Sonics 5th build - The Ultracaster (with special sneak peak)

[Andyxlh]

That looks wonderful!
You can drill the through holes without a press... I marked them up both sides as then drilled from both sides until the holes met, enlarging the ones for the ferrules. Mind you, I did it before painting it..... I don't think I would be brave enough to do that to the lovely finish you have here!
Well done, fantastic job.

[Sonic Mountain]

I considered it, but glad I didn't as messed up the bridge holes first time around.

[Andyxlh]

I considered it, but glad I didn't as messed up the bridge holes first time around.

Good point! Great looking guitar

[Sonic Mountain]

Ok some offical 'finished' pics.

Did a fret level and a better setup on it last night. 12th fret bass E string is at 1.75mm, high E is 1.5mm. Very happy with the action. I just need to file a bit of the end of the nut as its sticking out on the bass e side atm. I really like the belly cut (even though its pretty subtle) and the reworked heel. That was worth the effort. I kind of wish I'd done a forearm one now but oh well.

It sounds great. The pick ups are very different so there is a wide pallet of sound available clean, cannot wait to put it through some distortion.

[VonScott]

Looks great Sonic, well done!

[Andyxlh]

That looks great Sonic! I like the machine heads with the black tops. The stickers are cool too! Where did the black nut come from?
The mix of black and chrome bits works really well.
I have cut the forearm bevel on mine, but not the belly one... opposites!
Btw, I have replaced the string trees on my guitars with roller trees, super cheap from eBay, and they stop the string breakages there as well as, I'd imagine, assist with the tuning stability.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2pcs-Rol...4AAOSwevdaHUl4

[Sonic Mountain]

Cheers Vonscott and Andyxlh.

The machine head mod is really easy. I've done it before with black grovers and then swapping chrome parts from the kit tuners onto them. These were the leftovers from that. The black nut came off my Washburn. Stickers are a nod to my car fuelled past. Finish is Feast Watson golden teak stain with cabots exterior poly. The neck is rustoleum clear, cut back but not buffed as I like the satin against the gloss body. First time I've painted the fret board, its worked well, frets cleaned up really easily with a level and dress.

A lot of the bits and pieces on this guitar come from the spare parts box as it wasn't actually a kit per se. I'm very keen to put some roller string tress on my guitars, particularly the shoe gazer as I've started using the trem on it more lately.

I think every guitar I own has a couple of things I want to change on it , I will get there eventually.

[FrankenWashie]

Absolutely wonderful work mate, and it reminds me that i must get around to finishing my TLA-TH. It really could use a Mopar sticker though...

[Sonic Mountain]

Yes true I'll get around to making some up eventually.

For some reason the TL's I've built have been amongst the most fun to play. Great weight and balance and they've required very little fiddling to setup nicely. Which is surprising to me given the bridge - you'd think intonation would be difficult, but its more than acceptable- Moving it forward a few mm is defiantly a wise move IMO

[Wayne.Mumford]

Love that color Sonic, looks like honeycomb,sweet.