Duo-sonic rebuild

WezV

I just got an old body of mine back after 9 years. and its in a bit of a state.  We decided to trade it back for a re-fret he needed.

This was before i was doing my own spraying and using nitro for most things

i had issues getting a good desert sand mixed at the time, and had been experimenting with different paints.   My cousin was doing some spraying for me and was keen to use 2k for speed. I wasn't keen, but  we had some desert sand mixed up, but it was far too dark and grey. 

In the end i think we ended up getting some rattle cans off the shelf, likely from Halfords, in the closest shade we could find.  Admittedly we went straight over the 2k, once it was fully cured.  I have had the same issues on older builds that didn't have the 2K undercoat so i don't think that was the issue here.  The paint was looking great when it left, after a bloody long time curing, it passed the fingernail test fine.... but its not held up well.  Thought I would show what happens to halfords paint after 9 years of use. 

Its covered in gig bag imprint like this


The back has discolored significantly from rubbing against clothes


Both strap buttons look like this




But i still like the build. As usual, i mixed things up a bit. It's the later offset duo-sonic shape with the earlier style scratch plate, and spaced out controls for strat style pinky swells





I could probably cope with the wear, but not the imprints


So now I get to strip it and refinish it in something fun, I'm still undecided what that colour will be.

I'm also tempted to do something fun like build a baritone conversion neck for it

WezV

looked like this when new



Which was unintentionally a bit like Rory Gallagher's modded musicmaster

WezV

spent a bit of lunch with some thinners which got my back to the 2k "definitely not desert sand" finish underneath.


I have to say, i'm not mad at it.

sawyer

I like the 2K finish. Would suit a tortious shell pickguard/single humbucker/P90 maybe?

WezV

I think I will stick with black for the guard, but maybe change to single ply.

Pickup options are a bit random

A dual foil bridge


CC style tele pickup in bridge or neck



Both those together



Or I also have a pair of old Dimarzio's going spare if i want to be a bit more conventional
 

Funkfingers

H/S or 'Tron/S would be interesting. 

Might be worth canvassing the opinions of @HarrySeven about his modified Musicmaster. (A Rails bridge position pickup may have been involved.) 

PhilKing

What about the goldfoil and the tele the other way round (tele bridge, gf neck)?

WezV

PhilKing said:

What about the goldfoil and the tele the other way round (tele bridge, gf neck)?

I had it that way in another guitar and didn't like it.  The GF totally overpowered the CC tele.   It would also mean a redesign of the plate shape 

guitargeek62

Personally I dig the Dimarzios, but that's just me! Maybe one of those with the CC in the neck?

WezV

guitargeek62 said:

Personally I dig the Dimarzios, but that's just me! Maybe one of those with the CC in the neck?

got to admit, it is working for me too.   Not sure with the CC




this is why the GF won't go in the neck.... its massive

WezV

oooh.  I think i have a rick toaster style pickup somewhere.... might see how that looks

MattNovak

I want to build a Futurama clone (my dad has an original, like George’s) but with 3 angled tele bridge pickups.... could be cool?

WezV

Maybe just a frackin toaster in the bridge

DrBob

WezV said:

Maybe just a frackin toaster in the bridge

That is cool 

Funkfingers

On reflection, the wittiest choice of non-Fender pickups for a Duo-Sonic might be two Dyna-Sonic clones with baseplate height adjustment screw lugs. 

WezV

Funkfingers said:

On reflection, the wittiest choice of non-Fender pickups for a Duo-Sonic might be two Dyna-Sonic clones with baseplate height adjustment screw lugs. 

The aim is to use some of the fun stuff I have in, rather than buy more.   But I like your thinking

ADP

WezV

Whilst I'm making plates, this has got a new one made in thin single ply black, routed for the dual foil

PeteC

Now that’s very tasty indeed ! 

WezV

Yeah, I'm liking it so far.   I decided to keep it all really simple to show off the single massive pickup.   

I will probably put a series/split/parallel switch in it as that's the best way to get the most out of the dual foil I think.

PhilKing

I can't help thinking that having that pickup in the middle of the scratch plate would be pretty cool.  Halfway between the bridge and the neck.