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Thread: Gavins Aqua Surfer ST-1

  1. #1
    Overlord of Music gavinturner's Avatar
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    HOLGATE NSW
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    hi guys,

    Received an exciting package this week - a new ST-1 kit for my neice's birthday in December. She has requested an 'Aqua' electric guitar, so the plan is to create a custom colour based on Surfer Girl and adding a little T-Bird to the mix. Very exciting stuff.



    This will be my first build with Wudtone, (trumpets sound!!) and my first attempt at mixing a custom colour, and a guitar that's going out as a present, so I'm pretty nervous about the whole thing. I have also ordered a Vintage Amber neck finishing kit.

    I'm in the middle of putting together a dry-run build at the moment. The whole strat thing is a mystery to me, so I'm just working out where the springs go . So far I have managed to swap out the original scratch plate with a nice perloid one. Had an interesting time worrying about whether the selection switch knob would come off, but finally my puny IT arms managed to budge it .



    As soon as I am sure that I can correctly seat the neck, bridge and scratchplate (and those pesky tremelo springs) I'll tackle the sanding and Wudtone.

    Stay tuned!

    cheers,
    Gavin.

    --
    Build #01: BC-1
    Build #02: ST-1
    Build #03: JR-1DC
    Build #04: ES-2V
    Build #05: ESB-4 (GOTM July 2014)
    Build #06: RC-1
    Build #07: MK-2
    Build #08: TLA-1
    Build #09: JR-1DC
    Build #0A: LPA-1
    Build #0B: STA-1 (GOTM April 2015)
    Build #0C: MKA-2
    Build #0D: LP-1M
    Build #0E: JB-1
    Build #0F: FS-1

    Find me:
    https://www.facebook.com/firescreek.guitars/
    http://www.guitarkitbuilder.blogspot.com.au/

  2. #2
    Good stuff! I'm still deciding whether the ST-1 or TL-1 will be next up, but also looking to use Wudtone next. Very keen to see how you go mate

  3. #3
    GAStronomist stan's Avatar
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    awesome Gav. Put Strat Trem Springs into Google and a bunch of pics, info and youtubes show up.

  4. #4
    Moderator Brendan's Avatar
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    Great work Gav - good to see us IT types can achieve feats of strength . Good luck with the colour!

  5. #5
    Overlord of Music gavinturner's Avatar
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    /<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Brendan on September 14, 2013, 20:20
    Great work Gav - good to see us IT types can achieve feats of strength . Good luck with the colour!
    Hmm, my wife may have loosened it for me. At least that's her story .

    Cheers,
    Gavin.
    --
    Build #01: BC-1
    Build #02: ST-1
    Build #03: JR-1DC
    Build #04: ES-2V
    Build #05: ESB-4 (GOTM July 2014)
    Build #06: RC-1
    Build #07: MK-2
    Build #08: TLA-1
    Build #09: JR-1DC
    Build #0A: LPA-1
    Build #0B: STA-1 (GOTM April 2015)
    Build #0C: MKA-2
    Build #0D: LP-1M
    Build #0E: JB-1
    Build #0F: FS-1

    Find me:
    https://www.facebook.com/firescreek.guitars/
    http://www.guitarkitbuilder.blogspot.com.au/

  6. #6
    Overlord of Music gavinturner's Avatar
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    hi guys,

    I should have been working today (that code's not going to cut itself), but I worked on the strat instead. Not a difficult decision that one. I managed to get the whole guitar assembled for a test fit and also shaped the headstock. The headstock isn't perfect - i might shape it a little more with sand paper before the wudtone starts - but I'm happy enough for now. Having not done a strat before, I sweated a bit over the bridge placement, but I think it nailed it with the help of the Stewmac fret calculator and my trusty metal ruler. Time will tell on that one I guess.

    cheers,
    Gavin.


    --
    Build #01: BC-1
    Build #02: ST-1
    Build #03: JR-1DC
    Build #04: ES-2V
    Build #05: ESB-4 (GOTM July 2014)
    Build #06: RC-1
    Build #07: MK-2
    Build #08: TLA-1
    Build #09: JR-1DC
    Build #0A: LPA-1
    Build #0B: STA-1 (GOTM April 2015)
    Build #0C: MKA-2
    Build #0D: LP-1M
    Build #0E: JB-1
    Build #0F: FS-1

    Find me:
    https://www.facebook.com/firescreek.guitars/
    http://www.guitarkitbuilder.blogspot.com.au/

  7. #7
    Member
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    That pearl scratch plate looks nice. I'm contemplating the same on mine just not sure what colour pearl to go with.

  8. #8
    Overlord of Music gavinturner's Avatar
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    hi guys,
    More progress today. I finished sanding the neck with 240, 360 and 400 grit. I raised the grain at 360 with methylated spirits and again at 400. Managed to splash a little metho on the rosewood fretboard and the black dye immediately ran. Of course it ran straight onto the maple neck. Not too bad to clean it up, but I won't be making that mistake again!

    With the neck sanded I was able to start applying the Vintage Amber Wudtone. I have to say this stuff is everything the experts here in the forum say it is. Of course all you guys already know this - it is me who is the late comer to this particular party!





    One base coat is on, and now I have to wait 2 days for the next coat. The colour is not quite even on the front of the headstock (maybe I put too much on?) but i'm hoping it will even up on the next coat. While I'm waiting for it to dry, it's time to get the body preped for my custom 'Aqua' colour mix.

    cheers,
    Gavin.
    --
    Build #01: BC-1
    Build #02: ST-1
    Build #03: JR-1DC
    Build #04: ES-2V
    Build #05: ESB-4 (GOTM July 2014)
    Build #06: RC-1
    Build #07: MK-2
    Build #08: TLA-1
    Build #09: JR-1DC
    Build #0A: LPA-1
    Build #0B: STA-1 (GOTM April 2015)
    Build #0C: MKA-2
    Build #0D: LP-1M
    Build #0E: JB-1
    Build #0F: FS-1

    Find me:
    https://www.facebook.com/firescreek.guitars/
    http://www.guitarkitbuilder.blogspot.com.au/

  9. #9
    Great! Look forward to seeing the body work!

  10. #10
    Overlord of Music gavinturner's Avatar
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    HOLGATE NSW
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    hi guys,

    A lot of progress in the last week. I have mixed my custom Wudtone colour by combining Surfer Girl and T-Bird in equal measure. The colour looks nice, but I'm having a devil of a time getting a good photo of it. Photos either look green or blue depending on the amount of light! I'm getting the Wudtone on, and trying desperately to resist putting it on too thickly (and failing I think). The finish is looking a little streaky as a result. Anyone have some sage advice? Here you can see coat 1 and coat 2. See the colour difference due to the lighting conditions? Wierd. It's the same if i try to photo the bottle!



    Anyway, I attached my custom decal to the headstock and am applying the clear coats with a small brush. The second coat of clear went on very thickly (despite all care) and visible streaks have set in the finish (when you hold it up to the light). I'm thinking about wet sanding it back. Anyone have more advice for me on this score? I'm quite worried about this one as the headstock is a very important (ie visible) part of the build.



    cheers,
    Gavin.
    --
    Build #01: BC-1
    Build #02: ST-1
    Build #03: JR-1DC
    Build #04: ES-2V
    Build #05: ESB-4 (GOTM July 2014)
    Build #06: RC-1
    Build #07: MK-2
    Build #08: TLA-1
    Build #09: JR-1DC
    Build #0A: LPA-1
    Build #0B: STA-1 (GOTM April 2015)
    Build #0C: MKA-2
    Build #0D: LP-1M
    Build #0E: JB-1
    Build #0F: FS-1

    Find me:
    https://www.facebook.com/firescreek.guitars/
    http://www.guitarkitbuilder.blogspot.com.au/

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