Almost Masonite build

For our annual building contest on the Dutch board, we're doing a Masonite theme. it's called the masonite olympics... kind of risky, last week in the local press: a knitting ! club that used the name olympics for a some knitting meeting they organised got sued by the IOC ... :)


Couldn't find masonite here but some good old fashioned plywood should do for this one.

Let's take this step by step starting from scratch

Step 1: designing a guitar with a masonite vibe (dano, silvertone etc... feel obviously)

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/guttlinhelextrixprototype2colors.jpg

it'll be a small guitar. some changes since I drew the plan: 19 frets, gibson scale. pu: probably a lipstick. only 1 knob (Volume) and a slide switch (cutting treble).

Printing out bodyshape / headstock and make MDF templates

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06427Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06428Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06450Small.jpg


Frame - routing body shape

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06426Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06429Small.jpg

Glueing bottom / top. bodyweight: 1,2 Kg; some neckdive will be inevitable...

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/DSC06438Small.jpg

Did some grainfilling aswell. don't know yet what finish: might go for some sparkly stuff (although I swore I would never do that again the last time I did a sparkle finish...)

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06451Small.jpg

Template for the pickguard - also did a try out with some white vinyl for the sides

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06452Small.jpg

Yeah, with that international athletic competition (note I did not use the O-word), starting soon in London, you'd better change the name of that hard-pressed board (note I did not use the M-word) competition. The IOC is a bunch of pit bulls who think they own any depiction of multiple circles and any permutation of the word Olympic, When the O's came to Atlanta in 96, they tried to sue a Greek restaurant that had been using the name Olympic Restaurant for decades. Don't remember how it came out, but it does help illustrate how unreasonable and silly these guys are.

I like the guitar concept; the headstock is reminiscent of a Dano "coke bottle". And the body at only 1.2 Kg, are you sure you weighed it properly? Amazing. Sparkles would certainly be appropriate for such a guitar....

And the body at only 1.2 Kg, are you sure you weighed it properly? Amazing. Sparkles would certainly be appropriate for such a guitar....

1,2Kg yep, besides the light construction, it's also a small guitar.
If the strap balance sucks, I could fill it with some sand :)

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC064542Small.jpg

update

Headstock shape routed, trimmed it thinner with the bandsaw. will bring it to correct depth with my router.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06489Small.jpg

12" radius on the RW fretboard

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06468Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06462Small.jpg

Sanding from 80 to 230 grid, will finetune it later up to 1000 grid

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06470Small.jpg

in the meantime in the kitchen: my sweet wife got this from the butcher and was so brave to cook it for me. brave... she a vegetarian ...

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06461Small.jpg

this will do for some nice bone nuts and saddles

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06492Small.jpg

will cut it later. meanwhile storing it as high as possible. that's what you do when you have a big dog running around in the house...

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06496Small.jpg

I love your logo! And the guitar looks cool too.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06492Small.jpg

This is how real men build guitars.

I love your logo! And the guitar looks cool too.

thx man!


This is how real men build guitars.

a man that can take the stinkkk certainly :)



http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/DSC06498Small.jpg

some more work done:

since I want this to be a -100 dollar build mainly made from scrap and leftover woods and materials, I cut some braz dots and tried that in a piece of maple to see if it's sandable. but didn't like it after all and found some white dots in a dusty drawer.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06472Small2.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06475Small2.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06480Small2.jpg

So white dots and fretting the board. Have to do this before it goes on the neck because I want to line out the small binding to the top of the fretboard. Would have been easier to do the frets the gibson way going over the binding. But I very much like the feeling of this outboard binding.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06505Small.jpg

had to trim the fret tang a bit with a dremel to fit in the preslotted fretboard

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06507Small.jpg

bevelling fret ends, can easily be done without a jig holding the file.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06509Small.jpg

Glueing the bindings, and scraping them flush on the back of the fretboard

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06511Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06513Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06516Small.jpg

From a huge bone to a string nut ... This is great stuff, don't feel I have to bleach this bone. good cow!

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06517Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06523Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06520Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06535Small.jpg

this is awesome looking! I always wanted to do a low cost build modeled after some old silvertone/dano/kay... the list goes on. I like the binding, too. It seems simpler than cutting the fret tang. is it gibson that does it that way? or do they do the rounded humps by each fret? or maybe that's just the customs...
nice build anyway!!

this is awesome looking! I always wanted to do a low cost build modeled after some old silvertone/dano/kay... the list goes on. I like the binding, too. It seems simpler than cutting the fret tang. is it gibson that does it that way? or do they do the rounded humps by each fret? or maybe that's just the customs...
nice build anyway!!

thx

cutting the tang for a fret that goes over the binding is fairly easy. I normally do it that way. but recently I built a H44 copy that had this thin outboard binding, probably for budget reasons they did it this way back then. but it really feels very comfortable, functions as a kind of buffer, you don't feel any fret ends at all.

glued the bound fretboard on the neck (after I put in a truss rod) and routed out the pocket.

Still in doubt over the finish. reluctant to do a full sparkle, such a humongous mess...

Might go for a black finish with some wide spread sparkles like some old Dano's have.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06550Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06552Small.jpg

Might go for a black finish with some wide spread sparkles like some old Dano's have.



I used to have a Dano bass with a finish like that. I say go for it!

Neck shaped, frets levelled, dressed and polished etc... neck dimensions: 20 to 22 mm, thinnest neck I've ever made.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120716_193527Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120716_193507Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120716_193407Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120716_193353Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120716_193336Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120716_193425Small.jpg

Oeeeh nice! Can I suggest brown with sparkles?

http://i.imgur.com/WRg6d.jpg

You simply must try for this color!

Oeeeh nice! Can I suggest brown with sparkles?

yes sir, you can... especially since you gave me a bag of sparkles yourself last weekend :)

at cnb77: yep, that brown is tasty

Diarrhea Brown with wide spread silver sparkles :)

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120718_104307Medium.jpg

I like that!

The Sparkle Poopcaster.......... Niiiice.

The Sparkle Poopcaster.......... Niiiice.



it is in fact much more like very tasty chocalate brown, probably i was trying to be funny or something :)

Funny, tdpri let me know they had to remove my link since it was perceived as a commercial link. and one thing I am not is a professional builder, in fact it is a very costly hobby. Anyways, I'm ok with it. I just like to design and build guitars for fun.

Some more sparkle fun. Did some polishing but needs some more elbow grease to buff out to mirror like finish. Looking for some white vinyl for the sides.
Never succeeded to really achieve high gloss super shine... still trying, slowly getting better. Although this one don't need high gloss, but good occasion to practise some more.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120718_233543Small.jpg

First I was gonna use and old filtertron I had laying around here, but I guess I'll go for a lipstick after all.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120718_233721Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120718_233628Small.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120718_233852Small.jpg


the sparkle thing went very well, but now having some problems with the neck fit in the pocket. should have antipicated the extra lacquer on the heel, so some fixing up to do in that area.

Am I the only one who noticed that incredibly nice Body/Template in the left corner? Where is the thread for that?!:shock::shock:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/DSC06496Small.jpg

Am I the only one who noticed that incredibly nice Body/Template in the left corner? Where is the thread for that?!:shock::shock:


Don't know if there's a thread for that one but if you like to see more of those just have a look at his website (http://www.guttlin.be/). It's amazing!

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120719_184118Medium.jpg

Finished (apart from the white vinyl that comes on the sides).

Amazing how a cheap build like this sounds so sweet. I would have liked to put in a lipstick, but this generic filtertron makes the guitar more versatile for sure.

Bit neck heavy, but no big deal. might put on some lighter tuners later on.

The one knob is tone, not volume. I controle volume by putting more or less muscle into my right hand :)

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120722_220948Medium.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120722_221237Medium.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120722_221227Medium.jpg

Masonite builds are so quick and easy I'm surprised all other methods haven't been abandoned. They certainly don't suffer in the tone category either.

and closure with a quick lil' video

J4C2SCd1TxE

Dude...you gut yourself a player there!! Nice picking too! I like it a lot...it gots all kind of vibe.

thx,
yep heaps of mojo. total weight: 2,4 Kg ... but doesn't feel like a toy, the decent and somewhat heavy tuners give it a very solid feel. very happy with this lil roots guitar :)

my daughter of 15 who normally only wants to play acoustic, really loves it and gave me the "please dad, can I have it" look... hard to resist so i might build another one for ol' mister me :)

I know what you mean. I'd move heaven and earth for my daughter...LOL.

thx,
yep heaps of mojo. total weight: 2,4 Kg ... but doesn't feel like a toy, the decent and somewhat heavy tuners give it a very solid feel. very happy with this lil roots guitar :)

my daughter of 15 who normally only wants to play acoustic, really loves it and gave me the "please dad, can I have it" look... hard to resist so i might build another one for ol' mister me :)

This thing is a flipping tone monster!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds great!

and closure with a quick lil' video

J4C2SCd1TxE

Way to go mate!

Looking good, sounding good. Nice T-shirt :mrgreen:

thx all
Just did some final setting up; hate it when the neck has to come off to adjust the rod. adjusted bow, now some fretbuzz, I'll let her rest overnight and see if the neck needs to go off a second time to loosen the rod a bit.

Been looking for white vinyl for the sides, no luck yet. my wife thinks she knows where to get it. That'll be the day when your woman helps you out for parts :)

Better be careful...she might be reading this...

...That'll be the day when your woman helps you out for parts :)

A great guitar, great build, and a nice reading thread. Thanks for sharing with us! Oddly enough Danelectro made a few guitar models finished in sparkle Hershey brown. Mt 1963 Pro One is a great example. Back then, Danelectro used scrap aluminium filings (from cutting the nuts) for sparkle. Can you share how you added the subtle light sparkle in this finish?

A great guitar, great build, and a nice reading thread. Thanks for sharing with us! Oddly enough Danelectro made a few guitar models finished in sparkle Hershey brown. Mt 1963 Pro One is a great example. Back then, Danelectro used scrap aluminium filings (from cutting the nuts) for sparkle. Can you share how you added the subtle light sparkle in this finish?

thx man,

I first did plain brown color.
Then i added sparkles to the clear laquer in the spray gun, did some try outs on scrap wood to see how much needed to be added for this widespread effect.
Sealed it with some more clear coats.

I have done a full sparkle finish once. in that case I threw the sparkles in the wet laquer by hand. never again. took me ages to spray clear coats untill I got it flush (those were bigger sparkles).

Yeah, I heard the same about how Dano made its sparkles; I was wondering how mine were made and since they are sooo small, I think it must be some filing process. Don't know how they could be made otherwise.

Thanks for the reply. I will have to try that next finish I do. Just so you know, the original danelecto sparkles are not flush with the finish sureface, or clear coated. You can feel them. I guess there was no drive for a perfect finish for a guitar to be sold out of the Sears catalog.

Thanks for the reply. I will have to try that next finish I do. Just so you know, the original danelecto sparkles are not flush with the finish sureface, or clear coated. You can feel them. I guess there was no drive for a perfect finish for a guitar to be sold out of the Sears catalog.

trying to be vintage correct (and lazy) I too didn't go for a perfect finish. it's flush and shiny now but there's only two thin coats of clear so I guess the sparkles will "rise" a bit once the finish has sunken in.

I think dano may have put at least one coat on the sparkles preventing them from oxidation , no?

Found some stuff for the sides

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120725_170624Medium.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120725_170605Medium.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120725_170544Medium.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120725_170338Medium.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t94/barnnno/Guttlin%20Helectrix/IMG_20120725_170406Medium.jpg