Building a kit guitar

[Captain Stubing]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Is that a medium scale, or did the camera shorten it?

You might enjoy a bajo sexto build, they’re a niche thing and not everyone likes the tonal range.

I just had to check that, I assumed it was a standard length, as when I put it together for a mock up, my left hand went way out west to what I'm used to on a normal guitar.

It's a 34" scale, so a standard size.

As for the bajo sexto, I'll have to research that one a bit, I've not heard of it before.

[Citroënbender]

With a bit of fiddling you can make a bajo sexto neck for a Tele, that works 100% with a regular guitar body.

[Captain Stubing]

It wouldn't take much fiddling, the mob I buy my kits from also sell custom necks. So a 24 fret neck to suit a Tele body possible, and in different lengths as well.

I have drooled over some of the Telecaster kit's I've seen made, so now you've planted a seed... If my wife complains, I'm dropping your name.

[roKWiz]

Very nice. I'm waiting for the Mandolin build.

[Captain Stubing]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Very nice. I'm waiting for the Mandolin build.

I’d be skating on thin ice to build one of them, my kids bought me a ukulele a while back, and if I pull that out to play, the wife threatens to shove it somewhere unpleasant. She hides it on me, so I don’t see it six months at a time.

[Citroënbender]

Any progress, or has necessary work been holding you back?

[Captain Stubing]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Any progress, or has necessary work been holding you back?

Only slight progress, the minister for finance and recreation decreed that a new kitchen was in order, so I've mostly finished that on my days off, just leaving a heap of floorboards to lay down over the weekend.

I started mucking around with some coloured dyes, and I've come up with a colour scheme, and got it to a stage where I was happy with it yesterday, and could see how it will look with some bits laid down on it. I'll start sealing it with a wipe on sealant, then stain the back and sides.

[Poetic Justice]

Ah awesome!

I've been thinking about getting an Explorer kit to make a James Hetfield tribute, either the white eet f*k guitar, or just a black one.

Always wondered if they ended up turning out any good to play or is it just a bit of fun?

[Citroënbender]

If it’s no good, just turn up the volume!

Maybe look for a kit where the critical items are pre-drilled. Worst case then, you get it fret shaved or set up by a pro.

[Captain Stubing]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

If it’s no good, just turn up the volume!

Maybe look for a kit where the critical items are pre-drilled. Worst case then, you get it fret shaved or set up by a pro.

My son did that a with a Mockingbird copy that I built for him... took it to a local luthier to set it up.

I’ve looked at a few YouTube vids since on setting up the fret levels and string height, and my son wants my last guitar after I spent a bit of time working on the frets. He found it hard to put down when he last visited.

His style of playing is drop tuning, shredding etc, and he’s now got a couple of Schecters in his collection.

[Citroënbender]

If your son takes that guitar off you, there’s a vacancy in your collection. Perfect reason for that bajo sexto or F-style mandolin project.

[Captain Stubing]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

If your son takes that guitar off you, there’s a vacancy in your collection. Perfect reason for that bajo sexto or F-style mandolin project.

No vacancies yet... the young fella ordered a new kit guitar. He dropped around today to unbox the kit - you never know what grain you’re going to get on the body. Discussing colour schemes, he wanted a teal or surfer green finish, but you can’t cover up a spalted maple grain with a solid colour!

So I have to source a teal green stain for the front, maybe a solid colour for the sides and rear.

[Citroënbender]

The green may tend to brown, due to the orange-brown maple colour. Considered bleaching it with an ammonia wash followed by peroxide?

Purest green dye I found was Wattyl Fade Resisting Spray Stain, probably long gone. You might get an import brand like Behlens but it won’t be cheap. Green Proof-Tint was murky, as was their blue.

Suspending the dye in clear or lightly staining the wood then making the balance of the intensity as a suspension, adds “depth” in how it looks.

[Captain Stubing]

The young fella dropped around this arvo to work on his guitar. He’s out down an initial blue stain, and once he gets the glue stains out of the top can build up the blue and then start to add yellow. He’ll take weeks at one afternoon a fortnight .

While he was sanding and staining, I got cracking on mine and it sort of fell together.





A bit more polishing, tuning the bridge, setting the truss rod once its sat under tension for a bit, and learn bass guitar.

Playing along to songs on the radio this evening was cool!

[Citroënbender]

This article made me think of your thread:

https://wallacedetroitguitars.com/pr...allace-guitar/

[Captain Stubing]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

This article made me think of your thread:

https://wallacedetroitguitars.com/pr...allace-guitar/

It’s a Jeep thing, no one would understand it! Love it!

I see now how long it’s been since the young fella has been around to work on his guitar… his band has had a couple of tunes played on Triple J Unearthed, so I might have to prod him along, just so one of our guitars gets played to a larger audience!