TDPRIer in need appeal

[degsycaster]

Guys, it's my partscaster. We just can't bond. Heres a list if my issues:-

1. Badly made ash body - bad neck alignment/bridge siting but neat, tight neck pocket. This means I've had to shim the neck to get a playable action although the bridge saddles are still at the height of their adjustment

2. Weak neck pickup - Fender vintage originals but the neck pickup sounds timid and under-powered.

3. Terrible intonation

4. Horrible acrylic finish that I applied myself

5. Poorly fitting pick-guard - due to the poorly cut body?

Here's what I plan to do to try and sort things out:-

1. Either buy a new body or make hours of minor sanding adjustments.

2. Either re-solder everything and hope it improves or slap a PAF in the neck

3. Sand out the bottom area of the neck pocket or the base of the neck so that it sits lower in the body enabling much better action and intonation adjustment

4. Relic the finish? Re-paint it? Flat it down and shoot more clearcoat?

5. Cut the pick-guard and re-shape it

I don't want to keep throwing money at this guitar! Are my suggested actions the way to go or does anyone have any better ideas? Perhaps I should just part it out and buy a MIM Standard?

[TheBends]

Perhaps you should post pics so that we may take a closer look. I wouldn't give up just yet.

[mudbean]

Perhaps a Viking burial.

mud

[degsycaster]

Originally Posted by mudbean

Perhaps a Viking burial.

mud

I'm starting to think that way

[KCKC]

Valhalla!

I'll bring the boat!

[Alamo]

Originally Posted by KCKC

Valhalla!

I'll bring the boat!

But they do float!

http://www.tdpri.com/resourceFLOAT.htm

[twangcaster1]

If all else fails while trying to turn it into a fine instrument, you can always make a sweet lamp out of it.

[B Valley]

Have you shimmed the neck to bring the action down? That should help with playability and intonation both. Don't give up hope yet.
Otherwise, a new body might be in order.

[Ronkirn]

Nothing matters... You are so alienated from 'er there's no reconciling. Get rid of 'er like a bad woman, and find one you can live with.

Ron Kirn

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

Nothing matters... You are so alienated from 'er there's no reconciling. Get rid of 'er like a bad woman, and find one you can live with.

Ron Kirn

+10....Wise Advice, don't look back...consider it a learning experience .

[viking]

Pics would be helpfull ....Maybe you need something else to play , if you are disappointed with it now , and should just rest from the project for a while?
There is no reason why it couldnt be made into a decent player.
Decide first if you want to use a different body. If the neck have std measurements , the neck pocket may solve the problem you have with your current body.If you dont have the tools to route the neck pocket of the body you use now , youll have to sand the neck instead. Only a small amount removed will make a difference , but could off course be a problem when using the neck with a different body.
With the problems you have with the body/paint , the best thing could be just finding a decent finished body...

[Martinp]

you can always put a clock in it

[bendecaster]

For me, I would worry about the playability, and sound. The looks always improve when it is a player.
Do you have original saddles, or compensated?
Pickups are a fairly inexpensive fix too. I had a Tele with a bridge pickup that souded like crap, and found out that one of the wires was broken right where it came out of the pickup. A pretty easy fix!
It sounds like you're too close to the fire to see the flames. Maybe you should step back for a while, and take another look at it when you can be more objective. Do you have another axe to occupy your time, and clear your head? It could help. Good luck!

[ole AZ]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

+10....Wise Advice, don't look back...consider it a learning experience .

+ another 10. I used to see this type of thing with my dad...he'd buy something, love it, notice a defect, and HATE it. You'll probably just never love it the way you want to now. Send her down the line.

[Tim Armstrong]

I'd probably get a better body and start over again!

Tim

[T Prior]

or you can just drag the 12 gauge out of the closet and have someone throw it in the air like a clay pigeon, but if you do, wear a hard hat...

[Tonemonkey]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

I'd probably get a better body and start over again!

Tim

I don't blame you, Tim, but you could start with just your dodgy shirt and hat, see how you look!

[V-Man 809]

Originally Posted by T Prior

or you can just drag the 12 gauge out of the closet and have someone throw it in the air like a clay pigeon, but if you do, wear a hard hat...

Is that how they do heavy relics......

[Big John]

Originally Posted by degsycaster

........................

2. Either re-solder everything and hope it improves or slap a PAF in the neck

3. Sand out the bottom area of the neck pocket or the base of the neck so that it sits lower in the body enabling much better action and intonation adjustment

4. Relic the finish? Re-paint it? Flat it down and shoot more clearcoat?

5. Cut the pick-guard and re-shape it

Those choices don't involve (much) money so why not attempt those and then see if it's worth salvaging ?

[tlecky]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

Nothing matters... You are so alienated from 'er there's no reconciling. Get rid of 'er like a bad woman, and find one you can live with.

Ron Kirn

Another +10. Salvage what parts you can and destroy the rest of the evidence. From my personal experience, once something causes this much pain and dissatisfaction, there is no alternative.

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by degsycaster

Guys, it's my partscaster. We just can't bond. Heres a list if my issues:-

1. Badly made ash body - bad neck alignment/bridge siting but neat, tight neck pocket. This means I've had to shim the neck to get a playable action although the bridge saddles are still at the height of their adjustment

2. Weak neck pickup - Fender vintage originals but the neck pickup sounds timid and under-powered.

3. Terrible intonation

4. Horrible acrylic finish that I applied myself

5. Poorly fitting pick-guard - due to the poorly cut body?

Sorry to hear that, but I have to ask..... WHY??? What went wrong? Was this a Partscaster that you bought with all these problems, or was it something you did a long time ago when you knew no better?

If I'm wrong, then I would agree with Ron Kirn, in that this has been a bit of a bad experience which will mean that, in your mind, things will never be right.

But look upon things positively - you've gained a whole lot of experience (even if it's what NOT to do!) which will mean that your NEXT Partscaster will be constructed with the benefit of all that experience.....

There are LOTS of folks who have decided to try the Partscaster thing, only to find that there are often more questions than answers - at least until they've gained some experience.

I guess you'll just have to write off (1.) - just be more selective with your next body. As for (2.), I'm surprised to hear that. Could be your soldering, could be the height at which you've set your pup? But for about £30 you can get one of the excellent GFS vintage-style pups which will certainly not sound timid and under-powered!

The intonation issue in (3.) is very simply cured by investing £40 in a set of Glendale compensated saddles (there are other makes which some folks here sear by - do a search) - for me, the Glendales are the best money I've ever spent, and I get just about perfect intonation from every set.

As for the finish problem in (4.)..... well, you've probably answered your own question! Unless you have the skills, equipment, time and patience, probably better to buy your next body pre-finished. And (5.)? I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "poorly fitting pickguard" - a pic would help? But these things are made of plastic, and adjustments can easily be made with a Dremel or even a sanding block. It's a tough call to blame the body for a "poorly fitting pickguard"!!!

Put it all behind you - I'm sure your next Partscaster will be a beauty!

[Tim73]

I think a new body would solve a lot of your problems. It is the beauty of partscasters, you can keep plugging away until you get it right. I'm just in the throws of getting a new neck for mine.

[maestrovert]

Jes' mho, but i'd bail it into the bin Bro' !
my recommendation is: cut your losses instead of investing even more of your time an' effort polishing a turd....
though you might get 'er all shiny, it'll still be a turd !

Remember, you win some an' you lose some, but you learn some with every one of 'em...

[sunkidd]

Originally Posted by Tonemonkey

I don't blame you, Tim, but you could start with just your dodgy shirt and hat, see how you look!

Pickin' on Tim!

[Skrik]

I would plug it and redrill it to sort the alignment trouble out; then reassemble it with intonated saddles and better electrics. Get it playing right before considering refinishing the body.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by sunkidd

Pickin' on Tim!

Hey, I didn't catch that the first time around!!!

Grrrrr....



Folks, it'd probably be worth noting that this thread is a couple of months old, and I reckon the OP has probably moved on, either fixed it or gotten rid of it...

Tim

[91xlntS-3]

As much as I'd like to put a guitar together myself, I can usually get what I want already put together. Sounds like the body might be the biggest problem, or causing the most problems, so I'd start there. I'd say a pre-finished body would be a wise place to start. If all the rest of the parts are Tele friendly, then you might be able to salvage the rest. Good luck!

And BTW, I like Tim's hat!! LOL

[getbent]

sanding is love. disassemble the guitar, place each component in a safe place and start again... first with the body... you can get it... get a nice steaming cup of coffee, put on some good music and go to work slowly and methodically... do it with love and it will work out...

[NEPATelecaster]

Use your EXACT post here as an Ebay description.

It no doubt will get bites...Then buy a Squier 50's CV or MIM. The new MIM really impressed me. Not to mention the new logo and tinted neck.

[tlecky]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Folks, it'd probably be worth noting that this thread is a couple of months old, and I reckon the OP has probably moved on, either fixed it or gotten rid of it...

Good point. Probably my fault when I was prowling around here this morning and bumped it back up. Sorry.