Fuschia SparkleCaster build Thread, inspired by Buckocaster

[Norrin Radd]

Stunning! Just stunning. Wow.

One quick question - is that a micro-tilt adjuster on the side of the neck near the joint in this pic?

[Spunky99]

It's not a microtilt.

It's a Warmoth pro neck so I think it has something to do with the truss rod.

[maestrovert]

yessirree indeedy !
That's tasty Bro'.....drool inducin' Tele-liciousness !
Mmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm !

[JasonRobert]

Originally Posted by Spunky99

It's not a microtilt and I sure haven't figured out what it is yet.

Maybe someone here is familiar with this adjustment on a Warmoth neck....

from the Warmoth website:

Side adjusting truss rod

To make truss rod set-up and adjustment more convenient, Pro construction necks feature the Gotoh side adjustment mechanism. Inserted between the usual truss rod adjustment nut at the heel and the truss rod, this ingenious device uses inclines and wedges to adjust the rod tension. Initial set-up is still accomplished at the traditional butt end but future small adjustments are then conveniently done on the side of the neck.

EDIT: cool colours by the way...

[pauldogx]

wow---seriously nice Tele!!!! I used to do gel work on boats---sparkles are a b*tch to work with!!!

[Spunky99]

Originally Posted by pauldogx

wow---seriously nice Tele!!!! I used to do gel work on boats---sparkles are a b*tch to work with!!!

Thanks for the compliments everyone.
One thing I did at lunch...I put the guitar on my Tanita bathroom scale. Now I know it isn't as accurate as a postal scale (that comes later) but it tipped the scale at 8.5 pounds. About the weight of a light Les Paul

It is nicely balanced and the neck is pretty heavy with the double acting fancy truss rod. The rough sparkle application yields superior visual results but it does come at a cost in weight to cover the big clumps of flake.

I'll install the strap locks tonight and intonate. Then get the electronics sorted out. Tomorrow I'll take her to the post office to pick up a APO box to send some pogey bait and guitar strings to the troops in Iraq and put the Tele on a real scale.

The Tele doesn't feel any heavier than my Highway One though.

[TNT1968]

Greetings Spunky! Interesting guitar. Kinda like what if Gretsch had bought Fender instead of the other way around. I look forward to your next guitar as well.

[Spunky99]

Originally Posted by TNT1968

Greetings Spunky! Interesting guitar. Kinda like what if Gretsch had bought Fender instead of the other way around. I look forward to your next guitar as well.

TNT,

Dude ...I have a box getting filled with pogey bait and strings and will have it out to you ASAP. Any requests for books? Anyone need a wah pedal?
Be careful when watching the DVD, it isn't politically correct but might be funny.
Hope ya don't mind me putting in a plug for you guys in ACU here...


Note to TDPRI forum users.
TNT is currently serving in the US ARMY in Iraq. His National Guard unit was activated and sent to war....They have a few acoustic guitars and a couple electrics there but strings are real tough to get. If anyone wants to help out our servicemen who are on the front lines, you can send a large USPS Priority mail box with no weight restrictions for just under $11.00 US to any APO address. Junk food, books, strings, Etc......

Can send to be used by everyone at the base if sent to
MWR Center
1/152 CAV RSTA
APO AE 09333-3359

They love the player packs from MF

or to
SPC Jack D Adams
C CO 1/152 CAV RSTA
APO AE 09333-3359

[kingnimrod]

wow, this thread has inspired me to do a bass.

how much sparkle does it take to cover a body?

[Spunky99]

Originally Posted by kingnimrod

wow, this thread has inspired me to do a bass.

how much sparkle does it take to cover a body?

Well,

It depends on the body size, the application technique and if you are doing a matching headstock.

A general rule of thumb is 2 oz per guitar minimum.

I've been buying the 6 oz bottles and used a bit more than 2 oz on the first guitar as I wasted a lot of the sparkle. The second guitar I was able to get a really rough sparkle surface and minimum waste and I used less than 2 oz so far but have the headstock yet to do.

I would expect that if you mix the sparkle with the lacquer or poly and spray together, you would get better coverage and use less flake than with my technique. You also wouldn't have to use as much lacquer to cover all the clumps that I create on purpose. I would venture a guess the spray on method would yield a 10 to 20 degree of offset angle for the light to reflect on the flakes and my poof/clump method gets lots of 90 degree and tunnels for the light to enter below the sparkles and streak through like nanobots of bright light. Expect a minimum of 60 coats of lacquer to cover the flakes in my method.....and 3 to 4 months of spraying/drying time.

The result with the poof/clump is something that causes everyone to go AWWWW.....oooooooo....
I brought the fuschia Tele to work on Monday and everyone had their jaw on the ground.
Pictures do this sparkle method no justice. In person it looks ike it is truly alive. Like there is something running around under the clear coat that leaves trails of bright white light as they scurry around at high speed. Almost scary.

[HiggyDude]

Originally Posted by Spunky99

Great thread and projects. I noticed the Rustoleum paint. I have tried a couple of times using that Rustoleum with Deft - every time the Deft reacted with the Rustoleum and wrinkled and bubbled the paint. I had to completely strip one body it go so bad...I assume you did not have such a problem? Might all the sparkles have "protected" the paint?

[SatelliteOrders]

He could probably have painted it pink and yellow and it'd still look blue under all that sparkle.

[Spunky99]

Originally Posted by HiggyDude

Great thread and projects. I noticed the Rustoleum paint. I have tried a couple of times using that Rustoleum with Deft - every time the Deft reacted with the Rustoleum and wrinkled and bubbled the paint. I had to completely strip one body it go so bad...I assume you did not have such a problem? Might all the sparkles have "protected" the paint?

I never noticed any wrinkling due to the fact that it is covered in sparkles. As I sprayed the Deft from the rattle can onto the blue about 2 hours after I sprayed the blue, I saw nothing that indicated a wrinkle and I shot the sparkles as fast as I could...before the Deft dried.
Thanks for the compliment...I jus loves me sparklys

[Spunky99]

I'm slowly building up the lacquer on the Blue sparklecaster so as not to have it alll soft like the Fuschia one was. She is sitting in a case and I'll have to smooth out the areas that were not dry enough and got some texture on them on the edges. No hurry is the way these have to go.
My Butterscotch blond ash is almost done and I'll start the Pinecaster soon.

I'm building a kitchen table and spice rack for the Mrs and waiting for the 4 necks I ordered to arrive probably in July so no hurry.

[Buckocaster51]

No rush man.

No rush.

You can't rush this stuff.

Take your time.

Enjoy life.

If you know what I mean!