bassplr19 Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Bought a huge chunk of solid walnut 8/4 x 13.5" x 94", that means I'm on body build 1 of 4. Found some 62 Strat Blueprints, so here we go: So far layed out, rough cut, template started, planed, and checking out how parts will look together! Aside from the 6 vs 2 screws, is the modern tremolo routing the same as the vintage? Found a guy with a 2007 USA with a broken neck, offered him $225 for the pickups and tremolo bridge, need to discuss further tonight Already bought my Fender neck...next time, I'll try my own! *Started a new thread since the last was got off track with forum troubleshooting'* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplr19 Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Still thinking about grain filling and finishing. Do I want it shiny or just oiled? Also, thinking should/can I recess the back tremolo cover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Grain filling isn't really a given thing depending on the finishing type you choose. More to do with how you want the finished product to look. Open grain can look more organic and natural, whatever type of finish you choose to apply. Filled grain will look more smooth and sleek. Oil finishing is easy if you don't have the spray equipment or the room to spray. Gloss finish is possible without spray guns, but can be a little trickier to achieve. Given enough care you can get similar results with brushed-on finishes. Trem cover - you can recess if you like provided there's enough clearance for the trem block to swing inside the cavity without hitting the cover. If you're going to use the one shown in your pics I'd suggest not recessing though as it looks like the edges of the cover are bevelled, and it may look a little odd if it were recessed flush to the surface of the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Hi Bassplr19 This is looking good Walnut is a lovely wood for using tru-oil with. It can be applied to a standard semi-gloss in the normal way or, you can use a 'slurry' method - where you use wet and dry sandpaper with the tru-oil to create a grain-filling slurry, which is then buffed off. It can even be done on the kitchen table ("what's that? No, dear, I NEVER do that....not even when you're away at your sisters..." ) with just a bottle of tru-oil, a sanding block and a couple of cheap microfibre cloths. If you progressively repeat the process, buffing off the slurry after around 15 mins and then letting it dry each time, you can get a superb 'real wood' feel and look that is nevertheless silky smooth. I think I remember that this how many gunmakers and owners treat their wooden stocks (which is what tru-oil was designed and marketed for). This Peavey EVH was rebodied in North American Black Walnut and finished using that method. It's gorgeous to the touch: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplr19 Posted January 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 (edited) I think that's exactly what I want - found this one Walnut Strat Edited January 10, 2016 by bassplr19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 That should be a fun project. Let the games begin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplr19 Posted January 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 Finally a little bit of progress: Neck Pocketing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 That's the spirit! Nothing like earning a refreshing cold one after achieving important working stages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bileshake Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 Looks good, can't wait to watch your progress. I'm pondering to build a walnut tele. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 In builds there are always some bits we are all hesitant about. In my case it's the neck pocket - I'm always pleased and relieved when it's done. This looks good - a beer well deserved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 @bileshake - Walnut's a great wood to work with. It teaches you good sanding technique and discipline, especially when you want to get to oil finishes as sublime as the one @Andyjr1515 posted. Totally worth every minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 And 'tis a fine lookin' piece of walnut too. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10pizza Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 ALways liked oil finishes and see the wood. Good luck @bassplr19 ! @Andyjr1515 that's a brilliant EVH! gorgeous wood and finish! Did you build that yourself or did you use an existing wolfgang for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, 10pizza said: ALways liked oil finishes and see the wood. Good luck @bassplr19 ! @Andyjr1515 that's a brilliant EVH! gorgeous wood and finish! Did you build that yourself or did you use an existing wolfgang for that? Hi @10pizza Thanks It was a rebody I did for a guy who had the Peavey EVH and wanted to have a little more 'bling' So I cut and carved him a new body from a nice piece of NA walnut I spotted on ebay and transferred everything else across from the Peavey. Nice guitar....I hadn't really had them on my radar before this. If it had been for myself, I would have gone for the carved top (ref the EVH produced ones) but the guy specifically wanted flat topped. I was pleased with it as a build and loved the way the finish came up. It feels SILKY smooth. He wanted it to be as close as possible to the original weight which I thought that would be challenging out of a solid piece of walnut, but it ended up within 1oz of his Peavey Anyway...that's enough of a hijack of @bassplr19 's thread. We wait patiently for more progress and pics @bassplr19 I feel good things afoot Edited February 1, 2016 by Andyjr1515 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplr19 Posted February 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 (edited) More routing, template top, top side, and start of neck pocket - had some router digging into the template issues, but those areas should be mostly rounded out or beveled off. Also, work is proceeding in my downstairs bathroom for ease of cleanup since the garage is unusable...WI winter and car storage and all... Edited February 11, 2016 by bassplr19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 (edited) I like the idea of using the bathroom, @bassplr19 ! In my case I'd need to take the bath out, of course, and suggest to MrsAndyjr1515 that she asks the neighbours if she can borrow theirs when she needs the shower, but I'm sure she'd understand! I think we've all dug into a template in our time. I don't have a routing table, but I've certainly done it in the past with a hand router. The most common cause is the bit hitting a big bit of wood and bouncing around causing mayhem. The order of the day with routers is 'check and double check' and multiple small passes rather than trying to take too much off at a time. I've even done an oversize template in the past to get the blank close to the final shape, taking off any major projections that could catch the bit, before swopping to the final template. As you say, nothing too problematic with this one so far - looks a really neat neck pocket rout, too...and they are tricky! Well done Edited February 11, 2016 by Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 I've done that before myself. Wet router sawdust doesn't clean up as easily as one might think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplr19 Posted February 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 Can you blame me for testing it out? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 That's starting to look like a geetar already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplr19 Posted February 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 I bought a Fender Neck Plate with the F on it. I want to do a contoured heel like Warmoth offers, so I started googling "contoured heel strat dimensions" - nothing good was coming up. All I really wanted was how shallow a contoured heel is, finally realized I can just look at the screw lengths for a contoured heel neck plate set and go as deep as the difference!! It looks like I'll be safe in the .25"-.375" range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplr19 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 (edited) More routing fun, trem cavity and jack cav. It's nice out, so I played in the garage! Edited March 12, 2016 by bassplr19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitaraxz Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 On 8 de enero de 2016 at 2:09 PM, bassplr19 said: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitaraxz Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I see that you already routed the trem resess and that shouldn't be a problem. What I personally find dificult is to make sure the bridge and neck are aligned and at the right distance for intonating. I sugest you insert the neck, then put on the 1st & 6th strings on the trem and use them to make sure everything is aligned before dilling in the trem posts. Then put in a pickup and make sure both strings are properlly intonated, it's always easier to do this before painting to avoid showing any mistakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Very neat job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Any particular reason you routed the neck pocket before routing the body shape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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