Rev's MK-2 Build

Hi all!

My wife here in the US picked up this kit for me recently as she knows I'm an avid modder of my instruments. The only catch was that I don't get to start work on it until the New Year, heh. But I did have a chance to do a quick inventory check and test fit.

Anyway, I wouldn't call myself a luthier by any standards, but I built my first guitar as a teenager (twenty years ago) and still use it today - its essentially a Mockingbird with a Tele-style bridge, I wasn't interested in a Floyd at the time. Since then I've gutted and rebuilt several guitars (one particular favorite has an LED scanner bar between its pickups that runs off a rechargeable battery pack in my pocket), but this MK-2 isn't going to have such flashy mods. Its been a couple of decades since I built one from base parts, but I think I can recall the process... except maybe the fret levelling.

This one's going to be finished in a bright, solid "Beach Yellow". I've never owned a guitar with a mini-humbucker, but I'm interested to see how it turns out. Right now the only addition I've made to the kit parts is that I picked up a chrome cover for the single-coil at the bridge, since the included white cover won't match the finish or the pickguard. Gathered up the tools and supplied I knew I'd need and put them in a separate box waiting for January 1st.

Can't wait!

I did stumble across Gavin's blog from when he built his MK-2. Can only hope mine ends up similarly functional.

welcome Rev, sounds like a good start to the New Year

I admit that on the days when I come home earlier than my wife does, I'm occasionally tempted to go sand the thing just a little... nope, have to wait another two months!

Just like a kid waiting for Xmas. Not long to go now.

Well, we're just a few weeks away before I get to start. Ive managed to keep my hands off the thing despite temptation, ha. Now my big worry is that in the rush to get productive, Ill forget something important!

The important thing is not to rush. You're doing OK so far!

Ha!
Yes, I guess I'm getting a lesson in the necessary patience.

Well, while I am waiting, guess I should check my priorities. Kit is already sanded to 220 grit, correct? So I need to sand it down another grade or two, check and mark the neck pocket angle... then start the finishing process?

Hey Rev,

what you also want to do is to check for any serious spindle sander marks, these are usually mainly on the edges parallel to the front and rear faces.

Normally you can see these if you wipe down with gum turpentine or a lightly dampened cloth. You need to establish the grain direction of the timber and then sand evenly in that direction. Don't go back and forth, just sand in the one direction with the grain until the marks are removed. You may need to start as low as 120 grit at first, then step up grade by grade insuring that you don't see those marks.

You'll know they're still there when you switch up as it will become obvious almost straight away. It really is a tedious exercise in patience!

Your plan sounds cool, you might not have to be so stringent with sanding with your solid yellow, but its probable still a good idea. Haven't seen many builds in yellow from memory so looking forward to see where you end up with it, best of luck with resisting temptation.

Only one more sleep to go.