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gsm_dealer08

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About gsm_dealer08

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  1. Sorry about the photo links, I didn't manage to put direct links.
  2. Hello everyone. I want to share with you my very first build. It is done now and I'm very pleased with the result. I am a learning guitar player (don't dare to call myself a beginner yet). I own a cheapo Harley Benton Strat copy and a nice Epiphone G400 that I use as my main practice instrument. A couple of months ago I came across an advert for this amazing looking Soviet era Ural 650. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-OlU05gB-wKgwFtDqhuglWzKo9rbB2wv/view?usp=drivesdk Totally fell in love with it. But after doing some research I found out that these were of pretty poor quality even when new, and since the 70s even the good ones got bent out of shape and are pretty much unplayable. So I decided to build one myself. I wanted a guitar to practice at work during my breaks, but a quiet one, unplugged, but electric. I had my strat copy at work and since that is hollow and made out of pine wood, was sounding pretty nice and clear unplugged. So the plan was to make a (kind of) hollow guitar, with a soundhole (maybe to amplify a bit the sound) and have only the neck pickup since I mostly use that one, and the guitar will be used unplugged most of the time. I didn't want to spend too much on this project so I tried to use whatever I could find. All the tools and materials used: -Pine wood -drill with various size drill bits -angle grinder with sandpaper disk attached -wood chisel -hand saw -wood adhesive -wood filler -2 cans of primer -yellow, red, black paint, one can each -2 cans clear laquer -various sandpaper grits -turtle wax -screwdrivers -a whole lot of elbow grease and dedication First I picked my wood. As I work I a cemetery I found I nice pine plank we use to surround the grave at funerals. All the planks had knots so no chance of finding one without it. As I did not have any professional tools to carve out the inside of the guitar, and the plank was too thin anyway, it was going to be made out of two layers. I had to cut a piece of plank in half, along the edge, to make the thin layer that will go at the back. As I did not have any cutout of the Ural, I had to rely on a very low resolution image of the design. I had to print it out on paper, glue the papers together, resize the image on the PC and keep printing it until I was happy with the size of the print. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-myVGBhL9rpPngJgGFWpZGXpr0td9jVN/view?usp=drivesdk I didn't have any clamps to glue the board pieces together so I used a lot of heavy marble shares I had and just pressed them together, the sheer weight keeping them nice and tight. https://drive.google.com/file/d/101k-DF1JxCQXU1nt_IuzjTO5L-mpqwXX/view?usp=drivesdk Trace the overal shape of the ural using the paper print. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-zvLSJzFP-NBn1IhPZwnL7w6ijW-6aFv/view?usp=drivesdk Using a hand saw and the angle grinder, cut the front and back pieces. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ukF70qY_XqFE92jfwhJ87o9f5CfEYxo/view?usp=drivesdk Using the drill, cut out a lot from the middle of the front half, using the paper print as a reference to see where the pickguard would go, leaving just enough space for the screw to catch on to. Then it was the crucial part of cutting the neck pocket. I was going to use a neck from an old strat copy as I have no knowledge in building one, so I used the strat scale. Spent over whole day with just a flat wood chisel and a rubber hammer. At the end of the day, the neck fit almost perfectly, nice and tight. I wanted to use the same screw holes the neck already had, so I shaped a piece of paper, put it in between the old strat and it's neck, screwed it in, then used that paper to see where I need to drill the new holes on the one I was building, drilling from the inside of the pocket. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-mg1n7_iZkYnMr8-06__ko9C60dIILAT/view?usp=drivesdk Using wood filler, patched some imperfections, sanded the wood extensively for two days, then applied the first light of primer. https://drive.google.com/file/d/103Z_Whq4yAAaVzy3zlKVyRTXRs808el8/view?usp=drivesdk I wanted a simple, front loading bridge. I picked a Strat style one. To connect the ground, drilled a hole under it to go towards the inside. Left the wood to settle for two weeks. Came back, applied several coats of primer over 3 days. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-THnvPl95YVZdz6B_t5dKEAL8oJB3Lhk/view?usp=drivesdk Then it was time for the yellow paint. A whole can used, several layers over 3 days. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-FNadnxBxrXlusmbTs4ynIFwC6Astq-n/view?usp=drivesdk Then came the red paint. Very inexperienced, put way too much, but decided to polish off the excess. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-PAqe7A2BHz-BIEH-p3IQmJAOwdQFHmk/view?usp=drivesdk Because of the polishing, the patterns of the wood were showing red, but I loved the effect! Then the black edge went on. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-IEgmURUoci14-wdv8yDqjfnP2jVvlIs/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-BZaABw-S2wMKHxf_EltfEeSLIHDhc0f/view?usp=drivesdk Considering the variety of 'organs' I was putting into it and the material used, decided to calle it The monster, and applied the appropriate decal. Printed it out myself on waterside decal paper. More sanding and blending. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-CCGN9whiH1B3XbeDF8smdAJ3ssMmYoF/view?usp=drivesdk Time for the clear lacquer, 2 cans applied over 3 days. Now for ther pickguard. The Ural design looked a bit bland so decided to make my own. With a piece of paper over the body, traced it's outline then sketched the shape of the pickguard. Cut it out then used it to trace the outline on the pickguard material. I used a 4 ply golden brown sheet. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-9IzG7rJ8O4NIaUqtqa-CThfj25j0-Dk/view?usp=drivesdk For pickup I used a Wilkinson Telecaster, the volume knobs are Les Paul style, used the bottom of a cup to trace the outline of the soundhole. This took me a whole day, as I only had the drill, saw, and sandpaper to do it. Connected the electronics, etc. Drilled the holes for the pickguard screws, put in the strap pegs and finally the strings. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-jq_ieFDMyq5Witv6zamL7qhVh0Bpu8-/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-42OCrQ4JQ2g8TVW3_aJpn3mGgWmPB2A/view?usp=drivesdk I plugged it in, tuned it, set up the intonation. Put it down and admired it. I could not believe it. I was so happy with the result and so proud of myself. I never thought I could actually make it look so good and fully work and sound as it should. To be honest, I don't know how I did it. When I was working on it it was like I was in a trance - my brain would just freeze and my hands just kept going. I know the material used is not great. But this is not a high standard instrument. I just wanted something to jam with at work. The parts used came from 4 different styles as well, and the soundhole may look out of place. But it works for me and I love it! What are your thoughts on it?
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