First Build ES-3 Birthday Guitar

[Taswegian]

Just celebrated a big birthday and my son got me an ES-3 kit as a present. I have to put it together even though he has all the luthiery skills.

Initially concerned about the control knob hole spacing. More 335 than 175. Will probably run with them as is but maybe at some point block plug the holes and redrill next to them to get a more even diamond spacing, with the plugs hidden by the overhang of the knobs.

I will probably be going for a honey blonde natural finish.

Totally new to this. Will be studying the forum to see what to do, what grades of sandpaper and quantities etc.

Cheers

Taswegian

[stan]

Welcome and enjoy.
Where in Tassie? I have family there in Devonport, Hobart and Launceston

[peterh]

@Tas,
Welcome to the ES-3 team. I'm in the early stages of my build as well, so I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. Post often to let us know how you're getting on. Can you post a pic of the inside of the neck pocket on yours? I'm curious to see how it compares with the condition of mine.

[Taswegian]

Welcome and enjoy.
Where in Tassie? I have family there in Devonport, Hobart and Launceston

Deloraine, which, if you don't know your Tassie geography, is about midway between Launceston and Devonport.

[Taswegian]

@Tas,
Welcome to the ES-3 team. I'm in the early stages of my build as well, so I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. Post often to let us know how you're getting on. Can you post a pic of the inside of the neck pocket on yours? I'm curious to see how it compares with the condition of mine.

Herewith a couple of photos of the neck pocket. Others have commented on the rough end grain at the base. I figure this allows more surface area for the glue! I will start a build diary I think.

[enikoy]

Herewith a couple of photos of the neck pocket. Others have commented on the rough end grain at the base. I figure this allows more surface area foe the glue! I will start a build diary I think.

That looks pretty much exactly like mine did. It had more but still damaged veneer on the thin left side of the opening, but not visible when the neck was installed. My neck is glued in now so no photo ops.

[Fretworn]

Welcome Taswegian. I've only spent about 4 days in northern Tassie, but I thought it was a very beautiful part of the world.

[peterh]

Taz,
I'm glad to see that everyone's kits have the same quirks. I thought it was just mine that had the messed up veneer on the left of the pocket and the rough base. Even though it's covered by the neck, I opted to replace the veneer on the left in order to give the neck more wood to sit on / glue to.
How is the fit of your neck in the pocket? I had to do a very fine amount of sanding to get the neck to sit flush without any gaps.

[Andy40]

Happy Birthday mate, good to see that someone got you something the gift that keeps on giving!

[Taswegian]

Can I turn this welcome thread into my build diary? Moderator is welcome to move it. Did some work on the neck last night. Neck had a bit of a back bow. Read somewhere that Pit Bull kits all have double action truss rods so some careful anti-clockwise tweaks got it fairly straight. Found a lump of dressed granite in the garden that made a good levelly tool with some 600 grit w&d paper glued on. Masked off the frets and "sharpied" them. A few gentle passes confirmed that the frets were already pretty good. Gave them a polish with 0000 steel wool. I will see how it plays and if necessary crown the frets at a later date. We have some crowning files, somewhere.