I agree - that colour with the white pickguard and ashtray cover oozes class.
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I agree - that colour with the white pickguard and ashtray cover oozes class.
Thanks for all the kind words guys. Pouring rain here today so not much going on finishing wise. I've started looking around for pickups etc. Not really sure what I'm after... I think now that I'm using the pick guard I'll go back to a lipstick in the bridge.
These are pretty tempting
https://www.pitbullguitars.com/shop/...tl-style-kits/
Good choice and great value at that price.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
I have the same set in my Swampcaster and they sound great.
First sealing coat of clear on. Couple of small boo boos that will sand out and its shown up a few small marks, but it actually looks really nice. I think it will look great with a bit more clear built up on it.
This one is really for me to bash around on so I'm taking a bit more of a relaxed approach. I can see another one being done at some point closer to the original concept of this build diary.
https://i.imgur.com/hOWQlHcl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BDzX5bpl.jpg
I reckon I'll be getting the bridge Tonerider.Quote:
Originally Posted by wazkelly
Edit:
BTW Great colour choice...my Squier is currently yellow....for now.
cheers, Mark.
Anyway, I'm happy to hear comments and constructive criticism. This is something that needs a pretty broad appeal so I'm interested in your thoughts. Fire away.[/QUOTE]
I actually immediately thought it was far better than the traditional headstock shape.
It has much more gesture and movement in it; like a form from nature—a bird’s head or something—that has evolved to be streamlined and highly functional.
It’s really impressive to take something that many would already describe as “perfect” and add more to it—like inventing a better mousetrap.
I actually immediately thought it was far better than the traditional headstock shape.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gill
It has much more gesture and movement in it; like a form from nature—a bird’s head or something—that has evolved to be streamlined and highly functional.
It’s really impressive to take something that many would already describe as “perfect” and add more to it—like inventing a better mousetrap.[/QUOTE]
The headstock, that is...
Thanks for the positive words Mark. It was a collaborative effort with the Pitbull brains trust and was based of a sketch (by Dingobass I think?) so I can't take all the credit. It was surprisingly difficult to find just the right balance in the curves.
I've just made a start on the neck this afternoon. I do like the end result on the headstock. I'm looking forward to seeing it on the guitar.
The 'bevel' on the high 'E' side is still a bit concerning. It looks like an accident in the factory when filing off the ends of the frets. I'll post some better pics a bit later.
Little bit more tinkering.
I made up the custom grovers with left over black components I had.
https://i.imgur.com/tiXnaqml.jpg?1
I've been trying to clean up some dodgeyness around the fret markers. It doesn't look amazing but I can live with it. Maybe I'll put some custom markers in later ondown the track.
https://i.imgur.com/rN1ZLgul.jpg
I've also done a few more coats of clear on the body. Not much else exciting happening.
Headstock decal on. I've been printing out extras and potential names when making the other waterslide decals so I already had this one. Suits nicely.
https://i.imgur.com/1VMTsBOl.jpg
I'm an ultra purist so..... I really like it
its a slippery road trying to come up with a name that's not cheesy i wasted 10 sheets of water slide paper still haven't come up with one, just about all mine builds still don't have decals yet, got some new sheets which have been sitting on the fridge for about 6 months lol what yellow stain did you use Sonic? been playing around with some red RIT dye today just finished shooting the 1st round of clear on it ill post some pics on my build diary in a day or so had a play with different strengths and methods got the box powder one doesn't look too shabby and a lot easier than COB which isn't easy to shoot evenly if don't a good technique with the gunQuote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
It's just Feast Watson Golden Teak. I already had some so I thought I'd give it a go.
The naming/branding is kind of what I do as part of my day job. But I know what you mean. I just try and keep it fun. The last couple have changed as the build has gone on so I'm probably going to stop naming them before I start:)....
I guess it's all down to personal taste eh?
I'm not keen on the large font headstock decals, but I wasn't keen on the recent obsession with
car makers to super-size the bonnet badge. Made 'em look 'clown-ish' in my view.
cheers, Mark.
True of cars and guitars in my experience. I dunno, its just my design style. I've always been into that bold 70's design look.. there might even be some stripes on this one....Quote:
Originally Posted by king casey
Few more coats of clear on the neck and body. I did a light rub back on the body- this stuff is hard as rocks! Cutting and polishing will be interesting - It's going to be durable at least :)
Nice shine building up and the grain looks great. Certainly heading more to orange, but I don't mind.
https://i.imgur.com/f3hSDgDl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/w3zTSe4l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5Cd4Kpll.jpg
It's looking really nice id be happy with that. I like the name and style you have done the decal in. Nice work Sonic
Loving that colour. Looks so much like DT Coolangatta Gold.
Good headstock logo too. Know what you mean about all the pain you go through coming up with a name and then searching for the right font and going through all the sizing issues to make it fit, look balanced, and not end up covered too much by strings and/or string retainer trees.
Been a while between updates, too much other stuff going on at the moment.
Anyway, after waiting for the clears to dry and get really hard I decided to have a go at cutting and polishing today.
Fail.
Turns out the Cabots Polyurethane does not like to be cut and polished.
Bit hard to really see in the photo, but as I'm sanding and polishing, rather than the various layers being blended into one nice mirror finish, you can see every edge where one layer has broken through to the next. So even though its flat, you can still make out the orange peel of the original finish at certain angles. I think it has something to do with the gloss effect of the product. I think I'll just clean all the polish off and give it a sand and then try and lay down a really good finishing coat and then leave it alone. It is super hard, it was a bugger to wet and dry, so should be reasonable if I can spray without any runs. It definitely goes on differently to automotive acrylic.
https://i.imgur.com/ri2UzbWl.jpg
I put another clear on and it looks much better. I managed to some how put a mark on the top horn area... no idea how.
I'm not really that bothered. This one is definitely for me, so its going to get knocked around and covered in stickers anyway.
you can cut poly Sonic but use the same rules as you would attack 2k, they come up ok
Yeah, maybe with a bit more patience, elbow grease and buffing pads, but it just didn't 'feel' right and didn't look like it was going to resolve evenly.
The topcoat has come up pretty well anyway. Very slight orange peel that I can live with, a few small marks but overall looks good.
I'm trying to get this one to the stage where I can put the neck on and chuck it in the rack while I work on some other stuff. I still don't have any pickups or electronics for it so it's a while away from completion.
I'm glad I tried the poly, it was worth it from a learning perspective. I was considering using it on the steam punker as it will have a natural wood finish look, but I'm not sure now.
https://i.imgur.com/MYXq0xTl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8UnMknWl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/C7h34P5l.jpg
Looks good in those shots.
Honestly I'm just being a bit of a perfectionist. It's perfectly acceptable, especially for a home build.
I mostly just want a guitar with a single coil in the bridge that plays nicely.
I'm happy with how the belly cut and heel mod has come up. The natural finish is a bit different for me, but I quite like it. I'm seeing it as a nice counterpoint to the shoe gazer.
Just caught up but following with interest as im hoping the tele will be my next project. BTW you do awesome logos!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
Cheers mate. People are welcome to PM if they want any help with that stuff. The TL-1 kits are great. Very simple, great bang for buck and so much scope for making it your own.
Little bit more progress. Neck is on- excuse the instagram filter..... but the grain does look really nice.
https://i.imgur.com/m3nocmol.jpg
The white pick guard doesn't actually fit very nicely so I'm going back to the plan of using one of the spare hum buckers I have lying around. Of course there isn't enough meat for the ring to screw into, so I've lopped up some down down and glued it in to assist there.
https://i.imgur.com/HHvEV9Kl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VnIUsgGl.jpg
Tuners are in, but no screw holes drilled yet. Really digging the custom chrome/black combo, I'll be doing that again.
https://i.imgur.com/a58puwzl.jpg
Definitely scored a good bit of basswood timber on that kit Sonic. Grain on the back looks awesome with the golden stain colour.
Cheers, Waz.
Welp I dun goofed. Somehow I've drilled my bridge holes approx 1mm-1.5 mm off centre. I was probably a bit cavalier when I did it originally. Good news is the neck is nice and straight. It isn't perfect fit in the pocket, but this isn't a matched body/neck set, it's the prototype neck and a random body.
The correct centre is now right on the edge of the exisiting holes. What's best practice for plugging and drilling - fill it with epoxy or small dowel and wood glue?
https://i.imgur.com/QB6HQ1rl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bA27ADcl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/UITseT3l.jpg
Otherwise I'm happy with how its coming together. I'm using a lot of left over bits and pieces, its a true 'parts' caster. I did buy a control plate, and a switch. The switch knob is off my old Vailants heater controls - suits perfectly :)
EDIT.. GAH.. looks like the control plate is slightly crooked as well....sigh.
That looks great!
I have used pva and matches shoved in the holes and cut off st the top level. Works for me, the pva gives it plenty of grip when it goes off.
Oh that's not a bad idea. I might use a skewer as the holes are a bit larger than toothpick size now.
Bamboo skewers is the biz.
Love that finish Sonic. Good luck with the minor tweaks required to complete this one.
Cheers Djefster, yeah I'm fairly happy with the finish. You can see the slight orange peel in this shot, but its really not very noticeable. It's also unpolished, so the degree of depth and shine out of the can is really good. I think with a bit more practice I could get a better result, but this will do. There are a number of minor imperfections in this build so I'm not to precious about it.
Had good success plugging the mis drilled holes with skewers, strings now run evenly down the neck. I was a bit slack with pics, but this is where I'm at. I just need a bridge pickup and a jack plate and I can wire it up and get back to the Kraken/Steampunk bass.
https://i.imgur.com/CPy3wUsl.jpg
that finish looks lovely - like you have cut a piece out of a nice table :)
Heh, it does a bit. Definitely a bit different for me, although it has turned out not a dissimilar colour to my hagstrom, I was trying to expand the colour palette a bit. I guess at least sonically it will fill a slot in the line up.
Tonerider Bridge PU and a few bits and bobs to finish now ordered. You forget how many little things the kit packs come with, string trees, strap buttons etc etc.....
looks fantastic Sonic, real nice!
Bahahahahahaha!! This guy^ 😂😂🤣Quote:
Originally Posted by Andyxlh
love your work Andy!
The test run...
Attachment 25752
i have just peed myself.. that’s a scream🤣🤣😂👏🏾 Well played Weirdy!!Quote:
Originally Posted by WeirdBits
Lol *eyes 100 year old oak table in dining room*
Ooh, that's good...........Quote:
Originally Posted by WeirdBits