EXA-1 Build

[Gibsonite]

Hi everyone. This is my first build. I decided to go with something fairly simple for a first project and work my way up. First impressions of the kit are good. All the glued joins are neat, the neck fits like a glove, frets appear to be pretty good. There were a couple of pretty decent tool marks around the edge of the body and a couple of small dings on the side of the rosewood fingerboard.

So then the sanding begins, i worked all of the rough tool marks out of the body with 120 grit. then went through 200, 320,400 and fine steel wool. i decided to hang the body so i could stain the entire thing in one go.



Then the same treatment for the neck. I've been lucky with this one, despite being three pieces it has some quite nice grain.


I've decided to finish the guitar with tru oil, Mainly because of how simple it is to apply and it looks great. Four coats on the body so far and three on the neck. I'm planning on about ten coats.


Really enjoying this kit so far. I've dug out a set of 6 a side fender tuners that i'm going to use, and a set of Gibson 490t/498r pickups. More pic's to come.

Jason.

[wokkaboy]

looking good Jason, what stain did you use ?
Don't stain or put any tru oil on the neck heel where it will glue to the neck pocket

[wokkaboy]

Jason before you go any further with the build please fit the neck and neck pickup and measure nut to 12th fret and 12th fret to E string saddles. I built one of these and the bridge post holes are too far south and had to chop some of the fingerboard/neck to make the distances needed to intonate the guitar

[Gibsonite]

Thanks Wokka, its red mahogany colourtone stain. I've masked off the heel of the neck to make sure no stain/ tru oil got into where it will be glued. I'll check those distances when the oil dries. Thanks for the heads up !!

[wokkaboy]

Thanks Wokka, its red mahogany colourtone stain. I've masked off the heel of the neck to make sure no stain/ tru oil got into where it will be glued. I'll check those distances when the oil dries. Thanks for the heads up !!

no worries, I had to chop about a 10mm notch out of the neck just before the 22nd fret as you can see in the picture attached.

[Gibsonite]

Nice guitar!! I'm really hoping that i wont have to touch the back of the neck but we'll see.

[wokkaboy]

cheers Jason. Best check the distances sooner rather than later. I ended up finding out when the neck and body will all finished/cleared and had to run the neck through the bandsaw.
From memory (don't quote me) nut to 12th fret is about 313mm and 12th fret to saddles was about 326mm so the bridge post holes were too far south on my kit

[gavinturner]

She's looking amazing Jason! Here's hoping there wont be any neck changes required. Watching your build with interest!

cheers,
Gav.

[robin]

Looking good Jason.

rob

[keloooe]

Nice colour Jason!