Dyed black Strat build

[DesmoDog]

Yeah, the first pic was my number one choice too, the black pearl I already knew wouldn't work but I guess I feel silly having spent the money so I keep slapping it on there.  :sad1:

I think you're right on the output jack too. I searched out a nickel jack plate for a reason, I need to stop second guessing myself! having sad that... when the neck shows up I may have to take another look at pick guards.. Warmoth had a showcase shot of this with a cream(?) colored pickguard that might look really nice with the neck on there.

P.S. Is it bad that I'm already planning out a Jaguar build for after I finish this AND buy/mod a Jagmaster to see if I like the 24" scale?  :evil4:  This may be even more fun than building bikes!

 

[Cagey]

I've got a drawer that's collecting hardware, pickguards, etc. that I bought just wondering. You can only tell so much by pictures - real life is the final decider - so sometimes you end up with leftover parts. Whaddaya gonna do? Sooner or later they'll come in handy, or somebody will need them and you can do them a favor.

 

[DangerousR6]

I've got a drawer that's collecting hardware, pickguards, etc. that I bought just wondering. You can only tell so much by pictures - real life is the final decider - so sometimes you end up with leftover parts. Whaddaya gonna do? Sooner or later they'll come in handy, or somebody will need them and you can do them a favor.

I did the same thing with Billy Bo, bought a trapeze tailpiece from a '62 Kay, then another tailpiece, then the Gretsch "G" tailpiece..... :doh:


BTW, wht pg black covers, all nickel parts.... :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

P.S. Is it bad that I'm already planning out a Jaguar build for after I finish this AND buy/mod a Jagmaster to see if I like the 24" scale?   :evil4:  This may be even more fun than building bikes!

Hehe! No, not at all. In fact, I suspect if you polled the members of this forum, you'd find a very large percentage do the same thing. There's something addictive about a successful build that drives you to do it again. Of course, it doesn't help that there are all these people egging you on <grin>

I have a Strat in process right now, waiting on a neck that won't be here until July, and in the meantime I'm plotting and planning all sorts of "next" guitars for the stable. I'd like a hardtail Strat, I'd like a tricked-out Soloist, and I'd like an LPS done up fancy but simple at the same time.

Warmoth, in conjuction with a lot of very nice aftermarket suppliers just makes it so easy to get what would normally cost thousands of dollars if you bought it from a custom builder that you can't help yourself. You gotta do it <grin>

 

[AutoBat]

white pg, black knobs & pup covers, silvery hardware

 

[DesmoDog]

The screws that hold the pickups in place have an angled base, for a countersunk hole. Screws for the switch are countersunk too.

The pickguard only has countersunk holes for it's mounting screws, not for the pups or the switch.

Should I countersink the holes for the pups and switch too?

I've been working on mechanical stuff for the vast majority of my life. Seeing countersunk screws sitting on non-countersunk surfaces bothers me... unless there are pressings reasons NOT to countersink the holes, I'm gonna do it...

Oh yeah, one of the Fender pickups doesn't fit in the GFS pickup cover either. The poles aren't quite perpendicular on any of them, but on one it's off enough that they won't go in the holes. Also, the spacing is ever so slightly off between the GFS covers and the Fender covers. FWIW - the Fender covers don't fit quite right either, they foul the wires and need to be shaved a bit to sit flush on the base of the pickup.

Nothing that isn't easily fixed, but still... I'm hoping taking the holes out a touch so there's more clearance won't annoy me like the non-countersunk holes do! Luckily the pickup is black too, so I doubt enlarging/ovaling the holes a little is going to be noticable.






Who am I kidding? Smart money says I'll be ordering real Fender pick up covers before this is all said and done!  :doh:  At least the area to be modified on those is hidden when they're installed.

 

[Cagey]

Let me put it like this: If you don't countersink all those holes, God's gonna to kill a whole raft of puppies. And not just any ol' puppies, either. I'm talkin' Bichon Frise puppies...

Please... countersink your pickguard holes!​

It's sad, isn't it? So, don't be cruel. You can countersink your holes very easily, and it won't take hardly any time out of your day at all. Plus, everything will look a lot nicer, too.

The tools aren't expensive. You can get a countersink bit at the local hardware for between $5 to $7. That's less than the cost of double quarter pounder with cheese, small fries, and a coke. If you don't have a drill motor, you can get a 3 bit hand-driven countersink set from Amazon for $5.

I question the quality of it at that price, but it's not like you're going to use it for production purposes. If it lasts for one pickguard it's paid for itself, and I'm sure it'll go longer than that.

 

[DesmoDog]

Let me put it like this: If you don't countersink all those holes, God's gonna to kill a whole raft of puppies. And not just any ol' puppies, either. I'm talkin' Bichon Frise puppies...

DUDE! I was, like, you know, all worried and stuff?

Because when you say "puppies" I think of this:

But then I was like, ya know, if a bunch of these^^^^  were in a raft, like, they'd just swim to shore if anything happened to the raft, cuz, like, well, I dunno, they like water and stuff? So I got confused. And then I saw the picture and thought "oh, yeah, I see. Well, that kinda looks like a chew toy... and they never last long... I guess I could just leave the holes like they are..."






KIDDING! I like little dogs too. BTW the puppy pic is not of Desmo (the dog in my avatar. Yes, I named my dog Desmo. I am that guy. Anyway, the pic is his little sister Sophia)

I'm not too worried about doing the work, I can walk downstairs to get a tool to do it with... I just wondered if maybe there was some reason they wouldn't be countersunk from the factory, other than I'm buying cheap pick guards...

EDIT: I found some black pickup mounting screws at AllParts. They don't use countersunk holes. Plus,  I just got an order from AllParts today and don't need anything else from them other than these screws...  I guess I'll keep searching and see what turns up locally. Now back to the original post...


FWIW - my basement has stuff like this in it:

so countersinks aren't exactly stretching the envelope as it were.   :laughing7:

Before I was seduced by guitars I spent my time making things like this:

 

and this

Look like this:

 

and this

Don't mind the angle of the seat and tank in that last shot, they aren't in their final positions yet...

And so endeth the self inflicted threadjacking...

 

[Cagey]

...And then I saw the picture and thought "oh, yeah, I see. Well, that kinda looks like a chew toy... and they never last long... I guess I could just leave the holes like they are..."

LOL! Yeah, I'm not a fan - I was just looking for something that looked pathetically cute to tug at the heartstrings <grin>

Clearly you're not afraid of powerful spinning/cutting things, and have talents to shape your world and soothe the savage beast. So, why not countersink the holes? Warmoth also sells appropriately-sized screws plated in appropriate colors for very reasonable prices. Pickguard screws, pickup screws, and switch mounting screws can all be had in a matter of days. Why compromise? Countersunk is better. No bumps to disturb the eye, distract your fingers or snag fine fabrics. Some guys, like Ron Kirn, even go so far as to countersink their output jack and neckplates...

 

[nexrex]

Yeah definitely the white PG, black covers and black knobs. I plan build ahead all the time.  Simple case of G.A.S (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) i think. I also have a drawer full of bits, that were simply purchased for concepts. Before my black flame V.I.P.  my first build was an LPS, and I spent ages in photoshop and messing with parts just to see what they looked like.

 

[wingchun1976]

 

Don't mind the angle of the seat and tank in that last shot, they aren't in their final positions yet...

And so endeth the self inflicted threadjacking...

[/quote]

Very nice ahhh...Desmo's you have there Desmodog! I have one myself but not quite of the same vintage... '09 848   :rock-on:

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

That neck is awesome!

 

[Mor Paul]

Nexrex... you'd best start a thread about that guitar  :icon_thumright:

 

[DesmoDog]

Very nice ahhh...Desmo's you have there Desmodog! I have one myself but not quite of the same vintage... '09 848   :rock-on:

Ah yes, an 848. I lusted after one of those for a while but in the end came to the same conclusion I do every year. My 996 is still more bike than I can ever use so no reason to upgrade!


Guitar content: No new parts waiting for me today when I got home. Woe is me...  :dontknow:  Maybe tomorrow... but I'm thinking THURSDAY is going to be the big day! The neck should get here then... along with most everything else I'll need.

[tapping foot]  [looking at clock]

 

[nexrex]

Nexrex... you'd best start a thread about that guitar  :icon_thumright:

I might just do that. Sweetest axe I ever played. The all mahogany neck and body,and twangy sound of the Duncan P-90's is pure blues. Combined with my tiny terror amp/cab, it melts my soul. lol
:guitarplayer2:

 

[Dan025]

Very nice ahhh...Desmo's you have there Desmodog! I have one myself but not quite of the same vintage... '09 848   :rock-on:

Ah yes, an 848. I lusted after one of those for a while but in the end came to the same conclusion I do every year. My 996 is still more bike than I can ever use so no reason to upgrade!


Guitar content: No new parts waiting for me today when I got home. Woe is me...   :dontknow:  Maybe tomorrow... but I'm thinking THURSDAY is going to be the big day! The neck should get here then... along with most everything else I'll need.

[tapping foot]  [looking at clock]

dont tell me your dog is named for demodromics? im a bit of an engine nerd, love motor cycles. i wouldn't have put it together had i not seen the pics of the ducati.

oh and is that lathe a south bend? 9" ? i believe i have the same one but i don't have the quick change gear box. if it's not a south bend it looks to be a close copy.

 

[DesmoDog]

dont tell me your dog is named for demodromics? im a bit of an engine nerd, love motor cycles. i wouldn't have put it together had i not seen the pics of the ducati.

oh and is that lathe a south bend? 9" ? i believe i have the same one but i don't have the quick change gear box. if it's not a south bend it looks to be a close copy.

My dog's name was inspired by the term "desmo", as made popular by the desmodromic valvetrains developed by Taglioni for Ducati...   :laughing7:  Bonus points for understanding the irony of naming a two year old (we got him as a rescue dog) golden retriever "Desmo". Hint - young retrievers aren't always the most composed dogs... might need to brush up on your greek for that one.

Also ironically(?), neither of the bikes shown are desmos.

The lathe is a Sheldon, my dad bought it ages ago at an auction.

 

[Dan025]

dont tell me your dog is named for demodromics? im a bit of an engine nerd, love motor cycles. i wouldn't have put it together had i not seen the pics of the ducati.

oh and is that lathe a south bend? 9" ? i believe i have the same one but i don't have the quick change gear box. if it's not a south bend it looks to be a close copy.

My dog's name was inspired by the term "desmo", as made popular by the desmodromic valvetrains developed by Taglioni for Ducati...   :laughing7:  Bonus points for understanding the irony of naming a two year old (we got him as a rescue dog) golden retriever "Desmo". Hint - young retrievers aren't always the most composed dogs... might need to brush up on your greek for that one.

Also ironically(?), neither of the bikes shown are desmos.

The lathe is a Sheldon, my dad bought it ages ago at an auction.

ah yes, i can see the brand in the picture now, i can see differences but i believe it is more or less a south bend copy, even the colors are similar to mine bbut i beieve it was re painted, souhbend has sold that for more decades than i can keep track of.

i'm not an expert on ducatis and have no idea of when desmodromics was invented but i did figure those bikes were to old to make use of it. but you never know, in the automotive world the fiat group just released a series of engines with hydraulic valve actuation that gives variable control over timing and lift, they even have a strange economy mode where the valve opens and closes twice hence the name "multiair". that system was in development for the last 30 years, crazy italians i tell ya. always inventing, but not always successfully.

enough about engines, i love the black die. looks like my ibanez. but i dont know about the pickguard

 

[DesmoDog]

The Callaham trem showed up today. Neck should be here tomorrow, along with the tuners and my new soldering station if I'm lucky...

Tonight I went to put the trem in and as soon as I started the first screw I remembered I was going to measure them to see if they were going to break out of the bottom of the trem cavity.

Yep. I forget the numbers now but it looks like the tip of the screw will break through. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to use a trem cover, so I started thinking about my options. If I don't buy shorter screws, I may just drill the pilot holes all the way through and then shave the screws so they're flush with the bottom of the trem cavity. This will likely make no sense to anyone else, but one advantage of doing that is, if a longer screw gets shoved in there at some point, it won't splinter the bottom... Also if I go this way the screw will still be grabbing the full depth of the wood. Probably not really an issue but I'm rationalizing here.

In other news, after playing my Ibanez hollow body for a while tonight I picked up my Saga kit Strat and started playing around with it. The action is way too high, and there's way too much hum... but... damn. It felt good. I haven't spent much time with it since I got the Warmoth body in before I got the Saga set up, but I love the size and the feel of it. Can't wait to play the Warmoth, I think I'm really gonna like this thing when it's done!

The pic doesn't look much differnt than what I've shown already but hey, what's an update without a picture, right? So that's the update for today. TOMORROW will be the fun day... no more photochopping... finally a pic of the neck on the body for real.  :cool01:

 

[Mor Paul]

no more photochopping...

:help: