The "Zoso" DIY guitar (Complete).

[stratamania]

@vikingred don't sail off to Valhalla just yet.

Here's a random Strat type shot with some costly Kinman pickups to restore the balance.

 

[vikingred]

Wooooow.  That's nice, dude.  Really nice.  I like.

 

[stratamania]

Wooooow.  That's nice, dude.  Really nice.  I like.

Thanks for the appreciation...

If you want to see more of it the link Strat Build in my signature is of that guitar.

 

[vikingred]

Got the long-post pots in (half a dozen sets of them).  Went with some 5% tolerance 500k's.  Check out that big old cap.  Gonna complete this build today.  Excited to feel the love.  :guitarplayer2:

 

[DocNrock]

Looking great, man!  If you hadn't have said it was your first time woodburning, I would have thought you had done quite a bit of it.  The "ZoSo" turned out great!

 

[mayfly]

Sadly, the solder on those pots doesn't look so great.  I'd watch out there for trouble.

 

[vikingred]

Looking great, man!  If you hadn't have said it was your first time woodburning, I would have thought you had done quite a bit of it.  The "ZoSo" turned out great!

Thanks, man.  Beginner's luck I think.

 

[vikingred]

Sadly, the solder on those pots doesn't look so great.  I'd watch out there for trouble.

Yes, I've already touched that up in the finish, I was just making sure we were wired up properly.  I've never done just a single master tone and master volume before.  Very simple, but using the back of the volume pot for the grounding point doesn't thrill me.  The next build, I'm getting some lugs for the pots or something.  But, yeah. 

 

[Cagey]

Sadly, the solder on those pots doesn't look so great.  I'd watch out there for trouble.

The next build, I'm getting some lugs for the pots or something.  But, yeah.

I've got a million of 'em. I'll send some back with the guitar when I'm done with it.

 

[vikingred]

Complete (just about) except for intonation and fret work.  Sounds and plays amazing.  Surprised how cool and easy to work with the Wilkinson is.  Also love the Dawgtown handwound pickups.  The tone cap is a winner, too: Jensen Copper Foil Paper-In-Oil Cap .47 uF Capacitor 630v.  I'd say I've got about 950 in it.  After I get it to Cagey, probably 1100 total.  Would I take this or a brand new Fender American Standard?  Take a guess...

Not bad for a second build.  More difficult than the first, with the woodburning, shellac and poly, and also the hand wiring versus EMG plug in electronics.  Love the huge frets and the sounds is amazing.  Maybe I can put up some clips later. 

Starting on the Canary Strat build now.  Oh, yeah. 

 

[DocNrock]

Turned out great, man!  Those pickup rings are really unique.  Definitely adds a touch of "retro-goth" to the vibe.  Nice work!

 

[vikingred]

Turned out great, man!  Those pickup rings are really unique.  Definitely adds a touch of "retro-goth" to the vibe.  Nice work!

Tnx.  Found those on ebay.  Love 'em.  Once this thing is dialed in just right, it's gonna be a monster.  The tone is really interesting.  The alder body vibrates so readily with the strings, really really cool.

 

[Great Ape]

Very nice work! Got yourself a cool One-of-a-Kind! :icon_thumright:

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Well done man, very cool guitar. I'm impressed with the wood burning; as has been said I find it surprising that it was your first go at it. 

I like those pickup rings! I had to go and track one down immediately after seeing them, it's exactly the thing for something I've been working on. Thanks for that!

 

[vikingred]

Sadly, the solder on those pots doesn't look so great.  I'd watch out there for trouble.

The next build, I'm getting some lugs for the pots or something.  But, yeah.

I've got a million of 'em. I'll send some back with the guitar when I'm done with it.

Cool Cagey, I'm shooting for Monday to get the Korina Strat on its way to you.  Once that one is complete and returned we can ship this one off.  Sadly, I have only one hard shell case (G&G), so we'll have to take it one at a time.  Thanks for your help and suggestions with this one.

 

[vikingred]

Very nice work! Got yourself a cool One-of-a-Kind! :icon_thumright:

Thank you man, for the inspiration to go for it on my own.  I was not at all confident I'd have something worth showing but I just turned up lucky.  Thank you for answering questions regarding finish and all.  I do want to pick your brain regarding color at some point.  Well, what do you use to add coloring with your woodburning?

 

[vikingred]

Well done man, very cool guitar. I'm impressed with the wood burning; as has been said I find it surprising that it was your first go at it. 

I like those pickup rings! I had to go and track one down immediately after seeing them, it's exactly the thing for something I've been working on. Thanks for that!

Thanks, Verne.  I can tell you that at first the wood burning looked like it was going to be a disaster, and then somehow it shaped up.  Beginner's luck I'd say.  On the pickup rings, yeah I liked them a lot, too.  Ebay turns up some cool stuff sometimes.  Five bucks a piece was a bit on the high side, but they are pretty cool.  Like I said I took the shiny off of them with some 0000 steel wool, and then some 1200 or maybe 1500 sandpaper.  Flat black makes them look even cooler with this build.

 

[MikeW]

Turned out great, man!  Those pickup rings are really unique.  Definitely adds a touch of "retro-goth" to the vibe.  Nice work!

This. Really nice work on this one. Congrats!

 

[vikingred]

Turned out great, man!  Those pickup rings are really unique.  Definitely adds a touch of "retro-goth" to the vibe.  Nice work!

This. Really nice work on this one. Congrats!

Thank you, I am really enjoying it.  :toothy10:

 

[dmraco]

That waterside looks great for using wipe on poly.