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Ok, so this is my first build. A little daunting as I have very little experience with woodworking and electronics but it looks fun.
I'm looking at making this into a modern player strat. So I'm putting on locking tuners and a 2 point fulcrum tremolo.
I'm going to take some inspiration from Suhr guitars in shaping the headstock.
Looking forward to really getting stuck into this.
I'm trying to upload pics to this thread but the system won't let me. Am I doing something wrong?
Whenever I hit the image button, this happens [img][/img]
I can't cut and paste them in.
Pedro, hit the 'Quote' button and delete any necessary text. There should be 3 shortcuts to 'choose file', select the image and hit 'submit' and the images should upload in about a minute or so depending on the size of the images
Hi Pedrovelo,
Good luck with your build mate. Make sure you ask questions - I certainly asked a lot ;)
As per your pictures, just use the "Reply" button on the bottom right of the Quick Reply box. You can upload your images from there.
Cheers,
Rohan.
yep loud and clear Pedro got the 3 headstock pics, looks good the final shape
Thanks for your help fellas. Photos are go.
So as you can see, headstock shaped and on to sanding.
I'm already learning.
Here's a couple of quick lessons I've learnt:
- You can't cheat and go straight to the fine sandpaper. You need the coarser one to get the scratches out otherwise you end up with really smooth scratched wood.
- Sanding can be quite therapeutic for the first few hours. Then I figure, no pain no gain.
Here's a mockup with the Wilkinson bridge sitting in.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...i-P1000949.jpg
Next lesson;
- Watch the thickness of the wood when drilling holes for the 2 point bridge posts.
The diameter of the hole should still give enough purchase for the post.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...p-P1000950.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...s-P1000951.jpg
looks good the Wilkinson bridge Pedro, looks like you will have to shape 2 half circles in the scratchplate for the 2 pivot holes. Wouldn't worry about the hole in the tremelo/spring cavity, that will be hidden with the plate.
Yes 1st build you probably learn the most lessons in a build. Each build after you still learn heaps.
Looks like you have sanded the body well enough for wudtone, wipe it with a damp rag will show up any machine marks before you apply the 1st deep coat of emerald isles.
If you are sick of sanding give it to the missus to sand ! haha (DB mantra)
Ok, so the next pic will make things look like I've really rushed this project to get to paint. That's not the case however, as I've actually had this kit for a few weeks now and have only just gotten around to starting the build diary.
So first application of Emerald Isles deep colour.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...b-P1000955.jpg
Thanks Wokkaboy.
Yeah, I have read through a few posts prior to starting so wiped over with the damp rag and everything looked good.
no worries Pedro, sounds like its ready for 1st wudtone deep coat. Most builders screw a piece of wood to two of the neck pocket holes so you can hang the body when drying/curing and clamp it in a vice/clamp to a surface so you can apply wudtone to the whole body. Don't forget the small flat surface that is below the neck pocket.
Looks like you are working from a kitchen/dining table - good work. Don't do what bass guy did and spill wudtone all over his floor. Leave the cap on the wudtone bottles as much as possible !
Great tips guys, I appreciate it.
Here's the headstock with two coats of deep colour and my logo design. Got to get my hands on some waterslide decal paper now.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...4-P1000963.jpg
looking good Pedro, you have some nice grain in the basswood, I first thought - gee that was quick getting 1st deep coat on ! haha
Yeah, I did quite a lot of work prior to starting the build thread - taking photos as I went of course.
But I think I'm up to present time now. It's probably taken me 3 weeks to get to this point.
thats fine Pedro, as they always say on the forum don't rush your build and an extra day or 2 of curing time is good for the finish. Looking forward to seeing this axe progress, haven't seen too many emerald isles builds but this looks excellent already !
Hi Pedro,
Your headstock shape is awesome. Nice clean lines! Looking forward to seeing how that Emerald Isles looks after the final coat. Looking pretty killer so far!
Cheers,
Gavin.
the green machine looks good pedro!
That emerald isles is looking sweet Pedro
4th and last coat of deep colour on now. Not sure that the last coat actually deepened the colour much but I think it's evened it out a bit.
Also, some new parts arrived today.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...6-P1000965.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...c-P1000966.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...0-P1000964.jpg
looking sweet Pedro, nice job with the wudtoning. Are they lockable tuning pegs ? Should look good when assembled.
You putting any highlights on before the gloss coats ?
Yeah Wokka, lockable with staggered posts so in theory doesn't need a string tree on the headstock.
No highlights, but I've only done the deep colour coats so far. Still base colour and top coats to go.
Ok, so it's been a while since I've updated.
I continue to learn and make mistakes.
I bought some GFS pickups with upgraded pots and switch. These items are a little taller that the ones supplied with the kit so they wouldn't fit in the body properly.
As a result, I had to carve out some space in the body for them. Whilst doing this, I managed to cut right through the body into the tremolo spring rout.
Hopefully, this isn't a fatal error but will only know when it's all finished.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...m-P1000968.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...4-P1000969.jpg
Having said that, I'm stoked with the way the colour is coming up. 3 coats of clear on the body and neck now and my decal is done.
Here's the latest mockup with a pearl scratch plate.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...s-P1000970.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...b-P1000967.jpg
looking good Pedro, no big issue routing through to the spring/trem cavity, that will be covered by the back trem plate. I've done exactly the same thing with a scratch build strat shape. Will be worth it for the upgrades
Here we are, coming to the end of my first build.
The ST is assembled and it just needs some setup issues fine tuned. I can't seem to get enough relief in the neck and am getting a buzzing when I try to play anything between the first and tenth fret but the open string is ringing fine.
I've loosened the truss rod so much I'm not sure there's much more play left in it.
Anyway, it looks good. I'll sort the playing issues out as I go.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...r-P1010011.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...b-P1010013.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...j-P1010014.jpg
Looking cool Pedro. Another green guitar. That makes three of us that I'm aware of. And I like the headstock, it suits the ST very nicely.
Hey Pedro, looking good man. Love those Wilkinson trems, a great addition.
Looks the goods Pedro. I really like those white tuning pegs, they work well agaist the green.
As for your set up issues. It could be a number of things, but to help narrow it down these are my first thoughts.
Firstly, does the neck have any relief/backbow. If it does have at least some relief I would then be checking the bridge saddle heights. It sounds like they could be to low.
I think there is a thread on setup in the how to section that's probably more detailed than I could help you with.
Looks awesome Pedro! The green with the white scratchplate really looks fantastic!
Great job - you must be stoked with it. These strats are great kits and sooo nice to play..
Cheers,
Gavin.
Hi Pedro,
how do the GFS strat pickups sound? I'm thinking of using these on my next strat build..
cheers,
Gavin.
Hey Gav, wish I could tell you - but I'm having some grounding and neck alignment issues which means I haven't actually played a note through them yet. When I have had them connected without the strings on they are remarkably quite.
I went with the overwound set of Neovin pickups looking for that somewhere between vintage strat and humbucker sound.
Oh ok Pedro. Good luck with it. I'm sure they will sound sweet when it all comes together!
Cheers,
Gavin.