Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

dominus

King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Original:

3260-desktop.jpg




SAM_6114.JPG

SAM_6115.JPG

SAM_6116.JPG





These bullet proof finishes are no match for a chisel.
 
Last edited:
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Good jumpin' jeebus... that guitar's gonna weigh a half pound less without that shell on it...
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Good jumpin' jeebus... that guitar's gonna weigh a half pound less without that shell on it...

Kicking myself for not weighing it before and after, but yes, half a pound does seem about right. As far as I can tell, they painted it red, THEN painted it blue.
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Isn't that the factory red color they put on the JS line? Before they changed the colors last year.
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Got out the dowels and glue to fill the holes I don't want. More to come.




SAM_6117.JPG
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

The red is actually really thin, it doesn't have the plastic clearcoat over it. Either way, I'll sand it down some once I get all the holes filled. (You can see in a few spots the chisel went down to the wood. I kept it pretty flat.)
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

I got on question for you. If you suddenly inherited a million dollars, or a few million, would you still spend time on those cheap guitars??
I mean, I have a few cheap guitars, most are just cool projects that play ok and sound ok,..a couple i *really dig..but its like polishing a turd.You *can, don't get me wrong, but they will never ever be premier guitars on the level of a standard production Gibson/Fender..
 
Last edited:
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

I got on question for you. If you suddenly inherited a million dollars, or a few million, would you still spend time on those cheap guitars??
I mean, I have a few cheap guitars, most are just cool projects that play ok and sound ok,..a couple i *really dig..but its like polishing a turd.You *can, don't get me wrong, but they will never ever be premier guitars on the level of a standard production Gibson/Fender..

I would. Because just about every cheap guitar I've ever put time into has played and sounded better than any USA guitar I've owned, and I have owned a few. Not to mention I wouldn't ever own a Gibson. There's certain features/specs that I dislike when it comes to guitars, and Gibson seems to have all of them standard.

Just because some people can't make a cheap guitar play/sound good doesn't mean that I can't.

I can.
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Dang I so liked that blue
Such a pretty color

What do you have in mind for the next incarnation


*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Ditto, although not laid THAT thick. BTW, I saw you also doweled the output jack hole, where do you plan to re-drill?
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Dang I so liked that blue
Such a pretty color

What do you have in mind for the next incarnation

I do have a metallic blue here I could use, although I was thinking metallic lime green. I have some metallic orange on the way eventually but it's backordered for a few weeks.

Ditto, although not laid THAT thick. BTW, I saw you also doweled the output jack hole, where do you plan to re-drill?

The old location was right where my right leg would be while sitting down. I'm thinking Strat style jack plate on the opposite side of the lower horn right below the electronics cavity. No need to fish wire through.

Something *kinda* like this:

20643d1335074228-insane-5120-mods-esp-strat-body-olympic-white-2.jpg


Not recessed like that though, it'd just be mounted to the flat part of the horn. :D
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Going to use one of these hardtail bridges on it. (I'll be removing some material from the neck pocket of course to lower the neck angle.) They're just so comfortable. :) I'll be gluing in dowels into the old string through holes on the top today. Did the 6 on the bottom yesterday. I'll probably sand everything flat over the weekend.


SAM_6118.JPG


Going to try to get the Strat jack positioned about here on the bottom horn:


SAM_6119.JPG


I think I can get it so it won't interfere with the tone pot that way.
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Going to use one of these hardtail bridges on it. (I'll be removing some material from the neck pocket of course to lower the neck angle.) They're just so comfortable. :) I'll be gluing in dowels into the old string through holes on the top today. Did the 6 on the bottom yesterday. I'll probably sand everything flat over the weekend.


View attachment 62314


Going to try to get the Strat jack positioned about here on the bottom horn:


View attachment 62315


I think I can get it so it won't interfere with the tone pot that way.

I think thats a great spot for the jack. Cool project!
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

I got on question for you. If you suddenly inherited a million dollars, or a few million, would you still spend time on those cheap guitars??
I mean, I have a few cheap guitars, most are just cool projects that play ok and sound ok,..a couple i *really dig..but its like polishing a turd.You *can, don't get me wrong, but they will never ever be premier guitars on the level of a standard production Gibson/Fender..

Unfortunately, Jerry, you are very wrong!!!

Just like you can get a cheap beat-up '55 Chevy and turn it into anything BUT a polished turd.

I, like dominus, have turned many a cheap guitar into a better sounding, better playing, better looking guitar than most guitars that would normally cost 5-10 times as much. "Cheap" in cost, but NOT "cheap" in quality.

What makes it a "cool project" is not just the fun of building a guitar to look the way you want it...but making a great quality guitar out of a turd.
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Going to use one of these hardtail bridges on it. (I'll be removing some material from the neck pocket of course to lower the neck angle.) They're just so comfortable. :) I'll be gluing in dowels into the old string through holes on the top today. Did the 6 on the bottom yesterday. I'll probably sand everything flat over the weekend.


View attachment 62314


Going to try to get the Strat jack positioned about here on the bottom horn:


View attachment 62315


I think I can get it so it won't interfere with the tone pot that way.

That's a great idea!

I love your thought processes, Dominus, and thoroughly enjoy following your builds. Keep it coming.
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Just as a warning, I had the plugs I did of the original controls on my Destroyer perfect before painting. The paint is even fairly thick, hella sanded flat. No way you could make them out after primer, def not after paint.

BUT...

I don't know if it's because I used walnut and it shrinks differently with humidity or what, but 6 months later you could see where the plugs are from certain angles. Not major, but it was still a disappointment.
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Just as a warning, I had the plugs I did of the original controls on my Destroyer perfect before painting. The paint is even fairly thick, hella sanded flat. No way you could make them out after primer, def not after paint.

BUT...

I don't know if it's because I used walnut and it shrinks differently with humidity or what, but 6 months later you could see where the plugs are from certain angles. Not major, but it was still a disappointment.

My paint jobs are never perfect so I'm not too worried about that. Being in AZ I don't worry much about humidity either. :D
 
Re: Does this make you RANDY? I'm just getting started!

Worked the neck pocket to remove a little bit of the angle, I think this will work. I fit the neck onto a body with a Strat-style bridge and it's about dead even with that one.

SAM_6121.JPG
 
Back
Top