Lefty Trini build

[LexLuthier]

Update:

I've got this thing mostly sanded and I am waiting for the weather to improve a bit before I start spraying. I don't know how accurate this is, but I read that spraying in sub 60 degree (15ish degrees celsius?) weather can be problematic because condensation can develop.

At any rate, yesterday I got all of the replacement hardware I wanted to use. I did a mock build and it looked good to go. The neck seems to have a decent convex bow, but it is otherwise straight and the strings mostly cleared all of the frets. I will probably clean up the frets with a file on the back end. I did not sand the heel or pocket, so I am hoping there are no problems with the angle of the neck.

It's been really fun to get to this point! I got this kit in the fall, shaped the headstock, and then put everything on hold for a new kiddo. I am lucky enough to be on leave now so I should have plenty of time to work on this in between naps.

Anyway, here is where I am at now (hooray! the neck did not fall off when I unclamped it!)






My next steps will be to finish/fine tune sanding, make the wiring harness (I got some orange drop caps, CTS 500K left handed pots, and a switchcraft switch to sub out the items that came with the kit). Once the weather clears up, I am going to spray this pale gold with nitro paint in a tent outside with proper safety gear. Once that settles and looks good, I will drop the burstbucker 1 and 2s in it and have a buddy 3d print me a truss rod cover. I am still debating whether to do a waterslide decal on the headstock.

I was admittedly intimidated by the neck gluing process. It feels so final. Even though the instruction guide was helpful, I found myself hanging on every word of different Youtube videos as well. I am hoping to get good action from the neck despite not fiddling with the neck angle or modding the pocket/heel.

[fender3x]

I was admittedly intimidated by the neck gluing process. It feels so final. Even though the instruction guide was helpful, I found myself hanging on every word of different Youtube videos as well. I am hoping to get good action from the neck despite not fiddling with the neck angle or modding the pocket/heel.

I can relate. It looks good, though!

I just rattle-can sprayed an ES body and neck. My second--or third, if you count my first botched attempt ;-) Are you planning to tape the binding? I know from the internet that you can scrape after finishing, but I have always taped with 3M vinyl tape. I still usually need to do a little scraping, but just a little cleanup rather than the whole binding.

[LexLuthier]

Thanks! I actually plan to paint over it. I am going for something like this: https://images.reverb.com/image/uplo...f1ko8cdaa0.jpg. I’m hoping the paint and finish will be enough to adhere to the guitar on its own.