ST-1 (Rhay)

[rhay]

Here are the post delivery shots of the Body and Neck.

I had intended on finishing this as a standard '62, in aged-white. However I thought I'd better wet the body down and check the grain, just in case I had scored something special.

Unfortunately not the case, but no biggie. There is a gap in the lamination (circled red) and a fairly accentuated flare above the lower horn (circled green). Also on the back is one random strip of timber that has vertical flames. So all in all this is a good candidate for an enamel finish.

The gold fretts were a bit of a surprise too, I suppose this is normal the rosewood necks.

More pics to follow soon. Hoping to nail this one in the next 6-weeks, ready for the SG-2 to land.

[Gavin1393]

Timbermate will sort out the gap in the lamination. My Spalted Maple Lp had the same issue. You'd never notice it and it was finished in Wudtone as are all 26 of the guitars I have built!
The 'flare' you refer to....are you sure that it is not glue or a section of over-polished wood?

[dingobass]

When you have sanded the body you will find that the figure will come out a lot more.
As for the gap, quite often they are quite shallow and a vigorous sanding will remove them.

[rhay]

Cheers for the feedback men! Sadly I would notice this one (lamination split), it is fairly wide and runs from the bridge aperture to the very tail and is not parallel to the grain. Although once filled someone who didn't know it had been there would probably miss it.

I wet-down the body to do a reveal on the grain and yep there is a bit of gum/glue staining, in addition to the interesting grain. Although, unlike the Tele I just completed, there does not seem to be any burnished (over sanded) marks, or any serious machining marks either. The flare is a bit like the flame maple in the SG-1F, however it only appears on one of the laminated blocks and sticks out like a dogs tea-bag.

Not a worry though, she was always going to be a vintage enamel job any way.

Cheers again for the feedback guys, I really appreciate it. It is quite amazing how friendly and helpful this Forum is - loving it!

[adam]

Gold frets??? What?

[dingobass]

Some times the nickle silver frets can have a gold hue to them.
Usually this disappears with time and natural oxidisation.
The fret wire used on this kit must have been brand new, hot off the press!

[rhay]

Could be DB, never seen this before.

When I place a white card or piece of chrome next to a frett they are certainly golden. Will wrestle the good digital camera off my Bro' tomorrow and take a few snaps.

[dingobass]

I would be really keen to see some good photos.

Of course there are "gold" frets, but I would be extremely surprised to see them on our kits as they are usually only found on high end Guitar and Basses!

[Gavin1393]

Quote from dingobass on May 31, 2013, 21:23
I would be really keen to see some good photos.

Of course there are "gold" frets, but I would be extremely surprised to see them on our kits as they are usually only found on high end Guitar and Basses!

...and, of course, along with no pickguards, it is extremely surprising to find any frets at all on a DB bass guitar!

[dingobass]

Yep, you have a point there Gavin.... Every time I look at your Hofner neck I have to fight off the urge to get the fret pullers out