COMPLETED Spa-Caster - TDPRI $100 Telecaster Challenge

"Rule 3. Parts can be new or used but must be valued reasonably. Wood costs need not be included." I'm not employed, so the wood MUST already be around here somewhere, hmm. I stared at the broken-down fiberglass spa during the morning rain and thought, 'Hey those old wooden steps might become a guitar body!' Those 2x10s used to be my water-bed frame in the mid-70s.
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/IMAG0712.jpg

"Then the rain let up and the sun came up, And we were gettin' dry...." sang Van Morrison. So I busted the steps apart with a clawhammer, and selected the wood for the body of my 'Spa-Caster'. By then, the top was kinda dry, and the spider-webby, dry-rotty bottom was, well, still iffy.
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Spa-Caster02-13-09.jpg
"Stoned me just like jelly roll"
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Spa-Caster02-13-09dry-side.jpg

So, by starting this thread, I'm *jumping right in*. With apologies to Van, "We looked at the swim and we jumped right in, Not to mention single-poles".:roll:

This ought to be pretty cool. Good luck.

Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Seeing as how you started it on Friday the 13th by getting violent with tools, couldn't you call it a "Jason-caster"?

Waterbed -> Spa -> Telecaster. Groovy baby.

It needs to be said...."Bow Chika Bow Wow...."

I excised the knotty center portion, smoothed the edges enough, invoked the deity Elmer of Carpenter, and got 'the clamp' for all my trouble. I have a few tools at hand, hopefully enough to finish without asking friends for help.

I'm getting kinda scared....
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/ClampGlue2-14-09.jpg

Clamp-On! Clamp-Off! The Elmer's is dry and my nerves are settling. I'm ok with handheld power tools, but I'm a total NOOB at this phase.

I traced the outline of my 84-MIJ-Tele onto some taped-together cardboard beer boxes and cut my pattern. The wood had been outside for the last 20 years, and had to be smoothed a lot before I could even Sharpie the pattern onto the blank. I'll be the first to admit my lack of sophistication, and hope like heck that my ingenuity compensates enough for my lack of bench tools or a proper shop.

Here is the pattern as traced, and my total 'arsenal' of smoothing tools. The little one is a Stanley surf-form plane. I avoided the mushy dry-rot part near the lower horn - it's in the heart of this plank, and you can see the 'green' at the other end. Maybe this hot-tub idea wasn't so hot . . . http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/patternsmoothingtools.jpg

And, moving from smooth to rough, here are my 'Weapons of Mass Destruction', ancient but effective. The greatest little device IMHO is the 2" diameter rotary rasp - boy can that thing make sawdust! I guess it also counts as a smoothing tool, but it's more for shaping. http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/cuttingtools.jpg

Now, off to the spare parts and a quick inventory. Measure twice - cut once.

I still remember that Duo-Sonic and its little neck. I opened for the Jefferson Airplane (6-30-67) with it, but sadly it was stolen.

I found this neck at a yard sale and made a 'Stumpf Fiddle' out of it. What's that?? Well, watch the cartoon band in the Mary Poppins movie - it's a rhythym instrument from Hades.
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/StumpfFiddle-a.jpg

My iteration (i digress from the thread briefly) used a guitar neck, a tambourine pot, a piepan for smackin', a bike horn for hootin',
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/StumpfFiddle-potcloseup.jpg
and a shovel handle with a dog-ball on the bottom (for poundin' on the floor). I'm gonna miss 'er, but the neck'll make a 23.75" short-scale Tele, so the pattern needs revision. We must be nutz!

Dude - you and I are in the same power-tool club, I see! I'll be watching to see how you get your shaping done. Good luck!

I moved my cardboard pattern inward by 1.75" and retraced the butt-end :eek: . By twisting the pattern around as if it were a 'french curve' from drafting class, the new perimeter was established.

The jigsaw didn't issue any smoke (a critical test), and the blank was cut in a single pass. The original butt-line is present on the excess stock; I hope it's visible here.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/firstcut.jpg

Safari, so good.

My first router was a Black and Decker 3/4 Hp ... a green plastic one to match your green plastic drill. 14 dollars circa 1982.

With only sawhorses in the back yard, I feel discouraged 'cuz it's really raining and I can't majorly wood-work on the body.

To attempt a mockup (as in, is this even possible now that I've selected a short-scale neck), a 14" ruler was scotch-taped onto the neck. I matched up the 12th fret with the ruler's 11-7/8", for a total scale length of 23-3/4". This first mockup has Squier-51 parts (bridge, pickguard w/ plastic still on, and control plate). If I go with this pg, the horn wil be shaped elsewise.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/patternadjustprelimfit.jpg

Guess I'll look around for other parts to put in the gallon-size ziplock. Rain, rain, go away!


.

I'm wondering - is there a maximum percentage of the body that has to be wood? :wink: Geez, I used a lot of wood filler, and sanded most of it off. Then shot it with a can of Leo's original white (actually primer) and sanded most of that off as well.

Tracing the pickguard and the hole for the neck pup was next. The lower horn shape will be very slightly different than my original outline. The upper horn (or if it's not really a horn, the area above the neck) actually does conform, to my surprise. It's cuttin' time again, and I hope the dry rot isn't extensive.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/pickguardtracecuthorns.jpg

Hooray! The dry rot is gone and the horns are roughed out. With so few tools, I decided to begin the neck pocket and the pickup area with drill bits. The bits remove wood quickly, and I feel that I have more control than just jumping in with a freehand router.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/drillneckpocketpickup.jpg

.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Jollylilkiller.jpg

Jolly says,
"Make sure there's room for this Lil Killer!"

Where'd you get that? Bad chimp! Now go put it back where you got it! :eek:

What? No lava lamp parts? hehhehhehheh :mrgreen:
and we all shine on!

This morning Jolly and I went to a new type of sporting event, 'cuz all these sirens were blaring at the end of our street. I know that California does things a bit differently, but this takes the cake! Oh, there were a few folks celebrating the event by riding around on two wheels, but then came the racers.

You see, they put a lot of bicycles on top of brightly painted cars. Then they drive like crazy idiots with all these bikes on top. Wow! :lol: No wonder the cops had their sirens on. I've seen a lot in my day, but this was all new to me.
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/IMAG0779.jpg

The race was fun and the cars were pretty fast, and more interesting than Nascar, 'cuz the make both left and right turns.

The back of the donor neck has a metallic sticker that reads "Steel Reinforced Neck", but lacks any sort of adjuster, so I'm guessing there's something fixed under the rosewood fingerboard. Long ago, it might have had a matching "Made In Japan" sticker. The two holes closest to the sticker are for the '60s equivalent of a string tree for import cheapies.
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/steelreinforced.jpg

Wood color shows where the headstock was pieced together. It will be 'Telecasterized' to a certain degree. I just learned that Phillipine Mahogany isn't really mahogany, but a dumb lie told to Americans; and here I thought all this time.... Oh, also please note the vintage zero-fret below the nut.

Soooo sixties.:roll: Whoa, I might be havin' a flashback.
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/headreshape-front.jpg

Looks like a mid '60 Kawai neck. Shame to cut up the headstock....

http://www.ffcobra.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1855331&posted=1#post1855331

Thanks for the lead, Maricopa. I really had no clue as to its heritage. I searched and found this to use for valuation purposes:

Completed eBay item: Decca guitar - 130286502153
Correct shape, tuners, dot markers, 20 frets (21 if you count the zero-fret), stringtree bar, and square (not rectangular) 4-screw mount.
Sold on 2-10-09 for $39 (about the same as it cost when new)

Sad to put a knife to it, but it's all I've got for this challenge. At least I know that it isn't a totally junk neck. And, I'll respect her in the morning. :oops:

Looks like a mid '60 Kawai neck. Shame to cut up the headstock....

http://www.ffcobra.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1855331&posted=1#post1855331

I fail to see how a thread about Cobras helps the issue?

So do I! :mrgreen:

Sorry I messed up the linkge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V818_mi-mwA

The base of the neck was a square (not rectangular) 4-screw layout, with room on the heel for a fifth screw. I smoothed the neck pocket with an old emery board and marked the four existing holes. The fifth (in the style of several mid-60's imports) was measured, marked, and all are drilled. I rounded the heel in the style of Fender's new EVH Wolfgang model.

The little holes inside the pickup cavity are from the tip of the speedbore bit that I used to start the cavity; they do not exit at the back (whew).

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/five-screwneckpocket-close.jpg

Digging through the parts box, I found 'part' of the original tremolo tailpiece and 'part' of the adjustable flat mount bridge. To me, these were significant discoveries because the narrower neck needs string spacing of only two-inches.

I purchased a replacement bridge today from Damage Inc Guitar Modification, a locally-owned mod and repair shop. Thanks, Dougie!

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/tremtailpiecenewbridge.jpg

Wow, I'm totally knocked out by the quality of the builds in this challenge. And by the mechanization/gear in some instances. So far I've used every one of my power tools (except the weed eater), each of them hand-held. I might have a hudred bucks just tied up in plug-in tools, but no tables, presses, jigs, precision templates, or CNCs. To date, in order of 'first use' for this challenge:

Sears-Craftsman 2HP circular saw
Black & Decker third-sheet sander
Rockwell jigsaw
Black & Decker one-speed drill
Sears-Craftsman router

While working on the pickup cavity and the neck pocket, I came to the realization that my 1975 router bits (I have 4) are potentially hazardous. They're all burnt, no bearings, and I seriously need a run to the toolman. Specifically for the round-over, but the control cavity might benefit as well.

For 50-pct more than the single Sears qtr-inch bit, (don't tell my wife, unless I win), Harbor Freight had a 12-piece carbide set, and six of them even had bearings. When the local store price was even higher, I asked the manager to match their online price - woo-hoo! So today, by hand I rounded the front and back of the body with my new router bit, and look forward to (instead of dreading) the control cavity. Instantly it was time for more wood filler, touch sanding, and coats of primer.

No photos, but considerably more peace of mind, for this humble first-time builder.... Gonna see Modest Mouse tomorrow night. :smile:

Monday....
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Poolgator.jpg

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Poolgator.jpg


I know that feeling . . .

Happy Mardi Gras, y'all in the second line!

Got some extra pickguard screws and a replacement tuner bushing at Damage Inc. Traced the Squier-51 pickguard onto the primer and made some semi-final decisions about the electronics, which in turn decided a few things about the non-traditional control cavity.

Builders with CNC machines and router templates simply cannot feel the joy, freedom, and recklessness that one derives from 'freehand routing'. It's kinda like going though a bobsled course on a snow-saucer, but I digress. After a few shots with the hand-drill, I 'plunged' in and began the control cavity. Progress is slow-paced, and I like it like that (I just hope I finish in time).

Play some Mardi Gras music or Dixieland Jazz, turn it up, and celebrate.
It's Carnival Time! :grin:

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/MardiGras.jpg

Mardi Gras was fantastic, but I don't exactly remember why the blue.

I really should get more methodical, because I forgot those pesky connections. "You're watching the Wiring Channel. Please don't adjust your set, we are experiencing technical difficulties".

I haven't decided whether a switch goes on the lower bout, but I already had the bit in the router, so...

Yeah, I know, the paint wasn't really hard enough to do this with excellence.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/wiring-channel.jpg

Turn Down Day, by the Cyrkle.

Not the best day for me. I manage a low-power community radio station (100 watts FM on-air for 4 years) with donated office/studio space. Today I was told in person and in writing that the owner now has a paying customer on tap, and I must vacate the office as soon as possible.

Bummer! Much must now go 'on hold', as the furnishing go into storage, and I reconfigure things at home to produce good local radio programming.

I managed to convince myself that I needed a mini-toggle hole on the intended Squier'51 control plate. I started small, for some reason, but managed to drill into the wood then, and again with the 1/4" bit. Poor little sawhorses....

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/minitogglehole.jpg

Like I said, "Bow chika Bow Wow!"....

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Racoelecboxcover.jpg

Now, I can't drive near a hardware store without stopping. Where others might have seen a Raco 4" square electrical box cover for a 'decor' switch or GFCI, I fantasized that it was almost :idea: a Tele bridge or two.

Because the MIJ neck was so narrow, I could benefit from a 2" tailpiece to match the retro bridge. Besides, I really didn't want to adapt and fit that piece of a crummy old tremolo. I walked the box cover over to the steel measuring tapes and confirmed that it was in fact wide enough for this build. The box cover would easily accomodate 2-1/2" string width.

I used the following tools:
4" vise with 3-layers of folded duct tape for pads
Craftsman hacksaw (I'm not an artist, and I broke 2 blades)
metal file
B&D drill, 3/32" bit for string holes, larger bit for chamfer
(no bench tools)

Here are a couple of looks before the mounting holes are drilled:

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Racotailpiece-front.jpg

and, from the tail-end:

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Racotailpiece-rear.jpg

Maybe it's worth an ingenuity point or two, eh?

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Racoelecboxcover.jpg

Now, I can't drive near a hardware store without stopping. Where others might have seen a Raco 4" square electrical box cover for a 'decor' switch or GFCI, I fantasized that it was almost :idea: a Tele bridge or two.

and, from the tail-end:

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Racotailpiece-rear.jpg

Maybe it's worth an ingenuity point or two, eh?

I went to home center to get a floor tile for a pickguard I
walked ever isle and thought the same thing when I got to
the electric isle . . . but I have a bridge that I got off ebay
for $8.oo so maybe next time?
I think its time to move on to junk yard's

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Racoelecboxcover.jpg

Now, I can't drive near a hardware store without stopping. Where others might have seen a Raco 4" square electrical box cover for a 'decor' switch or GFCI, I fantasized that it was almost :idea: a Tele bridge or two.


That came from a box about 4 places to the left of where I got mine.

That came from a box about 4 places to the left of where I got mine.
fauxhican: Mt. Pleasant, right about there on the mitten of Michigan. Actually, I stayed at Soaring Eagle Casino in early November before it snowed. My grandparents were from Clare, and my sister lives in Harrison now. I'm from suburban Detroit and moved to California in '68 with a blonde barrel-rider groupie from Gaylord. Hadn't looked at your build-thread until your post here - I'm impressed!

The stamped corners on box cover looked strong and resistant to any short or long term movement. The cover is actually 1/2" high, and with its width, could easily make a 3-saddle top-loader. The hole reminded me of a humbucker, but is too small for that.

On the other hand, a mini-hummer actually fits quite well. For a hundred bucks (or even a * chance of it), I'm not putting one of my original Silvertone 1446 (Chris Isaak) mini-pups in the bridge. Well, maybe if I don't win the challenge, I'll rethink that decision.

fwiw, here is a look at the (potential) great fit - the HB ring sits just right, imho. [now i'm thinking that if I lose this challenge, and likely will, how will I hotrod my creation?]
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Racobridgeformini-HB.jpg

Ingenuity points on the Raco hardware!

I've used Raco flat covers to make pickup trim rings before but the raised cover for a bridge - priceless!

from Feb 16th: ... This first mockup has Squier'51 parts (bridge, pickguard w/ plastic still on, and control plate). If I go with this pg, the horn wil be shaped elsewise....
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/patternadjustprelimfit.jpg


I used the S'51 parts in the first mockup because I had purchased a 'deluxe' GFS pg before I knew about this challenge, and since the 'deluxe' version is pre-drilled and doesn't need a control plate, they (plate and orig pg) had been relegated to the boneyard.

Don't know how the 'value rule' will apply for these parts. Lopping off the original top horn would make this look more like a tele. I made my second beer-box template by tracing a tel pg, taped it onto the back of the S'51 pg, and rough-cut outside the line with my handheld jigsaw.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/pickguardtemplate.jpg

The control plate needed to move inward, because this body is 1-3/4" shorter than standard. I traced the plate's new location directly onto the pg, drilled a starter hole, and again rough-cut, being careful to leave some selvage. Here are the newly shaped pickguard and the two excisions. The shiny squiggle is a crease in the clear vinyl protective layer.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/pickguardtrimmed.jpg

I'll drill one more pickguard screw hole and trim up the edges (in my spare time - right!). Then I'll add something flashy....

Something flashy? This is the only way I'm gonna be able to flash a hundred-dollar bill.

A significant element in the design process is to envision the outcome. So, in my mind's eye, I saw "Ben in the pocket" as a goal. Perhaps someone else, but for the time being it is I who have the vision.

Then, it is on to the mock-up stage. Does Ben fit properly in my pocket? And, does Ben look and feel good in my pocket? It's simple form and function. Here is my early mock-up:
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Beninmypocket.jpg

Hee-hee, ha-ha, ho-ho.... Oh, I have a story that's almost relevant. In the "California History and Social Science Content Standards", US History is taught in the fifth grade. One of my daughter's assignments was to write a paper about a former President. Believing (well, in her mind, knowing) that only former Presidents are pictured on US Currency, she prepared a four-page report about Ben Franklin all by herself and submitted it. Alas, her work was not accepted, since Ben was never our President.

I repeat this tale because I am slightly apprehensive that my variance from the blueprint and the copycat guitars might get me shunned in the challenge. But, fear not, I will submit my work. I conclude this post by saying that my kid learned from a master to go her own way.

I repeat this tale because I am slightly apprehensive that my variance from the blueprint and the copycat guitars might get me shunned in the challenge.
Have you seen my " telecaster"? That freedom of expression is what makes this so fun... think custom shop calendar.

As another challenger stated earlier, maybe something's amiss when nobody reads or comments on your thread. This truly is an intense four weeks for me.

Back on Feb 16th, I showed the first mock-up of this shortened body, short-scale neck, and Squier’51 pickguard. Though I still believe that it’s possible to add a bridge pup later, I’ve decided that neck-only is the right way for this build. You might have guessed this when my posts of Feb 24 and 26 showed a neck cavity, but nothing at the bridge.

The S’51 pickguard puts a strat-size pup slot at a slant, which totally works in terms of pole spacing for this smaller mahogany neck. I’ll be wiring the GFS Lil Killer (rail-type) that ‘Jolly’ found into a switch, so that I can select either humbucker or single-coil.

This next part might sound whiny, but really it’s not. Before I found out about the Challenge, my credit union called to say that many accts had been compromised, blah-blah-blah, and asked permission to cancel my credit card, promising to send a new one in 7 to 10 (ha!) days. Ok, I said, but when I wanted to order some signal-processing stuff (pots, caps, switches, jacks, you know...), I had to snail-mail a paper check and offer up a prayer that they'll arrive in time for assembly and testing.

Oh, my new card arrived today, but I’ll be staring at the driveway each day as I await delivery. I believe that I have designed an innovative signal path, and I only hope that the electronics order is delivered well before the next ‘Friday The Thirteenth’.

In itemizing the value, I'm working with the following groups of items (the lists of suggested subgroups is subject to revision):
NECK (tuners, bushings, trees, nuts, frets)
BRIDGE (screws, saddles, tailpiece, ferrules)
TRIM (pg, screws, knobs, plate, strap-buttons, binding, decal, other)
SIGNAL (strings, pups, electrical)
SUPPLIES (glue, filler, primer, finish)
TOOLS (those purchased for this build, not the mega-shop stuff)

Good luck to all fourteen around the world!

Watch that 5th neck screw does not hit the truss rod. ;O

Watch that 5th neck screw does not hit the truss rod. ;O

Thanks! I drilled the starter hole without finding metal, and (on your suggestion) screwed the big-daddy hold-down screw into the neck to the appropriate depth.

Whew! No metal found once again. Weeks ago, I checked the neck's no-load bend, and I'd have to guess that if it really IS steel-reinforced, it'll do quite well.

I appreciate the heads-up! :smile:

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. I cannot take a representative picture of the horrific gooey cruddy mess that is created during the wet-sanding process. The goop gets under my nails, into cuts, and every crack, crevice, and pore of my hands. It splashes onto and into everything nearby, and respects nothing. Here's my best shot....

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/wet-sanding.jpg

This post is about one of the six groups of costs that I had outlined, the SIGNAL. Yesterday I wondered if the electronics place would be able to deliver in time, so that this beast could be assembled and tested.

SIGNAL - from the strings and their ground wire to the pickup, all the way to the output jack. Six days ago, I ordered every single item in this group (except the strings and the pup) by snail-mail from a southern California supplier, since I was temporarily without a credit card. The package arrived TODAY by priority mail!!! :shock: I need to see how this comes together in the control cavity.

"B l a c k g o o p"

I guess it was only dry on the outside, eh?

Actually, the finish was plenty dry and hard. While wet-sanding, the dried pigment was minutely ground up and suspended in an aqueous solution. It was this 'paste' of water and finely sanded paint which I referred to as 'Blackgoop'. And because pigment is still pigment, even in water, it stained shoes, clothing, and skin. Yuk!

Great build, btw. I especially like the poplar neck - are you gonna use it or make another? I'll have to stay tuned to the Nashville Channel to find out, I guess.
- - -
I checked out the signal-path stuff I got in the mail. The most interesting item is the audiophile-class potentiometer manufactured by Noble in Japan, which coincidentally follows this guitar's component heritage. Functionally, it seems perfect: audio taper and a push(off)-pull(on) SPST switch. The switch is for the very simple pickup coil-tap.

Physically, however, its shaft is longer than I need. With a knob seated and the switch pushed in, the bottom of the knob-skirt sits 5-16" above the control plate, so the shaft will get cut down. Further, the switch is slightly wider at the bottom than the full-size pot, as pictured, and I'll be widening the control cavity slightly to allow this to fit.

Oh, and I don't think that I'll be using this particular volume knob. It's been used so much that the "10" doesn't have any color in it anymore. I certainly don't want a knob that won't let me crank it past "9", now would I?

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/knobpotswitch.jpg

I widened the control cavity where the pot/switch will go, being careful to keep the action beneath the control plate, which acts as a lid. Now, I discover that this switch is just a bit deeper than I had desired. I'll have to scrape the bottom of the cavity deeper and hope that I don't go through the back. It's gonna feel like digging through to China ( or for you Aussies, to Bermuda or Atlantis ).


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/controlcavitywidened.jpg

I didn't wipe away the wood fragments, for a realistic photo. But then, since I was shooting into a hole in a black surface, I artificially lightened the shot for better viewing.

A few days ago I mused that I wanted to add 'something flashy'. Earlier, a gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Parma Telemon, suggested lava-lamp parts, but I couldn't quite get the vision. I remembered how my brother (crazy as me, but in a different way) used to peddle sequined and studded clothing to Nashville wanna-be's years ago, and dug this old thing up:
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/BeDazzler.jpg
I picked it up during one of the times I lived very close to Canada, hence the French on the box. I called my brother, for ideas, inspiration, and technique. He recommended that I 'not go there'. I argued that it would be so Nashville twangy, but he had a different notion. He turned me onto some really good stuff, (not in the Cheech & Chong sense).

It's a foil laminate that at first blush looks kinda like the flashy pencils that kids win at the school carnival. Whoa, baby! I cut a pickguard-sized piece off the roll and took pictures in today's sunshine. A few are kinda milky, I think, because my camera gave up trying to grok the reflections from this stuff. Mind you, it's shiny and silvery, not colored at all, but has an embossed prismatic pattern that, well, blows my mind. I think I got my 'flashy' for the pickguard, no?

Here's the 'light show':
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/prismatic1.jpg


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/prismatic2.jpg


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/prismatic3.jpg

Now, isn't that relaxing? Makes me want one of those new-fangled California medical cards. If it please the judges, here are more, all of the same 9"x12" sheet.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/prismatic4.jpg


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/prismatic5.jpg


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/prismatic6.jpg


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/prismatic7.jpg

Dear me, reminds me of when I opened for the Jefferson Airplane.

Thanks, Brother, and I wish all of your ideas the best of good fortune!

reminds me of when I opened for the Jefferson Airplane.


Reminds me of when I ate some toad stools...

Reminds me of when I ate some toad stools...

Might it have possbly been psylicybin mushrooms?
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/alice-caterpillar-mushroom.jpg

Might it have possbly been psylicybin mushrooms?
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/alice-caterpillar-mushroom.jpg


Yea, maybe... :rolleyes:




:mrgreen:

Woah!! uh, far out, maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan. uh, what were you gonna do with that again?

That stuff kinda reminds me of the finish on my Strat:

http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/30359/2991935190075617209S425x425Q85.jpg

Can't wait to see the finished product. :cool:

It's a foil laminate that at first blush looks kinda like the flashy pencils that kids win at the school carnival. Whoa, baby! I cut a pickguard-sized piece off the roll and took pictures in today's sunshine. A few are kinda milky, I think, because my camera gave up trying to grok the reflections from this stuff. Mind you, it's shiny and silvery, not colored at all, but has an embossed prismatic pattern that, well, blows my mind. I think I got my 'flashy' for the pickguard, no?

Just a hint.... :!:

Is that black bar a dual purpose finger rest & switch slot/screw cover upper ?:confused:?


That stuff kinda reminds me of the finish on my Strat:

http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/30359/2991935190075617209S425x425Q85.jpg

Can't wait to see the finished product. :cool:

On the paper backing of this self-adhesive foil, it reads (in part):

DAZZLERS - Self Adhesive Decorative Covering

Self-Adhesive STICK & LIFT Shelf and Drawer Liner

From what my brother tells me, it was part of the "ConTact Paper" product line before real the ConTact folks went out of business, or sold to RubberMaid or something. It's presumably an obsolete product, and he found some old stock in a craft store, in colors as well as this silver foil.

I'll peel the backing off and stick it to the pickguard.


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/pickguardcovering-rear.jpg

Is that black bar a dual purpose finger rest & switch slot/screw cover upper ?:confused:?

Actually it's a StarrLabs StarrSwitch 4+. Just basically a lighted push button pickup selector. I went back to a regular ol' 5-way switch though as my fingers were just too big for the little buttons, but it was a cool concept though.

... Now, I discover that this switch is just a bit deeper than I had desired. I'll have to scrape the bottom of the cavity deeper and hope that I don't go through the back. It's gonna feel like digging through to China ( or for you Aussies, to Bermuda or Atlantis ).

I just do NOT like the idea of bringing out a Weapon Of Mass Destruction at the time when I've nearly completed the finish. I could, however, clearly see the hole from the very tip of the brad-point bit which started the control cavity. Lacking any sophisticated tool-foolery, I chiseled my way down to removing those little black dots from the brad-points, thus deepening the cavity (without poking thru to China).

Nope, not deep enough, when I set the pot/switch into the hole. So, I again, brought out the (roar of engines) rotary rasp. Since I was down inside the cavity, I was adequately comfortable (and rather sedated) to set about grinding and tearing away at the old waterbed/jacuzzi lumber. I set the pot/switch into the control panel (CP) and tested again. Damn! Keep going! - down, down down.

Whew, I finally was able to set the CP on the flat with the pot/switch inside. Well, that's another thing I don't have to lose sleep over (9 days left!). I stuck a steel rule inside, so I could see how much deeper I cut. It was just shy of a quarter-inch, so I'll say 7/32" deeper, and I didn't (courtesy of The Doors) "Break On Through", to the other side.

Here's a look at (of course) another hole, and the WMD that caused it. I can sleep.


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/controlcavitydeepened.jpg

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/sandpaper-coarse.jpg
I've spend so much time sanding, maybe I should change the name to Sand-Caster. In the interest of completeness, especially for readers who haven't jumped into building (yet!), here's my "block" about sandpaper. Goodness knows I've used more than just these few sheets; the photos are just examples.

I used the Black & Decker sander with red garnet 50 on the former jacuzzi step in order to get the wood flat enough to draw my pattern outline with a sharpie.

Flint 80 on the sander again to cut into the wood filler, which dried much harder than I would have guessed (I never used it before).

Smoothing and refining the primer was done with flint 120 on the plastic hand sanding block, which I picked up last summer at the 99-cent store for my Musicmaster Bass amp/speaker enhancement project (in my signature).

At this point, the B&D sander was put away. It's all by hand from here on out.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/sandpaper-fine.jpg

For some reason, I don't have any sandpaper between 120 and 600, so when I started making that icky black goop by wet-sanding, it was 600. This phase of finishing probably took more time because I wasn't using the 'proper' paper, but I could clearly see where I needed to focus my attention.

Yuck, that goop! If only I had read the warning on the back of the 3M WetOrDry 2000 before I started to wet-sand. It reads:
"WARNING: Wear eye, face and body protection"
I imagine that it's their standard warning for all abrasives, because I can't see wearing safety glasses when using sandpaper that's so fine it could buff fingernails.

Yesterday, I block-sanded (wet) with the 2000 which took a LONG time. I now feel comfortable with finishing the finish coat, but the body is now so smooth that I'll need to scuff it up with 600 just to get the paint to stick. Yeah, it's that smooth! :grin:

[ end of sanding block ]

I admire your sanding diligence! I seem to have singular ability to make surface scratches, no matter how careful and methodical I try to sand!

I really like that sparkly stuff! Should make a cool pickguard.

Thanks, Mark. At this point, just looking at the sanding block makes my arms hurt. Wet-sanding with that ultrafine stuff is something I'm learning about from my friend David, who masterfully built a red-hot hotrod with his father. At the 2000 stage, all that's left is to buff up and show off that classic "grand piano" shine, but first I must get that final color coat onto the body.

I'm envious of EunosFD because his strat allows photos to be taken, while this foil is resisting. It must talk to the camera somehow, and I need to jam their frequency so that I can submit decent pics of the pickguard.

I got some phone-help from my brother. After applying the foil, I trimmed about a qtr-inch outside the pg. Then, it got a shot of clear; its function is to thicken and stiffen the foil so it will cut without tearing (and starting over). When dry, I cut away the excess using both an x-acto knife and a single-edge razor blade. I grabbed the clear again and gave it a few squirts; this time its function is to seal the edges of the foil to the pickguard, so it won't go flaky on me.

When the completed pickguard was dry, I swear I took 50 digital pictures, and the gnomes messed with 'em all. It's an OK pic of my thumb, but this is NOT the way it really looks - - it's what my camera will show (so far). We need to TALK (the camera and I, that is)! I've got to keep trying with this little camera, APPEARANCE of the built guitar is critical.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/AUT_0030.jpg

I browsed around and read a bit about digital camera technology. There's a CCD that is supposed to capture what the human eye perceives, but that's not always the case. I guess I wasn't holding my tongue just right; this problem would not happen with color print film. Sharing that kind of imagery wouldn't work for this forum however.

After my last post, I took more pictures - LOTS more, and then kept on going. After I transfered them to the computer, I had to get ready for a local gig. I play lead for a 50's-slash-early 60's cover band that targets baby-boomers and car shows mostly. The Scotty Moore slapback sound from early Elvis records is my inspiration.

I looked at the photos and cropped the few that really do represent the appearance of this pickguard (finally). Allow me to indulge myself in these uploads:
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/sparkle1.jpg
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/sparkle8.jpg
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/sparkle03.jpg

... and these
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/sparkle02.jpg
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/sparkle002.jpg
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/sparkle9.jpg

So, what color IS my pickguard? If I keep it in a darkened room (or in a guitar case) it is :shock: silvery foil with a prismatic design. I think I'll quit taking these kinds of pictures now.

With less than a week to go, I need to get in gear and quit staring into the sun quite so much.

The pickguard's done and the body need polishing. Let's confirm that the Raco-box-cover tailpiece really fits with the narrow short-scale neck.

I "strung" a length of nylon cord (like chalk-line, for you carpenters) from the 1-peg, under the string retainer bar, over the nut, through the 1-hole of the tailpiece, back through the 6-hole of the tailpiece, and back up to the nut, retainer, and 6-peg. Wound the "strings" so the tailpiece was at a comfortable spot, and pulled the string tight by hand. With the other hand, I took this photo to show that strings 1 and 6 did not wander off (whew!) and fall into the "oops, no frets" abyss.


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/stringwidth.jpg


Then I marked through the tailpiece mounting holes for the location of the mounting screws. Another item scratched off my to-do list! :smile:

(The prismatic pattern on the foil is much easier to see in this shot, because it was taken in rather limited lighting.)

Here's what I'm using to obtain a true "hand-rubbed" finish (no machine-powered thingie here). Scratch-X and an old can of spray guitar polish.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/shinystuff1.jpg

My friend David (with the red-hot hot-rod) let me use some of his "Meguiar's Scratch-X". O-my-gosh, I'll never use rubbing compound again. I don't sell the stuff, but here are some reviews:
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_raves.cfm?raveslist=G10307&ProdName=ScratchX

Here's a shot of those products, as reflected in the hand-rubbed ebony (in my dreams). I'm pretty sure I can do better than this, and I've still got a few days.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/shinystuff6.jpg

This is REALLY good stuff too
http://www.woodessence.com/images/menzerna/menzernaprods.jpg

This is REALLY good stuff too



I went to the menzernausa.com website and every page except HOME said "content to come".

Maybe the Canadians get these good German products streaming through their markets, but the Yankees might have to wait!

Taking a break from hand-rubbing that black body, I reached into the baggie for the remaining parts and divided them into two groups. First to show are the signal components:
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/signalcomponents.jpg

The signal chain consists of:
GFS Lil Killer pickup, (springs and screws were camera-shy)
ground wire to bridge,
volume pot with push-pull switch,
treble bleed capacitor,
on-off-on toggle switch for Gretch-style tone selection,
tone capacitors (3),
and the output jack.

Remaining to assemble are the following hardware components:
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/hardware-to-do.jpg

This grouping shows:
neck screws (5),
their finishing washers (5) (instead of a neck plate),
the Allparts bridge,
the Raco tailpiece,
mounting screws for the bridge (2) and tailpiece (5),
and the strap buttons (2).

These, in addition to polishing the body and attaching the pickguard, are just about what's left.

THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL! :grin: ( hope it ain't a train )

Using the spray polish brought back a memory from '64. It smells just like when I opened the case of the Gibson LG-1 that my mom rented from the local Baldwin piano store. That was my very first guitar - you know, rent one for the kid, no use buying it only to find out he's no good, or doesn't like it.

The other part of that memory is seeing those beautiful black pianos in the showroom, lookin' for all the world (to me) like a long black Cadillac. I'm liking this polished black piano look - like it was dipped in plastic or something.

I (thought I) finished polishing, so I screwed the pickup down a bit, attached the neck, the incomplete control plate, and dropped the pickguard in for a perfect fit - NOT! :oops:

Bring out the Weapon of Mass Destruction (again).

I missed the sixth-string side by a country mile. So, out again with the rotary rasp and the hand-held Black & Decker drill. I made it this wide: :roll:

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/pickupcavity-widened.jpg

Even minor setbacks at this point are - well - ennervating, to say the least.

First, a huge "thank you" to all the challengers and non-participating lurkers who honor my effort by visiting this thread. I truly appreciate your attention. As I approach the end of this challenge, as a true first-time builder with no bench tools or shop, I feel motivated as I see those 'view' numbers rise. At the same time I am humbled by the fantastic efforts of the others who dared to enter this event. Thanks again to all. :grin:


I finally fit the pickup so it mates properly with the pickguard. I screwed them both in place (no photos; everybody's seen screwing before, right? :wink: ) I also attached the Raco-box tailpiece.

The ground wire for the bridge had been stuck up in the air for what seems to be a long time. I lost some sleep pondering how it would physically and electrically connect to the Allparts vintage-style bridge. Getting up this morning, I took a close look at the base of the bridge. To my surprise, the height adjustment screws are threaded into the baseplate.

I shortened and stripped the ground wire, and soldered a small ring connector to it. Then I r&r'd one of the height adjustment screws, slipping the connector discreetly under the baseplate, like this. (The bridge won't be set until the strings go on, so that I can get close to decent intonation).

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/bridge-ringconnector.jpg

Also in the frame, the black gloss shows off well in close-up. The other end of the bridge-ground along with the pickup wire are partially visible.

There is a part of my very essence that is totally NERD! Not just sort of, but this part is beyond the pale. On the computer side, my first succesful programming was in 1966, and I retired as a Systems Analyst 39 years later. In Cub Scouts I built radios when we were supposed to do bird houses, and I built my first shortwave radio in the 5th grade. My wife and I are both licensed ham radio operators. We're talkin' nerd-ball, baby!

So it comes with much delight that this build finally gets to the part that I'm comfortable with. The everlovin' SIGNAL PATH. Woo-hoo! I'm not using a tone pot. I don't think it's necessary, and besides, it might cost real dinero. I've got only one humbucker with a coil-tap switch in the neck position, so I really don't want to roll off much treble. I'm using a higher-than-average volume pot with the pup, so I have lots of both signal and impedance to work with.

For years, Gretch has utilized a tone switch in the upper horn of many of their models. I modified that concept slightly, and am sticking a three-position mini-toggle next to the volume knob. I used the 2 caps in parallel instead of just a different value, because I had to buy them 6 at a time. Here is my nerrrrdy schematic of the tone circuit.
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/schematic-toneswitch.jpg

:shock:

I shared the last post with my bride, who said once again, "That's nice, Dear". Then she added, "They have NO IDEA".

Well, I felt inspired. I AM a solderin' fool, after all. So it behooves me at this juncture to profess that I still use my Weller Dual-Power soldering gun that I got in maybe the 70's. Replaced a lot of tips (they burn out), but it still "hums" right along. If you have one, you know of what I speak.

I've got a sparingly-used roll of "Archer Rosin Core Solder". Cripes, does anyone remember when Radio Shack sold under the Archer Brand?

Finally the flux. As kid-nerds, we used to say "flux you" to each other [editor: now THAT'S nerdy!] I still use my cherished 2-ounce tin (yes, made from metal, not plastic) of "Kerster Soldering Paste". The price is clearly marked: 33 cents!!

It's nearly gone, and (serious beg from the judges) I'd use the winning proceeds to update my supply of both flux and solder. (i had to be very careful typing that - my fingers kept wanting to spell 'similar' words)

I've shown off my other hand operated, low-tech tools. Why not showboat with these antiquities??

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/solderingtools.jpg

Ok, grin and bear it - most of y'all weren't even born when these were sold.

Cool stuff, Irish! I'm a ham as well - got my General a while back but I honestly haven't been active lately. I'm down to just a 2-meter HT at the moment!

Looking forward to seeing this black and sparkle beast unveiled!

Cool stuff, Irish! I'm a ham as well - got my General a while back but I honestly haven't been active lately. I'm down to just a 2-meter HT at the moment!

QSL, 'ol man'. I could probably hit you on the 40-meter noon-time net, but that's another topic and and likely offline. I got my Extra-class license the same day they dropped Morse code from the requirements - - never got the hang of it.

Anyhoo, it furthers my tech skills in new ways, like hunting for hidden transmitters and building efficient antennas. I'll take a moment to encourage all viewers to think about whether they are tech-savvy enuf to really BE a ham. If so, visit arrl.org and lurk around.

I did a little soldering of the stuff that didn't need any wires from the pup or the bridge. In this shot, black is ground and white is hot. The cap on the volume pot is .001 uF, for the treble bleed (so that tone isn't cut as the volume turns down). All the 3 others are .01 uF, which I hopefully described already. The pickup wires and the bridge ground are in the shot, too.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/controls-othersidepartial.jpg


From the other side, I hope you can see more clearly the treble bleed cap, along with part of the GFS Lil Killer rail pickup.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/c-plate-partialassy.jpg

In each photo, the refraction of the foil has been subdued, so as not to overwhelm the judges. :rolleyes:

CQ, CQ, who else is a ham (on- or off- stage)?

As my thread approaches its conclusion, I went back through it to see if I had missed anything significant, or maybe interesting. Then, I rooted around on the hard drive here to see is there were any half-decent pictures to go along with the story. I managed to turn up a few.

Of course, much has been written in other threads on this forum about the merits of various templates, blueprints, and the like. I would suggest that if all you have are hand-held power tools, these sophisticated and sometimes pricey items are overkill. My template was custom made and is not (yet) on the market as a finished item, though the materials are widely available. It is the Natural Light template:

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/beer-boxtemplate.jpg

Weeks ago, I had mentioned the template but forgot to include the photo.

As the body took shape, I had a longing to see what it would look like as a painted-up guitar. I hadn't yet cut the wiring channels, and it was a rather rugged morning after Mardi Gras that I shot some very old blue spray paint. It was a mistake, sure, but it seemed at the time like calm, peaceful, blue water. Gawd, it was ugly (once I regained my senses)!

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/paint-blue.jpg

The double-dots are at fret-12 of course, and you may verify for yourself that I'm using a 19-fret rosewood over mahogany neck.

When the rough sanding was FINALLY over with, I prepared for the black finish with white primer, seen in various stages of my build. I felt as if I had been through a class-5 white-water kayak run. Here is the body just before applying the color coats.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/paint-whiteprimer.jpg

I'll look again for missing stages of the build, and post them (soon) if I find any.

All righty. Here we are with two Friday the 13th's - back to back. It can only happen in Feb-Mar, of course.

The last ones were eleven years ago (1998).

The next ones will be six years from now (2015).

The ones after that will be eleven more years (2026).

And the ones after that will be another eleven years (2037).

It's goofy like that, because of the leap day. See, I TOLD YOU that I was a nerd!

"Happy Friday The Thirteenth" - go rent a movie or something....

the Natural Light template:

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/beer-boxtemplate.jpg



Uh, Natty Light? I'm pretty sure the $100 build limitation didn't include the price of beer! :shock:

Don't include the beer cost? I must've mis-read the rules or something! :roll:

Cripe, and I've been drinking THIS swill? Oh well, St. Paddy's day is comin' on.

If I don't have to count the Natty, I'm way under budget.

JUDGES!! - Here’s my BeDazzling bribe.

I really don’t much concern myself with winning, actually. If, however, TDPRI acknowledges and figures out a reason to buy my challenge-built guitar for that $100 as put forth, I will select one of the judges to receive this BeDazzled one-of-a-kind guitar strap. :!:

W W L D = What Would Leo Do? - Vote for me??

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/strap-WWLD.jpg

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/strap-complete.jpg

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/strap-bigF.jpg

The big “F” and the “L” are in gold-tone studs, and the rest are silvery. The Be-Dazzler is actually a piece of junk, but I set each stud and bent the prongs with hemostats, and then used the plastic-fantastic thingie to smash them all down onto a 2" wide black nylon guitar strap.

If this encourages a judge to advocate that my axe be purchased, I’ll be melancholy, but not forlorn. I have had an incredible ride - from rainy-day jacuzzi step to short-scale T-style.

Rules for my judge selection are as follows. I will randomly assign each judge a number from 1 to 5. I will roll a single die, and if it doesn’t come up 6, that judge wins the strap. If 6 is up, I’ll re-roll; it’s that simple. After I receive the C-note, I’ll notify the selected judge by email, obtain a mailing address, and mail the strap.

It’s truly a labor of love (and the best I could come up with for a bribe). You won’t get THIS strap offa eBay, for sure. Vote for me! Vote for me! (Auction the guitar, or give IT away too, if ya’ wanna’)

I finished the soldering under the control plate. Here's a look at the pickup wires in place.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/solderingpickupwires.jpg

Here's one of the other side, which has a lot of black ground wires.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/solderinggroundwires.jpg

I took the time to draw a complete wiring diagram. It's probably more than you ever wanted to know about this guitar....

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/SPA-CASTERwiring.jpg

And, to finish off this post, here is a direct link to the JPG file, so that the wiring diagram may be easily downloaded (you can do the right-clicky thing).

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/SPA-CASTERwiring.jpg

Like I said, wiring's done. Time to get out the strings and the screwdrivers. Woo-hoo!!

I feel like I'm in turn 4 on the last lap with no fuel left.

There is the requisite itemized valuation for this project. I'm not buying anything more that must go on the list, now that I found out that beer wasn't supposed to count anyway. :roll: Oh, and feel free to revalue any of the stuff, my feelings won't get hurt.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Spa-Casterfinalcosts.jpg

And again, for you downloadies (and judges, I suppose) here is a direct link so you can keep a copy for all eternity.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/Spa-Casterfinalcosts.jpg

Judges, don't forget the bribe (that F-in' strap).

i still dont see a completed guitar picture?

Still working....

I've got some daylight left and maybe the project will actually start and end on a Friday the Thirteenth.

I posted those details, because I'm not buying anything else, the circuit is done, and I wanted to get them off of my to-do list.

Yes, there WILL be a bunch of pictures when I'm (whew) done. :cool:

Much is done, but I haven't screwed down the bridge yet, so the strings aren't up to tension.

OK, I really wanted to see this thing, too. I asked the lighting tech to gimme a purple wash, and, without further racing of my heart,

here is the first complete (almost) photo of the SPA-CASTER!

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/full-purple.jpg

(forearm cut is visible, I hope)

The bridge did not move but a smidgeon :grin: . And then (fanfare), I tuned up. Here is the front close-up. Stick a fork in it! I'm done!

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/complete-bridge.jpg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


From the other side, you'll see the forearm cutaway again. Also the push-pull 750k volume pot and knob, the three-position switch, and the output jack (with the cable plugged in, 'cuz it's rarin' to go).
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/complete-forearmcut.jpg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


And, an overall front-shot, being careful not to let the prismatic foil burn my camera again.
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/complete-front.jpg

Gorgeous guitar Irish. A lot of ingenuity going into this build.

Man, if I realized beer costs weren't factored into the 100$ limit, I may have started earlier on mine, and had a bit more fun! Although, I might not have as many fingers.

Additional detail:

A closer shot of the GFS Lil Killer pickup. There was a 3-pup populated Bullet pickguard on Fresno craigslist for $20, and this was on the pg. Deal!

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/complete-pickup.jpg

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Weeks ago, I showed the prelim markings for the headstock mod, but left the results for now. It's not purely Tele, because I would have lost the string retainer bar's location if I had, but I think it carries its own weight. I can only imagine that in the mid-60's, the tuner buttons and bushings were much, much whiter than now.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/complete-headstock.jpg

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The backside of this guitar isn't (to me) that terribly interesting. It looks like it was dipped in plastic (not a wet look, just a very deep, dark black). For details, here's a shot of the never-mentioned-before tummy cut. Also here is the neck attachment detail with 5 screws and 5 finishing washers instead of a neck plate. There's also a bit of reflection from the gaps between the newly-leafing-out trees.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/complete-tummycut.jpg

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Jeff Beck's Esquire was the inspiration for the cutaways for the tummy and the forearm. EVH's Wolfgang (Fender 2009 release) was responsible for the rounded body behind the heel of the neck.

This guitar is very light (I have not weighed it). With its shorter scale, slightly smaller body, and light weight, I find myself flashing back to "The Day", and my dipped-in-auto-lacquer Duo-Sonic (thanks, Dad!) He also dipped my bike frame, and I swore it made me faster.

It's only 9pm in California, so it's still Friday The Thirteenth. Here's more of the SpaCaster.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/full3.jpg

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http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/full1.jpg

I can only hope that the reflection isn't blinding, and that the color is in fact represented.

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Judges, wouldn't this strap look great at your next gig?

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/full-strap2.jpg

OK, here it is again. You know you want it.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/full-strap1.jpg

and

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/fullcloseup-strap-1.jpg

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Fine, I'm done, too. It has absolutely been THE BEST to experience this, and my very best wishes to all the Challengers.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo3/IrishMail/Spa-Caster%202009/strap-bigF.jpg


I'm out. 73's to all. - IrishMail@BikeRider.com (call me at 559-627-0754) :grin: