Gazza aster 1st build

[gazzman]

Due to encouragement from forumites here are some belated build pics of TL A1 the Gazzacaster

Specs
Ash body (rapt with the grain)
Wudtone hot Auburn 2 coats base and topcoat
7 coats of extra gloss no ageing
Maple fret board used wudtone Aged vintage on neck and fretboard ( we will see how that goes will also apply Dr Dux to fretboard )
Upgrade to tonerider p/ups
Upgraded to black pick guard and upgraded again to a red and blonde fleck guard ( we'll see what highlights best)

Also made up a jig to help with wudtoning made it heaps easier ( see below , it might still be light in WA but the nights are closing in in SA. Sorry about the darkness)


Some issues with the bridge p/up being out but have read other feeds and routing out is gonna go down ( wish I heeded DB's counsel and done a dry fit before but feel the factory should have the specs to get it right!)

There is only one concern I have
Kit guitars could become very addictive
Have any marriages broken up over this?
Also others experience over wudtone and Dr Dux would be much lay appreciated
Cheers for now
Gazzman


http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/n3w7j-image.jpg
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[lawry]

Very nice, Gazzman. Looks very classy. Love the grain.

[robin]

Wow Gazz, that sure looks nice, love the colour/finish.

Not sure but that bridge looks like it could be positioned a bit closer to the scratch plate. If you haven't already it might be worth double checking your scale length measurement just to be sure.

Cheers
rob

[maxaxe]

Coming up sensationally.
The body finish reminds me of a huge gleaming piece of Baltic amber . . . rich and spellbinding.

[gavinturner]

Love the finish Gazzmann. The hot auburn really looks the business on the ash body. The grain is just beautiful!

cheers,
Gav.

[Nickosaurus]

That neck colour really turned out nicely.

Could you explain your jig?

[wokkaboy]

looking sensational Gazz, as Robin said I'd check the position of the bridge, I'm building an alder TL-1A and had the same problem the bridge route should have been a bit further north.
Love the hot auburn on ash and the yellowish neck really suits it nicely. Can't wait to hear a sound demo with your upgrades

[gazzman]

Thanks for the encouragement guys
I'll go with advice and tout out the bridge p-up
For Nickosaurus the jig fits into the rout holes in the body. So you firstly wudtone the face of the body flip it over insert the jig and do the back and sides of the body
Hope that is clearer than mud
Cheers
Gazzman

[stan]

looks good Gazz, colour is great

[quiet1_au]

Love the body colour (and yes, they're addictive!...)

[Joshy]

Nice colour choice! Pics look really good.

Double check your pickguard tho, it looks like you might not have adjustment holes for your neck pickup. Mine didn't have any. I didn't realise til it was too late and had to take the neck off to adjust the pup height. (I was too scared to try and drill holes while it was attached!)

[SIMpleONe89]

hey gazzman u may need to bring the bridge forward or else intonation will be off. i have the same problem and i enlarged the pickup hole

[wokkaboy]

good advice Simpleone, I had to do the same to my TL-1A alder, route the bridge pup pocket about 5mm forward.
Gazzman see the gap between bridge plate and pickguard is too far

[SIMpleONe89]

lol wokka i had no router so i did it the primitive way - drill, chisel then file.

[gazzman]

Thanks for the advice Simpleone Wokka and Josh the router has been fired up with no major dramas
So you went old school Simpleone bet that got the heart rate up

[SIMpleONe89]

yes my right arm is also now bigger than the left

[dingobass]

Nothing like doing it old school to get your skill levels up.

My very first scratch build was made with a jig saw, coping saw, chisels, spokeshave plane, an assortment of aincient and somewhat blunt drill bits, a rusty old rasp, uncountable swear words and a lot of elbow grease :)

Turned out OK.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2zf54-100_2756.JPG

[lawry]

@DB. Will you please stop posting pictures of your builds! My lust gland is developing a hernia.

[gazzman]

Nice one DB acquiring toys and graduating to tool school certainly lowers the expletive factor
Build update got myself a fret file and fashioned up a crowning tool by filing a groove in an off cut of timber which worked surprisingly well since when I used the file the frets were looking a bit rough
Also the project supervisor can be seen checking out the project :)
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/m5w6z-image.jpg
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[gazzman]

Coupla more pics
Gazzman
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/53ain-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/686p6-image.jpg

[dingobass]

Nice one Gazz, the old groove inna chunk of tree works really well for crowning frets.

Glad to know that I am not the only one with a workshop supervisor :)
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/3s820-IMG_1707.JPG

[gazzman]

Yeh DB good to have a supervisor in case anything catastrophic happens with. the build :)

[gavinturner]

This is one beautiful Tele gazz. Looking forward to seeing it all assembled!

cheers,
Gav.

[gazzman]

Wait no more Gav
Job Done (you gotta love an extra long weekend)
I was surprised how smoothly it went with aligning the neck/bridge and setting up the action
As DB mantra goes taking your time and attention to detail is the way to go (sorta like meditation via guitar building)
Really happy with the tone and sustain and the over all feel of the axe and looking forward to playing it in

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fil9w-012.JPG

[gazzman]

Ive posted photos seperately as had probs doing them 3 at a time
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/53jw6-015.JPG
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[gazzman]

While I was at it made the new toy a jarrah guitar stand
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/dl314-018.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/9hxcs-019.JPG

[gazzman]

Its great to have a new toy but there is mixed feelings about finishing the build because it was such good fun!
It also forced me to learn more about wiring set ups and oh yeh that sanding is good for the soul.(Ill miss the aroma of saw dust in the late afternoon)
I guess this means there will be another build down the track
Cheers
Gazzman
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[wokkaboy]

nice build Gazza, love the Gazzacaster headstock logo.
Have you stained the fingerboard ? looks a bit more yellow than the maple colour.
Nice setting you took your photos from.
Is that a home made guitar stand ? looks cool

[gazzman]

Thanks Wokka
I used the ageing neck stain on the finger board and then some Dr Dux axe wax
Get to show off to the boys tomorrow night at the weekly jam in the shed
The guitar stand is a homey from some jarrah floor board off cuts that I ripped down
Yeh I'm lucky enough to live in those surroundings
Very musically inspiring
Cheers and good jamming
Gazz

[Brendan]

Great job Gazza - it's looking mighty sweet - looking forward to seeing your next build!