SX Tele, extreme makeover

[Jerry Madderra]

I refinished it in Mary Kay Blond, recut the headstock, new pups, pots and I made a new pickguard. Replaced the bridge and saddles. I haven't played it much yet but it feels very smooth and sounds lively unpluged.
Jerry

 

[Rich_S]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

Nice. I love "improving" cheap guitars. Although, my son's 3/4-scale SX Jazz Bass is really nice just the way it came.

Is that arm bevel standard?

 

[Jerry Madderra]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

Arm bevel and belly cut were standard on that model. It was a interesting conversion although I don't know I would do it again
Jerry

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

Nice job, Jerry ! That looks very classy. What pickups did you put in there?

I am wondering exactly how one goes about getting that finish (body)....I am currently restoring the body of my old '69 Strat and that finish has been one candidate for it ( I have pro-level spray gear and a lot of auto-refinish experience, and have done some candyapple finishes on guitars and amp chasis).

Is there any ideas you could pass along regarding how that finish is achieved?

 

[sosomething]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

Looks like a very nice job! Is that a bound fretboard?

Also, how did you go about applying the finish? Did you use a sprayer or was it one of those Reranch aerosol jobbies?

 

[JOLLY]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

That looks nice. I like that neck.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

I'm with Jolly. The bound neck with offset dots is very nice.

Was this the original? http://www.rondomusic.com/stlash.html

A huge improvement! What was the stock matte finish made of? Was it hard to remove?

 

[Jerry Madderra]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

The original finish did not need to be removed. I just sanded it down a little so the new finish would get a bite. The finish is white pigment I got from stewmac and mixed with clear lac. I used a detail gun with compressor. You only need a few drops of pigment in the clear and spray in even coats to get to the transparency you are going for. I mixed some clear and pigment and sprayed a test board to get the right density of color and then went for it.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

The original finish did not need to be removed. I just sanded it down a little so the new finish would get a bite. The finish is white pigment I got from stewmac and mixed with clear lac. I used a detail gun with compressor. You only need a few drops of pigment in the clear and spray in even coats to get to the transparency you are going for. I mixed some clear and pigment and sprayed a test board to get the right density of color and then went for it.

This seems like a very good idea for getting a cheap ash blonde tele. Does Stew-Mac sell honey blonde pigment or could you just mix a pinch of dry mustard and go to town! lol.

I really like how you re-finished yours, and am especially impressed by the head stock.

Have you thought of custom decal to put on it?

 

[jimijames]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

What equipment did you need to cut the headstock? For $119 that would make a fantastic project guitar...

 

[Jerry Madderra]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

I made a template of a Tele headstock, marked it on the sx and cut with a bandsaw. You could use a jig saw. I cut just shy of the line and drum sanded to the line for a smooth finish. A little rattle can clear on the cut edge and its done.

 

[Jerry Madderra]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

This seems like a very good idea for getting a cheap ash blonde tele. Does Stew-Mac sell honey blonde pigment or could you just mix a pinch of dry mustard and go to town! lol.

I really like how you re-finished yours, and am especially impressed by the head stock.

Have you thought of custom decal to put on it?

Stew mac has a bunch of pigments but I'm not sure which one to add to get the honey blond maybe umber.
I am getiing ready to make a custom decal for the headstock. It will be "Deafocaster" because guitar playing is probably responsible for my 60% hearing loss.

 

[butnut]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

Totally dig the neck binding...what kinda profile/shape? Where can you order it from?

 

[Jerry Madderra]

Re: SX Tele, extreme makeover

Rondo guitars http://www.rondomusic.com/stlash.html