Mike's build #2: STA-1

[michaelS31]

Cheers thanks Simon, good advice. The dust came right off. I'm sanding at 800 grit with turps at the moment and it's looking really nice. I hate the smell of turps on my hands though - might have to go back to dingotone next build! Already thinking about it - this is so addictive!

I had some micromesh pads for finer sanding, but seem to have misplaced them! May need to re-order them.
What do you use for a final cut and polish on Tru-oil?

[FrankenWashie]

I hate the smell of turps on my hands though - might have to go back to dingotone next build! ?

Disposable Nitrile Gloves are your friend here. I resisted for a long time but had to do a safety training course at a chem works and exposure photos and Fitter/Labourer horror stories made me a convert.

[michaelS31]

Been a while between updates, but have just been slowly adding tru oil layers and sanding back, just did a 1200 grit wet sand and it feels so smooth!

Also shaped the headstock. I had some Bloodwood neck dingotone left over from my last build. I really like the colour of it after it's faded, my tele neck looks sick, so I tried out a coat on the neck. It's a bit intense at the moment - I could ride it out and wait for it fade over time, or maybe just lightly sand back and do fewer coats.

As anyone tried lightening dingotone?

The last photo is the neck from my tl-1 , which I did about a year ago. I love this colour and so want to aim for it again. Same Bloodwood DT, just seems like it fades over time



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[Andyxlh]

That neck colour is lovely, looks like it is about 30 years old!

[rook]

The finish is looking really beautiful. Nice job.

[michaelS31]

Thanks everyone! Been slowly finishing up the neck, did two coats of bloodwood Dingotone, then two coats of final neck coat dingotone, with about 5 days in between each coat (had a lot of travel in between so timing was perfect).

Also put a headstock logo on. It's my partner's middle name, she's just moved interstate for work so our relationship is currently fly-in fly-out. She's very chuffed I named it after her!

Today will be fret levelling, and then assembly and first sound test!



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[michaelS31]

I strung Gwendoline up, did a very rough tremolo set up and tested her out! She's alive!!

Definitely needs a setup, but will let everything settle for a few days before tweaking anything major.


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[DarkMark]

Very nice! I like it a lot.

[FrankenWashie]

Really nice job there Mike, clean and simple. I think the B/W arrangement works really well with the black and timber tone of the body. You should be rightly proud of that.👏🏾👍🏾

[michaelS31]

Thanks Frankenwashie and DarkMark! The B&W combo came up a treat! Can't wait till she's set up and ready to roll!!

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