Idiot tries to build guitar!

[Martin Walker]

I'm green with envy (not dye)!

[Drew Stephenson]

Shaping up nicely, were you thinking of making the edges black and going for a full burst effect or are you happy with how the dye has gone into the grain?

[Wonks]

I was just wondering where you plan to put the top horn strap button. You've made the horn very pointed so you can't put it on the end. Your two example guitars in your first posts have rounded horn ends so the buttons (just about) fit on the end.

Don't forget to remove the masking tape around the end of the neck for your next spray of clear coat. You don't want to build up a ridge line. You'll want to spray the edges of the fingerboard, so now just have masking tape on the top of the board. I normally leave it sticking over the ends then cut it off level with the edge using a scalpel.

[garrettendi]

Looking great! What colour will the hardware be? Sorry if you've already said, I'm too lazy to go back and check...

[Kwackman]

I was just wondering where you plan to put the top horn strap button. You've made the horn very pointed so you can't put it on the end. Your two example guitars in your first posts have rounded horn ends so the buttons (just about) fit on the end.

On the back like an SG?
Some SGs have the button on the back near the neck, others have it on the back of the upper horn. The upper horn position seems to be a mod, to stop "neck dive".

I do like that colour

[Jumpeyspyder]

thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

Drew - I didn't trust the black dye I have, to work well enough for 'full burst', but I did use it on the edges has come out a dark brown which is OK

Garratendi - All hardware + pickups will be black

Wonks/ Kwak - I'm putting the strap button right on the point ! (I will use a slightly longer screw)

[Wonks]

On the back like an SG?
Some SGs have the button on the back near the neck, others have it on the back of the upper horn. The upper horn position seems to be a mod, to stop "neck dive".

I don't think the back of the neck position will work here as the back of the neck heel is curved for access, and where it flattens you're then into the neck pickup rout area, so you can't use a long enough screw to hold a strap button safely.

I think it's likely to be a bit neck heavy with the strap button on the heel (if it could be fitted there), especially given the 26-fret nature of the neck, so the button would need to be well back towards the body at the heel position to allow access.

Back of the upper horn will probably be the best position.

[Wonks]

Wonks/ Kwak - I'm putting the strap button right on the point ! (I will use a slightly longer screw)

Hmmmm. I can see the wood at the very point splitting quite easily.

If you really want to stick it there, then I'd round it off a bit and re-stain first.

[Telemaxis]

I'm with Wonks on this one - either round off and re-stain or put it on the back of the top horn. You've done a cracking job so far, would be a real shame to see it split now.

[Jumpeyspyder]

thanks Wonks & Telemaxis comments appreaciated

..So getting colour and finish at neck / body joint was problematic and also headstock colour would have too 'woody'. decided to stain the outer maple strips.

New stain not as even as I wanted. I did have an idea to mix a small amount of stain into the poly finish, I hoped it would help blend in some more colour, but some kind of reaction happened and the mix solidified into bright green plastic like lumps!



Really pleased with the headstock


Neck body joint finishing not quite how I wanted it - but happy enough after some touching up with a marker pen!



..so tempting to call it a day with finishing and just get all the hardware installed! Must persist and get back to 'varnishing'

[Eddy Deegan]

For the benefit of folks following this topic (myself included) I've pinged Eddie about the imgur blackout.

Once he and I have talked we'll relocate the photos and I'll fix all the image links in the topic to date. Bear with us in the meantime.

[Kwackman]

Once he and I have talked we'll relocate the photos and I'll fix all the image links in the topic to date. Bear with us in the meantime.

Great idea, many thanks

[Eddy Deegan]

I think we're good at this point. I've updated Eddie's posts plus a few replies that quoted images but may not have caught everything.

If I've missed any or got any wrong let me know but bear in mind I've only captured and rehosted the 70-or-so images in Eddie's original posts (as opposed to any posted by anyone else).

[zenguitar]

Nicely done Eddy

Andy

[Jumpeyspyder]

Thanks so much Eddy for your fantastic thread repair!
I owe you at least a beer!

[Jumpeyspyder]

I guess I also need to do an update!
I've spent the days & days applying poly (I don't thing I enjoy 'finishing' so much)
I used a few light coats of 'U-Pol clearcoat' spray just provide a seal on the water based dye - worked well (But very sticky and probably hazardous so sprayed outside).
Then I reverted to layering up what turned out to be a water based poly.
No problem, but didn't polish very well:-


Not as good as the neck with just a few coats.(and no polishing)


So ordered 2 cans of U-pol, one can should be enough, but if it doesn't react well might need to scrape off all the water base poly and reapply!
Got a quite few coats of U-Pol done today waiting to see what it looks like tomorrow.

Also added a Headstock logo (by hand - I don't think you needed me to tell you that)

Gave it a few coatings to seal it - but sanded just enough to make it smear.

[Folderol]

Looking more like a 'proper' guitar

[Kwackman]

Looking good Eddie, even the logo!
If you’ve seen the graphics on very expensive “boutique” guitar pedals, your logo looks like a masterpiece
This is a great thread, and thanks to Eddy for rescuing it

[Jumpeyspyder]

Finished, finishing last night!
Not perfect, but I've learned a lot - (when sanding the if there are any shiny bits left - its not flat enough!
I could add more coats and sand back again - but weather is against me and I'm happy enough with the results as a first attempt!




Next jobs - Clean up some of the mess from the cavities, file out overspray from inside machine head holes, install hardware & electronics, make cavity covers!

Getting very close!

[Drew Stephenson]

Looking good.

[BillB]

Very nice sheen on that, Eddie!

[Martin Walker]

Yay!! MORE good news

Congratulations Eddie - I look forward to seeing more when your bits are installed

[Jumpeyspyder]

Hardware & strings fitted!

Glad it didn't explode into splinters with the string pressure!

Tuners fitted fine, but low E took a little fettling to make it work.(the headstock was slightly too thick due to the unplanned volute)
Some idiot seems to have fitted the string retaining bar and blocked access to the truss rod hex



Discovered what I thought was a Di Marzio bridge position (DP151) actually had DP159 stamped into the back = neck position!
Luckily I bought a cheap set of alnico humbuckers so just swapped around

FR copy Trem is not impressing me, fine tuners are not smooth and the assembly doesn't inspire confidence - will live with it for a while - maybe it will improve with setup - if not I might fork out for a schaller or a real FR.



Just soldering up the electronics, cover plates, & strap buttons to go!

[Wonks]

DP159 is an Evolution bridge pickup (not neck). However you may have meant it’s a standard width, not an F-spaced one. DP151 is a PAF pro which is good for both neck and bridge (though again, there are standard and F-spaced versions).

The 159 has a significantly higher output than the 151. (400 vs 300 in DiMarzio output ratings).

The 158 is the Evolution neck pickup. Which is still a reasonable output at 298 output. I doubt it would sound quieter than the PAF Pro.

[Jumpeyspyder]

DP159 is an Evolution bridge pickup (not neck). However you may have meant it’s a standard width, not an F-spaced one. DP151 is a PAF pro which is good for both neck and bridge (though again, there are standard and F-spaced versions).

The 159 has a significantly higher output than the 151. (400 vs 300 in DiMarzio output ratings).

The 158 is the Evolution neck pickup. Which is still a reasonable output at 298 output. I doubt it would sound quieter than the PAF Pro.

Excellent info - I mostly use bridge pickup so much happier to use the higher quality pup in the bridge position, Thanks Wonks