[nbanjogal]

I can't wait to see the finished product, but I'm truly enjoying seeing your work in progress. I love seeing the texture in the wood and that fine dust from the sanding. What's your lighting setup for this? The light and shadow are so rich...

 

This is another one I wish I could see video of! All that sanding sounds like a lot of work, but it seems like it could be very meditative... So what are you listening to as you work? And what will be the first song you play when it's done? 

[Merco_61]

The lighting is similar to what I used for the headstock blank in the Your best... challenge the week ending September 16, a fluorescent household bulb camera left and halogen camera right.

 

I mostly listen to Mary Spender and Sarah Longfield as I work, their laid back fingerpicking style is such a nice background.

 

As to what to play first, I am so rusty that I will probably just start with an open G and improvise from there to get the fingers used to playing again.

[Merco_61]

Sanding the guitar parts is finally over.

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-25-58_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-26-23_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-26-41_35mm_A by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-27-29_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-28-08_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-28-32_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-28-40_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-28-48_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-03_15-29-06_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

Time for the Tru-Oil. One application per day for the next 10-20 days or so.

PES_2018-10-03_15-30-03_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

[Merco_61]

I will try to remember to take photos of the parts tomorrow, before the fifth layer of Tru-Oil goes on.

[Merco_61]

The neck isn't this dark, I have just given it a low exposure to enhance the grain in the maple.

PES_2018-10-08_16-48-29_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The fretboard is taped off as I will use some Ernie Ball Citrus oil or equivalent on the heavily roasted maple fretboard when the rest of the neck is finished.

PES_2018-10-08_16-49-18_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-50-18_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-51-56_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-52-11_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-52-33_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-53-00_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-53-24_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-53-36_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-54-03_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-08_16-55-04_35mm_A by merco_61, on Flickr

[nbanjogal]

I love those closeups of the grain and sheen from the oil. Really cool to see this coming together.

[Tony]

Agreed Nicole.  A very labor intense project, however when we view the finished product, we will all be dazzled.  Thanks very much for the treat, Peter.

 

TT

[Merco_61]

The electronics as supplied in the kit. Flimsy components, badly soldered with quick-connects that I don't trust for the pickups.

PES_2018-10-14_13-53-34_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The new switch, pots and output jack.

PES_2018-10-14_13-54-27_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The supplied pots have a mounting post that is only 6.84 mm.

PES_2018-10-14_13-55-24_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The DiMarzio ones are 9.41.

PES_2018-10-14_13-55-46_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The mounting plate.

PES_2018-10-14_13-59-06_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The holes are 9.25 mm.

PES_2018-10-14_14-00-04_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

A sharp 9.5 mm drill bit in my drill press soon solved this.

PES_2018-10-14_14-10-56_35mm_A by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-14_14-11-06_35mm_A by merco_61, on Flickr

 

Some deburring to finish it off.

PES_2018-10-14_14-14-24_35mm_A by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The parts fitted.

PES_2018-10-14_14-21-13_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-14_14-21-27_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

Soldering things together will be done after the body is finished as I want to connect the pickups at the same time.

[Merco_61]

Here is how things look after 9 layers of Tru-Oil.

PES_2018-10-23_15-47-33_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-23_15-47-47_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-23_15-48-37_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-23_15-49-04_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

... and the surface knocked down with 0000 steel wool to prepare for the tenth layer.

PES_2018-10-23_16-03-26_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-10-23_16-04-03_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The neck is finished after 10 layers and will be put aside to stabilize until the final wet-sanding, rubbing, swirl-removal and waxing. The body needs more oil layers as the basswood is more porous than maple. It will probably be finished in a week or so, and will then have to stabilize for a week until I can finish the oil finish and start assembly.

[Nikon Shooter]

Here is how things look after 9 layers of Tru-Oil.

 

…and a fair amount of elbow grease!

[Merco_61]

Ready for wet sanding, buffing and wax.

PES_2018-11-10_09-07-50_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-11-10_09-08-13_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

Buffed.

PES_2018-11-10_10-16-43_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The waxed surface waiting for final polish.

PES_2018-11-10_10-21-00_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

Fitting the wiring before soldering things.

PES_2018-11-10_12-45-55_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The pickups in place waiting to be soldered to the controls.

PES_2018-11-10_12-46-43_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

 

 

The guitar is finished now, but I haven't shot the finished instrument yet... I still have the intonation to get right and a slight 50-Hz buzz that I don't know if it is a bad ground somewhere or insufficient shielding.

[nbanjogal]

Well, we'll look forward to seeing a glamour shot of the finished instrument! 

 

I think of lots of p-words as I'm scrolling through this series...precision, perfection, patience, persistence...

[Merco_61]

Not a glamour shot, but a presentation of the guitar.

PES_2018-11-18_14-35-38_46mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-11-18_14-36-40_46mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-11-18_14-37-22_25mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-11-18_14-37-38_25mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-11-18_14-37-55_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-11-18_14-38-14_50mm_A by merco_61, on Flickr

 

PES_2018-11-18_14-39-03_50mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

[Nikon Shooter]

How did you solve the harmonics issues with
these primitive bridge's saddles, buddy?  

[Merco_61]

As usual on a standard Telecaster bridge... By splitting the difference, not going for perfect intonation and bending slightly when playing higher than the 18:th or so.

 

I am a bit surprised that I got it as close as I did, to be honest.