Gavs ES-2T Florentine

hi guys,

Just a small update from me before I head OS for work. Finally got the fret's levelled and re-crowned on the weekend and the fretboard treated with Dr Ducks. It's looking really nice now. 8-)

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...6-52_small.jpg

To level the frets this time around, i used a combination of my aluminium straight edge and a radiused (wooden) sanding block from Stewmac. In the past I'm not sure how close I kept the frets to the 12" radius that they should be, so hopefully my job will be better this time. I alternated between the block and the straight edge as this levelling progressed. I would dearly love one of the aluminium radiused levelling beams from Stewmac, but the price - ouch! Once complete, a quick check with my fret rocker didn't highlight any high or low spots. Time will tell how she plays!

I also managed to find a sheet of cream perloid 3-ply scratchplate material on ebay. Once I return home I'll use it to create a custom truss rod cover to match the pickups.

I did myself a quick play test with the stock nut and the GFS Dream 180s sound really great. As soon as the bone nut is on, i'll record a sound demo video to share..

cheers,
Gav.

looking amazing Gav, look forward to seeing this complete and a sound demo. I'm looking on the GFS website for some pickups now !

Thanks Wokka!! see you guys in 3 weeks, unless you like posts about Bavarian beer halls, Um, Um, I mean ..., work related stuff.. ;)

cheers,
Gav.

where you off to Gav, Germany ? sounds awesome. Some of the best beer in the world is brewed there, I'm jealous. Keen to see some pics of any breweries. So presume this build won't be ready for GOTM March, don't want to be up against this awesome build !

@Wokka - yeah Munich first for a long weekend then Basel Switzerland. Munich is one of my favourite places on earth. No chance of March GOTM for this one. It will be April for sure. Will FB the long list of different beers consumed :).

cheers,
Gav.

sounds like a fun work trip Gav. I'm keen to see any beery pics at Munich !

Prosit, Gav. I lived in Munich for 6 months when I was 16... even went to school there for a while. Great city.

this is such a quality build!

@Stan - thanks dude! @Adam - prosit to you and all. In a day or so I will raise a litre in honour of all at PBG!

cheers,
Gav.

All the best Gav...very envious of your little OS jaunt.
Have one for me as well!

BTW...The ES is quality all the way, you've done a top job on this one.
Kind of glad you won't be entering her for March GOTM, as I think my JM will be ready.
Man, that is one seriously good guitar...talk about wow factor!!

Cheers
Andy

@Andy - ok you've convinced me to have *another* litre ;). It will be a struggle but i think i'll manage. Thanks for letting me know about the JM. Please have it ready for March, I don't relish the thought of competing with *any* AndyPort build for GOTM. Thanks for your cooperation :P

Cheers,
Gav.

I'm in agreeance with Wokka. Need pics of beer halls. Have a ball, mate.

Hi guys,

A big PROSIT! to all my friends on the PPG forum from Kloster Andechs - my favourite place in the whole Munich region. Here in this hilltop monastery the monks still brew the local specialty - dopplebock - a dark double strength Mana from heaven. Don't worry I'm having enough for everyone!

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...x0td-image.jpg

Cheers,
Gav.

Looks like you're having a whole chook too!
I love dark ales/stouts etc. so you better have a double double for me Gav.

Hey Gav,
Hope you packed some clothes that are a bit more generous around the girth.
By the look of all that beer and food, you may need them!! :D :D

Looks like you're enjoying yourself...pretty hard to take, no doubt.

Cheers
Andy

hi guys,

Back home at last, and straight back into the man cave to create a bone nut for this beast. Got to use my new toy from Stewmac, but I have gotta say I'm not too impressed with it. Following Stewmac's own nut basics guide, i was able to use this new jig to draw a line on the nut blank at the fret height+0.030. However, when it came to drawing a second line above this one at the height of the thickest string, the jig wouldnt take all the feeler gauges required. The slots cut in the sides of the jig weren't big enough! What a gip - thanks Stewmac.

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...b5-new-toy.JPG

Anyway, despite this little set back, the nut was created without too much trouble using the rest of my Stewmac nut making and slotting files and was subsequently added to the neck. Looks good!

I also received an order in the mail from eBay while i was away. I wanted to create a custom truss rod cover to exactly match the cream perloid in the GFS pickups. Well, I thought I ordered cream, but it looks like I got white instead (or too white for this project at least). I created a cover out of it, just to see what it looks like, but it really is too white.

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...compared-2.JPG

It looks OK, but I would much rather have one that's the correct colour. Consequently, i've got more material on order. Hopefully I'll get a better result this time around!

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...r-in-place.JPG

cheers,
Gav.

Hey Gav, must be good to be home, welcome home mate !
Bummer about the Stewmac clamp and the pearloid pickguard material being white instead of cream. Just let me know which month you are entering it in GOTM and I won't bother entering ! haha
I'm checking out your 3rd RC-1 video now !

Thanks Wokka! Yes, if I were you i wouldn't enter GOTM. No really - don't enter. Please don't enter?? That way I might have a fighting chance??? :) :)

cheers,
Gav.

haha nice one Gav, this kit will have a very good chance of taking out GOTM April if its ready in time

Welcome back to OZ, Gav. Bet you're still sloshing.
Yeah, but of a bummer the toys weren't what you expected. But the quality of your build is stunning. Now that you're back you can entertain us with this thread again.

Thanks Lawry :). It's good to be back. Went a bit stupid for a couple of weeks (and still had to front for work each day! oops). Now carrying the spare tyre to prove it. Got some serious recuperating to do! It is amazing how much guitar building you can get done at 3am when the jet lag kicks in!

cheers,
Gav.

Welcome back to planet earth Gav!!
Thought all that beer and food might take it's toll. :?
Never mind, bet it was good while it lasted.

BTW the florentine is looking superb...really excellent job.

Cheers
Andy

Thanks Andy! I'm just glad it isn't up against your paisley powered super build. Now that baby is what I call a work of art!

cheers,
Gav.

Welcome back to Oz Gav, let's see if we can go up against each other in GOTM (if your ES-2T is finished in time that is :P )

Quote:

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/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from lawry on February 17, 2014, 04:30
Looks like you're having a whole chook too!
I love dark ales/stouts etc. so you better have a double double for me Gav.

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Given the photo was taken in Bavaria, I'd bet my wages that isn't a chook, but a big fat joint of the tenderest juiciest pork you could ever wrap your chops around ;)

@Pest - that sounds like a challenge!! Why do i feel like I just got slapped with a leather glove??? :P You bet - let's go head 2 head!!

@Stui - yep you got it dude, the biggest, juciest, most scrumptious Schweinshaxen in all the greater Munich area IMHO (drool) :).

cheers,
Gav.

hi guys,

the last piece of hardware for this build arrived today. gold strap buttons - luxury! 8-)
now just waiting on the replacement cream perloid to make that pesky truss rod cover..

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...ack_button.JPG

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...top-button.JPG

cheers,
Gav.

looking very classy Gav the gold strap buttons. Damn don't you hate it when the last piece of the build is waiting for a postage item ! Worth the wait mate and there's still plenty of March left to enter April GOTM.
sounds like Pest is throwing the challenge out there !

Quote:

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Quote from gavinturner on March 5, 2014, 12:33
@Stui - yep you got it dude, the biggest, juciest, most scrumptious Schweinshaxen in all the greater Munich area IMHO (drool) :).

cheers,
Gav.

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I miss Germany :(

Quote:

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/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from gavinturner on March 5, 2014, 12:33
@Pest - that sounds like a challenge!! Why do i feel like I just got slapped with a leather glove??? :P You bet - let's go head 2 head!!

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Can't wait to see how this will turn out!

Thanks Pest. Two red beasts for the April GOTM! Woot!

cheers,
Gav

Wow! As a soon to be (if not already) future resident of the "naughty corner", I'm impressed with the shine you've gotten, as well as the wonderful colour and figure in that semi-hollow body Gav :-) (If only it had a couple less pegs/strings ;-) )

@quiet1_au - thanks John! Looking forward to getting this baby finally complete. Dunno about the fewer strings, I don't tend to leave the top 4 much anyway!

Cheers,
Gav.

looking forward to an update/photos of this beast Gav, must be your best build so far, worth a 6 month stint in the naughty room I reckon ! The gloss finish you achieved is amazing.
So whats the wait on the cream pearloid material for the truss rod cover ?

Don't ever enter an axe into GOTM without a truss rod cover, ask the Gavmeister !

@Wokka - dunno, it's coming from China. I ordered an LP pickguard that I'm going to cut up. Hopefully won't be too long, but I reckon another 2 weeks :(. Hopefully still in time for April GOTM.

cheers,
Gav.