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EX-1 custom
Mentioned this kit a bit in my GS-2Q build diary, starting one for it now. It's definitely going to be a project.
https://i.imgur.com/9eY21ES.jpg
At a quick glance it almost seems innocent enough.
https://i.imgur.com/QGBE3lT.jpg
Broken corner on the neck pocket. Humbucker route also needs to be finished.
https://i.imgur.com/iTGf8ku.jpg
Corner of the fretboard is in bad shape, and the neck angle is wrong for a hardtail.
https://i.imgur.com/y7VyxUE.jpg
Upper fret access is non-existent. This is one of those oversights that can pop up with a custom.
Step 1, gluing that corner back on. The corner piece itself is rough looking, so once it's dry I'll probably have to do some shaping to make it look decent. Probably round it off.
Once that's done I will probably do something about that nasty fretboard corner. Maybe I can use some ebony wood filler on the side. And caaaarefully try to get some glue in the split part and clamp it so it's flat.
Thinking about cutting off a section of that upper horn to fix the fret access. Right now the angle of horn goes down to the 22nd fret and curves back up at about the 19th fret. After the 18th fret you have to start reaching up.
Right now I'm thinking adjust that angle so it goes approximately to the end of the fretboard, and curves back up to around the 23rd fret, close to the neck pocket and just enough to avoid a hard angle that wouldn't fit with the curved angles elsewhere on the body. Would get rid of most of that side of the neck pocket, but it's bolt on so I don't think that would be a problem.
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Hi Chaos
I would not be happy with that fretboard and damaged neck pocket.
Whilst it may be possible to repair the neck pocket by carefully gluing the bit back on, it might still be visible and therefore stop a clear type finish.
The fretboard is the worst though as I think any repair will be a patch-up. The 24th fret looks like it has risen up a bit in the photo?
There also looks to be a split down the board at the low E.
I would suggest contacting Adam and finding a resolution - he is very helpful in such matters.
Interesting kit though and I look forward to your build.
Good luck!
Cheers
Ricky
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I had intended to paint this from the start so the neck pocket bit isn't really a problem. Already have it glued in now.
The fretboard I'm not as sure about. Yes, it's split around the low E and that bit is raised a little. That's where I'd need to somehow get some glue in there and clamp it so it's flat, but that will probably be difficult without breaking that corner off completely.
I've had this sitting aside since February or so and noticed the damage then. It probably occurred during shipping since the GS-2Q also had some minor damage. Feels too late to bring it back up as a problem now.
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Stuck a pin in the split on the fretboard which made a very tiny gap. Got a sliver of paper and put some Titebond on it, and pulled it through the hole to get glue on the inside. Most of it came off before it went through, but hopefully some of it is in there.
Pulled the pin out and clamped it. Hoping for the best but I don't know if this is going to help or hurt.
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Seems reasonable. Not as if there's going to be big loads on it.
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Improved, but not perfect.
https://i.imgur.com/AR9JmLw.jpg
Maybe sanding 220->320 will smooth it out the rest of the way.
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I bet that already passes the crucial test of "can it be seen from 3 feet away". Maybe a tiny dab of filler in the remaining crack. See if you can make black filler with the aid of a sharpie or something and then sand. Are you planning to radius the corner a touch?
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I guess so. Will just try to match the rest in terms of shape.
I was hoping to buy some filler and to try out today but it seems like the only thing any place sells in ebony locally is putty. Stuff that doesn't dry hard and isn't sandable, not what I need for this. And I don't even want to attempt staining some lighter filler because it won't come close to matching.
Timbermate comes in ebony. Might be an option?
Hopefully it works out, because that's what I ordered.
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The cut I was thinking.
https://i.imgur.com/M4DYW1Y.jpg
Quick and dirty...
https://i.imgur.com/iKKO5OB.jpg
Instant second thoughts.
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A little bit out of proportion with the rest of the body, but not too bad. You could take 2-3cm off the tip of the horn so it's not quite so pointy and more round to better match the rest of the body. Or else you make the body and headstock more pointy to match.
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If it was me I would soften the point by not cutting right to the end of the neck pocket, but only about 2/3 of the way. But if it was me, I so rarely play above the 15th fret or so that I have never needed aggressive cutouts at all.
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2 Attachment(s)
No second thoughts. For full 24 fret access, you could even take more off. You’re building the guitar I almost ordered about a year ago. I’ve been wrestling with how to cut the body for access as well.
It looks like the Warmoth Nomad body cut the horn for upper fret access and then cut an equal amount from the bottom to make it look balanced. I was going to do something like that.
Attachment 36557
Another idea was the 24 fret explorer type Dean Dave Mustaine Vic Rattlehead Guitar. That one looks like it’s got 24 fret access and is shaped well.
Attachment 36558
Don’t have any second thoughts. Most guitars nowadays don’t have access to all 24 frets and for some advanced shredding, that doesn’t get it!!!
Check out Virtuoso guitarist, Rusty Cooley’s discussions About guitar construction on YouTube sometime. He is right, guitars need to evolve. Keep at it!
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1 Attachment(s)
For a little inspiration and validation that what you’re doing is right - check this video out at the 1:20 mark:
https://youtu.be/jXbsgMuwFMw
Also, you could cut out even more like Schecter did. They also cut an equal amount from the bottom for aesthetics.
https://guitar-compare.com/wp-conten...rets_Guide.png
Attachment 36566
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Making the horn a little shorter and maybe cutting some off the other side too might look less weird. Will see if I can do anything to make that look passable.
Hmm.
https://i.imgur.com/dWQnca0.jpg
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Looks good to me.
Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chaosblade
Reminds me of those 24 fret Explorers they released for about 6 weeks....
I’m wondering if there is a way you can alter the bass side as well that makes it look less out of place. Maybe get the angle of the bass side bout to be sharper like the new cut? I’m not sure though. I can’t quite visualise it.
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That's kind of what the one in post 14 is. It's a lot of wood to cut off, and I'm not sure if it would be functional with the neck pocket just sticking out like that. It does look better, but that doesn't matter if it's not a functional neck pocket.
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It's a bolt-on, so it would be no different in pocket detail to a Strat or a Tele.
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Cool, if it will work I will have to find a way to mark it. I have no experience with a router, but it might be easier to fix the neck pocket angle before removing the sides, so that probably needs done first.
Slathered the corner of the fretboard with ebony timbermate and am letting that dry up. I'll sand it down then go over it again but thinned down, and also use that to fill the remaining crack. Or slather it on again if I didn't get good enough coverage the first time, but I put in a pretty big chunk.
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