Partscaster help?

I plan on building a partscaster from an sx furrian (http://www.rondomusic.com/product3438.html). i really dig the seafoam green kinda color going on, but i hate the orange-y color on the neck/fingerboard. i plan on keeping the neck, ive heard its comfy and thick. how would i go about stripping and re-finishing the neck and headstock while keeping a natural maple look?

sounds like more trouble that it's worth - i'd consider getting another neck.

Don't buy that, please.

Don't buy that, please.

Reasons why? Any substitutions?

Reasons why? Any substitutions?

Same reason I don't buy Squier Strats. They're junk guitars. Sure you can replace every single part on there and maybe have a decent guitar, but that is such a waste and you'd be better off buying a guitar body on Ebay and putting that together.

What are you wanting to get out of this project and how much are you willing to work and/or spend on it?

I mean for the money you spend putting new parts on it you could probably buy a pretty decent used guitar instead.

Same reason I don't buy Squier Strats. They're junk guitars. Sure you can replace every single part on there and maybe have a decent guitar, but that is such a waste and you'd be better off buying a guitar body on Ebay and putting that together.

What are you wanting to get out of this project and how much are you willing to work and/or spend on it?

Hoping to get a decent guitar and give my self something to do this summer. Hoping to keep costs under 400 if possible. I'm not looking to build a fender custom shop, just something play on.

Maybe find a used guitar for 300 and spend 100 modding it?

I don't know man, I just can't reccomend enough to stay away from the cheap stuff. I have a Squier Strat that a friend gave me that I can't even use for parts cause it's all junk.

If you wanted to get into building, I bet you could swing that within your budget, but you'll need a place to put a bandsaw, drill press and lots of sawdust.

They're giving you good advice. $300 on a used Mexican Fender and spend the extra
$100 spicing/cleaning it up. Then you'll have both your money's worth and a guitar you'll
enjoy for years to come.

Don't let anyone poo poo your idea. I bought one of the GFS Xaviere guitars (equivalent to what you're looking at) and it's pretty descent. I took it to a gig and people who ought to know thought it was a boutique guitar. It really plays and sounds fantastic.

It may not be worth the effort to stip it though as you'll likely have to use heat to get the finish off. Just go to www.guitarfetish.com and order a neck and body from them and put the guitar together...then build a Tele from scratch.


I plan on building a partscaster from an sx furrian (http://www.rondomusic.com/product3438.html). i really dig the seafoam green kinda color going on, but i hate the orange-y color on the neck/fingerboard. i plan on keeping the neck, ive heard its comfy and thick. how would i go about stripping and re-finishing the neck and headstock while keeping a natural maple look?

$400 is on the very low end of a partscaster budget ime.. the SX may be an ok platform to start but has its own limitations with the staggered string through holes and the neck pocket may be a bit different than Fender.

Here is another surf green option
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Telecaster-Style-Body-Lightweight-Paulownia-Surf-Green_p_4368.html

But you may get yourself into a never ending customer service nightmare if you get a faulty body. Do a search here on these bodies and you will see mixed reviews which I attribute to cost-cutting poor quality control. Maybe you will have the skills to correct some of their mistakes, I don't know, YMMV. OTOH look at forum member Rob DiStefano's website (http://frettech.com/) and see his custom partscasters... they are built on these bodies.

I disagree with Chameleon's across-the-board dismissal of Squiers and SX... but realize that with the cheapies may come alot more work for you to get it in good playing shape. IMO in the partscaster world the fewer variables you have the better your chances.

Buying a used MIM and souping it up is a good route to go, like I said about the variables.

If you like thick necks you may struggle to find a MIM that feels right to you though they do exist... but even buying a MIM you like, selling the neck and buying a new Allparts neck for just a few dollars more than you sell the MIM neck for... is another consideration.

Don't let anyone poo poo your idea. I bought one of the GFS Xaviere guitars (equivalent to what you're looking at) and it's pretty descent. I took it too a gig and people who ought to know thought it was a boutique guitar. It really plays and sounds fantastic.

It may not be worth the effort to stip it though as you'll likely have to use heat to get the finish off. Just go to www.guitarfetish.com and order a neck and body from them and put the guitar together...then build a Tele from scratch.



That's what I might do. The closer to "homemade" the better. There's a certain sense of pride in building a guitar, rather than buying it stock.

Same reason I don't buy Squier Strats. They're junk guitars. Sure you can replace every single part on there and maybe have a decent guitar, but that is such a waste and you'd be better off buying a guitar body on Ebay and putting that together.

What are you wanting to get out of this project and how much are you willing to work and/or spend on it?

Sorry but dismissing a whole line of guitars as junk is ridiculous. There are plenty of good parts on Squiers and SX guitars and all the other 99 dollar guitars. Pots and switches tend to be things that people get rid of, but ceramic pickups are pretty much built the same. Tuners, while not on the same caliber as grover and schaller are usable too. The bodies tend to be multi piece but there isn't anything wrong with that either. From my experience the cheaper guitars tend to sometime have rougher routs and maybe pickguards that show less accuracy in the cut around the neck. Holes sometimes are not centered in the neck cavity. Many of these are things that are hidden from view. Rondo bodies are some kind of solid alder. The ones I've had were on the heavier side, but still solid wood. Inexpensive import guitar necks tend to need leveling but seem to popular around here as lots of guys use them.

If I see any reoccuring problem with these guitars it is that the tuner gear cover caps seem to come off.

The only real problem with building partscasters from cheap parts is it seems that most folks have to fiddling around with them to get them to work together. The CV teles are a popular item as well around here.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/guitar-owners-clubs/114549-classic-vibe-tele-owners-club.html Eventually you might want to upgrade to the next level of quality, but it could be a good start for what you want to do right now.

To answer your question, I've heard a heat gun gets off the finishes found on those types of guitars. I have no experience doing it though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOADED-Seafoam-Green-Fender-Telecaster-Body-TELE-Body-Loaded-/330762662077?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item4d02fdb0bd#ht_1321wt_932

i was thinking this body and a gfs or mighty mite neck. ive never bought from ebay, and my dad says this looks too good to be true, like there has to be something wrong with it. it looks beautiful and has pickups and is fully wired, but im kinda wary. i really want this though. what do you guys think?

Well since you can't see under the pickguard it's hard to say whether it is a MIM or not. His feedback is good. I ebayed a MIM strat body in good condition a couple of months ago and was sad to see how little I could get for it. There are a lot of deals for the buyer out there.

There is a glut of bodies on ebay. Remember he is just starting the auction at 99 dollars.

Too good to be true? Look at this...a very respected builder who uses GFS bodies...

http://www.frettech.com/


http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOADED-Seafoam-Green-Fender-Telecaster-Body-TELE-Body-Loaded-/330762662077?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item4d02fdb0bd#ht_1321wt_932

i was thinking this body and a gfs or mighty mite neck. ive never bought from ebay, and my dad says this looks too good to be true, like there has to be something wrong with it. it looks beautiful and has pickups and is fully wired, but im kinda wary. i really want this though. what do you guys think?

Too good to be true? Look at this...a very respected builder who uses GFS bodies...

http://www.frettech.com/

Respected by who? I know I've never heard of him. Does he actually build something on his guitars? Or does he just assemble them? If so, he's not a builder. You can justify your junk any way you want. It may be worth your time, but it's not worth mine.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOADED-Seafoam-Green-Fender-Telecaster-Body-TELE-Body-Loaded-/330762662077?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item4d02fdb0bd#ht_1321wt_932

i was thinking this body and a gfs or mighty mite neck. ive never bought from ebay, and my dad says this looks too good to be true, like there has to be something wrong with it. it looks beautiful and has pickups and is fully wired, but im kinda wary. i really want this though. what do you guys think?

He has 100% feedback and gives alot of good & useful information, which, if it's not true, you can easily provide evidence to eBay of that. They cover items with inaccurate info in the listings http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/buyer-protection.html

It looks good to me, and it starts at $99 but the price can only go up. Items easily double in price in the last 3 minutes of auctions

Respected by who? I know I've never heard of him. Does he actually build something on his guitars? Or does he just assemble them? If so, he's not a builder. You can justify your junk any way you want. It may be worth your time, but it's not worth mine.

Respected by this entire forum just about (you're the only one I've seen who doesn't).

Okay, not knocking that guy cause I don't know him. You know how I feel about cheap guitars. That's all. Just don't like em, I think for not much more money you can have a much better guitar. Just how I feel.

If you don't have the tools or space or ability or for whatever reason, to build your own - it looks like a good deal to me. The parts would cost you that much. That IS the starting price though. Good luck :grin:


edit: I don't know frettech - got no dog in this fight :wink:

If you don't have the tools or space or ability or for whatever reason, to build your own - it looks like a good deal to me. The parts would cost you that much. That IS the starting price though. Good luck :grin:


edit: I don't know frettech - got no dog in this fight :wink:


hopefully, the price doesnt go up too high. if it does, though, ill try my hand at building from a gfs body and wiring it myself. all i need is a soldering iron, solder, and some knowledge :lol:

The knowledge is all right here buddy - all you have to do is ask.



I mean ask someone else - I don't know squat!