Got my work cut out for me....

[nateb]

So... About 7 years ago, I bought aparted out Kramer Pacer Custom guitar from a guy that I knew that just did way to much speed. 175.00 got me the neck and body + some hardware that I decided to scrap. The body was partially sanded, the hardware was trash and the neck was in good condition. Last week, I decided that I needed a new hobby. So, I started reading the tech forum and decided that this guitar was going places....

-Body, headstock will be black. I got a guy that can paint very well.
-All hardware will be gold. Floyd rose, non-resessed. Pickups, locking tuners everything.
-Very simple, one volume pot and on pickup.

Problem spots [img]/images/graemlins/baby.gif[/img]
- This was a H-S-S setup , had some "Custom Routing" guy wasn't what you would call a handy man.
- Lots of switches that need to be filled,
- bondo work.
- Finding a good output gold humbucker seems to be a dead end...

Yesterday, I finished the sanding job that was started by said freak 7 years ago and started filling and sanding again.

I am by no means a expert at this. But, I think it will be a fun experience and I really have been wanting to do something like this for a while.

Starting place (After I did a cleanup of the guys sanding job)


This is after the first round of final sanding and the first round of body filling. Speed freak decided to do a little "Custom Routing" that landed him with some humbucker routing that was a weeeee bit oversized. So, Fill/Dremal will be the next thing until it looks right.


yeah... and I know... lets not talk about the input jack... WTF was he thinking. Again... I guess it is about learning. This could absolutely turn out to be sh*t. But, it will be fun.

Wish me luck... I am going to need all of it.

-Nate

[Anders]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

Cool, good luck! Seems like a fun project, I'd like to do something like that myself! Keep us updated through the process!

[txcharvel]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

Looks good so far. Beware though...projects are addicting [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Keep us posted with pics.

[slash]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

[ QUOTE ]
Looks good so far. Beware though...projects are addicting [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Keep us posted with pics.

[/ QUOTE ]


You can say that again! I would love to post pics here but a certain people do not like seeing their paint job done by others. I have 6 painted bodies plus 6 necks hanging in a closet. I also have 2 bodies waiting to be contoured plus another waiting for the finish to be applied to it. And thats just a start, I have some re-finish projects that I didn't mention. I think I have a few pictures I could post but this thread isn't about my addiction it's about your's [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Good Luck and definatly keep us posted!

[lhrocker]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

Looks like your off to a good start. There are tons of great project sites such as projectguitar.com and reranch.com. Take your time and have some fun!!!

[Chuckracer]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

[ QUOTE ]
You can say that again! I would love to post pics here but a certain people do not like seeing their paint job done by others.

[/ QUOTE ]

Post 'em up! I'd like to see them!

[Grahf]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

Dont bother with locking tuners, you're going to have a locking nut anyway

[slash]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

I will post this one but not the other [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[nateb]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

Yeah. I know. I just wanted locking because it makes stringing up guitars easier.

Tomarrow, I am probably going to be filling the back of the neck and also try to get the some of the harder spots taken care of (Single coil areas and extra switch holes.) There is one spot that I am going to need to get some help with. The guy chipped the corner of the backside of the neck pretty good. Nice thing about having a family that was heavy into autobody when they were young. Bondo is like second nature to them =)

I am assuming for the extra switch holes, it would be best to glue a wood plate on the inside of the control cavity and then fill on the front? And for the pick,up cavities, make plugs then fill around them?

Pictures of work will continue.

-Nate

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

my friend just bought a stagemaster custom with that same configuration.

what does that 3 way mini toggle do? i'm gessing that the other 3 are pup on/off switches.

[nateb]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

Did he get that stagemaster from ebay? I was bidding on that one and got beat by 7 seconds. The three switches were pickup selectors from what I remember.

-Nate

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

Man, you're getting me motivated, I have to get my lazy ass to the store to solder and for the goddamn VT screws! I want to rip on my baby.

[Rupe]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

[ QUOTE ]
- Finding a good output gold humbucker seems to be a dead end...


[/ QUOTE ]

You can order most Duncan pups with gold covers...this should be a non-issue for you.
Good luck with the project! I've got a few of my own that I'll post soon.

[Wayniac]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

As far as the input jack - you "might" be able to put a tele-style in as a drop in....?

[nateb]

Re: Got my work cut out for me....

Thanks for the info on the duncan pickups. I will have to investigate that one.

As far as the input jack, one way or another, I can get something to cover it and also look good. I can custom make one and just remove the barrel connector from a basic fender strat aftermarket. But, I will definately look intot he tele-style and see if that will conver. Definately save some time.


-Nate