Hi all and Happy New Year!

Well the parts have been trickling in, the latest was the plastic. I decided to age this myself... it definitely took on a heavy relic vibe but I'm (relatively) happy with it. The pics don't do it justice, I think it looks much better in person but it gives you an idea.

I'm just waiting on pickups, neckplate, saddles, bridge, ferrules, and the body... should be here pretty soon.

Looks good ... so far ... thanks for sharing.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

how did you age it? looks really good.

I started with a mint guard and aged white plastic parts. First I started by sanding the gloss off the covers,knobs, and pickguard with 1200 grit paper or scorchbrite pads. Naturally, there is the area under the strings on the p/g which I don't work very much. By going very slowly and with very light pressure you can avoid unnatural swirls and it just dulls the finish. I use a heavier grit paper to start the knobs and then work them again with 1200 (the ridged part and around the edge of the tops to round them off slightly). It leaves a bit of sandpaper residue which I usually wash off before "coloring" them but a little usually remains and begins the dirty-ing process. I usually use 1200 grit for the knob tops. I also take a thumb tack and carefully chip/scratch out some of the ink from the letters and numbers.

My secret weapon is a sharpie marker... kind of a dark mustard yellow. I color my thumb with just a touch of it and rub it on the knobs, around screw holes, etc. Then I usually go back with a scotchbrite pad and remove some... this process can go back and forth a few times but I stress using a very little of the sharpie ink at a time. I usually wash & dry them when I'm finished.

For the pickup covers I stick the sharpie in the pole holes ( and the screw holes for the P/G, etc.)and get some of the ink in there and let it dry for a few minutes, then rub it with my fingers. Some of the "yellow" bleeds out and spreads and then, like the knobs I re-sand or scotchbrite some of it back off.

It's a pretty simple process and has taken a few attempts to get down but I feel like I'm getting better at it. This process works best with aged white plastic parts in my experience.

Matt at MJT just sent me some progress pics of my body... just needs the final coat of nitro and it'll be done! I really like how the finish came out... that shade of heavily yellowed ice blue metallic reminds me a bit of Sage Green they were using on the MIM std's for a while, anyhow I'm stoked on it. Shouldn't be long now and I can start putting things together...

The Body looks spectacular, but I'd expect nothing less from MJT. Mark Jenny makes the BEST relics on the market. Bodies, necks, hardware...MJT has it all down to a science and his work puts all the others to shame. Good luck with the rest of your build!

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Looking good ! cant wait to see the finished project.
Just before Christmas i did a refinish for my fiancé on a 3/4 bass of hers, I don't no what make an model of bass it is, or even what its meant to be modeled around as i have never seen one before so if any can i identify it then that would be much appreciated.
Its was a horrible mustard yellow before (back of the neck the lot, it was a right mess), After id finished stripping back the multiple layers of bad paint it came down to "what colour are you wanting it ?" so we go out to get materials. In the shop that green would of been one of the last colours that i personally would of picked out but its not my guitar so, so be it !
To my shock it looks great ! the colour suites it to a tee an with the black stripe (again something i wouldn't of thought of) really sets it off.
Projects are fun !!!

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Dan...

Fender 1987 MIJ Stratocaster, Texas Special Loaded.
Fender 2007 MIA Jazz Deluxe.

Looks like a Fender Mustang or Bronco Bass maybe... I'm not so familiar with basses though so without doing a little research I'm only guessing. I like the color, and the stripe as well. Looks like a really nice re-fin.

As far as my own decision to "go green", it was inspired by a photo of a very heavily yellowed Jazzmaster I saw pictured in the Chinery Collection... a collection of vintage guitars. I like the greenish hue that Ice Blue Metallic and Inca silver can develop over time.... I'm sure it's not everyones first choice but I was was looking for something different. Also the reason for choosing a hardtail.

Some pics of the neck too...it's also from MJT... nice and chunky, 9.5 radius, 6105 frets. I installed some period correct kluson tuners and a headstock decal... I'm waiting to install the string tree until I can get it mocked up and measured. Believe me, nobody is more excited than me to get this thing together and set-up!

It looks like its going to very nice when its finished !
Yeah the green is something that you need to of seen first to appreciate how good the end result will look, its something i would not of thought about !
looking forward to seeing the finished guitar !
Good luck !

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Dan...

Fender 1987 MIJ Stratocaster, Texas Special Loaded.
Fender 2007 MIA Jazz Deluxe.

Any suggestions on the best way to measure for installing (and drilling for) the bridge? I'm a little overwhelmed by the thought of it. Any help or links would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

By your photos there is no additional need for drilling except for the bridge screws That body is drilled for a hardtail.
You will have to place your hard tail bridge in line for the string holes and mark for the bridge screw holes.
Measuring for intonation will be once the guitar is assembled and strung up ( not from the rafters )

At this point I strongly suggest buying the Stratocaster book by Paul Balmer. There are other books which are specific to a strat build, also look those up.
Detailed set up is explained for various strats.
You will need to know how to set up the neck wether it will need shimms or not.
If you are not sure or don't know how, DO NOT EXPERIMENT, seek advice and hands on help from a qualified tech.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

One more thing, Are you installing a Bone nut ? That will also need critical set up, sanding to size to fit in it's neck slot etc..etc..

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Thanks for the tips... luckily I do have a very good guitar tech in town should any problems arise. Yeah, the biggie is just getting those mounting screws in straight! As far as shims go... I've never used them before and have put quite a few strats together from spare parts Is it really necessary? Hopefully the body and neck will fit well together... guess I won't know until the body arrives.

As far as the nut project... that one seems pretty easy (of course I haven't started yet)

No..!! Shims are not always necessary and since the neck and body came from the same supplier everything should fit well.

From reading your first post i was assuming you had not ever done this before, my apologies.
I'm actually in the process of completely rebuilding 2 strats and a Bass.
Total rehab, recontoured one body, all painted now and curing, still have the neck to redrill, round out the edges and level and dress the frets than finish. pickguard is all set up just has to be wired and soldered.
The second strat is less, just redrill for the neck, refinish the neck and then wire up and solder than assemble.
The bass is all sanded and is going to wait a couple more weeks.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

No worries... some of the work is new to me, some is not. The only two things I'm freaked out by are drilling the neck, and drilling the holes for the bridge screws, the rest of it I have plenty of experience with (or think I can figure it out pretty easily) I've done some reading and watched some videos on fitting and installing a nut... and messed around with sanding and shaping on a practice nut.

Sounds like you've got your hands full! I'd like to get more comfortable with drilling wood, fretwork, shaping and finishing bodies, etc. I need an old squire or std or something to practice with. Good luck with all that... do you have any pics posted?