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I'm waiting for pickups to arrive. Not sure about the tuning machines...I think I may go with the ones provided in the kit, see how they perform. I've ordered a push-pull dial as I intend on splitting both humbuckers.
I've just had the machine shop at work mill a heavy piece of flat bar stock for fret-levelling, which is my next job, to sort the frets. Attachment 4149
While I wait for the pickups I'll shield the cavities, and install some hardware.
Update-it's coming together.
Attachment 4145
Attachment 4146
Attachment 4147
Everything is just sitting in place, need to ground bridge (thank you Gavin), sort out crowded neck p-up and trapeze bridge alignment.
Thinking about a black pearloid pick guard.
Moonflower pickups are in. Considerable work with Dremel tool and sanding drum. Copper shielded cavities.
Attachment 4224
https://goo.gl/photos/ZZGaDcBcBXEfJvgu7
Absolutely beautiful piece of work Moose!
awesome work Moose thats an absolute stunner
Thats got GOTM all over it Moose - looking fantastic.
Beautiful stuff there Moose!
Hope you have your therapy sessions booked....
You will need them after wireing this baby up :)
Thanks all, I can almost see the finish line. Electronics upgrades ordered today, need to sort out fretboard still...those are the biggies outstanding.
Looking for a supplier of custom waterslide decals, any ideas?
Cheers,
I know it's unnatural to fall in love with a guitar headstock.
Attachment 4297
Wiring begins with a scale template of the switch positions, wiring routes drawn and actual hardware installed in heavy card.
Attachment 4298
Actual wiring will be routed clear of the soundhole to try to hide it all.
Your patience and finesse is clearly better than mine. It looks great. I'm envious of the finish - I can't for the life of me get a high gloss finish.
Update:
Wiring is complete, the mass of wiring associated with splitting the humbuckers was impossible to hide from the f-holes, so I reverted to a bog-standard installation.
I have also been crafting the wooden shim required to align the trapeze-bridge on the irregular shape of the guitar. Note to anyone completing this kit in the future, you cannot mount the trapeze bridge without a shim. The metal tab will not "bend" to the shape required, you would have to construct a custom fitting and have it plated. The shim goes from 1mm to 6mm, and is shaped to be hidden underneath the mounting plate. I'll take photos.
Once the bridge is mounted, I'll level and dress the frets, finish the guitar off with strong keepers on the headstock, strap mounts, and the pickguard. Probably another few weeks before she'll be ready.
I bought a nice little Fender Mustang amp recently, picked it up for $101 NZD.
https://goo.gl/photos/rwW2TA12EwvcHTmt7
Getting very close.
wow Moose that looks stunning well done mate. It is clear now in the photo why a square hinge won't work on the trapeze hinge with the non symettrical rear end of this axe. Nice workaround that looks very neat. The gold hardware really goes well with the body colour too !
What size Mustang amp is it, a combo ?
Are you a kiwi Moose?
As already mentioned, this has GOTM written all over it, it oozes WOW!!! factor. Well done.
I had to show the guitar here as some might miss it otherwise and that would be a shame!
Canadian actually. Been here for a decade.
Hence the Moose 😀
ah ok Moose should have picked that up and Moosehead beer from Canada
just great stuff moose, very nice
Lovely stuff, Moose. Stunner.
Wow...fret-levelling takes some guts...I had a flat bar of steel machined true, stuck some 320 sandpaper on it and went to town on a flat neck with marked frets. By the time the lowest fret was kissed I had removed not an insignificant amount of material from the others....gave me the willies.
I've got a crowning file coming this week from Australia.
Nice work. It is a little disconcerting the first time you level but don't worry. By the tim you've re-crowned you wont be abe to see the difference. It really is the most important step in a great set up.
cheers,
Gav.
wow the Moose logo come out a treat Moose, is that vinyl or waterslide ?
Waterslide, not sure how durable it is...but I have 35 of them. 😀
no worries, I usually put some sort of clear coat over the decal logo to protect it
Looks Awesome! Nice work mate :-)
Sweet decal!
great logo Moose, looks cool
I'm going to struggle to stay focused...my next kit just arrived at the office...the TL-1 that I picked up at the weekend Anniversary Sale. I have BIG plans for the finish on the Telecaster....calm down...finish the first one mate...
Final work on the frets - after leveling and waiting for the crowning file to arrive, I've now crowned and polished them all. I then sorted out strong height, truss rod, pickup height, and intonation on the tune-o-matic bridge.
I'll make some more small adjustment before putting good strings on. SO close to being finished!!
Attachment 4963
Crowning
(big picture: https://goo.gl/photos/Fu7r21K9VMtGN7TJ9 )
Attachment 4964
After polishing
(big picture: https://goo.gl/photos/BJWBZUZBoZGof2Rj6 )