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!