stratamania
Mythical Status
- Messages
- 11,689
I glad you found the kit.
Looks like you've got an interesting project going.
Looks like you've got an interesting project going.
Next project, Predator
- Thread starter Vallhagen
- Start date
musicispeace
Hero Member
- Messages
- 1,006
Nice work on that fretboard and good project underway. Ya, I can't stand gloopy gloppy plastic all over a fretboard either. I occasionally run into a nice Made in Japan strat and the plastic covered maple is a deal breaker. If you have a project that merits it sometime you should give a raw roasted maple neck and fretboard a try.
Vallhagen
Junior Member
- Messages
- 199
Thanx Stratamania and musicispeace!
...been a while again. Anyone who happen to follow my projects develop may notice that i dont work fast. Or rather in periods. So it is
Well, the body is routed and roughly sanded. As i type it is curing after some additional (final) repair. I fill cracks and body irregularities with a paste made of white glue and sawdust.
As i wrote earlier; very good with a "cheap" project like this; trying out some techniques. The most important lessons been the routing jobs. I've done small and big mistakes along the way for sure (dont try to take away too much wood at once!).
The guitar itself will not be a beauty, maybe rather "small, fast and ugly". But its my own design which feels cool. And i am definately happy with the shape of the horns, they came out good.
I made my own pickguard too, following the idea from the body i cut down a strat. For the pickguard i just used a jigsaw and sand paper; I didn't bother to make a template and use a router.
Some pics:
The worst "ARGHHHH___F#¤%&/()=K" routing mistake:
Soon all routed:
pickguard (rough sanded) fitting
More sanding done (bad picture quality):
Toothpick repair! i just noticed i missed one hole... can you find it?
cheerio.
...been a while again. Anyone who happen to follow my projects develop may notice that i dont work fast. Or rather in periods. So it is
Well, the body is routed and roughly sanded. As i type it is curing after some additional (final) repair. I fill cracks and body irregularities with a paste made of white glue and sawdust.
As i wrote earlier; very good with a "cheap" project like this; trying out some techniques. The most important lessons been the routing jobs. I've done small and big mistakes along the way for sure (dont try to take away too much wood at once!).
The guitar itself will not be a beauty, maybe rather "small, fast and ugly". But its my own design which feels cool. And i am definately happy with the shape of the horns, they came out good.
I made my own pickguard too, following the idea from the body i cut down a strat. For the pickguard i just used a jigsaw and sand paper; I didn't bother to make a template and use a router.
Some pics:
The worst "ARGHHHH___F#¤%&/()=K" routing mistake:
Soon all routed:
pickguard (rough sanded) fitting
More sanding done (bad picture quality):
Toothpick repair! i just noticed i missed one hole... can you find it?
cheerio.
Vallhagen
Junior Member
- Messages
- 199
I might be the slowest builder of em all... but the progress is actually happening... Ive been playing around with the HVLP spraystation to get better at it too. Two different needles and waterbased paint/laquer. Im getting closer. Here it is after primer, fiesta red paint (if the picture is lying colorwise) and two clearcoat layers, now sanded back w. 600 prior to more clear.
I can't compare with the cellulose quality for the spraystation as i havent tried it, but to work with waterbase is positively convenient. No smell, no need for extra ventilation etc... The next project from here (the SG), also on the workbench, will be some kind of metallic/candy green, also waterbased. Wait for pics on that one too
I also routed up the tremolo cavity.
Cheers!
... Ive been playing around with the HVLP spraystation to get better at it too. Two different needles and waterbased paint/laquer. Im getting closer. Here it is after primer, fiesta red paint (if the picture is lying colorwise) and two clearcoat layers, now sanded back w. 600 prior to more clear. I can't compare with the cellulose quality for the spraystation as i havent tried it, but to work with waterbase is positively convenient. No smell, no need for extra ventilation etc... The next project from here (the SG), also on the workbench, will be some kind of metallic/candy green, also waterbased. Wait for pics on that one too
I also routed up the tremolo cavity.
Cheers!
TonyFlyingSquirrel
Master Member
- Messages
- 4,517
Cagey said:If you want to check for high/low frets, a reliable straightedge and a set of feeler gauges is handy, but bare minimum you need a fret rocker.
If you can wait an extra day or two, I'd recommend getting one from here. They're about 1/3 the price for the same thing. He sells a variety of other tools pretty reasonably, too.
I like what you're doing to that headstock. As it is, it looks too much like a Tele headstock, which on a scale of 1 to 10 is a -6.
I have this one, along with his crowning tool which works ok, and the leveling tool. For leveling though, I kind of still prefer my 5 in long, 3/4" wide diamond knife sharpener. It removes less material as quickly, so it takes longer, but keeps the work smooth and precise.
Vallhagen
Junior Member
- Messages
- 199
Thee infamous dry-fit pic. Spraying is done, just have to wait for curing one or a few weeks, before final wetsanding and polishing.
The knob is intended to be gold. I have one around here somewhere, but i couldnt find it for the pic
...then its just some hole-drilling, assembly and setup.
Cheers
The knob is intended to be gold. I have one around here somewhere, but i couldnt find it for the pic
...then its just some hole-drilling, assembly and setup.
Cheers
Vallhagen
Junior Member
- Messages
- 199
Thanx Axkoa. Yea, maybe it is a bit of Rickenbacker in there... i stole some inspiration from the musiclander and then basically improvised.
***
As i prefer to laugh as a moron instead or scream like a beast - at least today - i will save you the #¤%&/()=-words! This shold be ready and playable now, but... The assembly went all smooth (today i appreciated the one-pickup-one-pot setup... not many minutes with the soldering station), and so did balancing of the tremolo and setting the string height. It feels good. Then... IT IS OUT OF INTONATION RANGE! Geez. I didnt bother to double-check that and do some proper measurements. I just re-used two of the old holes (opened up with a perfectly centerred drill bit, plugged an insert etc)... which "shall" be correct. I even checked the centerline... But nope. Haha.
So... I need to move the neck closer to the tremolo, or move the tremolo closer to the neck. And i actually think its easier to move the neck.
Horrible pic quality.
Cheers
***
As i prefer to laugh as a moron instead or scream like a beast - at least today - i will save you the #¤%&/()=-words! This shold be ready and playable now, but... The assembly went all smooth (today i appreciated the one-pickup-one-pot setup... not many minutes with the soldering station), and so did balancing of the tremolo and setting the string height. It feels good. Then... IT IS OUT OF INTONATION RANGE! Geez. I didnt bother to double-check that and do some proper measurements. I just re-used two of the old holes (opened up with a perfectly centerred drill bit, plugged an insert etc)... which "shall" be correct. I even checked the centerline... But nope. Haha.
So... I need to move the neck closer to the tremolo, or move the tremolo closer to the neck. And i actually think its easier to move the neck.
Horrible pic quality.
Cheers
Vallhagen
Junior Member
- Messages
- 199
Progress!
New holes drilled. I figured the old holes were a bit close to the new ones, so i plugged them first.
Maybe a useful hint to someone else; This is how i lined up the neck prior to marking the holes, without need of any (measuring) tools at all. I thought it was a bit clumsy to attach the tremolo just for this moment, so i used sewing thread between tremolo bolts and nut/tuner. I guess rubberband will do the work too.
Now... if it doesnt intonate, ill make this my "smash on stage" guitar!
New holes drilled. I figured the old holes were a bit close to the new ones, so i plugged them first.
Maybe a useful hint to someone else; This is how i lined up the neck prior to marking the holes, without need of any (measuring) tools at all. I thought it was a bit clumsy to attach the tremolo just for this moment, so i used sewing thread between tremolo bolts and nut/tuner. I guess rubberband will do the work too.
Now... if it doesnt intonate, ill make this my "smash on stage" guitar!
Vallhagen
Junior Member
- Messages
- 199
Thanx fdesalvo
Mr me is all happy now; it WÖRKS, it RÖCKS and it INTÖNATES PERFECT... hehe. yep, it is setup, intonated and (at least a step better than roughly) adjusted for string height etc.
The idea to shorten the neck turned out pretty successful. The distance from the nut to the center of the tremolo float-screw shall be 25 1/4" = 64.135cm. Now it is spot on! Im still a bit cunfuzed about the original work though... how could Peavey possibly place it so much wrong?
...the only downside with moving the neck is that the pocket fit and design is not 100% "flush perfect" now, but i live with that.
Then, just some pics (various quality!)of the finnished thing. No, one (pair of) thing(s) is missing; the strap locks. I'll be back with that.
Cheers You All Good People! Röck on!
Mr me is all happy now; it WÖRKS, it RÖCKS and it INTÖNATES PERFECT... hehe. yep, it is setup, intonated and (at least a step better than roughly) adjusted for string height etc.
The idea to shorten the neck turned out pretty successful. The distance from the nut to the center of the tremolo float-screw shall be 25 1/4" = 64.135cm. Now it is spot on! Im still a bit cunfuzed about the original work though... how could Peavey possibly place it so much wrong?
...the only downside with moving the neck is that the pocket fit and design is not 100% "flush perfect" now, but i live with that.
Then, just some pics (various quality!)of the finnished thing. No, one (pair of) thing(s) is missing; the strap locks. I'll be back with that.
Cheers You All Good People! Röck on!
