Tims ash ST-1 linseed oil finish (First Build)

[wokkaboy]

Tim, if its only the 5 way switch is making the black pickguard proud I'd carefully drill some holes around the area it is bottoming out, just drill small amounts at a time and test the fit.
With the pickguard/bridge fit, is the neck in place in that photo so the pickguard is close to its final position ? You may have to carefully file the edges that aren't parallel or trace the white pickguard shape and try and replicate that

[crundes]

haha yeah the sanding process has certainly taken away the need for any gym membership. My arms have been feeling like lead weights at my side after the hours I've been putting in!

The neck isn't in place in that photo however it is in alignment with the neck pocket shape and the bridge is square in the photo so I think it's just been cut poorly. If I file anything back, there will still be that gap between the bridge and the pickguard, which doesn't show at all with the other pickguards.

Re the 5 way switch

'

[crundes]

whoops didn't mean to post that then....

anyway re the 5 way switch, it is the only thing stopping it from sitting in the route properly. I think I will just do as you've said and drill in small amounts until it fits. Any tips on marking exactly where to drill? or would you just do it by sight?

[WeirdBits]

Remember that you will also need some clearance for the cavity shielding, so you may be better off carefully 'shaving' a slight depression in the cavity below the switch with a chisel (just by hand, without a mallet) or just use some coarse sandpaper on a small block. Try and work out how much deeper it needs to be before you start, so you only take out what's needed. If it's much more than 3mm you may want to look for a shallower switch.

As far as marking the position, if you have some carbon paper cut a piece that will cover the general area, place it 'carbon down' in the cavity, then press the pickguard in position and it should mark where the switch is touching. You can get similar results with some heavy pencil lead scribbled onto a piece of baking paper, although it will leave a much lighter impression.

[quiet1_au]

Looking good crundes - the ash grain sure rewards sanding effort, just watch out for the fuzzies/whiskers you get after damping down the wood - a quick hit it with the sandpaper will knock those off and make for an even smoother finish :-) Dark Tease is pretty striking on ash grain - a nice choice!

[wokkaboy]

Tim, you could blue tac a brokken piece of lead from a pencil to the low point and hopefully that would mark the part of the cavity that lines up with the switch. Or loosely put the blue tac on the bottom of switch and it may stick to the cavity.

[crundes]

@wokka and Scott. Thanks for the advice gents both very good ideas will get some chisels tomorrow and start that divot for the switch I don't think it is more than 3mm that I'll have to remove.

@ quiet 1. Thanks for the compliments I need to change the title of my thread though the original plan has completely changed from the dark tease to a linseed oil finish on the body and a tru oil neck.

[stan]

great effort, looks nice, especially with the black pickguard

[stevierayvannabe]

Not sure if it will help but when my wife and I were doing some work around the house, drywalling a room, when trying to determine where to cut the drywall around things we couldn't see, my wife took an old lipstick, colour doesn't really matter, and outlined the offending part. When the drywall was put up and pressed then removed we had a really nice outline of where to cut.

The guitar looks great.
Cheers

[gavinturner]

Looking great Tim. I especially like the black pickguard. Gonna be one awesome lookig and sounding axe when you are done!

cheers,
Gav.