Finished First guitar build. Shiny then not so shiny.

Deadman

jd0272 said:

Deadman;430052" said:

It's fully controlled jd, yeah. Gas burners the lot.

The neck might be getting re-done today, it's just too dark for my liking. It'll be a hell of a lot of work to get the poly off between the frets without removing them (which isn't an option) but I might have to put the graft in to get what I want.

My hardware has all arrived too from Gavin at Axecaster so I'm a bit excited.

A shed I can only aspire to!

Did you go for their aged hardware? If so, what's it like?

No I just went with Gotoh Klusons, jd. But you never know, this thing might end up fully relic'd eventually 

Deadman

randomhandclaps said:

Have you ever thought of moving to Essex and specialising in spray tans? I don't envy your work on stripping the neck but completely agree that if you're making something you always envisioned then it's worth the effort to be satisfied.

Haha. As pasty white kid from the North East the very thought makes my blood run cold. On the subject of the neck, you're right and I couldn't live with the dark shade and poly/nitro mix. So, after 4 hours hard graft this afternoon, I managed to strip it with a stanley blade and some paint stripper. It's all nitro now and has a pleasing golden hue, much more what I was looking for.

I also made the decal using a computer graphics cutting system and sprayed it on, again in nitro. I've deliberately kept it plain and simple. 'Ashcaster' is something I've had in my head for a while. Don't think anyone else has used it as I wouldn't want to steal anyone else's idea!

The neck and bridge were also trial fitted today and I flatted the body and gave it a final couple of coats of lacquer. All that's left painting wise is a quick flat off of the sander sealer and nitro lacquer of the neck. I'm hoping to start getting it together next week. Here's the latest pics:

jd0272

Nice. 

Long way from 'home' kiddo. Weather be nicer than up here I'd wager tho!

Deadman

jd0272;430686" said:

Nice. 

Long way from 'home' kiddo. Weather be nicer than up here I'd wager tho!

Maybe a little bit, yeah. I miss the sea like crazy. And Taylor's pork pies.

jd0272

Ah, Darlo! Mrs jd0272's country, she's a Crook lass, ferkin unhinged. I'm a bit further up in Reiver land.

Deadman

Well done
I'll be up just after Christmas, for New Year. Wouldn't miss it for owt.

jd0272

Father in law likes a nice Thai eaterie in Darlington (and it is) and in Bish Vegas (and that is too), but then he does have a Thai/bought via the interweb Mrs, who's younger then me Mrs! And yes, I would.

Deadman

I haven't had a night out in Darlo for years. Used to live in the boozers as a youngster mind! I'm more upper class nowadays, Boro is my drinking hole (the in laws are smoggies).

Deadman

Polished the neck and frets with micromesh and t cut. It's time to start thinking about getting some hardware on:

simonbeckwith

Great job with the neck, loving this thread!

Andyjr1515

This is top-drawer stuff!  Heaven knows how good your second build is going to be!!!!

Deadman

Thanks very much for the kind comments gents. It might go wrong yet though! I think I've found a decent tech to set it up properly today anyway. That's gonna be very important to me once it's together, obviously.

jd0272

Andyjr1515;433744" said:

This is top-drawer stuff!  Heaven knows how good your second build is going to be!!!!

Innit?!

randomhandclaps

The neck is now a great match for the body.  Superb, sir.

PVO_Dave

Looks fantastic so far!

Deadman

Thanks lads. But, disaster has struck.

I installed 10mm bushes quite easily in the tuner holes but to my utter dismay when I used a steel rule to line my shiny new Gotoh Klusons up it wasn't happening. I tried my best to get them to line up (see my extra drill hole) but they looked awful. I only wish I hadn't spent so long stripping and painting it. I'm now down £40 and looking for another neck. I've drawn a line to show how the E and B holes are approximately 1mm out of line with the other 4:

WezV

plug and re-drill them.  it will all be covered by the bushings once done

Deadman

WezV;434376" said:

plug and re-drill them.  it will all be covered by the bushings once done

Worth a try Wez. Thanks bud!

ThePrettyDamned

If it doesn't need to be kluson, other tuners would probably look fine - I doubt you'd notice from the front.

Deadman

I thought about that PD, its just I don't want to spend more just in case this is salvageable. I will consider if this doesn't work out mind!