Dinky Project - Fix and retop with Bubinga Burl

[silar]

I mentioned this in another post, but I have a DX10D in red flame that has been bugging the crap out of me. The guitar plays great, but the PO made some holes in the body for a 3 way toggle and a kill switch, and also carved out an area at the end of the trem cavity for a DTuna (looks like with a flathead screwdriver). I am going to plug the holes and fill in the area where the DTuna was to get this thing back to normal, but I would loose the flame finish which was pretty nice. I happened across some Bubinga Burl veneer a couple of weeks ago, so I am going to re-top the body with it, and also do the headstock to match. Alot of you guys are probably wondering.... Why go through all of this for a DX10? Well, pretty much because I can, but also because I love the way this guitar feels and plays. I'm not out much by doing it, and when I'm done, I think it will look pretty spectacular! This will be somewhat drawn out since I am just doing this project as time permits, and because I have plenty of other Jacksons to play! Here is what I started with.. Pretty nice Dinky... Here is a closeup of the body, where you can see the added kill switch, 3 way, and the screwdriver chiseled DTuna area... I made some rough cutouts of the body and headstock so you could see kinda what the figuring would look like when it's on the guitar. The veneer is completely dry and non-wetted in these pics so you can imagine how the figuring will look finished... Here is a pic of what the headstock will look like... I am planning on re-leveling the fret board and re-fretting, so I may even go ahead and add some binding to the neck while I'm at it, especially since I am adding the veneer to the headstock. I'm not sure yet if I'll do the binding, but I'm seriously considering it...

[DonP]

Why go through all of this for a DX10?

+1000

Well, pretty much because I can, but also because I love the way this guitar feels and plays. I'm not out much by doing it, and when I'm done, I think it will look pretty spectacular!

And if it turns out badly, it was only a DX10

I'm not sure yet if I'll do the binding, but I'm seriously considering it...

Go for broke and do the binding. I have the same neck on a Kelly Star. I love the reverse sharkies, but hate the lack of binding, and don't really like reverse headstock (except on strats). I'm wierd like that. I hate binding with dot inlays, but love binding with shaped inlays.

[Metal Spawn]

I look forward to updates!

BTW, do you plan to relocate the volume knob? I'm currently modding a DK2 body and before the paint goes on, that godd*mn volume control is going somewhere else! Dunno why Jackson puts them so close the bridge pickup on the Dinkys and Soloists... My Kelly, Kelly Star, and King V are all positioned comfortably, but with their superstrats, my pinky is always banging off the volume knob...

I love Jackson guitars, but that's one thing I hate about them. Irritating as sh*t!

[silar]

+1000And if it turns out badly, it was only a DX10Go for broke and do the binding. I have the same neck on a Kelly Star. I love the reverse sharkies, but hate the lack of binding, and don't really like reverse headstock (except on strats). I'm wierd like that. I hate binding with dot inlays, but love binding with shaped inlays.

Like I said.. I am definitely considering it.. Just never bound an already made neck so I'm a little hesitant..

[silar]

I look forward to updates!

BTW, do you plan to relocate the volume knob? I'm currently modding a DK2 body and before the paint goes on, that godd*mn volume control is going somewhere else! Dunno why Jackson puts them so close the bridge pickup on the Dinkys and Soloists... My Kelly, Kelly Star, and King V are all positioned comfortably, but with their superstrats, my pinky is always banging off the volume knob...

I love Jackson guitars, but that's one thing I hate about them. Irritating as sh*t!

I'm going stock volume knob placement... I thought about doing this one a little differently by removing the tone, relocating the volume, and removing the neck pickup. I may still do that..

Actually.. I think I will do that now that I think about it. Also, I'm thinking about binding the body too. I'll probably get a lot of people on here going... OMG! not a bound Dinky! but why not?

[Metal Spawn]

I'm going stock volume knob placement... I thought about doing this one a little differently by removing the tone, relocating the volume, and removing the neck pickup. I may still do that..

Actually.. I think I will do that now that I think about it. Also, I'm thinking about binding the body too. I'll probably get a lot of people on here going... OMG! not a bound Dinky! but why not?

Go for it! We all learn by doing... If you screw it up, you'll know what not to do on the next one!

Best of luck.

[sully]

It'd look neat, but I'd consider and recommend pulling the fretboard; it'll help your headstock veneer go on more seamlessly (since it should go under the fretboard to look its cleanest), and will also help with the binding, should you decide to do it. Granted, there's probably a million ways to bind a neck, but I do the headstock first, and before the fretboard goes on. Like in this pic:



That method will give you the end result that Jackson has.

Sully

[silar]

It'd look neat, but I'd consider and recommend pulling the fretboard; it'll help your headstock veneer go on more seamlessly (since it should go under the fretboard to look its cleanest), and will also help with the binding, should you decide to do it. Granted, there's probably a million ways to bind a neck, but I do the headstock first, and before the fretboard goes on. Like in this pic:



That method will give you the end result that Jackson has.

Sully

Thanks Sully! I've never pulled a fretboard before. I'd be afraid I'd break it in two. If I was building the neck myself, it'd be much easier to do the veneered headstock and binding, but with the fretboard already with fret slots, I worry about cracking the fretboard along one of the slots.. What's the best way to remove the fretboard?

BTW... had to edit this to say, I've seen a lot of your videos on YouTube. Pretty funny man!

[S1I2F3]

Quite the project, looking forward to seeing some progress. And this axe sure ain't going to be a DX10 when you're done with it!

[sully]

Thanks Sully! I've never pulled a fretboard before. I'd be afraid I'd break it in two. If I was building the neck myself, it'd be much easier to do the veneered headstock and binding, but with the fretboard already with fret slots, I worry about cracking the fretboard along one of the slots.. What's the best way to remove the fretboard?

BTW... had to edit this to say, I've seen a lot of your videos on YouTube. Pretty funny man!

It's pretty painless, just takes a long time. Clothes iron on it's hottest setting, some metal putty knives, and some bi-metal razor blades will get you started. The frets also help heat the board, too. Takes a couple of hours, but it's not too tough.

[silar]

It's pretty painless, just takes a long time. Clothes iron on it's hottest setting, some metal putty knives, and some bi-metal razor blades will get you started. The frets also help heat the board, too. Takes a couple of hours, but it's not too tough.

I'll have to give that a try. I've not removed the frets yet. I figured I'd concentrate on the body first, then the neck. If I mess up, it's pretty easy to find a replacement neck for it.. I have been tempted to try one of the Dragonfire Jackson necks, but haven't found any reviews of anyone that's bought one, except someone on JCF that thought it was a Dragonfire neck. Plus, they are 12" radius and not compound...

Would I still have to route some binding channel in the neck? I know I'd have to remove whatever the width of the binding is on the fretboard, along with past the 24th fret to do it right...

[sully]

No, there's no need to rout into the neck; just bind the board.

[silar]

Been a bit, like I said.. It will be when I have time..

I started sanding the body, and went ahead and filled in all the gouges and controls with epoxy. Routed and sanded that down, now to cut some wood to fill the neck pickup slot and finish sanding the body and get ready to put the veneer on! I decided to go ahead and fill all the control holes and make this guitar a 1-volume-no-other-controls guitar. Single bridge HB.. Once I get the top on and complete the finish work, I'll coat the control cavity with some shielding paint. You'd never know it was modded!





After routing and sanding...

[silar]

Getting ready to put the top on! Got a little more sanding to do! I put a piece of maple in the neck pickup hole.

[tomanyjacksons]

Kewl!!!