"Bladecatcher" DC Esquire

Hey thanks Gav seems to be going okay so far! Now I just need to get this binding channel cut properly then I can relax, it's gonna make or break this build...

Actually while I'm on the subject of binding channels if anyone out there has experience with this. I'd really like to add some Strat-esque body contours (tummy and forearm cut) but I could see the forearm cut posing a bit of difficulty when routing the binding channel. How do I make the router go downhill on that cut and still keep the channel square?
If it's gonna be too much of a headf*#k I'd sooner keep the top flat but I thought I'd at least throw it out there for the experts.
Cheers.

http://i.imgur.com/LaaoVv8.jpg

I would say skip the forearm bevel and stick to a flat top.

You really need a router table for that bargy

Yep no worries guys, flat top it is!

Pretty busy day on the sanding paper today, curvy and smooth :P
Fill a few gaps down the veneer edges and that's the back done.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/mh467-11.jpg

Oooo yeah... Lookin' smooth as, mate.

Keening up for more of this build.

That insert is very nicely done, top work Bargy

Great job. Looks like it came from the factory that way. It's going to look fantastic once you've "popped" it.

@ Brodie, fretty, Stan, Hey thanks for the feedback guys,

Anyway the bridge turned up today so I was able to verify my measurements, cut the bridge recess and bore some holes for the lugs.
The back of the body wasn't really speaking to me so I did a bit of re-shaping and cut some bevels in... now it's speaking to me :)
It's too bad the factory couldn't properly center the holes for the neck attachment, it wouldn't even be noticeable on a regular Tele body but in it's current form the neck plate is hanging right over on the bass side, I'm gonna have to make up a new one so it doesn't look so shit.
I gotta say I'm really diggin' the maple theme running the length of the guitar now, it feels alot more cohesive.
Next job...string through holes.

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/56x68-12.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/ftwf4-13.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/u2w3r-14.jpg

Damn, this is looking good.

Instead of cutting a new neck plate, wouldn't it be easier to dowel the holes and redrill correctly?

the shaping is making a big difference, spot on

Quote:

---

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from pablopepper on September 8, 2014, 19:31
Damn, this is looking good.

Instead of cutting a new neck plate, wouldn't it be easier to dowel the holes and redrill correctly?

---

Honestly the thought crossed my mind...right before I drilled new holes in the the quilt whilst thinking to myself "I can't be arsed fixing someone elses f#*kup", looking back in hindsight I probably should have just bitten the bullet and done it. Now that you've mentioned it it's gonna eat away at me until I make it right. Kinda wish I didn't drill that veneer now :P

Dude, won't the plate cover all of it anyway?

Yeah man, it'll be all good.

this is gonna be amazing, cant wait to see how it looks once the colour starts going on.

with my kit i noticed the neck holes were drilled a bit skewed as well though it all kind of centred up when i put the back plate on and screwed it all down.

having seen a couple of builds where other people have had to plug and refill the holes, might it be worth adam having a word with the factory about this? could even ask them to just not bother drilling those holes and leave it so you can drill them yourself when building the kit, cos if theyre not gonna get it right, im sure most people would rather do it themselves than have to fill them first then redrill?

I couldn't agree more man. You wouldn't think getting the holes drilled in the correct location would be so difficult considering they'd be using templates of some description. Like you say if they can't get it right don't bother at all, btw this goes for headtocks too.

coming along very nicely Barge, love the veneer on the back. Good luck with the binding, thats something I want to get into doing

Cheers Wokks, I was just checking the DHL tracking and my Stew Mac router bit and glue has left Adelaide so I should be cutting the binding by tomorrow with any luck so I'll let you know if I destroy a perfectly good guitar or not:-)
That other flush cut bit I ordered turned up today too so I can cut my pup cavities now too, it's actually a nice looking bit for the price.

http://i.imgur.com/HD7DKmC.jpg

Orr yeah... and a couple of cans of everyone's favorite lacquer :P
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/i5s8m-17.jpg

nice work Barge, I've heard that Behlen lacquer is good stuff. Where did you order that from ?

Quote:

---

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from wokkaboy on September 9, 2014, 13:00
nice work Barge, I've heard that Behlen lacquer is good stuff. Where did you order that from ?

---

These blokes...

http://www.guitaraust.com.au/

cheers Barge, might try some after I see the results you get

I used exactly the same stuff on the "Blacktop"

oh ok wicked Barge, thats enough proof for me its a winner product !
Was 2 cans enough for the blacktop ?

"Was 2 cans enough for the blacktop ?"
No...only coz I f#@ked up the black the first time round and had to redo the whole body. Ordinarily 2 cans should be shitloads.

So I got the "string through" holes bored with no drama. doweled and re-drilled the terrible factory holes on the neck plate (it turns out the factory drill them out of alignment to accommodate that bit of black plastic that fits under the neckplate...makes sense right?)
I chopped up the original bridge that ships with the kit and made up a little plate to house the back string ferrules, seems to work okay although the recess it's sitting in needs some squaring up (no biggie).
Decided to swap the 3x3 tuners that I incorrectly ordered and got the correct ones, I'm glad I did too.

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/57ecy-18.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/0p537-19.jpg

That string-thru plate will be interesting, I reckon it might add some chime or krrrrng to the end result. What sort of nut are you putting on it?

Quote:

---

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from WeirdBits on September 11, 2014, 10:48
That string-thru plate will be interesting, I reckon it might add some chime or krrrrng to the end result. What sort of nut are you putting on it?

---

Yeah not real sure yet, got any suggestions?

love the mods Barge and how you recycled the old bridge to make a string through plate. I can see another GOTM in the making !

What are you going to for the front side of the string-thru holes? You will need some form of ferrule so the strings don't dig into the face of the guitar.

Quote:

---

/<\\/p>[/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/]<\\/p>/Quote from WeirdBits on September 11, 2014, 10:48
That string-thru plate will be interesting, I reckon it might add some chime or krrrrng to the end result.

---

Just to add, I did consider the added resonance that might arise through the back end and to cut down any unwanted vibration or ringing I've 2 pak glued the ferrules to the plate, I'll then glue the plate to the body, and finally resin in with solid rivets, I guess I'll find out for sure once it's strung up and plugged in :P

@wokka, like I said to Gav earlier, I'd just be happy to make it over the finish line with this build, that'll do me fine.

@fretworn - I plan on using these badboys(see pic), I just didn't wanna press them in at this point.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/a70r7-20.jpg

sounds like a cool plan Barge

Cleaned up the recess for the back plate, it looks tidy now.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/5ce2l-21.jpg

Router bit, bearing and glue turned up from Stew Mac today so had a crack at cutting the binding channel.
Couldn't be happier really for a first attempt, nothing went wrong anyway so that's always a bonus :D
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/w9rmv-22.jpg

This is straight after the tape came off so no filling or scraping as of yet, f@#king stoked with the result, now I can relax. Just have to rout the humbucker cavity then I can think about paint, happy days.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/t3763-23.jpg

looking really good Nigel, top work with the binding.
That ferrule plate is very slick too - some nice BL custom touches as always

Hehe thanks Stan, isn't it fun when things actually work out?

Looks fantastic Bargie. String through is awesome.

binding is gonna look so good once its all cleaned up!

Quote:

---

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from BenWA on September 13, 2014, 11:05
binding is gonna look so good once its all cleaned up!

---

Hey cheers Gav:-)
@ben - yeah it came up surprisingly well, it took a bit of filling on top due to the rolled edge they put on in the factory but you'd never know once the paint goes over top.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...9/3p9ni-24.jpg