First parts build

[Mincer]

Thanks for the update! It seems strange it takes so long to get solder. Any shops in your area that might carry it, or know anyone you can borrow from?

 

[playas]

It's really ridiculous. I was going to buy some locally but felt it was stupid to buy it as I had ordered a whole spool. Now things are locked down more so no idea where I could get some but I'm sure there must be some place.
I sent an email yesterday asking for an update. If it's not in stock or I don't hear back by Monday I'll ask for a refund.

 

[playas]

I was able to change the order to a different solder and got the solder delivered and a refund for the difference... eventually.

I have meanwhile been sanding... although not very much if I'm honest as I haven't had a lot of time. I decided to increase the arm and back contours as they were both quite small. (70s style contours I understand.)

It's been very slow progress but at least I've been making some progress.

I did also take a slight detour en route which you'll see once I get the contours finished and upload some more pics.

 

[solspirit]

Never used those locking tuners. I prefer any locking tuners over non-locking, and it helps if they are staggered on a flat headstock without string trees. I do look for lightweight tuners, though, so generally Schaller and Sperzel are are out.

I think Sperzel's weigh about 18 lbs, I like the Hipshots.

 

[Adieu]

Here are a few pics of the neck I´ll be using, after rolling the fretboard / fret ends.





Most of the parts have now arrived, including the bridge so I have been measuring centrelines etc. trying to get the bridge position set.

Unfortunately I have come up against a couple of issues.

First is that the neck is anything but a snug fit. Body and neck still need to be finished, but I think I´ll need to sand the heel down the tiniest bit to fit the curve of the body so it will eventually sit more snugly.

Second is the fit of the trem. When measuring the 647.7mm (25.5") to mark the position of the bridge, from what I have read the 6 screw hole positions should be at exactly that point.

This always seemed counter-intuitive to me as the holes are ahead of the point where the strings bend over the saddles. Surely the measurements should be from roughly the centre of the range of movement of the saddles, to the nut....i.e. the two points from which the strings stretch. Am I wrong here? Also I checked using a different neck and the measurements are different, but closer to the saddle position than the tremolo post (/screw hole) position with both necks.

So if I were to allow for that I would need to completely re-route the tremolo cavity further back. As is, the line I have marked matches closer to the actual saddle position.

Any suggestions and comments welcome, especially constructive ones.

Not really, bridge placement is flexible like +/- 0.5" using saddle adjustment

 

[ErikH]

For bridges, I really like the Gotoh vintage style 6-screw trem. I have that on both of my Strat builds. For tuners, I have Gotoh Kluson style on both of them. I'm contemplating getting some Kluson H non-collared locking tuners for one of them. Drop-in replacements for what is there now, same screw holes and everything.

Take your time. Never rush through a process. That's when mistakes happen.

 

[alex1fly]

Take your time. Never rush through a process. That's when mistakes happen.

+1

Helps too to have an instrument you can play while you tinker

 

[Mincer]

^ I am taking time with my project, too. All the parts aren't getting here at once, so that helps. I am in no hurry, either.

 

[playas]

Not that you´d really notice a lot of difference, but here it is again after a lot more filing / sanding. These are from a few days ago. Both contours have been extended a bit.

As it won´t be visible from the front I also decided to make a concession to upper fret access while I was at it. There was a knot right in the middle which was a bit of a pita, but eventually got there.

These were taken before finishing sanding with 120 grit. I noticed that I hadn´t done a good job of following the curve on the rear contour...if you look closely you can see the route kind of flattens out at both ends of the contour, so I went back at it again to follow the curve better and continued sanding with finer grit sandpaper since then.

I still have to sand with 320 grit, but almost have the body sanding complete at this stage.

 

[playas]

...so I eventually got the body back after the sunburst was applied.
I spent a good few hours on Thursday & Friday soldering and shielding the cavity.

I still have more work to do on the neck, but I put it together and strung it up to see how much I need to take the nut down and check if there are any major problems.

Once I can format some pics to share here I'll add them.

Pleasantly surprised by how stable the tuning is.

 

[Mincer]

Happy this project is continuing. Doing it yourself isn't the cheapest or the quickest way of doing it, but when it is all together, it is worth it.

 

[playas]

Looking forward to seeing more pics of your build too.
Looks gorgeous from Ace's fotos.

 

[Mincer]

Looking forward to seeing more pics of your build too.
Looks gorgeous from Ace's fotos.

Thanks! I intend to update my original thread once I take better pics.

 

[playas]

Will most likely replace the nut with a white one, replace the tuners with a silver set and sand down the neck profile a little.
Here it is currently:

 

[Mincer]

I don't mind the black nut at all (especially if it is a functional choice), but I see what you mean about the tuners.

 

[playas]

The neck was previously mounted on a guitar with all black hardware.

 

[Kac]

I kind of like the black nut and tuners, even with the silver colored bridge.

 

[playas]

Btw I forgot to thank Ayrton for the neck on that guitar, so thank you. (I think it was Ayrton anyway, as it was so long ago I could be mistaken.)
It took many years but I think it has finally found its home.