kpnutz52 Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 **PRE WARNING - THIS THREAD SHALL CONTAIN MANY PHOTOS** Hey all, Well, although Ive browsed to this forum many a time in the past, and had always had the intent to actually get creative and do something, I finally dug out some Stratocaster plans which i must have bought over 5 years ago... Since ive just graduated uni and got my BA, with the summer here (and rain there) I finally felt compelled to get to work and start building my very own (good ol' british DIY) Stratocaster... with help from my father that is... This will be our first ever build, and Im looking forward to all parts of the construction including the pitfalls (nothing better than learning curves i spose)... I shall also post picture of the process and update as often as possible.. anyway... The plan for the strat is to in some way resemble a 62 Strat (kind of)... The body wood I have chosen to make out of Swamp Ash The Neck wood I have chosen to use AA Birdseye Maple (starting with a lowish grade, incase of errors) The Finger Board blank is pre slotted, pre-radiused and is Indian Rosewood (a gorgeous red/browny/purpelish colour, kinda pao-ferro 'like') (all woods provided by Craft-Supplies, which isnt far to drive to so we chose the woods in person rather than online) All the woods together.. More 'family' photos... Price in all honesty.. Nice legs.. Nice Grain! Powered by Duracell? Side shot of Swamp-Ash closeup This is all for now folks, Cheers, Chris & Malc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donut Man Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Whereabouts are you then? I'm in Sheffield so Craft Supplies is only about 20 mins drive away. They looked like they were running low on body and neck blanks last time I went though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 thats what i was going to ask, havnt been for a while because their stocks were so low last time i went Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Whereabouts are you then? I'm in Sheffield so Craft Supplies is only about 20 mins drive away. They looked like they were running low on body and neck blanks last time I went though. Rotherham, So looks like were Neighbours! I spose they were, when we went the guy that deals with all the guitar related stuff had just left from what i recall, and a new guy who didnt seem to know much was attempting to re-stock and re-itemize everything... I had to tell them what the body wood was that I was buying and ho wmuch it was... its a good think im an honest person.. haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Well I actually have loads more pics and im eager to post if thats alright with everyone? Taking the the Strat plans we decided to cut out a nice neck template out of some crummy old conti/fibre board? for quick marking on future projects... anyway here we go... Template 1 Template 2 Template 3: Nice and straight! Template 4: Headstock translation Template 5: Ready to roll Template 6: You got rolled Template 7: Meet your maker! Translation complete 1 Translation complete 2 More to follow Chris & Malc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I'd strongly suggest using a center line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeljac Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 so far so good ! looking nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I'd strongly suggest using a center line. Yea we did, That was the next thing we did just after that photo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted July 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Well, once again more photo's I would have got these up sooner, but Ive had some problems with the server and upping the new pics etc... but anyway here we go.. We started on routing the truss rod channel as you can see in the following photos.. Router setup along a DIY Jig aka Spirit levelset along a straight line.. First pass of the route completed.. During the second pass as it happened.. Finishing the route for the rod's adjuster.. Result as the neck end where the adjuster will be.. Thanks again, Chris & Malc P.S Just recieved some goodies in the post so I will itemise and take photo's of everything asap... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 As promised, Look what came in the mail!... Ordered from Axes R Us... fantastic service, great/friendly/quick email responses... ordered on a sunday, got a mail back within the hour saying the items will be packed and posted out monday morning, thus I received them tuesday! awesome, i recommend them to all! You got mail! Peekaboo! Vintage Fret Wire 2.3mm (BAGGED) Vintage Fret Wire 2.3mm (UNBAGGED) Neck Plate + Screws (BAGGED) Neck Plate + Screws (UNBAGGED) Fender 5 way switch (Front) Fender 5 way switch (Back) Fixed Toploader Bridge + Screws (BAGGED) Fixed Toploader Bridge + Screws (UNBAGGED).... Gorgeous!.. Jackplate + Mono jack plug (BAGGED) Jackplate + Mono jack plug (UNBAGGED) String trees (BAGGED) String trees (UNBAGGED) Mother Of Pearl inlay dots (BAGGED) Mother Of Pearl inlay dots (UNBAGGED) Pickguard screws (BAGGED) Pickguard screws (UNBAGGED) Graphite Compound Nut (BAGGED) Graphite Compound Nut (UNBAGGED) Pickup screws + Springs (BAGGED) Pickup Screws + Springs (UNBAGGED) Vol/Tone Knobs in Parchment White Pickguard in Parchment White (Gorgeous colour!) Schaller Style 6 In line 'mini' tuners (BAGGED) Schaller Style 6 In line 'mini' tuners... Nice... Some more parcels came which i will have to take pics of and then i'll be able to up soon... Thanks, Chris & Malc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngaa Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 Looks great so far! Those shots of the hardware look great too, what colour are you painting/staining this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 Looks great so far! Those shots of the hardware look great too, what colour are you painting/staining this? Thanks for the comments erm..... I think I would like to make it solid in colour.. White, well more Parchment White if posible, but not that extreme its blonde/yellow, if u get me.. Just a nice, slightly fading off white colour... yea something like that.. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 Hey yo, Here's some more pics from the other day of what came in the posty! the pickups!! woop. Fender Custom Shop - Texas Special Pickups! (FRONT) Fender Custom Shop - Texas Special Pickups (BACK) Pickups (UNBOXED) Later that day the following item came in the mail that Was sent in a seprate bag from the previous Axes R Us order.... 1 Sq ft of Copper Shielding During that day we also drilled the holes for the machine heads... machine head holes.. The next day saw the Neck get bandsawd... ohh its taking shape now... Neck cut 2 Headstock cut Headstock cut 2 showing trus adjuster route closeup Headstock cut 3 Truss route Truss route 2 Because we noticed that is the Truss channel that the drop to facilitate the screw end of the truss rod was slightly too deep by a couple of mm's we decided that if we took some of the top of the neck we could keep the same thickness underneath the neck to prevent any possible truss break through... here you can see in the following photo what we shall be doing... Truss rod issue fix, level top of neck. Here's the truss rod in all her glory, (which i forgot to post earlier) Truss rod eye candy Truss rod firmly in place Truss rod in place 2: looking up the neck Truss rod in place 3: looking down the neck All these photo's are making we want to take up photography! haha... I just made yet another order to axes r us, which i'll tell you all about when it gets here... In the meantime, enjoy the piccys! Regards, Chris & Malc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 nice work! that fretboard looks amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 nice work! that fretboard looks amazing! Thankyou, we appreciate the kind comments! Yea the fretboard is great, its even better in person than the photo's bring it across... cheers, Chris & Malc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Hey guy's, Been a bit busy lately plus we had been awaiting the delivery of some equipment and other things etc... anyway i'll cut the jabber, here's where were at... Vol/Tone Pots (Bagged) Vol/Tone Pots (Unbagged) After receiving the vintage frets a cpl of weeks ago I decided that 2.3mm wasnt going to cut it, and were slightly too small, so i'll save them for another project and I bought some jumbo frets at 2.9mm Jumbo Frets 2.9mm (Bagged) Jumbo Frets 2.9mm (Unbagged) Jumbo Frets 2.9mm (CLOSE UP) 0.22uf Drop Capacitors + Extra wire (Bagged) 0.22uf Drop Capacitors + Extra wire (Unbagged) Drop Capacitor close up Here's the thickness plainer we had on order... Thickness Plainer 1 Thickness Plainer 2 Thickness Plainer 3 Thickness Plainer 4 Cutting wood to fit plainer Cutting wood to fit plainer 2 Cutting wood to fit plainer 3 Wood going through plainer Wood going through plainer 2 Last run through the plainer! Marking out for routing the guitar body! Routing jig Routing jig 2 Routing pickup wire channel Routing pickup cavities Routing pickup cavities, slight error on neck pickup, but its ok Body Rough Cutout.. Body close up shot of routes etc.. Just for giggles! Well, hopefully this will keep people interested in my project till the next post.... We have a rotary table sander on order (we just sent one back as it was used/broke/parts missing)... So yea... Chris & Malc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Hey all, We got our new tabletop rotary sander... (the previous was used, broke and NOT what we ordered)... we quickly had it replaced... Sanding 1 Sanding 2 Sanding 3 Sanding 4 Routing 1 Routing 2 Slight routing accident Routing 3 Routing somewhat complete.. Routing + Pickguard! Noice Noice! Comments welcome! Chris & Malc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeljac Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 perfect !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 perfect !! Why thankyou, I'll be touching wood (bad pun! lol) all the way to the end of this project to hope all stages go as well as possible... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Hey guys, just a cpl of new pics as an update, we started on the arm contour and this is what we have so far.... were pretty pleased with it what do you guys think?? We begin... And then... We shall be starting on the body contour asap Comments welcome, Chris & Malc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narcissism Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 am i correct in assuming that you used a chizle to do the rough contouring? It looks very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kammo1 Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 That look like its going to be a great build, just curious what make is your table top sander machine is it an oscillating type or a fixed spindle sure looks great maybe a nice pic of it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnutz52 Posted August 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Hey all, sorry for the delay in the update but been a bit busy lately, anyway, with out further-a-do Neck Trim setup Neck trim setup 2 Trimming Neck to width Trimming Neck to width 2 BEFORE DISASTER Trimming headstock AFTER DISASTER Disaster! doh, fixed now tho... Body Contouring Body Contouring 2 Headstock truss jig Headstock truss jig 2 Drilling rod access Drilled. Pre glueing Mid glueing Clamping neck on Clamping neck on 2 Filing fretboard down Headstock shaping Headstock shaping 2 marking fret markers out Drilling fret markers out Drilling markers 2 Markers drilled Markers drilled 2 Installing side dots! their ya go folks! for all who noticed the disaster that we had, we were routing the headstock and the end just pinged off, luckily we had just received the order of Tightbond! we stuck the sucker back on and its stronger than ever! cheers, chris & malc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeljac Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 nice !!!! keep going ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.