gearhead1972 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

[emoney]

Awww, gearhead, I hate to take all the credit, shucks man. Oh, wait....you probably weren't
talking about me where you? Oops.

Great progress there you soon-to-be-a-full-fledged-Luthier,you! I like the contrast between
the woods too. It's gonna be a real beaut when you're done.

Word to the wise, it might be a good idea to occassionally bring your significant other
flowers and say nice things about how their hair looks, etc etc. etc. since that person
won't be seeing much of you from now on, lol.

[gearhead1972]

Originally Posted by emoney

Awww, gearhead, I hate to take all the credit, shucks man. Oh, wait....you probably weren't
talking about me where you? Oops.

Great progress there you soon-to-be-a-full-fledged-Luthier,you! I like the contrast between
the woods too. It's gonna be a real beaut when you're done.

Word to the wise, it might be a good idea to occassionally bring your significant other
flowers and say nice things about how their hair looks, etc etc. etc. since that person
won't be seeing much of you from now on, lol.

Thanks yeah i like the contrast, and i think black hardware is gonna really contrast nice especially on the headstock. Oh and the wife plays a little guitar, a little drums, and sings in our band, so she has the sickness just like me lol

[gearhead1972]

Just sent in a $148 stew mac order. Fret saw, radius sanding block, fret wire ect...lol Still have about $100 worth of stuff in my cart at GFS, thats gonna have to wait till next week.

[gearhead1972]

First coat of tung oil on the body

[emoney]

That's a nice, deep color.

[R. Stratenstein]

Beautiful walnut. Your guitar's going to be a stunner. And congrats on that neck fit. I am so freaking jealous. . . .

[gearhead1972]

My buddy brought over the pick ups today. He says he thinks they are out of an American tele, but they look like MiM ones to me, who knows.

[gearhead1972]

Mr. Fed Ex guy left me a present when I got home from work.


Setting up router jig for truss rod cut


First pass done


Yup I ordered a hot rod double action, before doing my research. Some have done them with no problems in one piece necks. Heck I like a little challenge so I went with it. Bought some epoxy to glue the skunk stripe in with, I think it will be fine.


My first official fret slot cut ever.


And that's all she wrote


Tomorrow hopefully I will get the skunk stripe in and start putting the radius on the fingerboard....
My goal is to be done by April 15th not May 15th

[flatfive]

You're doing a great job, man. The figuring on that walnut
is awesome. As someone else said, the black pickguard is
going to look great with it.

How's the body weight?

[gearhead1972]

Originally Posted by flatfive

You're doing a great job, man. The figuring on that walnut
is awesome. As someone else said, the black pickguard is
going to look great with it.

How's the body weight?

Hmm you know what, I haven't even weighed it, but it don't seem too heavy. I remember flipping around the ash body I did my Micawber build with last year and it may be a little heavier.

[RogerC]

You're doing a great job on the neck

[gearhead1972]

Skunk stripe cut and ready to go in.


Epoxy setting


Bringing it down to the maple


Done.


Tomorrow I will drill the tuner holes, reduce the headstock and start shaping the fretboard.

[gearhead1972]

Originally Posted by flatfive

You're doing a great job, man. The figuring on that walnut
is awesome. As someone else said, the black pickguard is
going to look great with it.

How's the body weight?

Weighed it tonight, 6 pounds 10.8 ounces. Neck is 1 pound 7 ounces. So we are talking 8 pounds without any hardware or pickups..ouch.

[zyggo]

Nice work! Good luck, and keep us posted!

[gearhead1972]

Drilling the tuner holes


Using a router bit in the drill press to bring down the head stock, It was late and didn't feel like hearing the router. I actually worked very well.


Nice and shaped


Starting to radius the neck


Radius done


Little macro shot


Tomorrow, well later today I am going to put in the fret markers, then start shaping the back of the neck.

[gearhead1972]

Yet another productive day
Drilling out for fret markers


Setting markers with super glue


All set and sanded flush


Started shaping the back of the neck, gonna finish after dinner.


Ordered the rest of my parts last night, and hopefully will start setting frets tomorrow.

[emoney]

Nice job on that fretboard. This is going to turn out to be an awesome neck, congrats!

[gearhead1972]

Originally Posted by emoney

Nice job on that fretboard. This is going to turn out to be an awesome neck, congrats!

Thanks man, I just hope I got the fret locations right, I am 99% sure they are right.

[emoney]

Originally Posted by gearhead1972

Thanks man, I just hope I got the fret locations right, I am 99% sure they are right.

You'll be comforted to know that I've had two that worked when I was quite
a bit less than 99% sure I had them right

[ItZaLLGooD]

I like the skunk stripe with the 2-way rod. I would have never thought to do it like that.