So not really a very exciting challenge but more of an exercise in time management and discipline!
I'm working 7 days a week for the next couple of months, 4 a week on a contract job I picked up out of the blue and 3 a week in my spraybooth/workshop. So I've got very little spare time, but these three guitars being in bits has been bugging me a long time. All been in parts for a while.
First up and the closest to finishing is my P-Bass - a Squier precision that has been treated to a new alder body that I finished in Burgundy Mist back in spring/summer 2017. Was really just a test of my new equipment and paints so it's not perfect but fine for me. I've given the neck a matching headstock. Also it has a nice new parchment guard and I did the wiring late the other night. Same Tonerider pickups I had in it previously.
So if I get a minute this weekend I need to sand the neck pocket ever so slightly to fit the neck, drill and mount pickguard and pickups /bridge etc and setup.
Now one of my favourite ever guitars....
My Tele Thinline. Body by John Manuel, a few years back.
Used to look like this:
Which I like alot but over time I got restless, of course... The neck was actually a fat strat neck and the vibramate was sold, but I still have the Bigsby and think I'm just going to mount it directly from now on. Also I knew I would refinish this one as soon as I started my business as although the Fiesta Red looked very cool it was not the best job. It was done by a known person/company for an absolute bargain price but was very basic. Some grain was still visible (on an alder body, I know?!) and no clear coats. Obviously a superquick one or two coat job, but still it probably cost me less than the materials I would have needed.
Now it looks like this...
Had a minute between some clear coats on customer guitars today so I drilled the neck mounting holes:
And I also had time to respray the headstock with some tinted lacquer. So... needs clear coats on the neck, tuners fitting, drilling for Bigsby and then general reassembly and setup. I'm so excited to get this guitar back in circulation I love it! WIll be using a Bigsby modified tele bridge with Marc Rutters steel saddles that I had on it before. Obviously I'm using a new neck which is a TRO-FAT. Once it went metallic it had to have a rosewood neck. That's my rule!
Guitar number 3 is my old Landola Hummingbird copy.
I'm going to hopefully replace the nut with a newly-carved bone nut, maybe get a custom carved bone intonated bridge on there to replace the adjustable one and fit some Gibson tuners. Need some conversion bushings to cover the larger holes in the headstock - or do I just go with Grovers if I can scrape up the cash??
Anyway, this is a lovely sounding guitar. It lacks bass for a dreadnought which for me is a good thing as it records really nicely without being overpoweringly bassy.
So there it is... not really an exciting scratch build challenge like you other guys, but just setting a time limit on these will really help me get them finally sorted!
Comments
www.rexterguitars.co.uk
I can reccomend the Gotoh Tele bridge with the rear cutouts - I had one but sold it it @Teyeplayer a while back. Really beautifully made and would suit the vibe perfectly.
That thinline looks wonderful by the way!
My number one guitar for nearly 10 years. Body built and finished by a supremely talented friend from Offsetguitars - Motorik Guitar Works. Been through a few guises in its life, currently back to traditional Jazzmaster setup with a handmade repro goldguard and 1970s pickups. Just a great guitar all round. I'm a serial flipper of guitars, but will never sell this one.
Used to look like this a few years ago - amazingly cool... and unique. But the Dearmonds (1963) started to sound way too dark to my ears so I went back to the current - traditional - setup. Glad I did, as I play it more, which is the main point of a guitar.
www.rexterguitars.co.uk
Wow, I really need to hoover in the loft...
www.rexterguitars.co.uk
I have to say that if I attempted to finish all the stuff I have in bits, the challenge would need to be more than Q1. Q's1,2,3 &4 would be closer to the mark
The acoustic has reminded me of an old Eko my dad gave me when I first started playing. Nowhere near as nice as yours, he bought it when he was potless at college, but it taught me a thing or two about finger strength.
Despite being happy for me to play his D-35 whenever I liked, I preferred having my ‘own’ guitar and bashed relentlessly at that old Eko.
I play Strats these days, with shandy 9s on them - must’ve since lost a kilo in muscle mass in my left hand alone.
Will keep an an eye on this thread, some tasty instruments.
www.rexterguitars.co.uk
Love that Jazzmaster as well.
I need to cut the nut slots a little deeper and optimise them for the Bigsby. Also I have some of these coming
http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/hardware-parts-c1/screws-nuts-washers-c58/bridge-screws-c59/vibramate-dual-access-intonation-screw-set-of-three-p4911
So will need to take it apart to fit them to the bridge saddles. I forgot about the trials of setting the intonation with a Bigsby mounted close to a traditional Tele bridge. But it sounds great and plays great considering the work that still needs to be done. I'm super OCD about setup so it will be divine once finished!
Neck pickup is a Toneride vintage style, bridge a Fralin Blues Special I think. Kind of itching to put a Jazzmaster pickup in the neck position though, that's my favourite sound. Fantastic in a thinline too...
www.rexterguitars.co.uk