A 19 year old work in progress

[rob91bob]

Hello all,

I am new to the board and just returning to the world of guitar building. I built this guitar in 1998 and named her "The Cutting Board". I just got it back a few weeks ago.  It has seen better days but the neck and body are in great shape. I am in the process of sanding down the body, had a few scratches but held up well for just tung oil. The neck I have cleaned and oiled with Howard's Feed and Wax. I have one fret that has a small flat spot but still played well. I will just re-crown it and polish. I am thinking of installing a set of Dimarzio JP pick ups, Crunch Lab and Liquid Fire.

I am going to try the Crimson Guitar oil finish for the body, don't want it too glossy. It has to keep looking like a butcher block.

 

[bagman67]

Well, don't rush it.  Remember, in finishing, there are no short cuts!


:glasses9:


Seriously, though, that's a nice looking neck!

 

[BigSteve22]

Very nice match between the body and neck. Can we get some more information?  ???

 

[rob91bob]

Sure can, it is a solid walnut body in soloist style, standard flat mount bridge. The neck is the true work of art on this guitar! It is a Jackson headstock modern construction, 24 fret extension, 6150 frets, wood is rosewood with a Brazilian rosewood fretboard.  Previous incarnation the body was finished in tung oil and wax, pickup selection was Seymour Duncans, JBL and Jazz Neck.

 

[rob91bob]

A few updates, I got my pickups and rosewood pickup rings, they are just sitting in the body here.

I also burnished my neck some, its at 1500 grit in the photos, I may go to 2000 yet.

 

[Cagey]

That's gonna be a beauty!

If you do go to 2000 grit on the neck, be aware that the finer the grit, the longer it takes to make a difference as the cuts are much finer/smaller. It's worth it, though. It's unlikely you'll be able to see any difference, but you'll feel it.

 

[rob91bob]

First coat of finish on the cutting board!

 

[rob91bob]

one with the neck

 

[rob91bob]

Finish is complete, Crimson Guitar Finishing Oil and 3 coats of Howard's Feed and Wax. I liked the finishing oil, went on even, wiped off clean and left a nice sheen. I wired up the 3 way switch, volume knob, kill switch and jack and have it installed. I am waiting on my decal for the headstock, clear coat it, then I can put the tuners on. once that is done, string up and line up the pickups and get them screwed down. Its coming along!

 

[Cagey]

Looks good! Which means it is  good! The world needs more hardtail Strats.

 

[rob91bob]

Thanks, I am having fun working on this again. I remember the sustain this guitar use to have was amazing. The rosewood neck feels so amazing now with a good burnish!

 

[musicispeace]

A truly outstanding piece and must feel like an old friend coming home. Great work on the refinishing.  :hello2:

 

[rob91bob]

Thank you all for the encouragement! Headstock now has it's decal. A few more coats of lacquer and I will sand and buff! Tuners next and figure out what strings, probably .10's.

Going to be taking a break mid week and seeing the inspiration to the pickup choices. Dream Theater, Images and Words 25th Anniversary Tour with meet and greet! I am thinking about taking the Crunch Lab to have John Petrucci sign.

 

[BigSteve22]

Very nice! IMHO, a good headstock decal is the final crowning touch to any great design....  :headbang:

 

[macegtr]

Nice work Actually, I have also a 19 year old beaten up guitar,  Warmoth from 1998, however not built by me. Encouraged by your success here, maybe I should try to do some restoring actions...

 

[rob91bob]

So as I am working on the guitar it comes time to get the pickups mounted. First let's take them to a Dream Theater show!
Then let's get them signed by the guy they were designed for!

Lastly lets center them up and mount them to the guitar!

 

[Cagey]

Funny what people look for sometimes. The other day, somebody on another forum was looking for advice on how to get signatures off a guitar without harming the finish. Here, we have somebody going out of his way to get them on  :laughing7:

 

[Logrinn]

Cool! How was the show? John is such an amazing guitar player. And really nice guy.

 

[rob91bob]

Funny what people look for sometimes. The other day, somebody on another forum was looking for advice on how to get signatures off a guitar without harming the finish. Here, we have somebody going out of his way to get them on  :laughing7:

Hence why I had him sign the pickups and not the wood. But this one is for myself and won't ever be sold.

 

[rob91bob]

Cool! How was the show? John is such an amazing guitar player. And really nice guy.

Great show! 25th anniversary of Images and Words. John was outstanding along with the rest of the band!