Reworking an Explorer Semi scratch

About 30 years ago I picked up a Cimar strat type guitar quite cheap second hand as my second (bash around) guitar. It had a nice neck, played quite well and the humbucker PUP sounded good. My aim was to do a semi-scratch build and replace the body with an explorer shape. I copied the explorer shape from a Guitar World magazine advertisement. Joined a few pieces of pine wood together and eventually I had a guitar that was loved and played a lot. All the routing was done by hand, the finish was very poor, it was a bit mistreated. I did learn a lot about carpentry, soldering, string setup etc.

I have decided to pull her apart and clean her up. I cannot fix all the things wrong but I can at least try.

Shots before being pulled apart:

I must say that looks pretty good as is.

Cheers, Waz

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Thanks Waz,

but it never passed a 3 foot rule, or 3 metre rule etc.
And it gives me a project while the other builds are waiting for parts to arrive in the mail.

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Originally Posted by Trevor Davies

And it gives me a project while the other builds are waiting for parts to arrive in the mail.

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And that's what's really important! ;)

Going to leave it natural or stain or paint it?

Cimar were a fairly short-lived branch of Ibanez (about '75-'82) and shared headstock design and a lot of the body shapes and hardware.

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Originally Posted by Simon Barden

Going to leave it natural or stain or paint it?

Cimar were a fairly short-lived branch of Ibanez (about '75-'82) and shared headstock design and a lot of the body shapes and hardware.

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Hi Simon,
I will leave it natural. I will coat it with tru-oil.

I sanded the body back today and filled the knot holes with CA glue.
I still have to cover some unmatched dowel to blend it with the pine. I'm not sure if I should use putty or get a wood plug cutter!

More sanding and I also routed the face and back edges with 1/4 round bit.

I couldn't cover the dowels nicely so I'm embracing them. I darkened them to create a contrast.

Also given 3 coats of tru-oil.

I like it!

I'm going to do a pine tele scratch build one day.

Looks great and will look even better once the Tru Oil ages.

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Thanks McCreed and wazkelly.

I'm a lot happier with the finish already. I will give it quite a few more coats of tru-oil though and it should darken a bit more.

Regards

I've run out of tru-oil so decided to attack the headstock. I will try to do a hockey stick style - not sure if I should paint it black or use a maple veneer and keep it natural.

I have sanded the top to remove the original black finish. Cut the end and side to be square and added a wing from scrap pine wood. I will leave it clamped for a day to let the titebond set .

Hopefully tomorrow I can sand it down.

Sanded the wing added to the headstock into a hockey stick shape. Then glued maple veneer to the top and sanded to the size of the new headstock. I won't do the back at the moment and will see how it looks after some tru-oil.

Nicely done. Can we see a pic of the back?

Thanks Sonic.

The back - I was going to put some veneer on but decided against it.

Decided to try out a truss rod cover for the pine explorer.
I was after something a little different to the normal bell style.
Not sure yet if I'm completely happy with it though!
Trial 1:

A bit large for the headstock maybe . Maybe mimic the overall banana shape and smooth off that top angle?

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A bit large for the headstock maybe . Maybe mimic the overall banana shape and smooth off that top angle?

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+1 from me

Forgot to mention that it was very nice work on the headstock graft.

Thanks Simon.
It is good to try different things and push my skills. I definitely would not have tried it 30 years ago.

Very brave and a good outcome.
Truss rod cover shape looks good and if scaled down to maybe 70% or 80% may not look so dominant.

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truss rod cover take 2:

I like #2 better. Ultimately it's about what you like though. You happy with this one?

Looks better to me as well.

Take 3:
I think the top edges need to parallel - not that I'm OCD.

Even bettererer.

Lookin good <looks for the thumbsup smiley>

Yes, #3.

I noticed that that in #2, but refrained from commenting as I didn't want to seem too nit-picky :o.

I rebated the body routings to fit the control cover and the back plate for the tremolo. Now time for a few more coats of tru-oil.
Note: I was going to neaten up the old routings (which were done freehand !) but as it nose dives I decided not to remove any more mass.:p

Getting closer to putting the pine explorer back together.

What are peoples thoughts - Pickguard or no pickguard?

Nix the guard IMHO.

I agree with Frankie.
Nude looks better.
Cheers Waz



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Originally Posted by FrankenWashie

Nix the guard IMHO.

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+1 on that one.

Make that +2 for no guard.

I'll be different and say I like the guard. Gives it that Explorer Jr vibe.

I don’t think the pick guard suits the pine grain finish. Maybe if it was a dark solid colour instead I’d change my mind because the pick guard does have a certain flare.

Thanks for the guidance and opinions. Yes Simon I was going for the Junior feel. I'm still undecided - and I do not want to drill holes yet! I may have enough black 3 ply to try a darker version.
I'll keep thinking.

All the other acrylics are black so it would be a better fit.

cheers, Mark.

Sacrilege to hide any decent timber grain under a scratch plate.

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Have you any transparent acrylic? maybe the best of both worlds?

Still unsure about the pickguard and waiting on some black 3 ply to arrive. It does not have to have one - I just thought it would be different.

So have completed the electrics, put on strings, set intonation etc.

I changed the placement of the strap buttons - the front is connected to the top outside of the neck backing plate (a suggestion from Simon B for my FBM-1), the bottom one is connected higher than the centre line (so it can keep it fixed in place on the guitar stand). Glad to say that she now does not nose dive.

Overall, much happier. The knots in the timber are filled with CA glue, the body edges are rounded, back plates are recessed, headstock matches better with shape and colour, and trialed a headstock logo.

It has a G brand Explorer Swamp Ash (from 2004) feel to it - weird that this was originally built in 1992.

The last picture is from 1992.