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So, this will be my first ever “build”, but essentially I’ll just be screwing a whole load of bits together. In keeping with the theme, Fender don’t make a left-handed version of the Jim Root Tele, so my aim is to essentially make a replica that I can play.
Here's what it’ll hopefully turn out like, but t’other way around...
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
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Here's the body, wonderfully made for me by @GSPBASSES. I particularly like the rear cavity with built-in battery holder.
Here's an obligatory mock-up of where things should go after it's been painted.
Because everything is harder to get in left-handed, I had to custom order the pickguard from http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/. The rest of the hardware and pickups I got as a job lot from https://stratosphereparts.com/.
Right, I've painted the guitar body in primer, but despite the use of nearly 3 cans the grain is still visible through the paint.
Have I;
a. Used the wrong type of wood for a solid colour finish?
b. Missed out the sander/filler step which would have filled the grain?
Am I able to fill now, and if so what product is recommended* or is the answer more paint?
*I have previously used Rustins Professional Wood Filler and despite my best efforts to mix the correct ratio of filler:hardener (golf ball:pea), I've yet to have it satisfactorily cure. Any advice here would also be most appreciated.
On to the neck - after 8 or so layers of tru-oil, I managed to bury the decal, flat sanded it and then sprayed some matt lacquer over the top.
Then I added some Vanson locking tuners. This was my first time drilling any holes into anything guitar shaped, so I was a bit worried, but it went ok.
You won't fill ash grain with paint alone. Personally I like the sunken grain look, but if its not what you are after yo will need to grainfill.
Rustins grainfiller or ronseal high performance wood filler should do the trick, may need thinning to work as a grainfiller. You will need to do that, then another coat of primer before proceeding
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I figured as much, but the sunken grain look has actually grown on me - it adds a bit of interest. I'll be finishing it in a matt lacquer which I think will make the grain look pretty cool, so I'm going to stick with it as it is.
After a month of this build, I'm pretty much back where I started. Once the filler was dry, I sanded it flat ready for the white paint. This time instead of using a matt lacquer, I think I'll just 000 steel wool it to an even matt finish.
Painted...
Sorting out the electrics. Due to this being a left-handed guitar, I had to follow the wiring diagram by looking at it through the back of the paper, otherwise everything was back to front!
I screwed the neck on and hey presto! I'm very pleased with the way it's come out. I plugged it in and it even works!
Now (my first ever) set-up...
i just did one the right way round, but left it natural, ( same builder )
how did you wire it? I found a diagram, and it works, but has some weird combinations, bridge,- bridge neck OOP, -neck,- bridge neck OOP-bridge series,- and bridge series, sounds nice though, I used Bareknuckle VH1s.
cheers
andy k
https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10002/013-4444A_SISD.pdf