C18Q1 Partscaster Build - FINISHED

rexter · February 2018

Looks great Neil, very tasteful choice of parts, I heartily approve! I think the white guard is so much more classic than a pearloid one - but it might just work!
My first build was a Jazzmaster, there were so many bits I kept forgetting for that one...
Roland's so right about the tape too - it's sneaky stuff - you don't feel it when you're working with it, but an hour later when you look at your fingers they're cut like crazy. Try to avoid the temptation to use your fingers to press the tape down/smooth it out, especially where you have joins.

stephen.wood125 · February 2018

What a cracking looking guitar! excellent job putting it all together. Great work!

Flametop · February 2018

Thanks Stephen

No blood @rexter ; and @Roland

Image: /plugins/EmojiExtender/emoji/fb/1.gif

Cavities shielded this afternoon whilst watching the rugby, with the aid of a cotton bud to do the smoothing.

Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b7lw6so3ls7lr9m/IMG_0357.jpeg?raw=1

Flametop · February 2018

Tuners installed this morning.

Flametop · February 2018

And the nut sanded to fit.

Flametop · February 2018

Having got to that point, I thought I'd bolt the neck on and start to get the neck and bridge aligned.

Like a twat, I promptly rounded out one of the neck screws. Any suggestions?

longjaw · February 2018

No idea how to remove it but how did you manage to completely round it out!?!?

WezV · February 2018

You are going to have to drill that out now.

if you can at least drill the head off you should be able to separate body and neck and twist it out the rest of the way with pliers

Sarge · February 2018

junior hacksaw or dremel cutting disc and make as deep a flathead slot as possible and gently unscrew, if you're careful it should come out nicely.

Sarge · February 2018

Did you use an electric driver on that?

Flametop · February 2018

Sarge said:

Did you use an electric driver on that?

Yep. Lesson learned.

longjaw said:

No idea how to remove it but how did you manage to completely round it out!?!?

Cos I am a ham fisted incompetent

I refer the jury to post 1 in this thread.

Panic over. Found a set of Aldi screw removers buried in the garage that I’d never used and it worked! £5 well spent. https://whatsgoodtodo.co.uk/aldi-specialbuys-damaged-screw-remover-set-review/
Now, where can I buy a single neck bolt?

Flametop · February 2018

Neck on, bridge on, geometry absolutely square

Then, somewhat inconveniently, I actually had to learn some songs before tomorrow so had to stop.

rexter · February 2018

Nicely done Neil, glad you got that rogue screw out ok!

Flametop · March 2018

Trem claw in today. I was hoping to get finished but doesn't look like I will now. Photo is bit wonky but it is a better job than it looks

Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cwn0u9ok2qjmcu7/IMG_0372.jpeg?raw=1

There's probably an easy way of drilling these. Long series drill it or something?

Flametop · March 2018

Remaining jobs (I think):
Sand the nut down further and glue in.
Install the pick guard, jack and plate and solder.
Solder the ground to the trem claw.
Fit the rear cavity plate.
String up.
Set up.

Might be done by next weekend.

Flametop · March 2018

Had a good run at this yesterday afternoon. Sanded the nut down, finished the soldering, installed the pick guard and cavity covers and jack socket. Then I strung up and plugged in.

Needs a good setup, but WOW! It's very loud acoustically and definitely the Strattyest Strat I've ever played. Positions 2 and 4 quack like mad, the bridge has a lot of treble and the neck is quite warm. I have to set the pickup heights yet so it's not particularly well balanced, but so far its exactly what I was aiming for.

This afternoon will be strings off again, oil the fretboard, and have a bash at setting up and intonation, which will be another first for me.

It looks very classic and classy, so won't be going with a pearlescent pick guard.

Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mlap37ym9287w35/IMG_0378.jpeg?raw=1

Flametop · March 2018

Finished the last couple of bits off this morning. Strap buttons and string trees on. Still needs a bit of setting up but I'm calling this finished cos it's playable

Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/afyg8dyjo97sp3u/IMG_0418.jpeg?raw=1

Flametop · March 2018

So Santa didn't bring me anything with single coils at Christmas but...

...I've learned a hell of a lot from this:

How to solder.
What the innards of a guitar look like.
How cut a nut.
How to adjust neck relief.
How to intonate.
How not to remove digits when using sharp implements.

Massive thanks to Jon @rexter for his patience when answering daft questions, customer service and a fantastic nitro finish.
Also Ash @TheGuitarWeasel for a beautiful set of master wound Route 66s and a wiring harness. If it quacks like a strat...
Axecaster also seems to have been a fairly major contributor.

I now seem to spend vast amounts of time looking in the making and modding section rather than the classifieds, which is probably a good thing. Next build will be a thinline tele deluxe in tahiti coral with black hardware and guard and some properly vicious P90s.

Howdy, Stranger!

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C18Q1 Partscaster Build - FINISHED

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