I'm building my first guitar, a GR-1SF. I've always been interesting in having a Gretsch-style hollowbody, but balked at the price/my talent ratio. So I'm really excited to build this.
I'm building my first guitar, a GR-1SF. I've always been interesting in having a Gretsch-style hollowbody, but balked at the price/my talent ratio. So I'm really excited to build this.
Here's the unboxing. I'm very pleased with the build quality. The neck needed a bit of adjustment, but a couple of slight turns with the truss rod made it nice and straight.
Spent a nice sunny day sanding and taking burrs off of frets.
Getting the electronics ready. I used some vellum and a HB graphite pencil to make a rubbing, then created a cardboard template to assemble the loom. I used the alternate tone wiring scheme found here. Although I was too lazy to do the ground jump on the third pin of the pots (we'll see if I live to regret that.) I've plugged it in to my amp, tapped the pickups with a file, and everything works! No hums or buzzes either. It's been a long time since if done any soldering, but it all came back to me. I used to solder my own MIDI cables because I liked to have custom lengths, so this was familiar to me. Next step is the finishing. I'm going for natural with Tru Oil. Depending on the drying time, I might be finished by the end of the week!
Yes, I have found myself in the same conundrum re: the Cost/My Talent ratio, though I lack your self control. I did manage to compromise slightly and get a silky sounding Eastman at a more acceptable C/MT ratio than an actual Gretsch.Originally Posted by jmax
FrankenLab
Hand crafting guitars, because Death Rays are expensive.
so Simon wasn't joking, you really do have sunny days in the UK
sorry couldn't resist
Last edited by Dedman; 31-07-2017 at 10:52 AM.
Build 19 PSH-1 Kustom
Build 18 HB-4S Kustom
Build 17 WL-1 Kustom
Build 16 TL-1TB Kustom
Build 15 PBG-2-
Build 14 FTD-1
Build 13 RD-1 Kustom
Build 12 DM-1S
Build 11 MKA-2 -
Build 10 Basic strat
Build 9 JM Kustom
Build 8 FV-1G
Build 7 ES-2V
Build 6- Community prototype
Build 5 LP-1LQ
Build 4 ES-5V
Build 3 JR-1
Build 2 GD-1
Build 1 TLA-1
Nice thinking with doing the rubbing! I lived in the UK for a couple of years when I was 7 and thought going to churches and doing brass rubbings was the coolest thing.
Completed Builds: #1 TL-1 "Telemaster" (GOTM Oct 2016); #2 The "Maplecaster" scratch build; #3 JB-4 "Bass IV" (co-winner GOTM Jan 2017); #4 ST-1M "Surfcaster" (GOTM Apr 2017), #5 JZA-1 "EC Deluxe"
In Progress:
Build #6 N1R "Semi-scratch" build
Build #7 JZA-1 Baritone
The Cavan Project
The Magnificent Compaņeros
After doing the rubbing with an HB graphite pencil, I went over the lines with charcoal - that way it was easy to transfer them to the cardboard simply by flipping it over and rubbing over the back of the vellum.
This site is a wonderful source of information - I learned why I should ground the third pin in this thread: http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...704#post146704
In the final stages of finishing. I'm amazed and pleased at the results I'm getting from Tru Oil. The neck is finished in just three coats. I've done four on the body and will decide tomorrow after 24 hours of drying if I need any more.
Putting the 4th coat on the body:
The finished neck - a really nice satin sheen in the light. It feels great too - can't wait to play it!
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