Golden Number's exa7

Ok, here goes nothing.

Complete noob to this guitar building/maintaining thing, so far the extent of my abilities has been string changes. Settled on this kit because the guitarist in my band plays a 7 string in c standard and I want to contribute to riff writing (I'm actually the drummer haha). Kit showed up in record time, faster in fact than most things I order within NZ.

I've got it clamped together for a test fit and everything seems pretty good, no wiggle in the neck pocket, strings not diving off to the side of the neck etc. Excuse the weird pictures, I've only got a $40 hospice shop camera to work with since the lens on my $600 phone exploded.

Attachment 27020

Plan of attack was the usual pickup/hardware upgrades and a stained body/natural neck but after seeing the body I'm having second thoughts about the whole stain thing, kind of reminds me of my mates Hondo strat that's made out of plywood.

The only real concern I have is the fret ends. Too much material can be easily remedied but it seems the guy that did my neck was a bit too enthusiastic about his job. It's not particularly worrying apart from this one, where they've actually come into the board. You won't believe how long it took to get a decent photo of this.

Attachment 27021

What do you reckon, brown trousers time or no. I've tried fretting it as is and it is doable (just) but of course this is no gauge to how it's going to act with decent action and proper string tension.

From that angle there doesn't look to be much meat on that fret to play with. How does it look square on from above, and particularly when compared to remainder fret ends along that side of the fret board.

If it looks faulty suggest you email Adam with some photos and see what he suggests.

By the way, Welcome to the forum.

Cheers, Waz

A friend had just to send an Ibanez Premium S series back because of exactly that problem, only all the frets ends on that had been over-rolled over (amongst other issues). As he knows the UK distributor's sales manager, he then got invited to review 4 more guitars picked at random, and he rejected all of them. As a result there's about to be a big shake up in the QA/QC department at Ibanez!

it does look a bit short!

if you go with a Japan Brown or similar dark stain you might make the wood match ok

At the very least it looks like that neck needs a new fret fitted in that location.

Yep, was thinking this would be the case but thought I'd better consult the hive mind first. Will be able to email some better shots as I won't be restricted by file size like on here. It is noticeably shorter than the rest, I zoned in on it as soon as I got it out of the box.

I've had pretty good luck with my ibbys, although I had one (funnily enough an s series) that had a whole bunch of dead frets.

Good thinking, was just going to seal it but a brown might look pretty good.

Update

Have a replacement fret showing up soon so will be getting a crash course in fret work soon. Adam did graciously offer to compensate for a tech to do it but I'm not aware of anyone that does that sort of stuff locally and as a bonus by the end of it I'll know how to replace a fret. Youtube here I come. Might go see if I can grab some test pots of stain next week to try on some scrap too. Not 100% on pickups yet, all I know is that I want something hotter than the dimarzios in my Ibanez.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Golden Number

Not 100% on pickups yet, all I know is that I want something hotter than the dimarzios in my Ibanez.

---

Perhaps try tonerider octane pickups. I have rocksongs in my LP and they are great, the octane is one step hotter. Pitbull should have some, but I'm not sure about 7 string models.

Well, a little bit of progress.

While under the influence of a rather nice stout I had an epiphany. Considering what I'm going to use this guitar for (riffing, or attempting to) I have no need for a neck pickup, at least for now. As if guided by a higher power I had a scratch around online and found a covered sd invader for ridiculously cheap. The plan is to wire this to the 3 way which will act as an on/off switch while still fitting the neck pickup as a dummy.

Now for the fret. Having been given a boot in the posterior by the pickup showing up I decided to extract the dud fret even though the new one courtesy of Adam hasn't arrived yet. After dealing with a weak soldering iron and useless end cutters I managed to carefully tap it out using a rather sharp nail and a plastic hammer. Not too much chipping to worry about apart from one decent chunk I saw and assumed would already be glued down, obviously not. What would be the best remedy for this, a drop of superglue? I also have a bit of a hole to fill up at the dusty end. Pictures to follow tomorrow as I currently only have internet at work

Cheers

Super glue works ok on rosewood.

I de-fretted a bass with rosewood fret board a while back and the tear-outs were huge. CA glue (high grade super glue) was used to create a clear finish and since then any small chips or whatever with rosewood, out comes the humble super glue to the rescue. Excess sands off pretty easy but best not to apply too much in the first place.

Extraction successful.

Attachment 27284

The invader in the supplied kit ring as it came with a flat one.

Attachment 27285

My budget staining rig made up from a taped up drumstick with a drill bit through it, sitting on some stand with wheels on it I found lying around the yard.

Attachment 27286

One coat of stain I picked up at a clearance store for $10. Varathane chestnut I believe.

Attachment 27287

Attachment 27288

Pretty chuffed with the result and the colour to be honest. It was my first time trying to do any kind of finishing. Looks sort of similar to Mr. Hetfield's Ken Lawrence beast. Another coat or two should even out the colour a bit more.

Looking good. You’ve been lucky with the wood orientation. The light-dark-light-dark strips look really good. Better than if there had just been one piece of wood that took the stain differently.

Ok, the fret is here but I'm getting a bit stuck. The ends are refusing to stay down, I'm guessing it may be because the wire might not be radiused. Is there a way to work this without a fret bender because if this is the case I'll probably just find somewhere to do it for me. I bought some selleys all fix to use, is this suitable or is it back to bunnings, I'm not really a fan of the texture of this stuff anyway. I was thinking of clamping the fret either side with a cork block under the neck for something to grab onto.

After using the highly technical method of grabbing the tang with a set of blunt cutters and bending it with the other hand, I think I've got it in pretty good. Also filled most of the holes in the board left by both myself and the factory.

While I was in there I noticed a few frets sitting a bit higher than necessary, especially in the center of the frets. This mornings job can be sorting that out and staring at my replacement willing it to stay down. I suppose split shifts have their advantages.

Pics to follow when I drag my laptop somewhere with internet.

Cannibal corpse could probably write a song about the events that unfolded after this showed up.

Attachment 27381

My attempt last night resulted in resounding failure, I didn't put enough curve in the wire and the all fix glue wasn't doing it. Went and bought some proper super glue, put a bit more curve in the wire and wound up with this.

Attachment 27382

Pretty happy with it, the edges are staying down and that was my main concern. Have started to build up glue in the visible chips and also in this hole further down.

Attachment 27383

The State of the body, stain applied with a foam brush. Found out about overspray from the brush pretty quickly. This is four progressively lighter coats with a light sand after the second one. I was doing a coat a day and buy the end of it I think the wood was getting pretty saturated. Has been sitting for about 2 or 3 days now, I think I'll leave it like this and try to match the neck up or get a more amber colour to contrast.

Attachment 27384

Attachment 27385

The colour in the first shot looks a bit weird because it's sitting under a led light but hopefully you get the idea.

Very, very nice timber colour from that stain.

Is that a Guz in the background of the 1st shot?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wazkelly

Is that a Guz in the background of the 1st shot?

---

Yep, the trusty sp1000. Sat in the previous owners shed for about 10 years doing next to nothing and now it's sitting in mine doing the same.

Started filing.

Attachment 27473

Also had a crack at levelling the frets but it just wasn't happening with my limited setup. Managed to track down a local guy that builds his own guitars from scratch and got him to do it, charged me next to nothing too. There's always the next one...

Started taping off the neck to put the colour on that.

Attachment 27474

Attachment 27475

Have started staining it, will probably give it a couple of sands in between coats as there is now a few rough spots that have made themselves obvious with colour. Have got a bit of this on the body too but I'm not too bothered about that, can't really be helped with the differing timbers and I quite like it looking a bit rough and ready anyway. I'm using a different colour for the neck, prepare to be shocked and disgusted...

Behold the abomination.

Attachment 27572

I reckon it actually looks half decent, like the sprout of my guitar building adventures rising from the soil (thought that one up after the fact). Or as the old man calls it the green hornet. Liquitex sap green acrylic ink. Put an order in for some liquid hide glue because the idea of disassembly down the line appealed.

No turning back now.

Attachment 27573

Me being a big ol' dumb dumb head and forgetting to pad the dirty wood clamp. Shiny stuff is just a bit of water to get some crap from the clamp off.

Attachment 27574

Moved the whole lot into my inner sanctum to be able warm everything up, on account of the shed being as cold as my lack of a soul being winter and all. Left it clamped up for about 24 hours. Hopefully the glue holds, I've read this stuff can be temperamental.

Attachment 27575

Attachment 27576

Going to have to touch up the green a bit around the joint, there's a little bit of a gap but nothing major. Thinking of doing a wipe on poly finish. Going give the body a good wipe down with paper towels because the oil based stain has attracted a bit of dust and whatnot, unless anyone can suggest anything better.

Very interesting combination. It works really well.

Each to their own but I always reckon a set neck should look the same as the body.

Love the body colour.

Yeah, definitely trying to get a bit of experimentation out of the way with this build and have already learned a hell of a lot. Even the way the oil based finish behaves as opposed to the acrylic. And definitely the importance of sanding. Have started on the poly, should be at a point I'm happy with in the next day or so.

Attachment 27697

Attachment 27698

Been sitting for a week or so now, pretty happy with it for a first crack. used the sponge applicator method for everything on this build and I think I'll try out the paper towel/rag next time to give me a bit more control over the process. The can of poly reckoned to sand after the first coat, it lied. Even though I laid it on pretty thick on account of the sponge brush I still managed to smash through on a couple of the edges. On the plus side it's made it look a bit more "reliced". Got 4 coats on with a sand after the 3rd one and I think I'll leave it as is, will hit the neck with some fine paper if it feels a bit too much like a gym floor. Probably will start assembly in the next couple of days.

On the subject of that, electronics wise since I'm only using the 1 pickup and the switch, where would be a good place to ground the bridge as most of the diagrams I've seen have it stuck to the back of a pot and I plan on not mounting the pots and just covering the holes. Could I use the back of the switch or stick it straight to the jack.

Already planning my next attempt (planning is a good thing). Reckon I might backorder me a DM1 which should tide the GAS over, at least until I get a look at these ML kits that have been mentioned...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Golden Number

I might backorder me a DM1 which should tide the GAS over, at least until I get a look at these ML kits that have been mentioned...

---

The poor boy....he doesn’t even realise the virus is already replicating and spreading...😢 very soon he’ll be thinking about upgrades...then perhaps something to sand while a finish cures.
He’ll wake up one day and find guitar cases, string packets, boxes of random pots and switches strewn across his workspace and wonder what happened, where did it all begin? And then he shall recall the words above, he might even review the build diary.....and then he’ll see Adam’s new release models.....and a vision will coalesce around a 2 piece ST body and 22 fret neck...then darkness.

The current gameplan at the moment is something p90 related and MAYBE something with a floyd purely for purpose of doing the whole "one of everything" thing. And definitely a bass. By then I should have some pretty deep seated issues...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Golden Number

The current gameplan at the moment is something p90 related and MAYBE something with a floyd purely for purpose of doing the whole "one of everything" thing. And definitely a bass. By then I should have some pretty deep seated issues...

---

Sounds like you are well on the way. A bass is definitely in my plan, but there’s a reso, a bee, an LP that pushed me too far and a couple of scratchbuilds to finish before that

After what seemed like an eternity this stuff showed up.

Attachment 27874

Some stain and finishing oil for the next guitar and some shielding paint for this one (yes, I bought into the youtube hype...). After using up the majority of the copper tape doing the pickup cavity I quickly realised that paint would be a less sanity consuming option for me. This stuff is quite thick so was very easy to manipulate. It does go off after about a week so might build up a few kits first before I bother to buy any more.

Some coins I found a work. Canadian 10 cent and an Australian 5 cent.

Attachment 27875

Cavity shielded. Better get myself motivated to do some wiring...

Attachment 27876

Having used the cavity shield paint on a few builds I always use it in pickup cavities but tend to line control cavity with copper tape as I discovered the control room does need a bit more protection to reduce/cancel out the hum.

I would advise you to fill in the numbers that are associated with you. For example, I stuffed the number 111 on my guitar. These numbers refer to me. My insurance number even ends at 111) If you think to fill the serial numbers that connect you. Click here https://www.sunsigns.org/angel-number-111-meaning/ and read their designation! Good luck!

Might be easier to put copper tape on the underside of the cavity cover plate than paint it with the conductive paint (unless you've done that already).

Same for me! Plus, I received a new guitar (Harley Benton SC-1000) this Christmas with a 1717 serial numbers on it. Does it count as an angel number too?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rubickon

I would advise you to fill in the numbers that are associated with you. For example, I stuffed the number 111 on my guitar. These numbers refer to me. My insurance number even ends at 111) If you think to fill the serial numbers that connect you. Click here https://angelsnumbers.net/711-angel-number-meaning/ and read their designation! Good luck!

---

Thanks for the suggestion! I've always been interested in numerology and the meanings behind certain numbers. I'll definitely check out the link you provided and see if any numbers resonate with me personally. I think it's a great idea to incorporate those numbers into my guitar, it'll make it even more special to me. Thanks again for the tip!