Hey everyone.
I've been waiting 3 months for this kit and sure enough, it arrived an hour before I left on a 10 day holiday.
Good thing this is a stay at home long weekend here, and I can now take a good look at it.
I put some pieces together tonight to see how they fit.
The neck was too tight, one side of the binding on the body was protruding into the pocket by a mil so needed to be lightly filed back. Now a very snug fit.
The neck has an ever so slight back bow in it, but a tweek of the truss rod should sort it.
There are a few glue spots on the top of the body, so I'm off to Bunnings tomorrow for some Goof Off.
I have bought some Tonerider Alnico IV pickups with the zebra covers. I want to stain the top In the fashion of a faded burst, but not centred. I'm thinking the top horn will have a bit of red, then graded to orange in a curve from the lower horn, between the pick ups and around the top edge, tapering to a finish near the strap button at the bottom of the guitar. The rest predominantly in amber to highlight the quilted veneer.
For the finish. I am playing with the idea of finishing the top with a wipe on poly to protect the front and make it nice and glossy, but using the TRU OIL for the back, sides and neck for the satin finish and to allow the wood to move and breathe a bit. Also seems to feel better on the neck.
I haven't finalised my ideas on the headstock shape yet, but some rounding and carving may be involved.
I have some titebond 1 for the neck joint. Hopefully that's adequate.
This is my first ever guitar build, in fact my first ever fine woodworking project. It's taken me 41 years to get past failing woodwork in year 8.
Looking forward to the chat and your input.