Sonics 5th build - The Ultracaster (with special sneak peak)

[wazkelly]

Gold looks good, so does the purple too. Translucent mustard is more traditional and would also look alright.

[Sonic Mountain]

OK update time. I am very low on time and funds at the moment, although the lack of time should translate to extra funds in the next month or so. Making progress on this and the Steampunker has been a bit of a challenge.

So while I've decided not to do any drastic body modification I have had a go at reducing the heel and introducing a belly cut to the back and some other small ergonomics. It seems to be going well, but there is some fine tuning to go before finishing. I'm definitely leaning towards a yellow of some kind, whether its a stain or paint I'm not sure yet. I do quite like some of the grain showing in the basswood so I may have a go at stain and Cabots poly over it. I did a bench with it a couple of years ago and it's amazingly chip and dent resistant.











I tidied up the fret board that was curved just past the nut. Should clean up OK.



I've also drilled the neck and lined up the bridge. Only pilot holes to mount that for now. The cavity has been enlarged to move it forward, I plan to tidy it up a bit more before finishing, a new dremel is high on the list of priorities once funds allow. I am tossing up doing a string through as the bridge allows for it. Not sure my drilling skills are up to it, but I wouldn't mind having a go.



Couple of things that will need addressing - the back plate for the neck is nice and straight against the cutout, but along the edge before the neck there is a bit of an angle so it looks crooked, I will tidy it up and blend into the top horn curve.



This is something I didn't really notice until I ran the strings down to the bridge, the nut is offset towards the low E and that whole edge of the fret board has a massive bevel on it. Not really ideal! I don't think there is much I can do about it. I'll put a new nut on and play with the positioning a bit there and see if the high E will sit over the bevel or not. Fingers crossed it'll work out OK. I allowed for it with the bridge pilot holes so hopefully everything will run true when I put it together.



Other side seems fine.

[Sonic Mountain]

Hmmmm.

Well I threw caution to the wind and had go with some stain. The wood looks quite nice... but I just don't really know if its me...

I'm thinking of maybe trying a burst on this now, which would look pretty classic. If that doesn't work I think I'll go back to painting it either yellow or big flake gold.

[Simon Barden]

It's quite a nice colour, but left plain, it will get compared against a standard butterscotch or butterscotch blond Tel, and look a bit too yellow. A sunburst would work well.

[Sonic Mountain]

Yeah I agree. I don't think it will jibe very well with the maple neck either. Bursts aren't really my style either, but I think that's what this needs. It's something new for me to try out as well, so worth it from a learning perspective.

[Sonic Mountain]

I have to say....It's growing on me...





The bridge cover doesn't fit with the pick guard, and the pick guard doesn't actually fit up the base of the neck. But I think it will be easy enough to adjust it a bit.

[Simon Barden]

I agree, it looks better than I thought it would with a pickguard on. It's going to look slightly darker with a clear finish on it.

[FrankenWashie]

Tasty. Very tasty. Another lovely job Sonic.

Edit: I really should get around to finishing my TLA-TH.

[Grubsta]

It's looking nice Sonic the pickguard makes a big difference i like where your going with it.

[Wayne.Mumford]

Nice color Sonic, it’s a very clean look.