Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

epi

epi

New member
I am in the process and please give tips and suggestions, I am making this Washburn Oscar Schmidt entry level guitar into something special (first time doing it) I am done disassembling it and now I am working on sanding it soon, I am hoping to make it a flat black with a satin feel neck and I am attempting to do some fret work to it when I get there (no clue what to do)

Thanks!

(throw any advice you can think and especially for fretting, there is a lot of like dent's on the frets and they are not easy to replace my dad says to just file them down but neither of us have ever done this so all suggestion will be taken under heavy consideration!)

The whole process is being recorded so if you are considering on doing something like this you will get a good glimpse of what it is, already it is pretty difficult, at first I will use the hardware and pups it has but I am looking to change them soon when I get some money. picture is of it disassembled picture of it before are being found
 

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Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

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Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

Way to go! At some point you just have to jump in.

Rule #1. Set your attitude to "can do!"

Rule #2. Set your expectations to "total fail"

I have no idea about frets - good luck with that. But there are people who learn to do it.


I don't know if you'll be able to end up with something special, but you have to start somewhere. Most never do.
 
Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

Aceman said:
I don't know if you'll be able to end up with something special, but you have to start somewhere. Most never do.
Click to expand...

Special to me, I don't care if it is special to anyone else ;)
 
Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

What would make it awesome to you?

Looks? How....
Playability? How....
Tone? How....

I'll say that my construction and Deere guitars are by no means awesome. But i do love them and they are fun to play.
 
Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

Aceman said:
What would make it awesome to you?

Looks? How....
Playability? How....
Tone? How....

I'll say that my construction and Deere guitars are by no means awesome. But i do love them and they are fun to play.
Click to expand...

I don't know looks, I love flat black
playability, it won't probably be any better, I like satin necks, and tone, throw in some good pickups that I like and it is already mahogany so it shall be special to me
 
Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

How would I change the frets? there is a sort of binding on the fretboard... how would I change them? or could I just file them?
 
Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

epi said:
yeah why?
Click to expand...

I was just thinking how cool it would be to make a mdf template and use a template router bit to do something like a jackson/charvel fusion heel mod.

Like this. It would be basic to do, add mojo and allow better reach to the upper frets. Just make sure if you take the equivalent routed wood off the end of the neck screws other wise they may be too long.

 
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Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

Go for it.

Power sander/disc sander would do it.

Practice on scrap wood first!
 
Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

To finish the neck, just take some fine grit sand paper to it. Simple and effective. Lots of guys do it to their guitars.

I recommend that you read up on finishing techniques. It's a lot harder than most people think, but it's by no means impossible. I'd probably go spray cans for the black coat, at least.

Also, I think the sculpting kramersteen mentioned is quite risky. It opens up issues with the neck plate screws etc...

I've never done it before, but I'd consider how much sentimental value is in the guitar before you do it at least.
 
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Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

youngthrasher9 said:
To finish the neck, just take some fine grit sand paper to it. Simple and effective. Lots of guys do it to their guitars.

I recommend that you read up on finishing techniques. It's a lot harder than most people think, but it's by no means impossible. I'd probably go spray cans for the black coat, at least.
Click to expand...

yeah, my dad is good with painting and knows normally how to paint certain things more effectively, more or less of what I was looking for advice on was the fret working
 
Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

I think kramersteen is on the right track with the refret. It would probably be easier to refret all together then level and dress, rather than try to salvage the existing frets if they are as bad as you described. Look up some tutorials on youtube for refretting and leveling dressing frets.
 
Re: Making my cheap guitar AWESOME!

Go for it.It is fun and a good learning exp. And as Aceman said.. set your attitude to I can do" and Expectations to to total failure. My advice on the ReFinnish and the whole thing is dont rush go slow, be patient, it pays off. If you are doubting if a coat has not dried wait. I did my old cheapo V about a year back, and I can tell you it is Fun, it was first for me. I still have a little work left to do on it,mainly replacing the odd shaped pickguard, so that I can put a single Humbucker on it.

edit.. Oh and dont be afraid to get a little adventures on the refinish.
 
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