NGD (or how I finally found another one)

[Ayrton]

As most of you know, I always have guitars coming and going. I normally just post up about something I built or put together, but this one is kinda cool. This last year I actually sold far more than I purchased, and that will be a trend that continues.

I have wanted an Eric Johnson strat for a few years now, but not just any. I checked out some local and made inquiries here and there, but I really wanted a first year, and it had to be a player. I was not looking for a case queen, nor looking to pay a premium for one wiped with a silk diaper every month.

I had no trouble finding some that hit a few of the marks, but none that nailed it. I received a lead about one that sounded promising, and it took me a few weeks to pin it down and work out a deal.

The EJ Strat was released in January of 2005, and this one was ordered in February of '05 and delivered the next month. I bought it from a dealer in California who got it from the original owner, and as you can see it was played and loved.



The finish is checked all over, and the frets are totally done. I don't believe the neck has ever been off the guitar before today.





I know nothing about the previous owner, but clearly, this was a special guitar that has seen some use. The sound is bright and clear with just enough growl.

I will have to refret it before I can really enjoy it, but I can't tell you happy I am with it so far.

[BriGuy1968]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

VERY cool grab... congratulations! [emoji41][emoji1303]

[MetalManiac]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

The frets look ok to me with a level. The EJ neck is the best neck Ive ever seen on a modern fender..Nice snare A!The body otoh is pretty aweful, can you refin that aweful coat of thick poly? I'm sure the tonewood beneath is some premium wood.

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

I need to stop checking out your strat threads lol. I'm always thinking to myself, "I need a good strat again". Instant GAS haha. Nice score. Looking forward to any repair updates.

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

Nice! I'm told the EJs have a really nice neck profile, but are quartersawn for a stiff feel. The finish checking makes me wonder- do the EJs have a nitro finish? I wouldn't have expected regular Fender poly ever to check like that, though I've seen it on really old Fenders that were pre-poly.

[Ayrton]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

Oh Jerry, what am I going to do with you?

The frets start out as mediums and the divots are pretty deep in places. Better to install fresh stainless and be done with it.

The entire guitar is finished in lacquer (or as close a Fender can shoot in CA) and that is where the checking comes from. One of the reasons I wanted an early one was in case of spec change. Eric Johnson was very particular about what he would approve. The body had to be no more than two pieces, and under a certain weight. The finish had to be thin lacquer, and so on. The earlier guitars also had a more accurate two tone burst over the later models. Can’t say why that is, just something I noticed after looking at a gazillion of these.

I can make a separate thread on the refret if anyone cares to see it, or just keep it all here.

[PierceOkken]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

Fantastic guitar, loving the strats! Really want a sfg American elite with the matching head cap, the thirst is real

[jeremy]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

soo... can i haz it?

[Ayrton]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

soo... can i haz it?

You may not be saying that when I show what I have been dealing with all day.

[treyhaislip]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

Very nice score! Enjoy!

[jeremy]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

I’m sure I could figureix it out!

[Ayrton]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

So you know how I was saying the frets were in pretty bad shape?

I suspected that it was on its second set of frets, and a close inspection this morning confirmed it. Poking around the frets I found deep scoring lines, lifting frets, chip out and so on. Only the last five frets were original, so they all had to go.

You can clearly see what frets original here.



Oh, if it were just that simple.

This is why you make sure whoever is working on your guitar has some idea of what they are doing. Hiding under the frets and caked on CA glue was some of the worst tear outs I have ever seen.





The scoreline was so deep and with no heat used, it just destroyed the slots.



So much for trying to retain the original finish.

Out comes the heat gun





You can see how heavly the lacquer was tinted and compared to a '68 Jag neck what look Fender was going for.



More carnage



You can see the difference heat and patience make when you compare to the frets I removed.



I used the heat gun to remove the finish over sanding or stripper. I wanted to see exactly what I was dealing with on the damaged wood before sanding. Lacquer comes off with just a small amount of heat, so it was quick work.

Now to repair the slots.

[Ayrton]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

Minor chip out can be touched up and covered with the new frets. This was so bad that on some frets the wire would have no solid surface to press against.

I could plane down the fretboard, but the damage was so deep in places it would take removing almost a 1/16" of wood. That would have made the neck thinner and meant replacing the dots.

I started to rebuild with maple dust and CA glue. This is time-consuming and I don't even want to know what a shop would charge.

Block off the slot with a strip of Teflon



Pack the area with sawdust and soak with CA glue.



The glue won't stick to the Teflon, so the strip comes out.



Pare of with a chisel, and scrape flush.





Rinse and repeat fourteen more times.

See ya tomorrow.

[Ayrton]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

Everywhere you see dark is dried glue. You really see how much wood was missing and why the frets were lifting.



I mulled over how to refinish the neck and looked into trying to match the pumpkin spice tinted lacquer. However short of me buying a quart of lacquer and tinting myself, I was stuck with refinishing the entire neck. I thought about spraying the whole neck with rattle can tinted lacquer from Stew Mac, but then I remembered I hate fresh lacquer necks.

We will go with my preferred way to finish a neck. I first secured a correct replacement decal, and then tried to soak off the old one. You can pull this off if there is no finish over the decal, and I did get close...but it killed itself.



Heat gun time



The rest can be scraped off with a razor nice and easy. I just want to remove the finish and a quick sanding with 220.



Level out the fretboard. Some pencil marks to make sure I stay nice and even.





The first pass with Watco Golden Oak did not quite give me what I was looking for, so I let that coat soak in and then mixed up some cherry with the oak.





Better



You can also see the tuner bushing shelf (or how I almost killed a Tele neck).


I let that dry, and then today started with cutting and cleaning the slots.

[Ayrton]

Re: NGD (or how I finally found another one)

Cut, measure, scrape...cut, measure, scrape (yes I know my bench is a mess, don't judge me)





I take my small triangular file and make a small bevel in the slot. This will ensure that the fret seats firmly against the fretboard.



Once all the slots are clean and correct, time to press.

Some CA glue in the slot (can't hold glue and take picture without making a mess)





I glue, then press and hold until the glue sets. This is not the time to be in a hurry.

Only sixteen more to go.





I buy these syringes from Amazon with blunt needles. You get a box of 50 for $16 shipped and they are awesome for glue.



I flood water thin CA glue under all sides and then let everything dry overnight.





See ya tomorrow!