Another new guy

[Mr. E.]

Hello everyone - long time lurker, first time buyer (and builder). I ordered my first bodies (two simple, unfinished Strat bodies - one hardtail, one vintage trem routed), two necks (maple/rosewood and maple/pao fero), and all the hardware yesterday (to get in before the site change and any resultant price increases).

This year marks the 20th anniversary of my old band mate and good friend and I meeting for the first time and forming our first band. We both attended GIT's summer session in '89 and were roommates.

I thought a great way to mark the occasion would be to build (hopefully successfully!) a couple of "anniversary" guitars, and send him his as a surprise gift.

Of course, I've never built a guitar in my life, so this should be... interesting.

I'll send pics and keep everyone updated as the journey continues!

-erik

 

[Mr. E.]

the bodies:

Hardtail - Poplar, Top Routed, S S S Pickup Routing, Drilled For Vintage Stratocaster® Flat Mount, Top Jack, Heel Contour, Weight: 4 lbs, 12 oz
Trem - Alder, Top Routed, S S S Pickup Routing, Vintage Tremolo Routing, Top Jack weight:4 lbs, 8 oz

-erik

 

[tfarny]

Welcome! I had my eye on that poplar body, I love hardtails. Cruise the DIY finishing threads to get some finishing ideas, and let us know your plans for them.

 

[Mr. E.]

Thanks!

Since I'm new at building, and probably a glutton for punishment, I wanted try both hardtail and trem, contoured heel and "regular", etc.

I'm an artist (book illustrator) and an art director (advertising and product packaging) by trade. I am hoping to find a medium that will let me paint illustrative-style graphics on the bodies, but still be durable finishes and, of course, look good.

I'm wondering if art inks like Dr. Martin's, or art markers like these Prismacolors http://www.dickblick.com/products/prismacolor-four-in-one-markers/ will work?

-erik

 

[guitlouie]

Check out this thread.  I forget what Dr. Z used, but it's in that thread somewhere.  He seems to have gotten very good results!  Oh, and welcome.  Your gift to your buddy sounds incredible.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=5061.15

 

[Nando Vallart]

Welcome to the mess! ccasion14: :laughing7:

Very nice looking on these necks!

 

[blue313]

Welcome to the Boards, sounds like an awesome gift! 

I'm thinking that if you follow standard finishing procedures and stop after the primer stage, you could use anything that would be compatible with the primer and clear.  Those markers may work well but it would be easy to find out for sure.  Grab a hunk of poplar and experiment!

 

[Mr. E.]

Thanks everyone, and thanks for the tips. That Futurama guitar is amazing looking!

I'll get a few wood blocks and test some various inks and paints out, along with some masking films and liquids. See what kind of trouble I can get into.

-erik

 

[Mr. E.]

This sort of what I have in mind for the hardtail (the one for my buddy).

Probably something similar but in a different color scheme for the other guitar (mine)

-erik

 

[Nando Vallart]

Awesome photoshop! Really like the finish

 

[blue313]

I really like this one.  I'm both a fan of abstract art and lipstick tube pickups.  :icon_thumright:

 

[DocNrock]

Welcome and wonderful gift for your bud.  Looking forward to pictures of the completed projects.

On a different note, that is so awesome you were able to do the summer session at GIT.  I've always wanted to do that, but never had the money when I had the time, and now that I could afford it, I don't have the time.  :tard:

Very cool you were able to pull it off.

 

[Mr. E.]

well, after a lot of thought about paints and building a spray booth and the whole process taking 30-ish days (or more.... the weather here in the Midwest isn't exactly the best right now), I decided for my first builds to step back, buy some pre-finished bodies, and see how that goes before jumping into totally custom paint jobs.

Less cool, and certainly less personal, but I think I got swept up in the excitement of building custom guitars for my friend and I and I didn't think it through rationally. 

I'm kinda bummed, but more confident that this will turn out well, and definitely quicker.

So anyway, here's the bodies I bought and the two new concepts.

-erik

 

[Mr. E.]

Welcome and wonderful gift for your bud.  Looking forward to pictures of the completed projects.

On a different note, that is so awesome you were able to do the summer session at GIT.  I've always wanted to do that, but never had the money when I had the time, and now that I could afford it, I don't have the time.   :tard:

Very cool you were able to pull it off.

GIT was a blast. I Hear that it is a very different school now than it was then. Back when I went there was the summer session and the one year program. I think it is a full 4 years now.

-erik

 

[nathan a]

I love sentimental guitars. I really want someday to have someone I can build 'sister guitars' for.

 

[sundin4prez]

if you dont mind me asking, whats GIT?

 

[dbw]

I love sentimental guitars. I really want someday to have someone I can build 'sister guitars' for.

Got a sister?  :dontknow:

 

[Mr. E.]

stuffs here! including the unfinished bodies, which Warmoth said I could return, but now I don't know... thinking about keeping them for future builds  :toothy10:

GIT= Guitar Institute of Technology, a part of Musician's Institute.

-erik

 

[Mr. E.]

Assembly starts this weekend... the finished bodies came in!

Now because I'm already addicted, I decided the keep the unfinished bodies and, on top of that I just ordered a custom neck to go on one of them:

Neck Type: Warmoth Pro Strat
Neck Wood: Goncalo Alves
Back Contour: Fat Back
Fingerboard: Pau Fero fingerboard (Unique FB option wood #FB269)
FB Inlay: Mother of Pearl dots
Guitar Neck Side Dots: White
Tuner Holes: Vintage Style
Nut Width:1-11/16
Pre-installed Nut: Graphtec Graphite
Installed Frets: Stainless Steel 6115

I'm so hooked.    :help:

-erik

 

[Soylent]

Gonna be one heck of a build! Can't wait to see it.