Rondo SX "Esquire" projects - pix

[JDRNoPro]

Earlier this year I had the itch to try a budget Esquire project so did one using a Rondo SX tele clone as a platform. Was so pleased with the outcome, I did another. Although I had several posts back along about them, never got around to posting any pix. I realize these are pretty modest projects compared to most of the beautiful builds seen on the TDPRI, but thought I'd post some pix in case anyone was interested.

First one:


reshaped/refinished headstock
GFS vintage bridge
Allparts parchment PG
GFS vintage 62 alnico PU
CRL switch/CTS 250 pots
Simple esquire circuit/orange drop 0.047
Wilkinson vintage nickel tuners
Fender domed knobs

[JDRNoPro]

Second one:


reshaped/refinished headstock
stock bridge drilled to accept vintage brass saddles
Allparts white PG
GFS vintage 50s alnico PU
CRL switch/CTS 250 pots
simple esquire circuit/orange drop 0.022
GFS vintage tuners
Fender flat top knobs

[ChazM]

Man, those are beautiful! What did you use to reshape the headstock?

[ajgus]

They look great. I have a bunch of questions for you...First off, when you say "reshaped headstock" do you mean that those are the original SX heads that you re-did? Secondly, is that Light blue/green a stock finish that Rondo offers?
Nice work, BTW!

[JDRNoPro]

And my two "Esquires" together.........


These were my first projects and a lot of fun.........both turned out to be great players and get a lot of use. Had to buy everything but ended up with a little under $550 total tied up in the both of them.

Jim

[JDRNoPro]

Gee, guys........thanks!

Yup those are the original headstocks. I made a cardboard template from my AV52RI, laid it on the Rondos and traced the outline on the headstock. Since this was my first "project", took a deep breath, fired up the ol' bandsaw and cut away - took all of 5 minutes each......pretty easy, really. On the first one I used Citristrip and sanded. On the second one, I just used a palm sander and took off the finish and sealer down to the wood. With a bit of careful finish sanding was ready to refin. - much quicker and easier.

To get the proper color match, I started with 2 light coats of amber shellac and topped with minwax poly that I tinted with some orange and yellow artist pigment. A little trial and error was necessary to get the right match. The lighting makes the headstock on the maple neck one look a little darker, but in actuality the match is close to perfect and I am really pleased with it vs. stripping and redoing the whole neck. The pix aren't all that great but the 3TSB actually has some fairly nice grain.

Yes, ajgus, the blue one is a standard Rondo color they call "powder blue". Looks awfully close to Daphne Blue to me - in certain lighting, maybe a touch "greener". That one is the STL62 model and the 3TSB one is the STL50.

[Blueblood]

Bravo!!! Great work..!

[tuuur]

Beautiful! No Esquire project can be called modest, IMHO.

[shades]

Nice work, you've done well.

[zosofan]

Nice job and very nice looking guitars.
I really dig the "wall of amplification" pic.
I guess you like Fender amps too?

[Steve G]

Those guitars are very inspiring to me!
Must make one..

[Sollophonic]

I agree. Those arelovely.

I dont know whether we have Rondo guitars over here, though there are probably very similar ones that have a different name/logo.

Theres some really nice Tele style guitars out there. I like the ones made by a company called Harrier, great value for money, though not the range of colours.

Mind you there are also some absolutely terrible Tele copies out there too....
Buyer beware!

[Southern ILL]

They look great...Nice work.

[robt57]

Nice work for sure!!

What did you do with the electrics, pots, PUPs, switch and wiring set up etc??

[JDRNoPro]

Originally Posted by robt57

Nice work for sure!!

What did you do with the electrics, pots, PUPs, switch and wiring set up etc??

All replaced with higher quality components and rewired, robt57 - listed what I used on each under the first 2 pix. Basically I just used the SX bodies, necks, and neckplates and control plates, which @ $109 each for pretty decent components makes for a fairly cheap starting base - have more $ in the stuff I replaced.

Jim

[mellecaster]

These are the kind of "Everyman" projects I enjoy seeing, and congrats on 2 Nice guitars....you did a really nice job !

[FirstBassman]

Holy cow! Amazing. Great job. I'm envious. ENJOY.

[Buckocaster51]

Good concept.

Good execution.

I would say that you did very well.

You should be proud.

Watchagonnadonext?

[robt57]

Originally Posted by JDRNoPro

All replaced with higher quality components and rewired, robt57 - listed what I used on each under the first 2 pix. Jim

You listed text?? All I saw was those pictures...



DUH!! I had my eye on the ball, didn't I?

[redddog]

Yeah, I've been hounding Jim as I'm currently in the same process as he has done with a couple of SXs (one for my brother). I'm going for the straight up Tele build and I'm cheating a bit by using a seasoned professional to do the headstock reshape and bone nuts.

My plans:

Use the neck and the body. Both are very high quality. I'm actually amazed at that. I've stripped one body down to bare wood. The Butterscotch blond actually looked like banana yellow to me. My wife and kids kept calling me "The Banana Man" whenever I played it. The fear of that nickname sticking was enough to strip down that mofo. I used citristrip and it couldn't have been easier. Say what you want about that stuff but it takes thick poly down to bare wood with no trouble at all. People keep saying that p[oly is impossible to strip. It is easy with this stuff.

I also have new switches/pots/jacks etc coming. Stewmac single ply blackguard and control plate. Wilkinson machines, comp. saddles and bridge and I've decided on the keystones.

So really everything but the neck and body will be replaced.

I'll post the whole shebang in a new thread so as not to steal the thunder from my buddy Jim. A pictorial will follow.

Jim's inspiration was the fuel though. They look awesome!

[Dep]

Great job on both of those, Jim.

Did the tuners you put in fit without modifying the holes?

Dep

[robt57]

The fear of that nickname sticking was enough to strip down that mofo

Banana Man , eh. Can't say I blame ya there.

[JDRNoPro]

Wondering if you might weigh in here, redddog - your projects are more involved than mine and am sure they will turn out as good or even better. Am anxious to see your forthcoming outline and pictorial. Keep us posted!

As mentioned previously, these projects were a lot of fun and I do plan to do more and have thoughts of "real" builds like others have described. I'm just awed at the skill and many beautiful creations displayed on the Forum.

Dep: both sets of tuners I used were essentially direct fit to existing holes, but I had to purchase new conversion bushings (10mm) for the Wilkinson tuners. Had to do some minor hand filing to get best fit. Bought mine from GFS and they have good info about what to use for diff. size peghead holes. I'm sure other suppliers offer similar info/components.

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments........I was hesitant to even post this initially but there seems to be some interest in "cheapie" projects like these. I'm sure such projects can be done better and cheaper with more skill and resourcefullness. Also want to thank the many good folks that took the time to offer valuable advice and guidance to get me going - one of the things I like best about the TDPRI !

[FirstBassman]

Any photos of the SX stripped? I'd love to see them.

There is a guy out in San Francisco who works on Rickenbackers mostly. And he posts many photos of the various stages of the work.
Beautiful and fascinating stuff.