Sporkaster 4

What's Hot
SporkySporky Frets: 27568
I am well aware that I am out of sequence, given that SP5 was completed some 5 years ago.

Sp4 is a Stratele hybid, but (obvs) the right way around - Strat body, Tele appointments. Most handmade too, the fretboard was CNC'd (not by me, but on the machine I eventually bought), everything else by hand.

Birdseye maple neck, not sure what the fretboard is (I'll probably remember at some point - Kingwood maybe?), and it'll have Steinberger gearless tuners. 3-piece mahogany body, 25" scale.

I originally finished the body with a red gelstain and some polyacrylic, but frankly I don't like red guitars so I've sanded it all back and it's now stained black with Chestnut spirit stain. I've also mixed some of the same stain into some Chestnut water-borne acrylic lacquer which will be brushed on. It's very, very black.

Pickups will be a Bareknuckle 'bucker in the neck (I think it's a Stormy Monday) and a stacked Axetec tele pickup in the bridge, mounted in a left-handed bridge with 3 compensated brass saddles. There'll be a teeny active tone control if I can find somewhere to mount the battery.

Pictures will follow; yesterday I cut some long-grain beechveneers on the bandsaw to line the neck pocket - a bit loose compared to the neck.They got superglued in and then trimmed, so they're pretty much invisible now and the neck is rock-solid.

Tomorrow will see more lacquer being applied, and I may start on adjusting the shop-bought scratchplate to better match the body shape. Possibly fretting will occur.
"[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
«134

Comments

  • BigMonkaBigMonka Frets: 1763
    The tantalising text without photos is most unfair on us readers! 
    Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman, in which case always be Batman.
    My boss told me "dress for the job you want, not the job you have"... now I'm sat in a disciplinary meeting dressed as Batman.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    I know, and I apologise, but my phone battery is flat. Pictures tomorrow. It looks bloody ugly at the mo.
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    edited May 2017
    Here's the neck - drilled for Axetec locking tuners, it turns out.

    http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/01 neck.jpg

    Body after the old finish was removed, a couple of coats of acrylic mixed with Chestnut spirit stain:

    http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/02 black front.jpg

    Side shot - I put bodies on these painter pyramids.

    http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/03 side pyramids.jpg

    Obligatory mock-up:

    http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/04 mockup.jpg

    The acrylic doesn't self-level as well as the polyacrylic I used to use, so sanded it all back to flat.

    http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/05 sanded.jpg
    http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/06 back sanded.jpg



    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    I did another go. Didn't go well either. Turns out that Chestnut's acrylic doesn't mix with their own stains.

    Stripped it again and I've diluted some lacquer so that it flows better - hopeully it'll self-level a bit now.
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • fretmeisterfretmeister Frets: 23906
    I've always liked the idea of a Stratele. I'll be watching this with interest.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    Need to update with more photos, but the refinish is as complete as I am likely to get it. Black with dark turquoise streaking. I will leave that to fully cure for a couple of days while I get on with the fretting of the neck.

    I went back to my old approach to lacquering - lay on a thin, fairly even coat, then keep brushing until it's dry. That seems to get me a thinner, flatter finish. Then scrub with various grades of turning scourer pad things and repeat until bored or happy with the results. Only takes about 10-15 minutes per coat this way instead of two hours, plus half an hour of getting rid of drips.
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26742
    There's a hefty bit of Probett Rocket happening here. I like it!
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    I don't think it's a particularly innovative idea, but I've not quite loved any of the implementations I've seen. The Rocket is rather tasty though.

    I'd been thinking about trying to fettle the cheapo Telecaster scratchplate I bought onto this but it turns out I can get some nice brushed aluminium composite stuff for £6 per A3 sheet, at which point I can CNC cut it to fit exactly. It'll take some work to get the design right but I think it'll be worth it.
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    Sporky said:
    ... It'll take some work to get the design right but I think it'll be worth it.
    You mean it will be fun to design and make, and may even look interesting when it's finished
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    Y'know, I think I do mean that!

    I've ordered some 3M Dibond-a-like - brushed aluminium either side of a plastic core, 3mm thick in total. That ought to be a lot easier to machine than acrylic or similar.
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • lysanderlysander Frets: 574
    Lovely build ! I'm considering a Stratele myself but the other way around - telecaster body with vibrato :)
    I like the contoured neck access, what's the consensus on the ferrules approach instead of the neck plate - is it strong enough ?
    That's the way I'd like to do mine as well as I like a smooth and not too thick joint rather than a big metal plate but a plate is obviously more structurally sound.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • lysanderlysander Frets: 574
    Btw that fretboard looks like Pau Ferro to me.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    lysander said:
    what's the consensus on the ferrules approach instead of the neck plate - is it strong enough ?
    That's the way I'd like to do mine as well as I like a smooth and not too thick joint rather than a big metal plate but a plate is obviously more structurally sound.
    The plate just spreads the load and means less machining to do vs ferrules; the same screws are used so the strength of the joint is exactly the same. Or so I reckon.
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • lysanderlysander Frets: 574
    I think the difference is in case of impact the screws would be pulling on the body through the surface of the plate vs pulling into 4 relatively small ferrules in comparison, so more likely to rip up the neck pocket.
    But probably still more solid than a Gibson Les Paul tenon joint :)
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    In that instance I can see it might make a difference, but I think with a tightly-fitting neck (as this is now) you'd be hard pressed to snap it off either way.

    You might be right on the fretboard - I bought a small job-lot ages ago, had some machined, kept some as-was. Having checked it's definitely not Kingwood, but could be Pau Ferro or at the dark end of Zebrawood maybe.
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    In related news I missed the postie with the scratchplate material, and I seem to have left my fret tang clippers at the old workshop. Progress will resume tomorrow - I did at least get all the fret slots cleaned out and the frets cut to length.
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • WezVWezV Frets: 16541
    reminds me i have my stratele waiting for a refin.  its been various corroded metal finishes over the years so i may strip it back and go vintage.   I made an aluminium plate by hand, but it ain't perfect and could do with replacing
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SporkySporky Frets: 27568
    Bit of an update.

    This is the current state of the body - not a great finish, but acceptable to me at this stage. The neck now fits very snugly.

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/01 body.jpg

    On to fretting. Because the fretboard was CNC cut, and the slots milled, the first job is to clean out the slots using these torture implements - the hook lifts out any chips or dust, and the little saw is in case anything needs deepening.

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/02 implements.jpg

    Then check with this nifty gauge:

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/03 slot depth.jpg

    This is pretty huge fretwire. Cut into appropriately sized bits with a pair of Cresent compound side-cutters - they have a double-fulcrum thing so lots of mechanical advantage.

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/04 frets cut.jpg

    The tang is too long for the slot though.

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/04 slot vs tang.jpg

    So next the tang is cut short with the grey nippers, then the slot is filled with Titebond using the syringe and a blunted needle. Wet cloth for wiping up any glue that squeezes out.

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/05 fretting stuff.jpg

    I use a Stewmac arbor thingy for pushing the frets in - much easier than hammering and better results (for me at least).

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/07 arbor press.jpg

    First one done. 21 more to go. I spotted here that the end of the neck could do with some tidying, now sorted.

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/08 first.jpg

    And all in. Not bad for an evening's work. I also trimmed the ends down with the Crescent cutters, then they'll get filed flush with the fingerboard edges. More later.

    http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/SP4/120517/09 all fitted.jpg
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
    0reaction image LOL 3reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • SeshSesh Frets: 1839
    I really like that fretboard wood.
    Can't sing, can't dance, can handle a guitar a little.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 2reaction image Wisdom
  • JalapenoJalapeno Frets: 6378
    Looking dandy !
    Imagine something sharp and witty here ......

    Feedback
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
Sign In or Register to comment.