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

[Sonic Mountain]

Yeah, maybe with a bit more patience, elbow grease and buffing pads, but it just didn't 'feel' right and didn't look like it was going to resolve evenly.

The topcoat has come up pretty well anyway. Very slight orange peel that I can live with, a few small marks but overall looks good.

I'm trying to get this one to the stage where I can put the neck on and chuck it in the rack while I work on some other stuff. I still don't have any pickups or electronics for it so it's a while away from completion.

I'm glad I tried the poly, it was worth it from a learning perspective. I was considering using it on the steam punker as it will have a natural wood finish look, but I'm not sure now.

[wazkelly]

Looks good in those shots.

[Sonic Mountain]

Honestly I'm just being a bit of a perfectionist. It's perfectly acceptable, especially for a home build.

I mostly just want a guitar with a single coil in the bridge that plays nicely.

I'm happy with how the belly cut and heel mod has come up. The natural finish is a bit different for me, but I quite like it. I'm seeing it as a nice counterpoint to the shoe gazer.

[nitroburner1000]

Headstock decal on. I've been printing out extras and potential names when making the other waterslide decals so I already had this one. Suits nicely.

Just caught up but following with interest as im hoping the tele will be my next project. BTW you do awesome logos!

[Sonic Mountain]

Cheers mate. People are welcome to PM if they want any help with that stuff. The TL-1 kits are great. Very simple, great bang for buck and so much scope for making it your own.

Little bit more progress. Neck is on- excuse the instagram filter..... but the grain does look really nice.



The white pick guard doesn't actually fit very nicely so I'm going back to the plan of using one of the spare hum buckers I have lying around. Of course there isn't enough meat for the ring to screw into, so I've lopped up some down down and glued it in to assist there.





Tuners are in, but no screw holes drilled yet. Really digging the custom chrome/black combo, I'll be doing that again.

[wazkelly]

Definitely scored a good bit of basswood timber on that kit Sonic. Grain on the back looks awesome with the golden stain colour.

[Sonic Mountain]

Cheers, Waz.

Welp I dun goofed. Somehow I've drilled my bridge holes approx 1mm-1.5 mm off centre. I was probably a bit cavalier when I did it originally. Good news is the neck is nice and straight. It isn't perfect fit in the pocket, but this isn't a matched body/neck set, it's the prototype neck and a random body.

The correct centre is now right on the edge of the exisiting holes. What's best practice for plugging and drilling - fill it with epoxy or small dowel and wood glue?







Otherwise I'm happy with how its coming together. I'm using a lot of left over bits and pieces, its a true 'parts' caster. I did buy a control plate, and a switch. The switch knob is off my old Vailants heater controls - suits perfectly

EDIT.. GAH.. looks like the control plate is slightly crooked as well....sigh.

[Andyxlh]

That looks great!
I have used pva and matches shoved in the holes and cut off st the top level. Works for me, the pva gives it plenty of grip when it goes off.

[Sonic Mountain]

Oh that's not a bad idea. I might use a skewer as the holes are a bit larger than toothpick size now.

[wazkelly]

Bamboo skewers is the biz.