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Another guitar build

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19 replies to this topic

#1
Merco_61

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This one will be heavily inspired by the Music Man Axis.

 

The headstock blank with an outline drawn and center-markers for the holes for the tuning machines.

45670231641_46904d35af_o.jpgPES_2018-11-01_20-10-20_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

 

The headstock blank next to the cardboard template.

44945463264_8af018b038_o.jpgPES_2018-11-01_20-13-17_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

 

The blank with the holes drilled. I will ream them to exact size later, when it is time to start assembly.

45619691222_8a9fcef8f6_o.jpgPES_2018-11-01_20-27-58_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr



#2
Nikon Shooter

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Still a Tele, Peter?

 

The picts are a tad too dark! :P



#3
Merco_61

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About as far from a Tele as you can get without getting into shred machines. This one is heavily inspired by the Music Man Axis. Floyd Rose, coil-split humbuckers and 4+2 headstock makes it a bit more complex to build.

 

They are a bit on the dark side as the screen on the laptop is a bit too bright for editing. It is easy to make too small a correction. I'll try to do the coming parts of this series on a better screen, or correct the photos if I use the MBP.



#4
Nikon Shooter

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Ok, I thought you meant the headstock only is inspired  by the MusicMan. :)

…same finish?



#5
Merco_61

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As the body has a beautiful quilt maple top and black binding, I will use Tru-oil, but applied in a slightly different way to get an end result with a higher gloss that hopefully brings out the grain even better. On the Tele, I applied the oil using a cotton rag. Applying it with fingers in a nitrile glove is said to get an even better finish in the end.



#6
Nikon Shooter

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This project is more exciting than the previous…

will you be done by tomorrow?  :D  :D  :D



#7
Merco_61

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The Harley Benton kit is a bit like an IKEA flatpack. It works, but with little finesse. This Pitbull kit is much more challenging. I have already found two things I want to change... I want a tone control and I want a 5-position switch. I think I have solved how to do it. You will see how when I get there.



#8
Nikon Shooter

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I have already found two things I want to change... I want a tone control and I want a 5-position switch. I think I have solved how to do it. You will see how when I get there.

 

I could be of some help when it comes to circuitry if you need.

Could you post a shot of controls layout on the guitar?



#9
Merco_61

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Thanks for the offer but the circuitry is no problem at all. The problem is the physical controls layout...

The Axis has the volume knob and the selector switch straight down under each other. This kit has the hole for the selector switch moved a bit backwards and I hope this leaves room for the Fender 5-position super selector I want to use in front of the tone pot that will live in the old selector hole.

I don't want to have to plug an existing hole as the plug would show so much because of the quilted maple.



#10
Nikon Shooter

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The problem is the physical controls layout...

 

 

When I modified a Strat into a "fat" one, I replaced the 5way by DPDTs and TPDP.



#11
Merco_61

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If there is room, I want he ease of use of the bridge HB, outside coils, both HBs, inside coils, neck HB sequence on a Super Switch. I have a switch and some CST pots in the mail, so they should be here before I need them. As there is no middle pickup, the 5way is ideal.



#12
Merco_61

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The headstock has now been roughly shaped with saw and knife.

43876826110_f42086f320_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_11-22-44_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

30754162397_e1fd911bea_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_11-22-53_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

30754160667_664b7d43a3_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_11-23-05_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

The heel has been adjusted to get a nicer transition to the body.

 

43876821270_6e3d6edfbd_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_11-23-34_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

44780497875_923d41a719_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_11-25-01_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

I haven't done anything to the body yet.

44969996314_1dd57f2652_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_11-25-52_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

43876816660_f99fda7ae2_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_11-26-12_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr



#13
Merco_61

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Nearly done with the 120 grit. There are still some high spots to do, but the fingers lose some sensitivity if I keep at it too long. I will finish this first sanding session this evening and tomorrow will see the next, finer grit papers.

 

45646297882_d0de67074a_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_14-26-29_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

30756273697_06ddbca45c_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_14-26-53_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

45646315592_f077b209c2_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_14-27-07_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

44782635845_e82183d7aa_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_14-27-23_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

45646286382_6caf309863_o.jpgPES_2018-11-03_14-27-27_35mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr



#14
Merco_61

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The grain is starting to pop after 9 layers of Tru-Oil.

45517584104_2f555673db_o.jpgPES_2018-12-09_10-43-27_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

46241476071_05d4643203_o.jpgPES_2018-12-09_10-43-48_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

45517582014_decdb8257c_o.jpgPES_2018-12-09_10-44-33_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

45517581154_e4e261424e_o.jpgPES_2018-12-09_10-50-30_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

46190800112_3233af616f_o.jpgPES_2018-12-09_10-50-42_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr



#15
Merco_61

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A group photo of the parts that will go into the guitar as soon as the Tru-Oil has hardened enough for me to buff the finish.

32755825858_75202af240_o.jpgPES_2019-01-06_14-04-49_29mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

Gotoh tuning machines and a Shaller string bar will go on the head.

Seymour Duncan pickups, Sentient in the neck position and Pegasus at the bridge.

A licensed Floyd Rose to start with, it will probably be replaced with a Shaller Lockmeister sooner or later.

A 5-way super switch, logarithmic pot for volume and linear pot for tone.

A Switchcraft output jack.



#16
Merco_61

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The neck is finished.

46672769391_bea8e170ee_o.jpgPES_2019-01-09_06-40-52_26mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

46672766011_6397cb14d0_o.jpgPES_2019-01-09_06-42-13_48mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

45757609805_8dbca71f5c_o.jpgPES_2019-01-09_06-41-15_40mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

39707835963_2602dc7c26_o.jpgPES_2019-01-09_06-41-55_38mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr



#17
Nikon Shooter

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The grain is starting to pop after 9 layers of Tru-Oil.

 


Very sexy.

… a body to make a grown man cry!  



#18
Merco_61

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It is finished, more or less intonated and fully playable.

45809942705_6a7e6c37d4_o.jpgPES_2019-01-13_13-24-03_22mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

32850429068_96d19e194d_o.jpgPES_2019-01-13_13-24-24_24mm_A by merco_61, on Flickr

 

46725404101_5bd99fcfb7_o.jpgPES_2019-01-13_13-24-34_50mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

32850425838_4103e92763_o.jpgPES_2019-01-13_13-24-56_24mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

46725401921_68d8b38df6_o.jpgPES_2019-01-13_13-25-06_32mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

45809934565_ac7205a599_o.jpgPES_2019-01-13_13-25-40_40mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr

 

39760486543_1a2622dcac_o.jpgPES_2019-01-13_13-26-07_48mm_ by merco_61, on Flickr



#19
Bengan

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Impressive. Very nice craftsmanship. Have you done this before?



#20
Merco_61

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Impressive. Very nice craftsmanship. Have you done this before?

Yes, but a much simpler build. Building a Telecaster from a kit. - Post Your Photos - NikonForums.com

 

There is quite a bit left to do when it comes to adjusting things by playing around with neck relief, string height, the height of the microphones and so on. I am not sure if the licensed Floyd Rose will stay or if it will be replaced by a Schaller unit, but the instrument is playable now and sounds great through the Vox.