JazzFusionGuy Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Hello folks, I am not new to axes but quite new to refinishing. I thought I share my very first project's progress after getting enough great tips from this website to feel ready. Any tips welcome as I go along . . . I bought an axe to practice on first. It was only $26 off eBay. The axe is an older Behringer Stat clone with a great neck but mediocre electronics and poor paint job and finish. I like natural finishes so I thought I'd try that first. Went to Lowe's and bought a $40 heat gun kit. Worked great. The pics below tell the whole story so far. My time doing just the back and sides took ~ 4 hours. I will post again when I do more. Until then . . . Ohh, my achin' back leanin' over that long . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 that is plywood! that's why it was painted black. now your natural finish will enhance the plywood body. maybe you could do a burst to hide the edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzFusionGuy Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 that is plywood! that's why it was painted black. now your natural finish will enhance the plywood body. maybe you could do a burst to hide the edges. Yeah, kinda sucks to see what I expected but i like your burst idea! We'll see what I come up with soon enuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougK Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 I did the exact same thing this weekend. Took a beater shitty squire strat I had laying around (I dont even remember how I got it) and finished sanding the back to find out it was plywood! so I just wrote my own CNC program to make my own strat bodies LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 (edited) $26 is still a bargain for a neck and parts. What options are you considering? Oh and JazzFusionGuy please don't read this post any further. Does anyone know how to flash up a subliminal message that makes JazzFusionGuy want to carve a cool new body out of a beaut block of swamp ash? Edited November 19, 2007 by Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzFusionGuy Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 I did the exact same thing this weekend. Took a beater shitty squire strat I had laying around (I dont even remember how I got it) and finished sanding the back to find out it was plywood! so I just wrote my own CNC program to make my own strat bodies LOL. Being a practice project with a near POS axe body -- I thot what the heck, it's fun to see what evil lurks beneath the shiny exterior -- and perhaps redeem the foul truth into a thing of odd beauty. And then sell it on eBay for 3 or 4X what I had in it. So, you sell these homemade Strat bodies??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzFusionGuy Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 $26 is still a bargain for a neck and parts. What options are you considering? I am wanting to reveal as much natural grain via light stain or a honeyburst or the like. Suggestions?? Oh and JazzFusionGuy please don't read this post any further. oops I peeked. Does anyone know how to flash up a subliminal message that makes JazzFusionGuy want to carve a cool new body out of a beaut block of swamp ash? (Subliminal message for Forum goodguys:) Offer to mail the wood to me for shipping costs. It is blessed to give and yea to receive as you give. Offer to mail the wood to me for shipping costs. It is blessed to give and yea to receive as you give. Offer to mail the wood to me for shipping costs. It is blessed to give and yea to receive as you give. Offer to mail the wood to me for shipping costs. It is blessed to give and yea to receive as you give. Offer to mail the wood to me for shipping costs. It is blessed to give and yea to receive as you give. etc . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 So, you sell these homemade Strat bodies??? Homemade????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougK Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 I did the exact same thing this weekend. Took a beater shitty squire strat I had laying around (I dont even remember how I got it) and finished sanding the back to find out it was plywood! so I just wrote my own CNC program to make my own strat bodies LOL. Being a practice project with a near POS axe body -- I thot what the heck, it's fun to see what evil lurks beneath the shiny exterior -- and perhaps redeem the foul truth into a thing of odd beauty. And then sell it on eBay for 3 or 4X what I had in it. So, you sell these homemade Strat bodies??? Pretty much exactly what I thought. I needed a diversion from the p90 guitar i've been building for the day so I figured ***, why not. Then I saw it was plywood and just started laughing my ass off. dont know if I'll be selling "strat" (dont sue me fender) bodies. Probably not ... well maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzFusionGuy Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 . . . so I just wrote my own CNC program to make my own strat bodies LOL. . . . So, you sell these homemade Strat bodies??? Pretty much exactly what I thought. I needed a diversion from the p90 guitar i've been building for the day so I figured ***, why not. Then I saw it was plywood and just started laughing my ass off. Oh shinola came to my mind when I saw this B. Strat-clone was ply as well dont know if I'll be selling "strat" (dont sue me fender) bodies. Probably not ... well maybe. A passage of $$ twixt guitar fans for shaped wood resembling another shaped wood product won't get ya sued. But if ya ever advertised Fender approved/licensed, etc etc and used their name to sell product then yer liable to get a nasty letter. Anyways, keep me in mind and zap me a pic or three of aforementioned Findurish product made in yer shop. You may have yerself a buyer. back to research scientist stuff . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzFusionGuy Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Well, I am now considering after sanding smooth & clean this plywood body, to try some veneer work as described in the tutorial section. I just grabbed 5.52 sq ft of 1/42 Sapele Pommele exotic wood for $24 off eBay. This was scraps from Lear jet and luxury yacht detailing and interior jobs. Here's what it will look like bookmatched. Sheets are more than enough to do the axe. Tips? Opinions?? Yeah, I know, "sow's ear <-> silk purse" but this is merely a practice session for me and will be a fun learn whatever happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Therioz Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 (edited) Thats a pretty veneer. I have never done veneer work but i would like to finish a guitar with some burl walnut, and quad matched like this: this image is too small to really appreciate the grain on the veneer. Edited November 21, 2007 by Therioz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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