STA-1M Maple fretboard begins.

That is one sweet looking caster! You've inspired me to build one for my boy.. Gold HW looks great with that colour!

1 word - Jealous. ;) Nah, seriously, well done.

Awesome. Came out great.

Thanks guys.....I am happy with the outcome.....headstock needs some work...next one will be better. :)

I have now totally finished this build. Have redone the colour twice on the body. Have redone the fretboard 3 times to try and get all the glue off....got all I can see.

1. PB ST 1 kit with maple fretboard. Colortone stains of my mix on the body. Colortone vintage amber and Aussie U-Beaut yellow mix on the fretboard and neck.
2. PB Gold ST upgrade kit.
3. PB white pearloid pickguard.
4. TONE RIDER Classic Blues strat pickup set...from PB.
5. Gotoh pots all round. Orange drop caps on both Tone pots. (Should have got a gold coloured switchcraft jack I think. But works fine now.) All cavities shielded with stick on copper tape.
6. Treble bleed circuit from DB...works great.

Naughty Oil all over for a few coats. Then wipe on poly (oil base) four coats to finish. Has Cured for a month and has now had auto cleanser, body wax and then finally Dr Ducks Ax Wax all over.

The fretboard was left natural until the end.....then a good wipe and buff over with Dingo Wax. Then it also got a good wipe over with Dr Ducks.

I could not help myself but to have a little play.....wow...the whole package sounds so gritty and bluesy. I do hope my son likes his xmas pressie.

I got him a hard case, Rocksmith 2014 and a real tone cable, built the guitar and hope he loves it as much as I enjoyed building.

Onto the next challenge. :)

looks great

Looks excellent Ozz. I think you're son will be stoked with this present in 29 sleeps!

Good job Ozz, perseverance with the finish has paid off. Lovely looking axe and no doubt sounds great/plays well. I think your son will be one very happy chappy!

Frikkin sweet! Best Chrissie present ever if you ask me! Top job, Ozz.

That looks fantastic, what a great xmas present.

Those 'real tone' cables have a rep as being pretty fragile, so as a precaution you may want to grab a 6.5mm to 6.5mm socket (I use one like this, stereo is ok with two mono leads) and connect a guitar lead to it. That'll give you more length to the cable and help to minimise the real tone being wrenched around. A true bypass pedal can also work as the joiner if you want.