Crazydave911's Former Challenge Build

[RogerC]

Hey Dave,

That's a bummer that you won't be at the finish line with us since you welcomed everyone to the start line. You've been great, and I can't wait to see it finished.

[CarlosN]

Originally Posted by RogerC

Hey Dave,

That's a bummer that you won't be at the finish line with us since you welcomed everyone to the start line. You've been great, and I can't wait to see it finished.

I share the exact same sentiment, thank you Dave for all the support you gave all the contestants this year, you were really one busy guy!

[crazydave911]

Thanks so much guys, looking forward to hearing 12 strings through these Retrotrons , almost got he body polished last night. Stay tuned!


Dave

[Michael Terry]

Aw man I'm sad that you cant finish the build on time, for two reasons actually, 1 i cant vote for you and 2 i can't wait much longer to see this thing play
Best of luck with the rest of the build

[dannyp8262]

Originally Posted by RogerC

Hey Dave,

That's a bummer that you won't be at the finish line with us since you welcomed everyone to the start line. You've been great, and I can't wait to see it finished.

I totally agree!!

[SSO720]

Dave,
Sorry to see that you didn't make the finish, but I can't wait to see and hear it.

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by RogerC

Hey Dave,

That's a bummer that you won't be at the finish line with us since you welcomed everyone to the start line. You've been great, and I can't wait to see it finished.

+1 Well - it's not the finish to this thing that any of us wanted, but at the end of the day, it's not really about making guitars is it... Thanks Dave for making this years challenge the best!!

[PapaLion]

Well said Mojo. We'll enjoy seeing the guitar and hearing the good sounds.

[anyone]

Can't wait to see and hear this thing, Dave!
Thanks so much for all the encouragement! You really are a profound help in time of need.

[Muzikp]

What about the job situation Dave? Didn't you mention you mention you were getting downsized or something? Hope all is well.

[crazydave911]

Originally Posted by Muzikp

What about the job situation Dave? Didn't you mention you mention you were getting downsized or something? Hope all is well.

My last day where I am is 5/20, have something temporary lined up, but will need to supplement that.Been running around a lot without getting much done. I have faith it will be sorted out, by degrees (prob not the way I want ). I will finish the build as time allows, I have all parts/supplies, just need time .

Thanks for asking James,



Dave

[junk mutt]

Wish you all the best Dave and I can't wait to hear this thing sing.!!

[crazydave911]

Oh yes, I'd just darn near ruined a perfectly good headstock.............for no good reason. It didn't cost me the Challenge, I was already behind.
See, here's the thing, Snakeheads don't have tuner bushings (just use plenty of beeswax ), and my peghead didn't have room for bushings on the side tuners. Just because my tuners came with bushings (no other reason as far as I can see) I decided to drill the peghead for bushings on the vertical tuners, and it actually came out well..............Until I started drilling for the tuner attachment screws. I found (and the Ricky headstock seems to be this way as well) that 4 of the screws on the side tuners coincide almost exactly with 4 of the vertical tuner posts . And I had just removed most of the wood they needed to screw into . Well, color me a little sheeeeepish .
Sooooo I go looking for some of those epoxy rolls (the kind where you rub them together like putty, like Motor City Tele used last year for binding). I found red, green, (wasn't a Christmas theme here unfortunately) gray, black, then finally white. The black was probably a better idea, since there is no way to hide this, it has just become a feature, so of course I bought white . After designing a plan of attack, I plugged and dressed the holes. Now I have white epoxy bushings , but they hold the tuner screws (and can be painted I guess )

Here's the evidence








I guess it'll do..............for now. At least the walnut template plug looks right at home


Now it's time to get cracking on the fretboard, first to tape over the trussrod to keep out the glue (I usually don't take this kind of care, not with a cold-rolled steel rod )




Then I attach a piece of tape and strike a centerline (I don't have the best track record with fret markers [hush Herb! ] ) then drill for MOP fret markers





As I have said a few times..............this is #2 son's bedroom, not mine (which is why the bed usually looks like a warzone). Here he is with the varmints. A note here, in this pic it is 10am, and I have found this where you normally find a bass player before 1pm




Moving along......................


Here is the fretboard after being slotted (25" scale, PRS, National & Dano style). Man this rosewood looks slick , like most of course, it stinks .





Apparently in doing this, I made a little too much noise , so my beloved man-child decided to cover up, and the varmints copped an attitude






Again..................moving along



I glued in all the markers except for the 12th, then drilled for my locator pins











Here it is in a trial fit. I also mark the excess on the sides and remove most of this with the jigsaw (I made a small boo boo there too, just hope it doesn't show ). Getting a little clumsy in my old age it seems







Here we are finally being glued up (good ole titebond). By this time #2 son has vacated (watching American Idol or some such crap ). And yes Virginia, I did remember to remove the tape over the trussrod

[RogerC]

Glad to see it moving along, Dave. Your son's a bass player?! I'm starting to question your parenting skills . It could've been worse, I guess... he could've been a drummer

[crazydave911]

Originally Posted by RogerC

Glad to see it moving along, Dave

Thanks Roger!

Your son's a bass player?!

Sad, but true

I'm starting to question your parenting skills

No more than I do, every man has his regrets

It could've been worse, I guess... he could've been a drummer

, don't EVEN go there (or even say it out loud!)

[jpbturbo]

Hey!
I'm a bass player.

We aren't all soulless idiots with no sense of rhythm that can only play in one key and have restrictions on what venue we can play due to the terms of our parole.

[alscort93]

Originally Posted by RogerC

... It could've been worse, I guess... he could've been a drummer

Or one of those Gibby nuts

[R. Stratenstein]

Man, that headstock drilling thing is so like something I'd do. I bet we'd even use the same wordy dirds when the snafu was discovered. Nice recovery, though, hadn't thought of the epoxy sausage. Have to add that to my list of "what to do If--no, WHEN you screw something up" ideers.

Man, that cha-hooa-hooah seems to really have a bad attidude. Ever thought about covering a guitar with his hide, or making a strap outta him?

Glad to see ya workin on it again.

[crazydave911]

Originally Posted by R. Stratenstein

Nice recovery, though, hadn't thought of the epoxy sausage

Thanks! It wasn't my first thought, but after not being able to find my plug cutters, it was a quick second

Man, that cha-hooa-hooah seems to really have a bad attidude. Ever thought about covering a guitar with his hide, or making a strap outta him?

Sigh...........he's doesn't like much of anything except my son, unless he wants something. That's actually my tomcat, and he doesn't like him either, but the cat, being much bigger (and knows it), couldn't give a rat's a$$ what the dog likes

[crazydave911]

Well, as I was looking through these pics, I noticed there were few tools shown, and no action pics. Man, where are my manners?

Ok, where was I? Oh yeh, the neck is out of the clamps, the fretboard trimmed, and the 12th fret markers installed,





I got a nice sanding drum for my drill (will be shown later) I decided to use for the peghead transition,







A side note here, at least my little boo boo on the headstock will be covered by tuners (SO many tuners )


I laid the neck down to lay out my facet lines








Done


I decided to knock off the corners with the sanding drum. Very smooth (but dusty) results,