New to this site AND building guitars!

[Moparnut]

Hey guys! (And girls...?)

I completed my first Pitbull kit a couple of weeks ago. I bought it second hand, but totally unassembled from Trademe. I was looking for a new hobby to fill some time while I am recovering from having a brain tumor removed, and the second tumor that grew not long after in the same place treated with radiotherapy.

My ultimate goal is to build a guitar completely from scratch. It has involved a pretty serious investment in tools, which is an ongoing journey...! My main mentor or inspiration so far is Noe Hervas from Youtube. I have learned a lot from watching his videos.

My background involves painting cars for a living, so I have obviously transposed this skill into my new hobby.

I recently started a Gibson Firebird replica kit from Pango Music, it took two months to arrive from the day it was ordered, the hardware is junk, the neck was bent and the finish was of 2nd's quality. My next kit will be a Pitbull one after that experience!

My "started from scratch" is a Gibson Explorer copy, which is still in its beginning stages. The body has been cut but all routing is yet to be done, the neck (it is a set neck) is laminated with pine and rosewood and has a truss installed. The headstock has been shaped but the rest of the carving is yet to be completed and a fretboard yet to be made and installed. I'll post photos once it looks a little less than just a couple of bits of wood...!

Thanks for having me on board!

Chris (Wellington, NZ)

[fender3x]

Welcome Chris!

That's a pretty great looking Tele. Really interesting what you have done with the clear covers. Also, looks like your painting skills transfer pretty well to guitars!

I took a look at the sort of things that Noe Hervas does on YouTube. He does some nice work with some exotic woods. Will be interesting to see what you come up with ;-)

The build diary section is generally reserved for PB guitars but lots of us have put non-PB build diaries under the "Non-Pitbull Guitars Gear" forum located here:

https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.a...splay.php?f=53

Some fully scratch builds, some semi-scratch and some parts-builds. You might consider documenting your build there ;-)

I am curious about the rosewood and pine neck. That is a pretty unusual combination. Particularly pine, which is not usually used in necks, although we've had folks here who have used it pretty successfully in bodies.

Looking forward to seeing your builds!

[Trevor Davies]

Hi and welcome Chris. I was in Wellington just the other day - it is a lovely place!
Your tele looks amazing. I also love the transparent covers!

Good luck with your Explorer copy. Definitely start a diary to show your progress. I would love to see your results.
(BTW - my first build was a pinewood explorer body)

[Moparnut]

Hey guys, thanks for the welcome!

My project "to do" just grew... I spoke with Tim R from Pitbull a few days back and have since added a "those kits that cannot be named" to the list.

I was amazed - I ordered the kit on the evening of Wednesday 18th December, it travelled over from Oz, passed through customs and was delivered yesterday! (Monday 23rd) The week before Xmas even!

Tim was an awesome fella to deal with too, I'm sure there will be a few more kits headed my way in the future...

Merry Xmas fellas!

[Trevor Davies]

My project "to do" just grew... I spoke with Tim R from Pitbull a few days back and have since added a "those kits that cannot be named" to the list.

Ha Ha - once you have caught the bug there is no turning back!

[fender3x]

Those forbidden kits are really hard to resist. Got pickups for my "definitely-not-what-it-looks-like" kit under the tree. I have a couple of projects to complete ahead of it...but it keeps calling to me to move it up in the cue.... Meanwhile, judging by the pics on your new thread it looks like you didn't waste any time getting to work on the new kit!