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gavinturner
21-11-2014, 01:31 PM
hi guys,

I got this non-pitbull kit a few months ago now from a (it turns out) dis-reputable chinese manufacturer. It was meant to have an ash body with spalted maple cap and binding. That's not what I got, but what I ended up with is still not too bad. I *think* the body is ash, and instead of a piece of ply, the top of the guitar looks like the same piece of wood as the bottom (just cut off, holowed out and re-glued). I think it'll play nicely when all is said and done.

Anyway, I finally got around to ordering some hardware for it and the postie dropped it off today. With a limited budget, I went all GFS this time around. I thought I'd give their Tele X-Trem temelo system a try, as well as a roller bride and roller string trees. I also ordered a set of Mean 90 pickups - they should give it some real rock grunt - at least that's what I am hoping.

457

458

459

460

The wood is quite dark and I'm stumped trying to dream up the perfect finish. I really want the grain to stand right out.

Any suggestions guys?

cheers,
Gav.

stan
21-11-2014, 02:15 PM
cool looking kit Gav.
Perhaps try what you would for a flamed top - bring out the grain with black, or something dark, sand it back then stain it.

What do you think of the GFS trem?

WeirdBits
21-11-2014, 02:26 PM
The colour almost looks like the Alder in the PBG kits. but the grain is notably different. I wonder how it would look if you gave it a wash of an intense really dark brown stain to highlight the grain even more, sanded back, and then used a lighter/less intense brown/walnut. That may give you something like the brown/walnut colouring we've seen on a few Ash IB-5's.

vh2580
21-11-2014, 02:34 PM
Interesting grain in it. looks a bit like a cut and polished piece of stone. Is it a really tight grain?
You always wish that you had an offcut that you could experiment with.

gavinturner
21-11-2014, 05:05 PM
Thanks for the suggestions guys. @Tony - yeah it is quite tight grain which doesn't really agree with the Ash hypothesis. @Wierdy - yes I was considering something like this. Just not sure about walnut brown. I know the colour you mean, but I'm not sure I could replicate it. Maybe an amber and medium brown mix? Grain picked up with tobacco? Hmm... @Stan - the GFS trem looks good. If you believe their marketing then it's meant to be much smoother than the Bigsby, much better for staying in tune and much easier to string up. We'll see I guess!

cheers,
Gav.

Rob L
04-01-2015, 09:12 AM
Being a Tele lover....YES!!!!

Scott J.
04-01-2015, 10:50 AM
Colour Suggestions? ... hmm, straight of the bat, I'd thought a "dark brown-thru-to-golden yellow" sunburst and keeping the neck & head stock in clear might suit it just fine

gavinturner
25-03-2015, 01:38 PM
hi guys,

thanks for the colour suggestions! in the end i went with my gut and opted for a seafoam green. you can't have too many seafoam telecasters can you?? i just can't get enough of it. anyway. with the decision made, today i got the first coat of colour on to the body.

she's looking good i think!
cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
25-03-2015, 01:55 PM
seafoam looks good Gav but I really liked the dark grain on this kit. Oh well as you say can't have enough seafoam axes !

gavinturner
25-03-2015, 02:11 PM
Thanks @Wokks. Yeah I started sanding and found that the factory had already sealed the grain with some kind of vinyl sealer. I just couldn't face dying the bugger with the worry about whether I'd gotten rid of it all. Just a solid colour instead. And what a colour! ;)

cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
25-03-2015, 02:13 PM
ah ok fair enough Gav, thanks for the background for the decision. Everyone has had to sand back enough builds to have to do it again !
Should be a very cool axe with your GFS upgrades. Was the headstock pre-cut ?

gavinturner
25-03-2015, 02:36 PM
Yep pre-cut with a rosewood fretboard. Would have preferred maple but whatever. I have already finished the neck and headstock in vintage amber and it's looking and feeling pretty awesome ;).

cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
25-03-2015, 02:42 PM
good one Gav, rosewood fingerboard always goes good with seafoam. If the neck feels good you are on the way to having a sweet sounding and playing axe

Nickosaurus
25-03-2015, 03:04 PM
You already know how I feel about seafoam green :D

andrewdosborne
25-03-2015, 05:02 PM
Nice one, love the seafoam green!

Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk

stan
25-03-2015, 05:10 PM
looking cool Gav

robin
25-03-2015, 05:42 PM
I like it Gav. This is going to look so sweet.

rob

gavinturner
25-03-2015, 06:03 PM
@wokks, @nick, @andrew, @stan - thanks guys. Trying to look for suitable embellishments, but I'm liking the solid colour as is anyway..

cheers,
Gav.

Fretworn
26-03-2015, 10:16 AM
Personally I prefer Surf Green, like the old Jeff Beck Strats. But each to his own. I'm sure it will end up looking great though.

maxaxe
26-03-2015, 11:06 AM
Skegheads & guitarheads - ya gotta love 'em . . .
You are under scrutiny Gav.

Nickosaurus
26-03-2015, 12:52 PM
You keeping the black guard or going for a white/mint one? :)

gavinturner
26-03-2015, 01:21 PM
White @nick. Definitely white! It's a must with seafoam IMHO.

cheers,
Gav.

gavinturner
26-03-2015, 02:40 PM
@fretty, yes I love that colour too. Even more pale than the seafoam green I'm creating with the MTN94 luminous green. Mine does look a little darker in the photo than it actually is in real life, but still it's darker than jeffs..

2475

cheers,
Gav.

stan
26-03-2015, 03:01 PM
needs a racing stripe...

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/stratman89/SurfGreenStratWhiteStripesRosewood.jpg

http://i25.tinypic.com/2hoijwi.jpg

Nickosaurus
26-03-2015, 03:48 PM
blasphemy Stan. :p

stan
26-03-2015, 05:30 PM
blasphemy Stan. :p


haha, it's a known fact stripes make all things faster, improve tone and increase sustain

gavinturner
26-03-2015, 05:55 PM
Funny you should say that @stan. I was looking for viable designs yesterday on google. Alas I didn't find one i liked.

cheers,
Gav.

stan
26-03-2015, 06:24 PM
surf green alone will be pretty good

keloooe
26-03-2015, 07:08 PM
A racing stripe will not help your playing abilities, I had one on the LP and it didnt work :D
Still, SFG suits the build IMO, stripe or no stripe!

stan
26-03-2015, 07:14 PM
It does so Callum, and it improved your tone as well. You are far better off for the stripe...

Fretworn
27-03-2015, 10:13 AM
Racing stripes only improve speed, but at the expense of tone. Ask Billy Gibbons.

stan
27-03-2015, 05:45 PM
Billy uses Tone Fur

gavinturner
27-03-2015, 07:19 PM
LOL stan :)

gavinturner
31-03-2015, 01:29 PM
Though I can't convince myself that a racing stripe in the answer, I do agree with @stan and others that the solid colour needs something. I am considering adding hot rod flames in a shade just lighter than the rest of the body. Here's my concept drawings:

2533

2534

2535


Thoughts?

cheers,
Gav.

Nickosaurus
31-03-2015, 05:13 PM
I personally find flames a bit tacky but different strokes hey. I understnad the hot rod thing though!

What about a white geometric or something? To contrast the blue?

andrewdosborne
31-03-2015, 05:28 PM
Gav, I see where your coming from with the flame idea. A shade lighter would keep it quite subtle but interesting enough to the eye as a visual feature.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

keloooe
31-03-2015, 05:39 PM
Ok, this is mine if you go ahead!

The flames remind me of the BC-1 you did Gav!

gavinturner
31-03-2015, 06:59 PM
Thanks for the feedback guys! I'm still pondering.

cheers,
Gav.

kimball492
31-03-2015, 07:19 PM
What about rolling waves instead of flames being as though it's seafoam green

gavinturner
31-03-2015, 07:27 PM
What about rolling waves instead of flames being as though it's seafoam green

Hmm, you might be on to something there! Might have a dig around and see what I can find / come up with.

cheers,
Gav.

gavinturner
08-04-2015, 09:21 AM
OK I went back to my roots. Couldn't find a good waves reference without being a god on the airbrush or painting like Hokasai (now that would be a nice idea - the great wave, but it's been done to death). Hot rod flames it is. Got the frisket out and got it done. I'm pretty happy with the results.

cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
08-04-2015, 09:28 AM
looks awesome Gav, well done bro, whats the darker colour ?

gavinturner
08-04-2015, 09:30 AM
Thanks Wokks. The background colour is MTN94 Bali Green. Looks more blue in the photo than it really is.

cheers,
Gav.

gavinturner
08-04-2015, 11:34 AM
Quick hardware peek..

2626

cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
08-04-2015, 11:47 AM
looking sweet Gav with the hardware, whats the config a 3 way switch and 1 volume or is that a control cavity which will have a pickguard over it ?
look forward to hearing your first wound pickups too bro !

keloooe
08-04-2015, 12:11 PM
My jaw dropped at that finish mate, you always nail flames!
@Woks I think it's 3-way switch and master volume

gavinturner
08-04-2015, 12:12 PM
Thanks for the kind words guys :). Yeah just a switch and volume wokks. Still waiting on some supplies for winding pickups..

cheers guys!
Gav.

stan
08-04-2015, 05:59 PM
that is just great Gav. The hot rod flames are really well done! You should do cars mate, they are that good

gavinturner
08-04-2015, 07:09 PM
Thanks stan. :)
It's a pretty simplistic approach, no airbrush skills unfortunately. It's ok for what it is.

cheers,
Gav.

keloooe
08-04-2015, 07:33 PM
Airbrush or no airbrush, it still is damn cool!

gavinturner
23-04-2015, 02:43 PM
hi guys, The clear coats are finally cured and I've started my cut and polish. Yet again the White Knight Acrylic is looking good! Given it one cut with Ultimate Compound. Will do another pass then on to the ScratchX2.0. Assembly beckons!! cheers, Gav.

wokkaboy
23-04-2015, 02:46 PM
looking nice and shiny Gav, so you got everything to bolt it together now bro ?
How much storm damage did you have Gav ?

gavinturner
23-04-2015, 03:25 PM
Thanks Woks. Yeah everything here and waiting for assembly . Still no electricity after 3 days, but I'm hopeful it won't go a week ; ). I've got about 5 trees down that will be needing the chainsaw, but other than that no house damage fortunately!

Cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
23-04-2015, 03:31 PM
nice one Gav, glad the house and man cave is ok. We take electricity for granted till you lose it, I could imagine 3 days without power would make life difficult. Hope you still got cold beer mate, otherwise drop into the naughty room !

Nickosaurus
23-04-2015, 03:51 PM
Looks great gav

stan
23-04-2015, 04:21 PM
nice work Gav!
Put those downed trees to use and cut them up for guitar bodies

gavinturner
23-04-2015, 07:40 PM
Thanks Nick & Stan. Stan the trees are too green and thin for guitar bodies, but will make good firewood next winter :).

cheers,
Gav.

stan
24-04-2015, 06:13 AM
lucky then: It saves you from building a drying shed!

gavinturner
25-04-2015, 02:42 PM
More assembly today. Neck, tremelo and bridge re-attached. The pickups are now lined up and screwed down. Next step: wiring and a new white pickguard...

cheers,
Gav.

andrewdosborne
25-04-2015, 04:32 PM
Coming along very nicely.

stan
25-04-2015, 06:35 PM
you have an eye for this Gav, very cool build

gavinturner
26-04-2015, 06:36 AM
@andrew, @stan - thanks guys :).

cheers,
Gav.

gavinturner
28-04-2015, 02:34 PM
hi guys,

Got the wiring finished today and the rest of the assembly. I gotta say, shaping pickguard material by hand really is the pits. Anyway she's together and making sweet noise. I admit, the pickguard could be better. The GFS Mean 90s sound pretty great and the semi-hollow body is beautiful and light. Here's a couple of pictures in the dusk half light. Maybe better ones tomorrow.

cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
28-04-2015, 02:39 PM
looks awesome Gav well done. The pickguard looks fine, maybe it didn't need a pickguard or is is covering a cavity ?

Bit late now the screws are drilled

we may need a sound demo buddy since its got DB's favourite brand of pups GFS !

gavinturner
28-04-2015, 02:46 PM
Thanks Wokks! Yeah she needed a pickguard to cover a cavity. The idiot that made the body put access under the pickguard rather than a control plate in the back which is what I asked for! Oh well. The pickguard does have that signature "Cabronita" look so I'm still happy that it's there.

cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
28-04-2015, 02:48 PM
yeah thought it was a strange place for a cavity I went back to page 1 to have a look. At least there's no covers on the back so the flames are complete.
You are only 54 posts off Overlord status buddy, not long to go !
Wish the PBG kits had a skunk stripe on the necks, they really look cool

robin
28-04-2015, 02:52 PM
Sweet Gav. Looks very nice and a great job on the colour and flames. Gotta love a "Cab". ;)

rob

keloooe
28-04-2015, 08:04 PM
Very, very nice!

gavinturner
28-04-2015, 08:48 PM
@rob & @callum - thanks guys! She needs some work on the neck still, but is great to play already.

cheers,
Gav.

gavinturner
05-05-2015, 02:11 PM
A few more final photos. I did a fret level and recrown on the weekend, and got the truss rod adjusted nicely. The action at the first fret is just a nat's chuff too high but she still plays really nicely. I had some reservations about this one, but now I reckon she's one of my best builds (IMHO). I can't put it down - so light, so twangy, so full of surf-abilly goodness. I gotta practice me some more rockabilly licks!

cheers,
Gav.

gavinturner
05-05-2015, 02:20 PM
a couple more..

cheers,
Gav.

pablopepper
05-05-2015, 02:33 PM
What a pearler. You've outdone yourself once again, Gav.

wokkaboy
05-05-2015, 02:35 PM
cracker build Gav, once you learn some rockabilly riffs we need to see a demo !

gavinturner
05-05-2015, 02:43 PM
@pabs, @wokka - thanks guys :). i better get practicing...

cheers,
Gav.

vh2580
05-05-2015, 02:54 PM
cracker of a build Gav.

keloooe
05-05-2015, 02:55 PM
Awwwww man that is so going to be stolen by me!

gavinturner
05-05-2015, 03:25 PM
@tony, @callum - thanks guys :).

cheers,
Gav.

andrewdosborne
05-05-2015, 03:40 PM
Another superb guitar Gav. How many do you have now, must be hard to choose between them all?

wokkaboy
05-05-2015, 03:42 PM
@Andrew he must have close to 15 finished guitars and a pile of about 5 or more unbuilt kits !

gavinturner
05-05-2015, 04:14 PM
Hey Andrew, I've got 3 "commercial" guitars and 14 finished kits. As wokka said, there's still 5 on the stack!
For some reason, as my collection grows my playing isn't getting any better! Hmm...

cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
05-05-2015, 04:16 PM
so that was a pretty good guess of mine then Gav !

stan
05-05-2015, 05:21 PM
very nice indeed Gav.
Make sure you dress up for the demo vid, and get that thing into GOTM

andrewdosborne
05-05-2015, 05:26 PM
I know where your coming from Gav, I find building even more satisfying than playing. I also have acquired a new distraction, a Yamaha flute (long story for the kids but I'm busy 'testing' it, think Focus - House of the King..!)

gavinturner
05-05-2015, 05:48 PM
Nice Andrew :). Thanks Stan. Unfortunately it was a special order from China not a PBG kit so no GOTM entry for this one. Wokka your estimate was *chillingly* accurate :) !!

cheers,
Gav.

keloooe
05-05-2015, 06:46 PM
Hey Andrew, I've got 3 "commercial" guitars and 14 finished kits. As wokka said, there's still 5 on the stack!
For some reason, as my collection grows my playing isn't getting any better! Hmm...

cheers,
Gav.

3 words: Needs more guitars!

gavinturner
05-05-2015, 06:54 PM
You are so right Callum! Thing is, I seriously can't stop. I think I have a problem... ;)

cheers,
Gav.

stan
06-05-2015, 05:36 AM
lucky for the others it's a special, you have a winner mate. How does the whammy hold up?

stan
06-05-2015, 05:37 AM
Time to start selling a few mate - the quality is there and you get to build more, win/win

gavinturner
06-05-2015, 05:48 AM
lucky for the others it's a special, you have a winner mate. How does the whammy hold up?

It's a GFS xTrem. I thought I'd give it a try as they are a lot cheaper than even the knock-off Bigsby. To be honest I like it. It is a little cheaply made but the action is really smooth and it's a snap to string it up. With the roller bridge and some roller string trees it doesn't seem to have any tuning issues either. Pretty impressed with it!

cheers,
Gav.

WeirdBits
06-05-2015, 11:35 AM
I was going to ask what you thought of the xTrem, good to know. The build looks great Gav, excellent result and just that little bit different as an added bonus.

gavinturner
06-05-2015, 12:54 PM
Thanks wierdy! Yeah the xTrem is pretty good. It's a little cheaply made TBH, but still does the job. If I could afford an official bigsby I would go that way but unfortunately I can't. Still, it works as advertised.

cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
06-05-2015, 01:07 PM
good one Gav
8 posts to go bro !