Second build! :O

[SIMpleONe89]

Oh no I've been bitten by the bug! But it's been a while since I finished my first scratch build. It was a success for a first timer like me. I didn't have any major issues with it, thankfully, but only had some areas where I could improve. And of course I learned from some mistakes and hopefully not repeat them again.

Since I spent a lot of time making my templates, I decided to build another super strat, this time with a killer 4A flamed maple top. I have hardware left over from the first build because I initially wanted to use chrome hardware but switched to black hardware to match the zebrano.

I intend to do a hand-rubbed burst and I'm still contemplating if I should do something like Suhr's Bengal Burst or a lighter honey burst or maybe a cherry burst. Even with the Bengal Bursts there are variations.*



The lighter bengal burst.

Once again, I have limited tools (jigsaw, router, drill and random orbital sander)*but slightly more time and patience, so hopefully the end result will still be awesome.

The materials are:

-AAAA flamed maple top (from StewMac, Beautiful piece!)
-Fijian Mahogany body
-flamed maple neck (flat saw unfortunately)
-pre-slotted 12" ebony board - might as well pay a few more bucks for them to do it perfectly for me.*

[SIMpleONe89]

I drew the outline and that's for a 22 fret. The neck humbucker definitely has to change if I decide to do a 24 fret.*

I'll discuss the hardware later on as I haven't decided what pickups to get.

So currently the plan is to do either a 22 or 24 fret, with 2 humbuckers and a 5 way super switch which allows for selecting the inner and outer coils in the 2 and 4 positions. I may do a 24 fret because the neck will sound different and I don't have many 24 fret guitars .

I also want to attempt to do a forearm contour, so that means I'll have to bend the 7mm drop top. I've been doing some research and the best way would be to route parallel relief holes in the top and went the top and gradually clamp a bend into it. Hopefully this method will work and I'll get an invisible glue line, something I didn't get for my first build.*

[SIMpleONe89]

This is the Fijian Mahogany blank after rough cutting with the jigsaw. Apparently Fijian Mahogany comes from the line of Honduras mahogany. They took those trees and planted them in Fiji. It smells like barbecue sauce when I cut it...yumm...

Once again it took quite a while because I'm using a jigsaw. I also made an effort to stay clear of the line because the blade might bend at the bottom.

Then I used my Shinto rasp to get closer to the line.


And since I don't have a thickness sander, I used a large sanding block to flatten the faces.


I normally would prefer to build the neck first, but I'm still waiting to order my truss rod. I guess it doesn't matter which one you build first but you need to have the neck on hand before you route the body cavities and neck pocket.

[WeirdBits]

That top Suhr, yum. And bending the top... ambitious, love it! it's going to be a fantastic build, I can't wait to see it unfold. Good luck.

[SIMpleONe89]

That top Suhr, yum. And bending the top... ambitious, love it! it's going to be a fantastic build, I can't wait to see it unfold. Good luck.

The bengal burst is probably one of my favourite Suhr colours. Bending the top is a bit ambitious but I'm still thinking if I should try it...

[wokkaboy]

nice one Simon, you have the scratchy bug now. Love the plans sure this axe will look something like the pics

[dingobass]

Noice.

With the neck I reckon it is time to take the gloves off.

Chop off enough to create a scarf joint headstock then split the rest into three and laminate the chunks together.

Reasoning behind this?
A much more stable and infinitely more sexy neck with a proper headstock angle.

Whilst you are at it, rout the neck pocket on a slight angle to give the neck a nice break angle.

That is all. 😉

[Dedman]

Simon, you are a machine! A machine with good taste at that LOL. This should be a killer

[andrewdosborne]

I'm looking forward to this build

Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk

[SIMpleONe89]

Noice.

With the neck I reckon it is time to take the gloves off.

Chop off enough to create a scarf joint headstock then split the rest into three and laminate the chunks together.

Reasoning behind this?
A much more stable and infinitely more sexy neck with a proper headstock angle.

Whilst you are at it, rout the neck pocket on a slight angle to give the neck a nice break angle.

That is all. 😉

I did think of doing a scarf joint and making it quartersawn and laminating the neck. However without a bandsaw it's hard to get the cuts straight by hand, unless you got any tips!

I do however, have plans for a bass in the works...

@Dedman and Andrew: Thanks for checking it out! Hopefully this will be greater!