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Driftwood Strat......Part 1 (body)

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scartozi

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I decided to start a new fresh thread for the body and once the neck comes in I'll do a "completed" thread.
Anyways, I tried to get the best pics I could this morning, it's pretty cloudy and I just couldn't get the light the way I wanted to capture the true color....NOT very happy with the pics but maybe it'll be sunny tomorrow and can take better ones. I'm very happy with the way it turned out nice and "Old" looking....c'mon neck!!!
 
Looks awesome.  Please tell me you'll be using the same material and aging process for the knobs and switch tip.
 
Well I'm not sure. Can't find a wooden selector switch knob. I'm really torn with the tone knobs. I thought about doing an ebony bell shape knob to go with the tuner buttons, fretboard and pickup cover. Then I thought about doing Wenge knobs to match the headstock. Haven't been able to find and "raw" wood one to do myself. I just don't know.....at this point its a toss up between the ebony and wenge........any thoughts?
 
Have you considered heavily reliced black plastic knobs / switch tip?  If done right, this could give very close to the same look as the pu covers and would look more like a traditional strat.  Of course, you'll be putting a 3 x 3 headstocked neck on there, so traditional probably isn't what you're after. 
 
No nuts in the neck pocket. 4 mounting holes, 2 building holes? And the mount for the mirco adjustment.
Its nice to start to see everything come together....especially since it was all in my head....and that's a scary place to be!
 
Alfang said:
Whats with the blind nut in the neck pocket?
Click to expand...

It's a neck-tilt adjustment Fender puts in to compensate for sloppy pocket routes and/or neck mills. You run a hex-drive set screw into that T-nut from the back of the guitar, which bears against the bottom half of the neck heel. Loosen the two lower neck attachment screws, screw in the tilt adjust, and the head moves backward to lower the string action down the fretboard. Tighten the attachment screws back up, and you're all set except now you have a sub-optimal neck attachment. It requires a neck plate with a hole in it if you're going to use the adjustment, which isn't always necessary.

099-1445-100-2.jpg
 
Pickguard: I actually wanted to get an Ash pickguard so the grain was all in the same direction but the company that I found laminated the wood over a thin white pickguard. I really didn't want a white outline showing. Believe it or not the pickguard I have on it now was made that way......right place right time, for once. I didn't know if it would match or not. I emailed a pic of my guitar and he thought it would match and it does. I wanted the grain to all go the same way but I think this has a good effect also. It looks darker in spots that I wanted and also fit with my "Old" Driftwood theme. He is in the process of making a back trem cover for me.

I've found out this is a difficult guitar to photograph and show the true color. Some pics make the finish look blotchy...to dark....to light. Maybe I'll get some time this week to get some better pictures. Having the body ready for the neck I'm more anxious than ever to get my neck and finish the project. Wednesday will be 4 weeks so I'd like to think within the next 2 weeks I should receive it.
 
scartozi said:
Pickguard: I actually wanted to get an Ash pickguard so the grain was all in the same direction but the company that I found laminated the wood over a thin white pickguard. I really didn't want a white outline showing. Believe it or not the pickguard I have on it now was made that way......right place right time, for once. I didn't know if it would match or not. I emailed a pic of my guitar and he thought it would match and it does. I wanted the grain to all go the same way but I think this has a good effect also. It looks darker in spots that I wanted and also fit with my "Old" Driftwood theme. He is in the process of making a back trem cover for me.

I've found out this is a difficult guitar to photograph and show the true color. Some pics make the finish look blotchy...to dark....to light. Maybe I'll get some time this week to get some better pictures. Having the body ready for the neck I'm more anxious than ever to get my neck and finish the project. Wednesday will be 4 weeks so I'd like to think within the next 2 weeks I should receive it.
Click to expand...
I have done the research and am going to pull the trigger tomorrow ordering my tele body. This thread has been an inspiration to me, I am going do mine up as yours, then wash it out to look sun faded, then put in Barn Red to look like it is a weather warn paint job, I am going to call it the Barn Door Tele.
I have to admit, looking at what you have done has been the deciding point for me, I am going for a med brown to accent the grain, a light brown fo rthe wood and then some off white milk paint way mixed down for the aging, after that the red but I an going to do that with a wet body so it finds it difficult to stick in any way and looks like it is all worn off. That is something I have to practice with wood I bought today at a lumber store. But I know it can be done. yours looks great.
 
OK, it's a micro tilt thing, Ok I get that, but it's still called a blind nut.

That's all I wanted to know thanks.
 
Justatele: make sure you post a build thread, I'll definitely be interested in seeing it all come together. Not that I'm a professional at this but let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help.
 
I ordered my body today, they say 4 to 6 weeks,
I got,
swamp ash
p90 x p90
american strat hardtail rout for the bidge
fore arm and belly cut
top rout
I am stoked
 
Jusatele: You gonna do a wooden pickguard or are you going to keep it "traditional"?

like you, I went out to a local wood craft store and got some samples of Alder before my project. Always helps with choosing the right stain, technique and finish.

 
I am trying not to take from your thread but, my approach is like you got went to this delapitated barn, cut out a piece of wood, and then built a fine guitar. I have to say that it is like the anti road worn guitar. I do not want it to look like it has been through hell. Just to show off how beautiful a piece of wood like that can be.
So I am going need someone to make a special pick guard for it. I want a custom Tele style guard, Parchment color now I do not want any control holes cut, the holes will be for the 2 p 90s and instead of the 4 holes for nobs, have it cut for a traditional silver control plate in the traditional place. That means the plate will go 2/3rds around the silver plate. I have  a mock up on kiskakea but cannot for the life of me get a copy, my puter just copies it all black. It is awesome looking.
 
Jusatele: when you are ready email this guy (George) he did my pickguard and it fit perfectly. He'll make whatever you want, great guy and fast shipping. Here is his website www.woodguarden.com
 
I'm already wanting to start another project! Maybe over the winter I'll get another body done. This time I'll order a Warmoth body blank and cut my own shape. I really want to build an Ergonomic type guitar next....like the one in my profile pic, and the upright position does make a difference....especially with a herniated disk. And, I just may finish it kind of like my Driftwood Strat....who knows.
 
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