Yes great looking job, im doing a replica as well at the moment but i couldnt bring myself to use chisels, your a very brave manQuote:
Originally Posted by CascadiaGuitarGeek
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Yes great looking job, im doing a replica as well at the moment but i couldnt bring myself to use chisels, your a very brave manQuote:
Originally Posted by CascadiaGuitarGeek
Progress has stalled for the past month unfortunately as life has been rather hectic lately and I haven't had too much free time for hobbies. I need to carve out a bit of space to put the final push on for this build though as I would like to get it done this calendar year. Basically I think I just have to epoxy the pickup covers and faux pole pieces together, paint the iron cross, then install the hardware and electronics and set it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by TangoWhiskey28
How are you doing your build? Kit, scratch, modifying and existing guitar?
I was inspired by the 'why isn't anyone posting anything' thread from yesterday and carved out some time to epoxy the pickups, pole pieces, and covers together. I just need to scuff up the pole pieces a little, but overall I think it turned out looking pretty good. I now have a set of EMG 81/60s that look like vintage humbuckers. Hopefully they still work after all that!
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I picked up a Devlin DS-400 and began modifying it last week. Just got body wear and aging done Monday. Last night installed the EMG Het Set and Sperzel locking tuners. All that’s left is the Iron Cross and Stripe. Can’t wait to finish it up!!!
Nice. It sounds like your project is going significantly faster!Quote:
Originally Posted by TangoWhiskey28
I decided to try and keep some momentum going on this project so I installed the Sperzel locking tuners, hammered the bridge and tailpiece studs into the body, and did a mock up with some of the hardware to see how things are looking.
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A few more pieces added to the mock up. I discovered an additional roadblock though as none of my pickup mounting screws fit the EMG pickups, because of course American made ones are a different thread than the ones from the Chinese kit. I'm really liking how things are looking though.
Attachment 23529
That looks wonderful! I love pre worn guitars, my Frankenstein fits like comfy shoes!!! On my LP model I changed out the nut for a bone one which made a real difference to the tone, which frankly amazed me. Have you done that? Might be worth it.
BYW, how did you get the headstock binding?
I discovered the thread difference putting together my son's geetar. I think I found an eBay seller that sold pickup screws to suit the EMG mounts. Only a couple of dollars, but a week waiting, if I remember correctly (and I try to forget that guitar...)
@Andyxlh I do have a bone nut, but I haven't changed it out yet. For the binding, do you mean how did I get a kit with BWBWB binding or how did I get the colour?
@Swanny Yeah the fix to my problem is $2.52 and however long it takes for it to clear customs away from me. I'm just annoyed I didn't catch that one earlier.
Follow up on the headstock binding: I found this kit from a supplier (referenced at the beginning of the thread) who used to have kits that took a rather libertine approach to intellectual property rights and was offering one that had a certain trademarked headstock shape with the 'custom' style binding. Needless to say they don't offer such things anymore.
If I were starting this project from scratch and had to modify a blank headstock I would probably either brush up on my router skills and shape and bind the headstock on my own, or be lazier and buy an overlay.
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Ahh I see! The headstock binding looks great. Many years ago I was a highway engineer and I was working on a lane way behind a venue. Out of the dumpster I picked a jap Les Paul copy which had been smashed on stage the night before. My dad is a carpenter so we fixed it all back together and I played it for a while before I gave it to a mate. That copy had the binding and the headstock shape correct, I can't remember the brand but it would have to have been an illegal copy for sure.
It could have been an Orville. They actually had the rights to use Gibson trademarks in Japan so it may have been legal.
Work is slowly continuing on this project. I've got the vinyl racing stripes on and I'm pretty happy with the result. Now I just need to find a place to paint the iron cross that isn't frozen.
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I am loving this build thread! It's made me think my next project might have to be a tribute!
One question...what is the lower toggle switch for?
Thanks Ik&! I'm enjoying the challenge of trying to recreate one of my favorite guitars. I highly recommend it. If nothing else it's forced me to pick up some new skills that I wouldn't necessarily have done on a regular kit build.
The lower toggle switch is the actual toggle switch. The upper one isn't connected to anything. Hetfield doesn't like the upper switch location for live playing. I forgot to mention anything about the electronics so here is a photo of the control cavity with all the fancy EMG stuff.
Attachment 23757
nice stripes!
Thanks Andy. I had lots of extra vinyl stripe tape but managed to nail it on the first go around. Keeping it relatively straight on the carved top was a bit challenging.
Tonight I decided to change out the stock black plastic nut for a bone nut. It actually took a pretty good whack with a hammer to knock the old one off. I scraped off the remnants of the glue and put the new one on with a bit of wood glue. Then on went the clamp.
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For some reason I thought you'd finished the guitar. I suppose frozenness has put a halt to progress?
I wish! The deep freeze has only really affected my ability to paint the iron cross. The rest of my delays I have to blame on craziness at work, relationship issues, puppy raising, and general Christmas season overload.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Barden
Yes the silly season laid both boots in this year, with Gusto. I hope it settles down for you through January mate and that the other issues resolve themselves.Quote:
Originally Posted by CascadiaGuitarGeek
Edit:Will the pup be getting a highlight in the Dogs of PBG thread?
This monster lives...
After too long a hiatus from guitar projects I've finally managed to scrounge a bit of time, replacement fasteners, and favorable weather to reach the finish line on this one. It's been a long time coming but the end is in fact near.
The iron cross turned out pretty well. After cutting out the shape and carving the edges from a pickguard blank, I submerged it in very hot water for about 15 seconds and then pressed it against the guitar body to match the contours of the carved top. Then I layered on the spray paint as follows: hammered steel, satin clear, brilliant gold (sanded around the edges for a worn look), then more satin clear.
The frets are now leveled and polished. I just want to roll the edge of the fretboard binding then I think I'm good to go.
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Looks great!
I've been looking forward to an update on this one, looks great!
Thanks guys! It's finally alive. Last night I filed the nut slots and threw some strings on to start the set up. But when I plugged it in to tune it up my heart skipped a beat when no sound came out. Suddenly I worried that my butchering of the EMGs went too far. I pulled off the cavity cover on the back and was relieved to realize that I hadn't put in the 9V battery yet so in it went and viola, it worked!
I adjusted the neck relief and got the bridge height roughly in place, but stopped half way through the set up because I was having too much fun just playing it. The rest will wait but hopefully next week I can do the rest and put up a sound demo. Here's how it's looking now, just need to put the truss rod cover back on.
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Very well done. It is a most excellent replica. Can't wait for the sound demo.
Fully sick! That absolutely looks the business CGG, great job!
Better late than never I guess... here is the long awaited sound demo. Obligatory apology for my less than stellar playing and recording rig.
https://youtu.be/VoxIkcr6Sgk
Back to the front!
Sounds great! Don't apologise for doing justice to great songs.
Thanks G-Axe!
Looks great sounds great too, nice work
:cool:
Hey man been following this build for a while, love what you’ve done! I’ve been wanting to build a relic like this myself, I just got a quick question, I see you used wipe on poly tinted with amber to get the aged yellow look on the binding, did you have to do anything to the binding before wiping it on? Like a light sand, Or did you just apply the poly right over the binding. I read somewhere that poly doesn’t hold to binding typically well and can flake off? Any tips on applying the poly tinted over binding?