Defender Makeover

Yeah, yeah, I know, it's been awhile since my latest update...sorry about that...:(.  Anyway, I gave my repaired Defender to my oldest son.  Repairing the Eddie Van Halen stripe job proved to be VERY tedious and he suggested a single color...blue.   I loved the idea and started the makeover.  Following are the pics from this job.  This is going to be a VERY nice guitar.  Can't wait to get this one completed...Enjoy!

My wife made the suggestion to lose the Logo and just sign the guitars.  I think it adds a wonderful touch!  Stay tuned...I will be assembling this heavy metal beast over the next few months...;).  Also, I needed to make a note here about the finish.  The paint is 8 coats of Rustoleum metallic blue.  This is finished off with about 6 coats of Crystal Clear Enamel.  It has made for a VERY durable finish!

Here we have installed the Tremolo Bridge and both Humbucker Pickups.  Also, I installed the spring claw underneath...(note to self, no more Tremolos!  ugh, I hate them!).

In order to ensure that I have enough wire, I made this template to solder all the electronics before installation.  Someone once asked me why did I put the 3-way switch so far forward, I told them it was because it got it out of the way of the picking action.  I will not do it again, though...

I touched up the fretboard and leveled all the frets using homemade fret rockers.  As you can see, I strung the lower 'E' and tested the fret job.  So far, it sounds great and has a pretty good action...

Here, I have installed the electronics and shielded the cavity.  Let me make a special note here.  Please, for your own sake, make sure all your solder joints are good.  By that I mean check the connections by tugging lightly on each one to make sure they are tight.  Also, check your joints, if any connection is dull in appearance, you make have a cold solder joint and have to re-solder.  I have made all these mistakes in this one guitar alone, just trying to save you guys some trouble out there in Luthier-land.

Well guys, here it is!  Finally finished...phew!  Thanks so much for sticking with me throughout this build.  My goal is to add a video of this guitar in action and I will send an update to Facebook if I am able to do it.  Again, thanks everybody!  God Bless!

Warrior Build

So, I've been commissioned to build a Warrior 24 scale for a friends son and he tells me to make it red and creative.  This is gonna be fun!

I left out most of the construction phase of the guitar because it pretty much follows the Ananchel build.  I encountered some very interesting problems which I am documenting.  I hope this will be helpful.  I apologize in advance for the clarity of the pics.

Completed and sanded.  I love the way the grain patterned out. 

Head-on shot of the guitar body.  notice how it started to bow at the ends?  This was the interesting problem I spoke of.  This will be corrected through a belt sanding process.

Headstock still needs some flattening.

I label the body of the guitar where I need to hit it with the belt sander.

Showing the back where it's starting to separate due to a bad clamp job...ugh!  Now I have to insert kerfs to keep it from bowing any further.  First, I will lay them out with a square and saw them to a depth of 3/8" with a circular saw.

Using craft sticks and wood putty for filler.

Whew!  Now, after all that, I'm ready to start the finishing process.  Remember how my friend said to 'get creative'?  This next pic shows how I added the red paint, but backed off a bit on the top where I simulated quilting.  Yes, I SIMULATED this effect with ripped masking tape and beige spray paint.  I'm sure I'll get calls from Luthiers everywhere about my blasphemy!  I can go into this process too if anyone's interested.

After about 8 coats of laquer...

Sorry, the picture quality kind of sucks...

I learned through the last few steps that I should have raised the grain a little more before I started finishing.  It made for a REAL interesting top pattern, though.

These next pics show the guitar completed following an intensive sanding, repairing and polishing process.  These pics are of a MUCH better quality...enjoy!  Notice how the wood grain pattern pops out from not having the grain raised.  I like it!

Whenever the client secures the donor guitar, I'll begin the modification process...stay tuned!