"Starcaster" Build

[ihasmario]

Tidied up the binding and the top. There's one area where the colouring didn't take quite the same - it looks like the wood was filled with something after the F hole binding was applied. It's showing up more in this picture.

The first clear coat is on everything now - just the top and sides are drying now.

The automotive metal flakes are ordered - got a few colours just to run a test demo. They're going in the next clear coat. The clear coat I am using is a bit difficult to apply thickly and I am not sure it dies truly clear - so they might actually be hard to cover up and get a smooth surface if I don't want to end up with a green guitar. I expect they'll arrive Monday, possibly Tuesday. And I expect the pickups etc to arrive soon.

Here's two pictures of what it looks like right now.

From here it's circuit design (so tune out now if you find that stuff boring). I've decided I will probably drill a hole in the side of the body and have a jack put in on the side, rather than using the one on the top. But I haven't committed to that idea. That would give me five knobs on the front like the classic starcaster - but I'm not sure I have the resourcefulness for that, and I can probably get a better or just as versatile circuit in just 4.

[Nickosaurus]

Looks good mate!

There's tons you could do with that extra space. If you could do it without going crazy dropping a boost circuit into this guitar would be cool. Even if you added a toggle for a kill switch if you like to use one live

[gavinturner]

Looking fantastic! What are you using for clear coats? Such a great kit. I've got to get me one!!

cheers,
Gav.

[WeirdBits]

Looks very nice, blue is really coming to the fore at the moment.

If you want to use that 5th hole you could always add a 2-pole multi position rotary switch (if you can get one through the f-hole... it's *sort of* possible on the ES-1 not sure about this kit), then you could select between different caps for the pups and even have a 'no tone control' setting.

[ihasmario]

Gav - True oil :^^)))

Weirdy - I think I have some mini rotaries left over from my previous build that are about the size of a mini pot. Altronics has them.

Getting the sparkles just right is difficult. It either looks messy, or too busy. I might have to try mix in some blue sparkles along with the silvers.

Here's a few pics. It's on the back and neck only so I can always redo it if I don't like it when it sets.

I did it by sprinkling it on the body and then wiping over it. I might do it a bit differently on the front and sides - maybe mix it with the top coat and just wipe them on. Maybe I'll get a less dense coverage that doesn't look like specs of dust.

[stan]

actually looks pretty good, that blue is great

[ihasmario]

I've decided to take off the sparkles on the back and redo them. I think the plain silver is not as good as the holo silver - which works great. The neck looks fantastic now that it is more or less set.

I'll get out the sand paper and start taking them off for round 2.

[keloooe]

Yeah try getting some clear coat in a seperate container and mix in whatever ratio of sparkle and clear works best for you.

[ihasmario]

I decided to try the front and the sides before taking off the back. Mixing it directly onto a rag resulted in massive clumps, so I just kind of spread it out from there.

I reckon now that it's all covered, it looks pretty damn good. The angled picture shows the rainbow/sparkle effect you get when you tilt it in light. You can see some parts are still wet here though I won't be taking them off the back after all

PS: The pickups and bridge are here

[wokkaboy]

coming along nicely Ihasmario, sparkles on the blue will look way cool with more clear coats