(Non-Warmoth) GFS ES-335 Kit

[Magicbisket]

Planning to redirect the old thread http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=19757.0 here.

It came, after a horrifyingly long period of four days!

Bout done with my photo op, pic will be commencing soon.

 

[Magicbisket]

The Box:

Opened:

The Body:

The Back:

Cont.

 

[Magicbisket]

A little detail that's actually part of the wood. It's book-matched on both sides.

A small chip which I've seen in even the nicest kits.

The fretboard figuring almost made me weep.

The Neck is nice and straight. The frets seem fine as well, although I'll make sure inspect more thoroughly though.

 

[Magicbisket]

A bit of tear out on the tenon:

It'll be inside the guitar so I'm not concerned.

The nut:

Mock up:

Not sure how it's meant to be fitting in there. But It's pretty snug on entry, It'll just rotate back if you pick up the body due to the weight of the neck.

 

[bagman67]

That's pretty flippin' cool.  I'll be looking forward to the ongoing build commentary and photos.


What kind of finish do you have in mind?


Bagman

 

[Magicbisket]

Another fit image:

A bit of tear out at the tuner hole. Not worried. A bit of filler and the rest will be covered by the tuner.

Headstock grain. I'm impressed that the mounting holes were screwed already too.

Part of the neck figuring.

 

[Magicbisket]

Tuners feel surprisingly solid:

Electronic. Original and my new switch and caps.

Bridge and Saddle. Not scratched or bent. I ain't complaining.

Finally my Original Vintage Gibson P.A.F. Humbuckers. Totally what they are. Yup... Totally...

 

[Magicbisket]

That's pretty flippin' cool.  I'll be looking forward to the ongoing build commentary and photos.


What kind of finish do you have in mind?


Bagman

I'm planning on a transparent turquoise with cream accents and chrome hardware.

 

[Cagey]

That's a helluva kit for $200. Gonna be a fun build.

 

[Magicbisket]

Hell yeah it is. I am very impressed for $200. The shipping condition were not as impressing. the neck and body were protected, there was some bubble wrap, but the rest was all together in the notorious GFS "Bag-o-parts".

Keep in mind when taking pictures I mostly focused on the cosmetic errors. I was being very critical.

That fretboard... DAT FFFRETBOARD. I love it. I've never seen it like that before. I love it. I'm going to see if I can get another kit and attach the neck to another neck and have a neck neck.

But seriously, I'm quite happy.

Thinking about taking my hotrodded Seymour Duncans out of my old cheap Epi, but I'm worried they'll be too hot for a Semi-Hollow. Opinions?

Also me and mi papi are going out for finishing supplies tomorrow, so there should be a work in progress board coming very soon.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Very cool, will be a cool build thread.

 

[Magicbisket]

Based on the mock up picks. Do you guys have any idea if it looks like it's fitting right? Is there an exact measurement it should be from body to the end of the fretboard or an exact angle is should be at?

Thank you

-D.T. Latty

 

[JCizzle]

Can't beat that for $200!

 

[jmavl]

Is the back figured flame, or simply maple?

 

[Cagey]

Based on the mock up picks. Do you guys have any idea if it looks like it's fitting right? Is there an exact measurement it should be from body to the end of the fretboard or an exact angle is should be at?

I can't tell from the pictures, but if that's supposed to be a copy of an ES-335, the scale length should be 24 3/4". GFS doesn't give a spec. So, if you measure from the front of the nut to the bridge saddle, that's what you should see.

 

[Magicbisket]

The back is flamed maple as well.

I'll check on the scale length later but I'm curious if there is a certain height the top of the fretboard should be from the face of the body at the end of the neck. Like if the neck is sitting too high?My first working with a set neck and with a semi-hollow so I'm going in blind.

Thank you

-D.T. Latty

 

[DangerousR6]

Probably the best thing to do would be to mount the bridge and the tuners, then clamp the neck in place. Then string up the high and low E strings to check if the neck is at the correct height. I would figure it is pretty close to where it needs to be as is outta the box. BUT, one can never ASSUME anything... :dontknow:

 

[Magicbisket]

Tis a very good Idea! Thank you very much. My only concern now is that in order to mount the bridge I need to install the studs... which probably shouldn't be there when I finish the body... Are they easy enough to remove?

 

[DangerousR6]

Tis a very good Idea! Thank you very much. My only concern now is that in order to mount the bridge I need to install the studs... which probably shouldn't be there when I finish the body... Are they easy enough to remove?

Once they are installed I wouldn't remove them. I would just cover them while doing the finish, or find a bolt the correct size and put them in while doing the finish. That should keep any finish out of the threads.

 

[dmraco]

Tis a very good Idea! Thank you very much. My only concern now is that in order to mount the bridge I need to install the studs... which probably shouldn't be there when I finish the body... Are they easy enough to remove?

Once they are installed I wouldn't remove them. I would just cover them while doing the finish, or find a bolt the correct size and put them in while doing the finish. That should keep any finish out of the threads.

I have always installed before the finish is applied.  I then place little corks in the holes while finishing the guitar.  They are pennies at any local hardware store.