Build an AG-1
Hi everyone,
I recently bought an AG-1 kit. I choose this one because I wanted a set-in-neck and this is the only one i found. here is my job.
First the body look pretty clean. It's a 3 pieces body but the wood look similar, the gluing is very discreet. The machining is perfect.
I started by sharp the edges because i found them a bit too smooth. my rasp is pretty cheap but work fine.
Then I sand the body and the neck to 120 to 1200 (no photo it's already enough annoying like that)
For the head, I print a gibson headstock that I paste on the head. As you can see the shape is a bit different than a gibson. I only cut the "open book". Cuting the edge is too much work for me, the tuner hole will also be too near the edge. for that i only use a hacksaw blade and my rasp. i'm satisfied with the result.
Then i glue the neck with the body. I don't show it but I've tested the alignment with the tune-o-matic by installing two string.
For the finish I choose a dye "red effect" to get closer to the red color of a SG.
I aplly two layers of dye with a sponge, I stopped when i was satisfied with the result. This was not exactly the color i was going for but it look pretty cool to me. I sand with a 000 steel wool before aplly 7 layers of True Oil with a paper towel.
cavity shielding and soldering
And... I'm done !
I'm pretty happy with the result =), it's very nice to play. I will do some upgrades in the future, I will change the tuners for deluxes. I have also order a standard pickguard (I mean a big one, not a half like in the kit that I dislike) and above all ! change the pickups 'cause this ones are very bad !
That's all, please tell me what do you think of that, and stay tuned for the upgrades =)
ps: Just for the story. As I said I ordered this kit because it's a set-in neck, I have not find any sg kit in europe with an glue neck. I come frome france btw, and if another french read me. I have paid 60€ of customs fee when it arrived. it was a big question I had without awnser before.
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