Fred's Build diary for DIY closing down sale 335 125 string

[FredA]

Hey,
Some progress on the 12 strings. I gave the body another coat of Aussie Oil and it's looking pretty good now.
Not sure if I should polish it with anything? How do you guys finish TO? Does it need to be wet sanded and polished?
I'm getting ready to glue the neck, maybe next weekend, as I want to do the final finishing as one piece to ensyrevthe join between neck and body is finished too.

So I've progressed the neck too. Last week I did a full fret levelling, and this week I conditioned the fretboard with Dr Duck's AxWax and started buffing the headstock:




The headstock acrylic needs a few more weeks, it's still pretty soft. But it's starting to look good!

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[wazkelly]

With using TO it needs a bit of time to cure and have then wet sanded with micro mesh pads that range from 4000, 6000, 8000 up to 12000 grit. Once dried out after a day or so then apply Maguires car polish and it comes up like glass.

[FredA]

Hey guys,
I need some advice here.
I'm preparing to glue the neck and I've fitted the bushings for the bridge, all good.
When I push the neck as far as I can in the heel cavity, I measure 312mm from nut to 12 fret and 315-316 from 12 fret to the high e saddle that I've moved as far forward as I can.
Do you guys reckon that will be okay with compensation, or should I sand 1-2mm off the neck heel so it gets a bit more in?

Cheers
Fred

[WeirdBits]

Which way is the slope on the high e saddle? Also, check the neck pickup/ring fit with the neck in place before you consider mods to the heel.

[FredA]

The saddle is already facing the right way, the edge is as close to the nut as possible, see pic below.

Re fitting the neck pickup that's a good point and I may have to reroute it a bit, but I'm thinking I may not have too much of a choice...
I'm concerned that I won't be able to intonate the guitar otherwise.





Cheers

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[FredA]

@wazkelly: Forgot to say thanks. I've ordered micro mesh pads, I'll see how they work on Aussie Oil.
Cheers

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[FredA]

So, after a few hours thinking about it I went to gently sand the edge of the body as it was the easiest part to sand while keeping it straight.
After more measuring it looks like I now have 2-3mm more on the bridge side, so I thought that was it, and I got on to glue the neck.





We'll see tomorrow how it looks!

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[tonyw]

Looks very good Fred, i have been using the mico mesh pads for 10years 000 and 0000, sometimes i just feel the need to use some 0000 steel wool, a slightly different finishing texture i feel.

[FredA]

Cheers Tony.
I'll try to use micro mesh and then Maguires car polish on the Aussie Oil to see how it looks.
It's pretty glossy already!

[FredA]

Okay, the clamps are off!
And it looks like the neck is straight! Yeah!
Couldn't resist the photo opportunity:


Now, the neck join looks very rough...




Partly due to my sanding, but mostly because it was like that in the first place. Not a tightly adjusted connection I'm afraid...

So I'm going to fill these gaps with timbermate and apply Aussie Oil on top, should do the trick... Hopefully!

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