7 Strang Kit Build, Willit run?

[AxAxSxS]

So, as promised, here's where I'll document the trials and tribulations of putting this kit together.
Krosis and Celticelk both expressed interest in having a kit put together for them so this is the trial run and if one of them want it when done, they have dibs.
I've done a few kits before as well as several partscasters (kinda the same thing) and this one seems to be fairly decent as kits go. The neck fits fairly snugly in its pocket and so far it looks like it will all fit together. The holes for the bolt on neck are ever so slightly off, I don't believe that will affect anything. the biggest issue I have run into in the past is sloppy bridge placement. I have not checked that yet but will get to that prior to paint and finish work.

Here's the raw materials.
The body is typical and is several pieces of wood glued together. the joins appear to have been done well and there are no glue lines or gaps.



The neack actually has some nice figuring. I'm thinking trans black or dyed black so that its not hidden





the biggest flaw I have seen so far is that the nut it came with is horrible and way to high off the rest of the neck. If I went with it as is, the action would be intolerable. I'll be removing that and making a new one from either brass or aluminum. Should be very nice.

So I'll do some sanding, route out a pocket for the backplate because I prefer them to be flush with the back of the guitar, stain/burn/dye (input welcome on that), assemble, check to see if it will work as is, correct any flaws, then paint and final assembly.
Sounds easy right?

Any input you guys have is welcome and I'll probably go pretty fast with this but I'll try not to go so fast that I cant make it how you guys want it to be.

[whiskey_face]

sweet pea. . . . . I might have to PM you about a t40 neck I got in a trade. . . .

[AxAxSxS]

what ya thinking?

[AxAxSxS]

So initial sanding is showing off some flaws in the raw material. I normally go 600, 1000, 2000, 3000. I'll need to go rougher and get some of the marks out and then work back up to the very fine grits. not really irregular, but there are some gouges here that become very apparent when the rest is fine sanded. I want to get those out before going to paint. hard to photograph so you'll just have to take my word for it.

[skullservant]

Excited to watch this!

[AngryGoldfish]

In.

[IEatCats]

Where'd you order this kit from? I've been thinking of finding a new project instrument for when I've gotten myself a little more financially stable.

[AxAxSxS]

Where'd you order this kit from? I've been thinking of finding a new project instrument for when I've gotten myself a little more financially stable.

http://www.bargainmusician.com/servlet/ ... Categories

They seem to have quite a selection.

finished up prep sanding. there are a couple spots where the manufacturing process left some marks that I have not removed entirely due to not wanting to alter the shape of the finished guitar. I'm banking on these spots getting hidden by the paint process.

I started applying the dye. I mixed up some trans tint black with alcohol.



Going for kinda crusty looking when its all done. Here it is after being sanded back a bit.



I decided to hit up the neck as well.



It looks a little purpleish in the pics but thats just the shitty camera phone. Its gray to black when you see it in person. I'll add some brown tomorrow and may attack it with a heat gun to roast it a bit.

I also noted that the kit does not include a pickup selector switch, or a hole for one on the body and the "Plans" do not indicate one. I may add one in.

[AxAxSxS]

So yesterday the Wife found a $200 Home Depot gift card.
So I picked up a drill press and a couple other things. Once it's set up I'll drill the pickup selector switch hole.

Tonight I decided that some Red Mahogany stain might help make the base a bit more interesting looking so I hit that up. I like how it looks over the Black.



I'm planning on using a translucent black as well as clear for the actual paint job on this. So far I like how its coming along.

[Mudfuzz]

What brand black dye is that [I am liking this project of your's]?

[AxAxSxS]

Thanks.
That's Transtint concentrated dye. I like it because a couple drops go a long way and you can mix it into anything. Water, alcohol, acetone. all works well.

[Mudfuzz]

Cool

[AxAxSxS]

Got the drill press set up and drilled the hole for the Pickup selector switch.

Then I decided to burninate!



Basically I just gave the whole thing a light roasting and went a bit heavier on the beveled areas to darken them.

you can see some of the oil from the stain bubbled up as well as some of the scratches on the back. Also where I routed out the back plate pocket. More sanding will go down before paint.

[Krosis]

Suddenly the pictures in this thread aren't working for me

Anyways, it looks like you have piqued a few people's interest with this project. Keep up the good work

[AxAxSxS]

hopefully a temporary thing? They are loading up for me..

Here's tonight's update. I test fitted the neck to check to see if things are in the right places.



Surprise! The pickups seem ok, but the bridge post holes are not so great. I use straight edge's and check and mark.



The lines I marked are a continuation of the edge of the neck.



So next I make some plugs, glue them in redrill the holes, match the dye and then hopefully will be ready for paint at that point.