Serratus's 2016 build challenge

Serratus

More progress!

Got the routing done on the body and the body basically cut to size. Still lots of sanding to do and some filling where I had a little bit of tear-out with the router.
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2468_1_zpsmnkc5rbj.jpg
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2471_1_zpsam2xqant.jpg

This shows the ash block that I'm inserting into the body to take the bridge posts.
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2475_1_zpsdzwjhlp0.jpg
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2478_1_zpsdpn9vfmk.jpg

joeyowen

This is too nice

And you describe it all as so easy!

bravo indeed!

paulnb57

Some serious skill envy here! Good work!

BigMonka

That is going to be so cool when done - I really like the contrast on that ash bridge block.

How have you found the pine to work with? I've found that the grain isn't normally very tight on B&Q/Wickes stuff so making precise cuts/shapes can be hard - but maybe that's just my lack of skill at woodwork!!

Serratus

It's not the easiest to rout because although the router cuts it really easily, it can tear chunks out in places. But then because it's a soft wood it's very easy to sand, etc. It's definitely different to using a hard wood!

I'm looking forward to getting it all sanded/filled, etc, then it's on to binding the front

Serratus

Binding:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2496_1_zpsoo3dgsni.jpg
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2506_1_zpsxejidkro.jpg

Testing the neck joint with no glue or anything - nice tight fit!
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2509_1_zpsgkmpxbac.jpg

Making some plates:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2512_1_zps9x7cv647.jpg

Recessed the jack plate - needs a touch more cleaning up yet though:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2514_1_zpstsrvfo6g.jpg

Gluing the neck on!
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2518_1_zpssrn4pxsv.jpg

Serratus

A little bit more progress!

Neck glued on:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2528_1_1_zpsffdhhgwu.jpg

Routed the front of the neck level with the body front:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2558_1_zpse0wrflcg.jpg

Should make a comfy neck joint, still needs cleaning up yet:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2563_1_1_zpswendrov6.jpg

Made the scratchplate, so I did a quick mock-up:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2583_1_zpss6x4e0dy.jpg

WezV

I like that a lot

Andyjr1515

This is lovely. The neck / volute / headstock carve is superbly done.

Serratus

More done!

Stuck my logo on the headstock and sprayed the front with nitro:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2588_1_zpsevxe9wse.jpg

Got a layer of stain on the front of the body - it's not perfect around the outer edges but that doesn't matter because it's going to get a black burst:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2593_1_zpsml5rpb7h.jpg

Oiled the neck and board:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2601_1_zpsudyayhfo.jpg

After some sanding sealer was applied to the body:
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2602_1_zpsdtj21kh7.jpg
 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2605_1_zpsxb2cijj3.jpg

Next is to sand the sealer and clean up the binding, etc, before spraying the burst

Roland

That grain is looking good

BigMonka

I just can't quite believe that the guitar in those last pictures is made of DIY shop pine  :-O

Amazing work!

koneguitarist

Love to see stuff like this, great pics as well, thank you.

Serratus

Thanks all

Had a big change of heart on colour.

I sprayed the burst but I wasn't happy with it; not smooth enough, and it covered too much of the grain. And in the end I felt like I'd rather have the front looking like pine (as that's what it is!!). So I stripped the front again and I'm spraying it with amber nitro, no stain, no burst, just a dark brown back and amber front. Pics to come later

hobbio

Cool, that grain deserves to be on show.

Serratus

Some rubbish pictures, but gives you an idea of the finish. Now drying before sanding and polishing.

 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2626_1_zpsccr613cr.jpg

 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2630_zpsohcmprwk.jpg

 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2632_1_zps1q1jfztz.jpg

hobbio

It looks like it was cut out of an old headboard, and I mean that in a good way. Pine guitars should look like pine, and this really does. Love it.

Serratus

hobbio said:

It looks like it was cut out of an old headboard, and I mean that in a good way. Pine guitars should look like pine, and this really does. Love it.

Thanks! It's looking really nice in the flesh, can't wait to get it finished

Serratus

So I found some old pickup pole piece screws at the bottom of my parts box, so I redid the pickup cover with the tops of the screws glued in place - looks pretty authentic I think!! (for those who didn't read the first page, the 7-string P90 I made had to be glued together, so the pole pieces aren't adjustable. So it'll just sit underneath this cover)

 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2688_zpsdx6snmvy.jpg

Serratus

Getting there!
I've still got to polish the body, but today I levelled the frets and did a few little jobs like checking the plates still fitted okay after lacquering, etc. Couldn't resist putting the scratchplate and pickup cover on to take a quick picture

 http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/Serratus1/IMAG2706_zpsbd8qajue.jpg