I have begun my first time build of a Strat Ash body with a maple neck.
I've done a batwing head stock and am using Wudtone's Conch girl for the body and a clear coat on the neck from Wudtone too.
I am still deciding if I should upgrade the pickups and/or any hardware so any advice would be great!
Photos are of the body pre stain and post first coat.
Updates - headstock and second coat.
Ooh, a legit conch girl build. I don't think anyone else on the forum has used that colour yet. Looking very nice.
'As long as there's, you know, sex and drugs, I can do without the rock and roll.'
welcome to the forum Candice, build is looking great already. You must be about the 2nd builder to use conch girl it wasn't a hit colour with about 98% of builders being male !
If you want to upgrade pickups then the tonerider set on the PBG are good value and sound great. The other upgrades that a worthwhile are tuners, bridge and a bone nut. Also switch and pot upgrades are worthwhile if you are upgrading the pups.
Also you might look at a pink pearloid pickguard to match maybe ? The white pickguard may go ok with the pink ash
Current Builds and status
scratch end grain pine tele - first clear coat on !
JBA-4 - assembled - final tweaks
Telemonster double scale tele - finish tobacco burst on body and sand neck
Completed builds
scratch oak.rose gum Jazzmaster - assembled needs setup
MK-2 Mosrite - assembled - play in
Ash tele with Baritone neck - neck pup wiring tweaks and play in
Pabs, DB did a conch girl Junior LP to see how it looked and for a photo for the website when PBG were the distributorsOriginally Posted by pablopepper
Current Builds and status
scratch end grain pine tele - first clear coat on !
JBA-4 - assembled - final tweaks
Telemonster double scale tele - finish tobacco burst on body and sand neck
Completed builds
scratch oak.rose gum Jazzmaster - assembled needs setup
MK-2 Mosrite - assembled - play in
Ash tele with Baritone neck - neck pup wiring tweaks and play in
I stand corrected.
'As long as there's, you know, sex and drugs, I can do without the rock and roll.'
Looks great Candice. The conch works very nicely with the ash grain. Upgrades for an ST kit. I think at a minimum upgrade the machine heads (I use Gotoh SG381's as drop in replacements), the plastic nut to bone and input jack to a Switchcraft one. Then as Woks suggests pots / pups / switches. Tonerider pups are very good value.
Last edited by andrewdosborne; 22-10-2015 at 11:42 AM.
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#Planning 5 String Bass
Wow thanks for all the advice really helpful! I've already ordered a bone nut and I also ordered some abalone fret markers not too sure how to get them in there though, was going to see if I could find something that would fit into my drill to make the fit. Anyone who has done this or has any ideas about it would be great.
I couldn't really find any other examples of the conch girl colour but I thought I'd give it a go. I got the black pearloid pickguard which looks pretty good I think.
I'll have a look into the other upgrade ideas too, don't want to throw too much cash into it in case it's a bust but I plan on gigging with it so I'd like it to be a fairly decent set up.
Hi Candice,
you need to drill out the plastic fret dot markers, I usually use about a 1.5 or 2mm drill. Once you drill through the centre of the existing marker they weaken and usually pop out. If it doesn't come out get a really small phillips screwdriver to try pop it out.
You will need a brad point drill bit to clean out any glue/gunk and check the depth required on a scrap piece of wood. Most dot markers are 6mm or 1/4" (6.35mm) so work out the size of the markers.
Install the new markers a tad proud with a few drops of super glue and sand them flat with the fingerboard
Current Builds and status
scratch end grain pine tele - first clear coat on !
JBA-4 - assembled - final tweaks
Telemonster double scale tele - finish tobacco burst on body and sand neck
Completed builds
scratch oak.rose gum Jazzmaster - assembled needs setup
MK-2 Mosrite - assembled - play in
Ash tele with Baritone neck - neck pup wiring tweaks and play in
Welcome along Candice - couple of things -
with the pups, etc - one option is start with the stock and then see if you like the sound. In the end it could save you $100 or more...
As for the fret dots - we've got a how to guide here: http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=2584
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