Bugs

IGNOR THIS POST- I USED THE WRONG TAGS FOR THIS FORMAT - I'LL REPOST LATER

-Bugs

Nice work so far And is that a lace shirt or is that your arm hair?

Just joshin' ya buddy

That's a fur coat.

I decided that I would paint my guitar Pearl White, using acrylic lacquer made by Duplicolor. Duplicolor is and automotive touch up paint in a spray can. I like this paint; it comes with a fan spray tip, lays down well, dries fast and is very durable.

Here you see a drip where I got too close with my spray. It was hardly noticeable when the paint dried, but still, it had to be sanded and rubbed out.

Wet sanding with 600 grit. (Yellow tinted pictures due to poor lighting or dying batteries)

Sanding with ultra fine steel wool. Then off to the garage to start the whole process over, two or three more times as needed, then clear coat.

I hear ya about the addiction-I'm already thinking about my next one!

No, not really. But looking at that picture, I can why it seems that way. It's really not, unless of course you are comparing it to a Tele head.

Building My Own Guitar

(click photos to enlarge)

I've been wanting a new electric guitar for some time now, but never seemed to have the cash for one. So I went on an internet search for a cheap guitar kit to see what I could find. I found on ebay, a guitar kit made by Saga, sold by Slashman Music http://Slashmanmusic.com . I got the Telecaster version for $95.00 bucks, shipping included.

Everything needed to start and finish this guitar project is right here in one package. I read a lot of good things about this kit; some bad things also. But the pros, I decided, out weighed the bad and I took a chance. The chance taken is that you could get a kit that is ill prepped for assembly. (I.e. the holes may not line up and parts might not fit so well in their designated positions) So far as I can tell, I've got a good one.

The neck looks straight, and the fret bars are even and uniform.

The neck also fits good and tight into the pocket where it bolts up to the body.

But even so, keep in mind that a project is a project and you deal with what you have to do, no matter what it is. Regardless of what you may think of kits for anything, you will still only get out what you put into it. This is my first guitar project ever, and I think is a good place to start. There are lessons to be learned in everything, if your paying attention.

The first thing I done was mark out the head stock for shaping.

Saga provids a lot of room in their kits to get creative with. You can make a Telecaster design, or you can choose to make your own-which is what I did. To me it looks like a cross between a Strat and a Tele...kinda sorta. But that's not what I was trying to do.

End of Part 1

My blog is up with pictures @ http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...&indicate=1 I know that this is boring run of the mill stuff for some of you guys-but it's new and exciting to me, and I'm taking it serious. Thanks for looking, and as always, I'm open for suggestions.

I've got the PRS kit. I tried to fit the neck to the body as a pre-assembly test and I'm gonna have to sand a little bit from the neck pocket to get a good fit.

I'm going to blog my experiences of building it and will post the link when I get started.

My guitar kit came yesterday. I think I have a good one. The neck is straight and the fret bars are smooth and uniform.

I too will also blog my build on "My Space"...if anybody cares.

Thanks for your help guys.

I don't know anything about building guitars, but know a little about wood, and that's nice piece of lumber. It would be a shame to cover up with paint. I'd find a lightly tinted stain/sealer that brings out the grain. Brush it on and rub it in evenly with a rag.

Hi all!

I have been lurking on these boards for some time ( )and took the plunge into making (as such) a guitar from scratch!

I wasnt brave enough to build a body and neck from scratch - partly because of lack of garage to work in, and im a wuss!! - so i decided to buy one!

Now im in and am looking for someone/company in london who would be able to paint/finish the guitar - as i mentioned before, i dont have anywhere to finish the guitar!

anyways - if anyone knows of anyone in london who could finish it, that would be great

anyway - heres the guitar so far! - btw i know that the pickups arent straight - i only laid them into the body - and as for the stoptail - i know its on the wrong way round... doh!... but you get the idea!

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200037.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200038.jpg

the neck

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200043.jpg

the neck inlay

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200044.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200046.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200052.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200053.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA100124.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140135.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140137.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140138.jpg

heres a mockup of the headstock and truss rod cover

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...ockmockup-1.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...ckup4custom.jpg

the finished truss rod cover from www.pickguardparadise.com

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA270001.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300007.jpg

the backplate design - im getting it from www.frestonthenet.com

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300019.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300020.jpg

I was thinking of making a top nut made from stainless steel. Has anybody ever done this? Would this have any effect (good or bad) on tone? Still waiting on my kit to arrive, but that does not prevent the wheels from turning.

Hello folks,

I'm here because somebody I know from another board invited me.

I have played acoustic guitar for a long time, and write my own songs.

I'm planning on doing some recording and need to play electric also.

Not having a lot of money, I opted the cheap way out. I bought a Saga

Telecaster kit on ebay for 99.95. I'm waiting for it'd delivery as I write this.

I know you get what you pay for, I'm just wondering if I should have held

onto my 100 bucks. Is there any redeeming qualities to this kit? The idea of

building a guitar has always interested me, and I thought that this might be a

good place to start. I've read some good things about Saga, but only from

people selling them. I figure that if I like the way it plays, I'll upgrade to better

components.

Your comment and opinions are welcome.

Thank you,

Bugs.

Reviews on the Saga TC-10 guitar kit. http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...Saga/TC-10/10/1 Makes me feel better and confirmed what I suspected I will eventually have to do. This could work out well.

If you want to have a go at building a guitar, then this is a good place to start.

But if you're main motive is to get a cheap playable electric guitar then I'd spend the money on an ebay squier tele or similar.

There's bound to be some extra expense with tools you may need to finish the job properly.

Now you've bought the kit, I'm sure you will really enjoy building it and there is something special about playing an instrument you made yourself.

There's some real talent and experience on this board so I'm sure you'll get loads of help whenever you need advice.

I hear ya. The kit says it has everything needed, other than a phillips screw driver, and If I need anything else, I have plenty of tools, or know somebody who does. That should not be a problem. I just wanted a cheap, playable guitar, that I built. Plus, $100. 00 bucks is about all I can spare at this time.

There are redeeming qualities to almost anything, if you look at it the right way. Let's put it this way:

For $100, you might get a playable guitar! You will likely need to learn a few things to do to make it even more playable, which is a valuable experience.

OR, for $100, you might get a disaster which you are never able to bring to a satisfactory level. You will notice the neck pocket gaps, how badly the frets need recrowning and polishing, how the routes are not located in the right spots, etc. Now, I'm not saying that'll be the case. But if it IS, the experience of building it will still teach you stuff. That's $100 not entirely badly spent.

Greg

Thanks Greg,

That's a good way to look at it. Most of what you said, I have already considered. My main concern is that it will be a turd right out of the box! I would rather have it be my fault. I've contacted a few people from ebay who have also purchased this kit, and they say that it is a pretty good guitar that plays well, sounds good, and has decent pickups. Even "twangs" like a Tele. Rowdy sent me this link to a web site explaining how to build this particular kit. http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/kitbuild.html I'm not looking a a miracle, just something I can play that will make me happy, and something I can pass down to my kid when he is ready to start. If nothing else, it'll be good for slide playing or at the very least, wall decoration.

If you want to have a go at building a guitar, then this is a good place to start.

But if you're main motive is to get a cheap playable electric guitar then I'd spend the money on an ebay squier tele or similar.

There's bound to be some extra expense with tools you may need to finish the job properly.

Now you've bought the kit, I'm sure you will really enjoy building it and there is something special about playing an instrument you made yourself.

There's some real talent and experience on this board so I'm sure you'll get loads of help whenever you need advice.

Hello folks,

I'm here because somebody I know from another board invited me.

I have played acoustic guitar for a long time, and write my own songs.

I'm planning on doing some recording and need to play electric also.

Not having a lot of money, I opted the cheap way out. I bought a Saga

Telecaster kit on ebay for 99.95. I'm waiting for it'd delivery as I write this.

I know you get what you pay for, I'm just wondering if I should have held

onto my 100 bucks. Is there any redeeming qualities to this kit? The idea of

building a guitar has always interested me, and I thought that this might be a

good place to start. I've read some good things about Saga, but only from

people selling them. I figure that if I like the way it plays, I'll upgrade to better

components.

Your comment and opinions are welcome.

Thank you,

Bugs.

Sorry, I just realized that this is the wrong forum.

Hello folks,

I'm here because somebody I know from another board invited me.

I have played acoustic guitar for a long time, and write my own songs.

I'm planning on doing some recording and need to play electric also.

Not having a lot of money, I opted the cheap way out. I bought a Saga

Telecaster kit on ebay for 99.95. I'm waiting for it'd delivery as I write this.

I know you get what you pay for, I'm just wondering if I should have held

onto my 100 bucks. Is there any redeeming qualities to this kit? The idea of

building a guitar has always interested me, and I thought that this might be a

good place to start. I've read some good things about Saga, but only from

people selling them. I figure that if I like the way it plays, I'll upgrade to better

components.

Your comment and opinions are welcome.

Thank you,

Bugs.