DIY Resoglass guitar

[Uma Floresta]

Got a body kit from these guys:

http://www.guitarkitsusa.com/1.html

Used a cheap Starcaster neck (the super cheap beginner Strat, not the vintage Starcaster) neck:



Installed and wired all switches and pots and the output jack. Next up: wiring up the pickups!

[Mike Simpson]

Cool project!

I have 2 old National Resoglass guitars. I have thought about doing one of those so I could customize it... I don't want to mess with the old ones.

[SxFxBryce]

Doesnt jack white use one of those?

[Big Burly]

That is really sweet Uma!

The prices for their res-O-glas bodies is pretty reasonable too. I will build one of these someday.

[RomanS]

Very cool!

The strings' break-angle over the bridge looks VERY shallow, though...

[Strat62]

Cool as hell! What do all the pots and switches do?

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by SxFxBryce

Doesnt jack white use one of those?

Yeah. Difference is mine has a Bigsby and Jazzmaster pickups.

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by RomanS

Very cool!

The strings' break-angle over the bridge looks VERY shallow, though...

Yup, that's the way I like it. I actually reverse shimmed the neck to make it more shallow.

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by Strat62

Cool as hell! What do all the pots and switches do?

Red switches turn pickups on/off, one volume, two tones, one switch to select either tone knob, and a "strangle" (bass cut) switch.

[tehanallang]

Originally Posted by SxFxBryce

Doesnt jack white use one of those?

He uses an 1964 JB Hutto Montgomery Airline which is what this one's modeled after.

[oramac7891]

That looks very cool.

Nice work

[Mack93]

Love it! I've wanted to use one of those bodies for a long time now. I doubt I'll get a chance to anytime soon, but it's always at the back of my mind.

[Uma Floresta]

Finished!

[Jgota]

Looks Great! What bridge did you use? Is it a floater?

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by Jgota

Looks Great! What bridge did you use? Is it a floater?

Thanks! It's a Bigsby Bowtie bridge - floating.

[harold h]

Wow, it looks great. The Starcaster neck was a good choice, looks-wise.

[itsGreg]

Love it!

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by Uma Floresta

Thanks! It's a Bigsby Bowtie bridge - floating.

Actually, the bridge itself is a Compton - fitted to the base of the Bigsby Bowtie

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by harold h

Wow, it looks great. The Starcaster neck was a good choice, looks-wise.

Thanks! It came up cheap - $30 - and it looks and feels great.

[Phillybhoy]

Hey, nice job. How did you make out with installing the bigsby? I really like the looks of it.

[Mike Simpson]

Nice build Uma, I have a couple of National Resoglass guitars. I take the Val-Pro 84 to every gig and use it for slide.

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by Phillybhoy

Hey, nice job. How did you make out with installing the bigsby? I really like the looks of it.

Thanks! It wasn't too hard. You just need some thread. You tie two pieces between the bass and treble E posts on the Bigsby and run them up to the tuners. You can see where the high & low E strings will go. Once it's centered, mark the holes, then drill.

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by Mike Simpson

Nice build Uma, I have a couple of National Resoglass guitars. I take the Val-Pro 84 to every gig and use it for slide.

Thanks!

Cool, I'd love to see pics of your Nationals.

[Mike Simpson]

Originally Posted by Uma Floresta

Thanks!

Cool, I'd love to see pics of your Nationals.

Here is the Val-Pro 84


...and here is the Newport 88


... and this Westwood 88 is made out of wood not Resoglass

[gibsoncc21]

That's a great looking guitar! Sounds like a really good find on the neck!

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by Mike Simpson

Here is the Val-Pro 84


...and here is the Newport 88


... and this Westwood 88 is made out of wood not Resoglass

That looks awesome! I think the company that's making the model I've got is going to reissue the Newport body style.

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by gibsoncc21

That's a great looking guitar! Sounds like a really good find on the neck!

Thanks! Yeah, it was a great deal Plus the headstock fits in well with this guitar.

[Mike Simpson]

I used to always be on the lookout for a Glenwood but never found one I could afford. I play a Tele with 3 P-90's in standard tuning, the Val-Pro in open D and the WestWood in open G at every gig. I don't take the Newport to gigs. I used to have a National Westwood amp too.

If they repro the Newport body... Imma gonna buy one.

[gibsoncc21]

How did the build go? Compared to building a parts tele... Easier, harder, just plain different?

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by gibsoncc21

How did the build go? Compared to building a parts tele... Easier, harder, just plain different?

It was pretty easy overall. Different from building a parts Tele. You have more leeway in what you can do. You can put the pickups anywhere under the strings you like, at any angle, using a variety of styles of pickups. So if you want to get creative, it's much easier to do it with one of these than on a guitar that would require routing. You can also use a variety of necks - even a baritone neck if you want. If you can glue things and drill things, you can build one of these.

[Phillybhoy]

Originally Posted by Uma Floresta

Thanks! It wasn't too hard. You just need some thread. You tie two pieces between the bass and treble E posts on the Bigsby and run them up to the tuners. You can see where the high & low E strings will go. Once it's centered, mark the holes, then drill.

How does the body respond to it? I've never used one before, I guess you don't really pull up hard on the arm, eh? I was curious with the reaction to the hollow body. I'm building one at the moment and was tinkering with the idea of putting a bigsby on. I think it's passed, but not totally forgotten. Does it feel nice, weight wise? I would think it balances the guitar out a bit.

[Uma Floresta]

Originally Posted by Phillybhoy

How does the body respond to it? I've never used one before, I guess you don't really pull up hard on the arm, eh? I was curious with the reaction to the hollow body. I'm building one at the moment and was tinkering with the idea of putting a bigsby on. I think it's passed, but not totally forgotten. Does it feel nice, weight wise? I would think it balances the guitar out a bit.

I just play it like normally. The plank of wood running down the center of the top keeps everything stable.

The weight is nice - it's lighter than my solid bodies, but it's not neck heavy. I don't know what it'd be like without the Bigsby.