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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 4:39 am
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The colour blend is a lot more graduated than it looks in the images but the compression on FarceBook (where the images are lodged) tends to make it look more distinct.

The finish is still pretty soft as I probably should have left it another week, or so, but you know how it is.

There are bits I'm not 100% happy with (inevitable as the builder because you know where the issues are) but I keep telling myself it is a tool for making music not a bit of furniture.

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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 5:42 am
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I think I might have one more nitro finish guitar in me but it is a pain in the bum finish and I can understand why, generally, it has been superseded.

The good thing with nitro is new coats melt into the previous coats. This helps with self levelling and avoids any bonding issues. The down side is all the coats shrink as one so any imperfections on lower levels seem to migrate and telegraph to the surface.

The absolute killer though is it takes so long to harden. This isn't only an issue in waiting to finish the guitar but if you get any runs in the underlying coats. I still haven't worked out how to deal with the last one (aside waiting a week of so to sand out drips before carrying on). I had a couple of runs on the edge which I wet sanded the following day. I don't know if the lacquer was still too soft and absorbed water, or dust, or what, but I can now see those marks again which weren't apparent previously. You don't get this with other finishes which, if you sand off a drip on an underlying coat that drip is gone.

The other thing is in respect of shrinkage. Granted, I probably should have given it another week or so before I cut it and polished it but it is still shrinking and marks that weren't there previously seem to appear. If you want a glassy finish it absolutely needs to be glassy before you start the nitro as, while the nitro might fill some small marks it will shrink back subsequently.

#frustrating

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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 10:17 pm
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Still looking very good John, it'll harden up eventually. Erlewines book says about 30 days to cure optomally.
I got my frets leveled & dressed and prepped for work.
I also worked the body a bit, still have a small section of binding to re-glue and control holes to drill out to 3/8.
I couldn't find any spalted maple locally to test on, so I had to order a few 5x6 squares online.


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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 8:43 am
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Finding this saga fascinating! No doubt about it, apart from the odd contributor, this is a very friendly, polite and helpful forum - I like that.

The costs are interesting, John. Obviously it's a hobby, so fair enough, but I was looking at some finished Strats on Ebay, custom-built by a chap near Stevenage. Seems he's used reasonable quality parts, and one of them's even in nitro. He's asking between about £150 and £250 BIN. Can't be anything like what they've cost him to build - bears out what you say. I've a good mind to go and take a look...!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 9:13 am
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Peter S wrote:
Finding this saga fascinating! No doubt about it, apart from the odd contributor, this is a very friendly, polite and helpful forum - I like that.

The costs are interesting, John. Obviously it's a hobby, so fair enough, but I was looking at some finished Strats on Ebay, custom-built by a chap near Stevenage. Seems he's used reasonable quality parts, and one of them's even in nitro. He's asking between about £150 and £250 BIN. Can't be anything like what they've cost him to build - bears out what you say. I've a good mind to go and take a look...!

Cheers - Peter.


Hi Peter, I agree that, on the whole, everyone is courteous and generally interested in each others guitar adventures.

I think, with the careful selection of parts it is possible to build a guitar for a great deal less than I spent. I hampered myself as, where ever possible, I wanted to use genuine Fender parts and these are at a Premium in the UK. Without exception almost every part I used I could have bough a non Fender part for 1/3 rd of what I paid for the Fender parts and, I am sure, the difference would be almost negligible in quality.

Similarly, if I was buying spray paint to use on several guitars, rather than rattle cans, the paint bill could have been reduced significantly.

All that said £150 - £250 for a hand build guitar does seem silly cheap. Lets be honest you can pay £100 for a set up alone.

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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 9:18 am
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It lives!!!

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Fish Face AKA The John Player Special was born on 5th October 2018 at around 6:00pm BST weighing in at 7.5 lbs (3.4 Kg).

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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 9:24 am
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As noted previously, I refinished the neck, as bought second hand off eBay and am really pleasd with the results. Using the same materials as the body the neck seems to blend into the body more than with a conventionally finished bolt on neck.

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The images from eBay and then the refinished neck

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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 10:03 am
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Nicely done, John.
Very nice indeed.

I know exactly what you meant about the build being surprisingly more expensive than expected.
The parts needed for the Strat I built totalled a little over $1,900 Canadian at a time when you could get an American Deluxe for less than that and an American Vintage for just a bit more.
That said, my guitar is unique and is exactly what I wanted with no compromises.
I'll never see another one like it.
Enjoy your own one-of-a-kind guitar!

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 11:06 am
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Great work, John. It looks fantastic!

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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 1:41 pm
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Exceptional finish on that neck/headstock, it worked out better than you expected. It really did tie together well w/ the body. Very well done indeed!!!


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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 8:53 pm
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Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful

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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 8:56 pm
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Nice job, John.

I would be happy seeing this baby in action.

Once your time permits don't miss the opportunity to post a video.


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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2018 12:10 am
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Thank you for all your kind comments, and encouragement, throughout.

Still a few things to do, gold strap button's are in the post and perhaps gold tuners and string tree in due course.

The main job now is playing the living daylights out of it and that is certainly not a chore. :-)

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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2018 5:02 am
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Don't forget the gold knurled knobs as a spare in case you decide making a swap!


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Post subject: Re: Strelicaster Build
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2018 8:14 am
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Just fabulous, John! :D
Fender has some serious competition on their hands!!!

What does it play/sound like?

Cheers - Peter.


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