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brett40
23-05-2013, 12:56 PM
hi all well time to start the diary, this will be my first build and doing it as a pressie to myself for my 40th birthday hence the st40 name, the wudtone turned up today in the post and i went on a shopping spree on the weekend for some tools and stuff i might need for the build, now just waiting on the lefty strat to show up at work ...

Bass Guy
23-05-2013, 01:36 PM
Happy birthday Brett! :D :D what shade of Wudtone did you go for in the end?

brett40
23-05-2013, 02:03 PM
dark tease with aged gloss and vintage neck with aged gloss , going to try to a inlay on the head stock and a swap out of the pickguard

keloooe
23-05-2013, 08:59 PM
Happy Birthday Brett!!!! About the Dark Tease, it will look like a mess at the start, but give it a few days inbetween coats to cure (I leave my LP-1 for at least 3 days!) and it will look awesome on the 3rd coat!!!!

dingobass
23-05-2013, 09:51 PM
Hey Brett,
Inlay is a lot of fun! Have you decided what you are going to use?
White Mother of Pearl always looks really nice on a dark finish.

If you need any tips on inlay, just fire me an email at dingobass@pitbullguitars.com

Note to self. Time to do a tute on inlay, DB......

Gavin1393
23-05-2013, 10:35 PM
Quote from dingobass on May 23, 2013, 06:51
Note to self. Time to do a tute on inlay, DB......

DB!, don't you just hate it when you are always right! :P

Brendan
23-05-2013, 10:59 PM
Some tips on inlay under DB's scratch bass build from memory...

brett40
25-05-2013, 06:24 AM
woohoo my kit turned up today at work,, about 2.30 pm . was starting to think i would have to wait till monday but huge grin on my face face when the boss walked down the workshop with the package in his hands, i think he is just as excited as i was , a quick open of the box to show everyone whats inside and back to work,, being a motor mechanic all we do is talk about cars , so was nice to let everyone see another side of me.

Gavin1393
25-05-2013, 06:52 AM
..the idea is to take it slow.......!!!

Check out this thread!

http://pitbullguitars.com/?page_id=42&mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=302&sticky&id=302

adam
25-05-2013, 07:53 AM
Haha, this made me smile Brett. Glad you got it before the weekend and, as Gav says, slowly, slowly. It's not a race.

dingobass
25-05-2013, 09:59 AM
Sand, sand sand sand sand whenyouaresickofsandinggetthewifetosand, sand and then sand again...... Iknow, I know, Shut up DB!

adam
25-05-2013, 10:08 AM
"get the wife to sand", yeah right DB.

Gavin1393
25-05-2013, 12:35 PM
DB, I think you might be sleeping outside tonight.....

wokkaboy
25-05-2013, 12:55 PM
Quote from Gavin1393 on May 24, 2013, 21:35
DB, I think you might be sleeping outside tonight.....
This sanding ritual has got out of hand DB. That is a very risky comment is that part of the rules at your man Cave? Hope the couch is comfy haha

Fretworn
25-05-2013, 10:07 PM
It sounds like DB starts with a bass kit and ends up with a ukulele.

brett40
26-05-2013, 11:22 AM
well a quiet saturday night a few cooper's and springteen dvd cranked up loud enough to annoy the neighbours upstairs . test fitted all parts looking good .started the sanding. nice relaxing night

brett40
27-05-2013, 06:32 AM
ended up sanding for about 5 hours , looking really good and smooth

brett40
29-05-2013, 06:34 AM
a few update photo's so spent about 5 hours on the body sanding and first coat of dark tease
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/66eia-003.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/x39it-001.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/g2662-002.JPG

wokkaboy
29-05-2013, 06:49 AM
Brett, thought something looked odd on the body, worked out its a lefty. You had a major win with the basswood grain, I've built about 6 or 7 ST kits and not seen any with this sort of grain. Were you watching the Monaco F1 race in one of the photos ? great race
You worked out a headstock shape yet ?

keloooe
29-05-2013, 07:30 AM
yer, Wokka is right there, that grain pattern on that body is pretty sexy!!!! I unfortunately missed the GP, where did Webber come???

brett40
29-05-2013, 07:30 AM
yeah the F1 was great , was thinking something like a jackson type headstock, i dont want to copy the fender shape. im having a hard time finding some mother of pearl to use as a inlay . all i need is a credit card size piece,

Gavin1393
29-05-2013, 07:43 AM
Quote from brett40 on May 28, 2013, 16:30
yeah the F1 was great , was thinking something like a jackson type headstock, i dont want to copy the fender shape. im having a hard time finding some mother of pearl to use as a inlay . all i need is a credit card size piece,


I get all my Mother of Pearl from these guys! they are awesome!

http://orders.mopsupplies.com/

WeirdBits
29-05-2013, 08:08 AM
Another alternative for MOP is Australian Luthiers Supplies (http://luthierssupplies.com.au/index.php?cPath=177_178), not sure on price/quality.

dingobass
29-05-2013, 08:29 AM
Wow Gavin.... wish you had told me this earlier... these guys are about half the price of ALS!
I guess this answers Weirdys question as well

brett40
29-05-2013, 08:54 AM
only $3.50 ea 45mm x 45mm and free shipping ,, think this will work? also what glue do you use for the inlay? and do i stain before or after setting it in the wood?
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/o8s4h-untitled.png

Gavin1393
29-05-2013, 11:51 AM
Quote from dingobass on May 28, 2013, 17:29
Wow Gavin.... wish you had told me this earlier... these guys are about half the price of ALS!
I guess this answers Weirdys question as well

Oh Bucket! I'll fetch the pink paint for my Beatle Bass from the fridge again....

Sorry mate! Thought you might have known about them. My mates at ALS seem to buy most of their stuff from these suppliers like StewMac and just mark up the prices. If you find the original supplier it works out much cheaper.

Gavin1393
29-05-2013, 11:59 AM
Quote from brett40 on May 28, 2013, 17:54
only $3.50 ea 45mm x 45mm and free shipping ,, think this will work? also what glue do you use for the inlay? and do i stain before or after setting it in the wood?


Not sure if it will work. Depends on the thickness. Should be around 1mm to 1.3mm.
If it is in that range, it will depend on the quality of the shell. Poor quality doesnt cut well

I have always used a 5minute epoxy much to DB's disgust. I think he uses a super glue. I will make sawdust by using a used piece of sandpaper where the sandpaper particles have already become cut and will not contaminate the saw dust you are making. I mix this into the epoxy to colour the glue.

AJ
29-05-2013, 01:13 PM
looks like good value to me.. whats the catalog # and web address?

brett40
30-05-2013, 06:31 AM
just saw them on ebay typed in mother of pearl and looked under jellery supplies

Gavin1393
30-05-2013, 06:52 AM
Quote from AJ on May 28, 2013, 22:13
looks like good value to me.. whats the catalog # and web address?

Aj - lookup www.mopsupplies.com - you can buy a ounce of MOP squares like the above for $17. You will get about 8 pieces!

dingobass
30-05-2013, 11:20 AM
Another company is www.luthiersupply.com
these guys are in Vietnam and will do custom designs as well!

brett40
30-05-2013, 11:24 AM
roller nuts? are they a good upgrade..
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/chy60-roller-nut.png

dingobass
30-05-2013, 12:31 PM
They are ok for trem guitars, they help keep it in tune. However you will need to use locking tuners for it to work.

keloooe
30-05-2013, 09:07 PM
I agree with DB, they are *ok*, don't use them regularly, use bone or brass, just anything but plastic :P

brett40
04-06-2013, 07:54 AM
so the builds going well, got 3 coats of dark tease on the body and started shaping the head stock , found a nice piece of m.o.p on ebay from als, just wondering do i stain the wood first before setting the inlay or glue the inlay in sand then stain? will it stain the m.o.p?
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/317xn-002.JPG

Gavin1393
04-06-2013, 08:11 AM
It should not stain the MOP, you want the MOP in before you sand so that you can sand the whole thing level.

brett40
04-06-2013, 08:29 AM
thanks gavin i thought so just wanted to be sure

dingobass
04-06-2013, 08:37 AM
And to add to what Gav said, polish the MOP before you start to Wudtone. It will be easier to keep clean and when you put the top coat on you can go over it.

brett40
04-06-2013, 09:18 AM
thanks for the input, now to try and shape the m.o.p nice and slow then i will trace it onto the headstock and cut to fit.. might try a offcut piece of wood first

brett40
10-06-2013, 10:55 AM
ok well the inlay ok for my first try. and finished off the head and put one coat of dark tease on it , dunno if i want to do another.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/1ub48-002.JPG

Brendan
10-06-2013, 11:25 AM
Nice job for a first go... Will certainly be unique & a good memory...

As for another Dark Tease coat, I remember somewhere someone saying it only comes together after the 2nd / 3rd coats... Until then it looks a bit messy...

brett40
10-06-2013, 12:08 PM
yeh but the color is very close to the body color already

keloooe
10-06-2013, 08:48 PM
Yep, do at least 3 coats on both the neck and body or else it won't look good at all!!

brett40
12-06-2013, 09:05 AM
okay 2nd coat of clear on the body and 2 coats on the neck, coming along nicely.. just waiting for some bling from the usa to show up in the post
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/m3p9g-001.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/9e6ps-003.JPG

brett40
12-06-2013, 09:07 AM
neck shots
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/70k7p-002.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/7551x-004.JPG

dingobass
12-06-2013, 09:13 AM
Looking great Brett :)

The DT looks fantastic on this body, can't wait to see the bling!

brett40
12-06-2013, 09:20 AM
yeah really happy with the grain, this started out as a bonnie rait tribute, but i got carried away on ebay. so i changed the head style and will swap out the pickguard and back cover.

dingobass
12-06-2013, 09:27 AM
It is really easy to get carried away buying bits for Guitars.... My Miss Fiona often stops me from getting to excited and hitting the buy button... Lucky for me cause if I was left to my own devices I would forget that there are bills and food and other annoying responsibilities in life :)

brett40
22-06-2013, 10:33 AM
thanx to he guys at pitbull so fast getting copper shielding.. ordered and sent within 3 days , awesome .... ok 3 coats of clear on body and 2 on the neck, almost ready to start assembely

dingobass
22-06-2013, 11:14 PM
Glad to hear your copper showed up so fast Brett.
We do try our best to process orders and get them out within 24 hours where possible.

Waiting with great anticipation to see the beastie finished off with the Bling

Gavin1393
22-06-2013, 11:17 PM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from brett40 on June 11, 2013, 18:20
yeah really happy with the grain, this started out as a bonnie rait tribute, but i got carried away on ebay. so i changed the head style and will swap out the pickguard and back cover.

Wokka and I will be around shortly to begin your GAS intervention process. Help is at hand!

brett40
23-06-2013, 10:51 AM
only a little bit of bling on this one.. but enough to change the look

brett40
22-07-2013, 04:02 AM
all together now not bad for a first time builder i think.. will get some better shots for GOTM
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/o96uc-001.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/yzdo7-004.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/z40iw-003.JPG

robin
22-07-2013, 04:54 AM
That looks great Brett. I was going to say it looks good for a 1st build, but I think it would look good for any build.

I like the white knobs and P'ups with the the dark pick guard. I've ordered some black knobs and covers to go with a black guard for my current ST build, but now I'm not so sure. I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea.

rob

DanMade
22-07-2013, 09:04 AM
Turned out a treat Brett. Great contrast of Colours there. The headstock looks great too. :)

maxaxe
22-07-2013, 09:47 AM
Turned out a treat Brett. Great contrast of Colours there. The headstock looks great too.

Gotta agree with that - not too shabby for a cacky hander (I'm a lefty but play righty)
Does the big 40 indicate your age or is there a more cryptic meaning?
Top job BTW.

brett40
22-07-2013, 10:03 AM
thanx all.. hey max i bought the guitar for my 40th birthday.

rhay
22-07-2013, 11:21 AM
Nice. The dark timber is really classic - it is a good match for Rob's IB5!

Personally I think the white controls let it down, but the contrast is quite striking and I can imagine a lot of people liking that.

Another brilliant first effort!