My first DIY build. Black stained swamp ash strat.

[el_duderino]

Hi there!

I'm new here as well as in the guitar building game.
Just received a stunning one piece swamp ash body and a maple/ebony neck. I'm gonna do black stain and black grain filler on the body. Just black stain on the neck. Here it is, right out of the box:

 

[bagman67]

Welcome aboard.  Nice parts you selected.


I see you're not into the whole brevity thing. 

 

[el_duderino]

Applied some black grain filler on the neck and then sanded it down.

 

[el_duderino]

Yes, not too many words in me  :hello2: I just want to share my (awesome) experience with you, and maybe get some tips for my next project. I might learn something  :toothy10:

So, I did black stain on the body. Then black grain filler, and then sanded it down. I'm not sure it's the correct order, but I tried it out on some pieces of ash, before hand, and that's what worked for me and the tools and materials I had.

 

[AirCap]

I see you've found black stain doesn't work well on maple necks. I did that back in the 80's for a client who wanted an all flat black stained Strat. Did OK on the mahogany body, but I ended up using black lacquer on the neck with a flattening agent in the clear coat.

 

[el_duderino]

Aaaand several coats of Tru-oil, and many hours later, my first DIY finished and assembled guitar was done. I love it. It plays very well, and the frets didn't need to be leveled  :hello2:

Peace out  :redflag:

 

[el_duderino]

I see you've found black stain doesn't work well on maple necks. I did that back in the 80's for a client who wanted an all flat black stained Strat. Did OK on the mahogany body, but I ended up using black lacquer on the neck with a flattening agent in the clear coat.

Hi. I just wanted a rough, driftwood-ish kinda look, so this was what I was going for - not an all black guitar

 

[Great Ape]

I LOVE IT!! The ''driftwood'' look is one of my absolute favorite treatments for swamp ash bodies. You definitely nailed it--ENJOY!

 

[Fat Pete]

Yeah, you nailed it. That came out really well.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

I just wanted a rough, driftwood-ish kinda look, so this was what I was going for - not an all black guitar

I'd say you captured that look nicely, well done!

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Well done, welcome!

 

[vetteman]

Now you just need to start calling it "Zatara" (driftwood) like in the 'Count of Monte Cristo'.

 

[BigSteve22]

That drift wood effect is really cool! Like the translucent trem cover too.

:icon_thumright:

 

[rgand]

That really does look cool. I like the way the neck and body match. Beautiful effect.

 

[zebra]

I love the "driftwood" swamp ash look as well.  Great job!

 

[Nando Vallart]

Looks really nice!

 

[Glimmer]

Man, if that don't look all blanketty blank cool. Very nice work.

(Gonna go back and look at the pics again now...  :icon_jokercolor

 

[el_duderino]

Thank you. I'm pretty satisfied with the result myself too.
Although, I'm not quite settled on the pickups and pots. I think I'm gonna swap the DiMarzio Cruiser in the neck position with a SSL-1 perhaps or maybe another Dimarzio Area 61 (as the middle PU), and then change all the pots to 250Ks. I'm hoping it's gonna feel more like a real strat then  :guitaristgif:  The Cruiser is like a beefy single coil and it sounds very nice, but it just doesn't feel right in this guitar. BTW it's a Pearly Gates in the bridge \m/  \m/

So, I think for my next project I'm gonna try a "pretty" finish, and go with a tele with a yellow/orange burst on flamed maple, and a vintage tinted one piece maple neck.
This guitar (Zartara) was a present for me, coz' I was about to become a father, and my girlfriend has promised me that I'll get to build another guitar when we will have our next child... I say: Lets get to it then  :toothy10: :hello2: :cool01:

 

[dmraco]

Very nice build.  GOTM contender for sure.  I like the simple finish.

I have a new found interest in ash.  I did a similar finish on a tele but added a bit of color. 

 

[wildbill]

Nice work, looks awesome.