Hey Ya'll,
For those who were following my "Body ID" thread, here's the latest update. After letting the lacquer set for a week, I sat down today to do the final polishing on the body. After 4 hours of wet sanding and rubbing and buffing, my fingers feel like they're going to fall off but I think it was worth it. Just as a refresher, again here's how she looked the day I brought her home...





And here's how she looks now...





Little bit of a difference huh? I did make a few screw ups on the back...had a couple of sanded throughs between clear coats...




If this had of been a nicer body, I would have gone back and fixed these but this project has been more about "character" and since this is on the back, I'm not really going to worry about it. I think that once I get the hardware on, it's going to look more like natural wear anyways. I wasn't really trying to do a relic or a Road Worn...just worked out that way.

I've also replaced the logo on the headstock with a vintage correct Fender logo. Now before the flamefest starts here, please know that I do not intend to sell this neck or guitar! I wouldn't be advertising it if I were. I did this strictly for my own personal satisfaction. The way I see this is while a lot of folks buy a particular guitar because of the way it sounds and feels (myself included), looks are important. With this project I wanted to create the look of a more vintage instrument and to me, the headstock logo is part of that. Now honestly here, from a distance it's passable, but if someone were to look closely at it, it's pretty easy to tell that it's a fake. Again I do not intend to sell this neck or anything and I'm not trying to rip anyone off with this. More over, I've left the serial number and the "Made in Indonesia" on the back of the headstock in tact...all someone has to do is check the serial number to see this neck is from a 2004 Squire Standard. The only reason I mentioned it is that when I post the final assembly pics in a few weeks, I don't want anyone to freak if they saw the other shots I posted. So please...no one get bent out of shape on this...I just did this for my own shits and giggles.

I also have the new bridge on order...vintage style Mexican bridge (with the big trem block) and I also ordered a vintage RI "F" neck plate to go with the aesthetics and I'm going to have my birthday engraved on the neck plate as a serial number. I was toying with even putting some Kluson tuners on it but honestly, I like the tuners I have here so they're going back on. I think I've decided to go with my old Lotus pickups on this sucker too...they have a bit more of a vintage tone than anything else I have around here and I can always upgrade the pups later. The other parts should be here in a couple of weeks and this will give the lacquer a chance to harden. Once the rest of the parts come in I'll get her put together and see how she sounds and then I'll get more pics up!

Alrighty, just wanted to post an update now that the final polish is done! I"ll probably start the next project in the next couple of days...going to do a 12 string Strat!

Enjoy,
Jim

i could not even tell it was the same body except for the shape

Wow, it looks 100,000 times better than it did before! Great job.

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Good Job Jim!!

I really like it. Nice choices on the colours.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

fantastic work! sorry about the sand-throughs.. I know how much that sucks!

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

Eh...like I said, not really that worried about it. Since the stain was over the top of the sanding sealer, it would have been fairly easy to fix but with this body being what it is, it really wasn't that big a deal. I was actually more worried about how the front was going to look...between the glue up lines and the knot in the upper horn, I wasn't really sure how well this was going to come out anyways so all and all I'm quite pleased. I think she's going to be a real player when she's done and that's what's important .

I'm going to be re-doing a blue burst next and then after that I'll probably pickup a really nice body and "do it right"...I learned a couple of new things on this project with the classic 2 tone that I'm looking forward to trying out.

Thanks (to all) for the kind words!

Here's a couple more shots of her pieced together to give you an idea of how she's going to look...









In that one shot you can see that the one joint line does stand out a bit depending on how the light hits it, but again...character and she's got that vintagy look I was after. That's also not the actual bridge I'm going to use, but similar. Anyways, except for some strings (and a switch tip, screws, strap buttons, etc), that's about how she's going to look in a couple of weeks when she's done.

Of course now comes the really hard part of this project....waiting the next few weeks before I can put her together and play her! LOL!!! Now I'm going to have to do those other guitar projects just to keep my hands busy...assuming my wife doesn't make me redecorate the bathroom first...

Again thanks to everyone for the kind words!

L8r,
Jim

Man that looks good!

Well done.

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MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!

The color mixed with the fret board kicks $@!

Hello Lomitus,

Fine looking axe you brought
back to life,
Good work Jim.

Cheers.

The only other thing I can say is Congratulations my friend! Something to be proud of for sure!

Very nice. Pat yourself on the back for me...

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Ignorance IS bliss - and I am the happiest person here!

WOW, That looks good!

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1994 Standard Strat, Blue
2000 Standard Strat, Black, with GFS block, and GFS Lil Killer pickup.
2004 Standard Telecaster, Black
1971 Gibson SG
1985 Kramer Baretta
1986 Kramer Vangard
Carvin X60B
Marshall 50 watt 2x12 combo

I think you really did a great job.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

Nothing wrong with seeing the join. it looks fan-freaking-tastic

Again Kudos!!
Out of curiosity, what was you drying/curing time? i am doing a guitar using some acrylic stuff and would appreciate any info.

Edit: haha!! I R SMRT!!!! Just reread, you said it in the first line, 1 week.

_________________
I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.