Trem To Hard Tail Conversion

[integra]

I've just read Brian Calvert's tutorial on a "Trem to Hard Tail Conversion" and have a few questions.

1. What is the best glue to use to glue in the blocks of wood?

2. Does the current finish need to be stripped off before priming the body?

I'm confused because the tutorial goes from a photo of the newly glued in block to one of a primed guitar and then finally to a stripped guitar where the wood block has mysteriously changed colour.

It's a great tutorial, just not detailed enough for a newbie like me!

Thanks.

Link to Tutorial

Edited August 15, 2005 by integra

[Daniel Sorbera]

you can see in http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/htcon/t2htw.jpg pic that the guitar body is striped of it's finish. I'm guessing brian did that because it would be very hard to sand the block flush with the original finish and still have it look good.

You can use any old yellow glue. Elmers wood glue, titebond, whatever.

2. Does the current finish need to be stripped off before priming the body?

I'm thinking yes. After you strip everything you need to fill the gap as per tutorial and than refinish.

[integra]

So basically...

1. Strip off the finish

2. Routing, fitting blocks, sanding etc..

3. Priming

4. Finishing

Does this sound right?

Thanks for the reply!

[GodBlessTexas]

What is the best type of wood to use for filling the cavities with? I've used poplar, mostly because it's cheap, readily available, and a tonewood, but is there a better choice?

Remember the Alamo, and God Bless Texas...

[uglogirl]

So basically...

1. Strip off the finish

2. Routing, fitting blocks, sanding etc..

3. Priming

4. Finishing

Does this sound right?

Thanks for the reply!

←

That's how I did it ... i was kinda "given" (my ex left it with me) a warmoth strat body with a maple top that had been back routed for a floyd and I hate floyds so I cut out the shpe to a regular rectangle and then used a block of maple that I found that matched the old grain then glued it in with epoxy sticking out about a millimeter. Then I sanded it down level and filled the gaps with wood putty. Then I routed it out for a Kahler bridge. It sounds really grotty but honestly you can't tell from 3 feet away after I put stain and lacquer on it. It's not a work of art but this is my first real project guitar so it's more of a learning experience. But really, it's pretty enough to play onstage.

Uglogirl