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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Building A Usa Strat On A Budget Pt.4
Posted by: Fran Oct 21 2010, 10:40 PM
Looking great mate! Can't wait to see and maybe hear? the whole thing
Looks like you are having a blast doing it too
Posted by: Mudbone Oct 21 2010, 11:38 PM
QUOTE (Fran @ Oct 21 2010, 05:40 PM)
Looking great mate! Can't wait to see and maybe hear? the whole thing
Looks like you are having a blast doing it too
Thanks Fran, as soon as I find a good way of recording I'll post some sound clips. And I also need to learn some music that suits a Strat - all this time I've been playing balls to the wall metal
I'm having a good time doing this, save for that incident with the broken drill bit, which really ruffled my feathers
But such a thing is to be expected with any project you do for the first time.
Posted by: Rik Veldhuizen Oct 22 2010, 07:53 AM
Looks really nice; love the close up pics and the progress. Enjoy your (almost) new guitar ...
Posted by: Fran Oct 22 2010, 04:08 PM
I forgot to mention, although you probably already know, that we have this interesting entry in the knowledge base. Just in case you find any ideas of interest for your project in there:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Build_your_own_Guitar
I already started working on your entry. It's going to be an excellent addition with so many pics and comments.
Posted by: stratman79 Oct 22 2010, 11:56 PM
Hey man,
Glad to see you are enjoying your project and it is coming along so well.
I got suckered into my first project and it went from a hardware change to a full respray as well.... it's really hard doing work on guitars and makes you value how good a good luthier is!! But it's great fun and a great learning experience!!
You really want to hire or borrow a router to take out the extra wood on the trem... A super sharp chisel may be ok but v.risky and hard to do.
Careful when drilling out those holes you can spilt the headstock v.easily, like you say a reamer is the way forward but maybe using a hand held wind drill will give you more control?
The one thing I can say is take your time, don't rush anything, if your getting annoyed walk away and go back a few hours later (a big run in the finish is more than a little frustrating!!)
Oh and if you need any advice head over to www.reranch.com they are a friendly bunch of guys and what people can advise you about on how to play a guitar here they can advise you on how to build one!! Real pros!!
Keep us updated!!
Peace
Posted by: maharzan Oct 23 2010, 02:41 AM
looking great.
Posted by: Mudbone Oct 23 2010, 05:21 AM
QUOTE (stratman79 @ Oct 22 2010, 06:56 PM)
Hey man,
Glad to see you are enjoying your project and it is coming along so well.
I got suckered into my first project and it went from a hardware change to a full respray as well.... it's really hard doing work on guitars and makes you value how good a good luthier is!! But it's great fun and a great learning experience!!
You really want to hire or borrow a router to take out the extra wood on the trem... A super sharp chisel may be ok but v.risky and hard to do.
Careful when drilling out those holes you can spilt the headstock v.easily, like you say a reamer is the way forward but maybe using a hand held wind drill will give you more control?
The one thing I can say is take your time, don't rush anything, if your getting annoyed walk away and go back a few hours later (a big run in the finish is more than a little frustrating!!)
Oh and if you need any advice head over to www.reranch.com they are a friendly bunch of guys and what people can advise you about on how to play a guitar here they can advise you on how to build one!! Real pros!!
Keep us updated!!
Peace
Hey Stratman, good to hear from you. What you said is true, going into to this I didn't realize how much work it was going to be. But its all a learning experience, and that I believe is the most valuable acquisition from this project.
As far as the trem hole, I was planning on using a file and a Dremel to bore out the hole. It may take more time and elbow grease to do it, but at least I'll be able to control how much wood I take off. there really isn't that much wood to remove, two or three mm tops. I've never used a router before, and I have a tendency to get over exuberant with new power tools, so I'd probably make that hole so big I'd be able to stick my head through it
You're absolutely correct about the reamer, but they're about twenty bucks a piece, which is more than I want to dish out. I've already tested out the method of progressively increasing bit size on a 2x4, and it worked out pretty good. The only problem was the wood splintered a little bit on the exit side, but that will be covered by the tuner housing. Maple is denser than pine, so I don't think it will splinter in the same fashion as the 2x4... I hope
As far as getting aggravated, thats something I have to work on
I'll check out that link you posted first thing tomorrow morning.
This project will probably be completed sometime within the next 2 to 4 weeks, just need to find time for it with out cutting into practice time
Take care
QUOTE (maharzan @ Oct 22 2010, 09:41 PM)
looking great.
Thanks dude
Posted by: kaznie_NL Oct 23 2010, 03:26 PM
Awesome stuff man! Get's me inspired....
Posted by: Fran Oct 25 2010, 04:36 PM
Here's all current info from all threads in a wiki entry:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Building_A_Usa_Strat_On_A_Budget
I'll keep an eye on new info to keep adding to the article
If you wish to add/change anything in there just click edit at the top right corner of the wiki window and go for it
Posted by: Mudbone Oct 25 2010, 07:06 PM
QUOTE (Fran @ Oct 25 2010, 11:36 AM)
Here's all current info from all threads in a wiki entry:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Building_A_Usa_Strat_On_A_Budget
I'll keep an eye on new info to keep adding to the article
If you wish to add/change anything in there just click edit at the top right corner of the wiki window and go for it
Cool Fran, looks great
Once this project is complete I'll go through the whole thing and polish it up.
By the way, can I add book reviews to the wiki? Theres quite a few book reviews I'd like to do.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Oct 25 2010, 10:58 PM
Nice wiring, looks great!
Posted by: Mudbone Oct 25 2010, 11:56 PM
QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ Oct 25 2010, 05:58 PM)
Nice wiring, looks great!
Thanks Ivan
Posted by: Fran Oct 26 2010, 03:25 PM
QUOTE (Mudbone @ Oct 25 2010, 08:06 PM)
By the way, can I add book reviews to the wiki? Theres quite a few book reviews I'd like to do.
Sure man, go ahead
Posted by: stratman79 Oct 26 2010, 10:11 PM
Hey man,
The dremmel must be about the best bit of kit out there, I have a cheap £15 one but its great!!
Sounds like your doing everything right, testing it on scrap first etc etc , if you do get a little splinter it should be covered by the little metal bit that fits in the whole..
Did you get over to reranch??
peace
Posted by: Mudbone Oct 26 2010, 11:30 PM
QUOTE (stratman79 @ Oct 26 2010, 05:11 PM)
Hey man,
The dremmel must be about the best bit of kit out there, I have a cheap £15 one but its great!!
Sounds like your doing everything right, testing it on scrap first etc etc , if you do get a little splinter it should be covered by the little metal bit that fits in the whole..
Did you get over to reranch??
peace
I think I figured out a way to prevent splintering on the exit side. If I drill out just the tip of the exit side then lightly sand around edge of the hole it should prevent splintering. I haven't tried it out yet but I will let you know the results
Even if it doesn't work, you're absolutely right that the tuner housing will cover it anyways.
I did check out that website, but I couldn't find anything on woodworking, am I missing something?
Posted by: stratman79 Oct 27 2010, 10:35 AM
Hey man, yeah I reckon that should be good...
with regards to reranch it's on the forum where most of the blokes who do repairs/refinishes are.
Most of the stuff over there is way in advance of what your doing (and what I have done) but if you get stuck or want some advice they're very helpful. Also if you get the bug and want to do more then it's the place to go!!
I just skimmed through the first page of the forum and came across this... this is by no way unusual in the standard of the finishing you will see....
But most of them can't play the guitar like people over here can...
http://www.reranch.com/reranch/viewtopic.php?t=38629
Posted by: Mudbone Oct 27 2010, 05:42 PM
QUOTE (stratman79 @ Oct 27 2010, 05:35 AM)
Hey man, yeah I reckon that should be good...
with regards to reranch it's on the forum where most of the blokes who do repairs/refinishes are.
Most of the stuff over there is way in advance of what your doing (and what I have done) but if you get stuck or want some advice they're very helpful. Also if you get the bug and want to do more then it's the place to go!!
I just skimmed through the first page of the forum and came across this... this is by no way unusual in the standard of the finishing you will see....
But most of them can't play the guitar like people over here can...
http://www.reranch.com/reranch/viewtopic.php?t=38629
Cool, this information will be very useful
That dude did a really nice job with the Les Paul.
Posted by: Fran Nov 18 2010, 11:51 AM
Hi there Mudbone
How are you doing with the project? Let me know if you add any new info/pics so I can update the wiki entry
Posted by: Mudbone Nov 18 2010, 03:59 PM
QUOTE (Fran @ Nov 18 2010, 05:51 AM)
Hi there Mudbone
How are you doing with the project? Let me know if you add any new info/pics so I can update the wiki entry
I plan on finishing it sometime within the next week. I got held up because I couldn't find a suitable 10mm drill bit (without buying a a whole set), but I just found one yesterday and ordered it. It'll be in sometime next week, so whenever I have a full day off I'll finish it. The only thing that will remain will be replacing the nut. That might take a while because the local luthier is backed up with work for a whole month. But out of the whole project it is a very small piece, so after fixing the bridge and replacing the tuners it can be considered mostly complete
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