Cheapy Strat copy refinish / customization project

Danele · 2012-03-29T13:17:29+00:00

Hi guys, So i bought this Wharfedale Strat copy off a dude on Gumtree for R250. It has a nice maple (if it is maple..) neck with smallish frets, and to be honest, the only reason i bought it was the neck. it even has a nice large Fender type headstock on it. So the plan is - refinish the body in Sky Blue (paler than sonic blue), like the Strat on the left in the below pic. I will leave the neck as is, no staining or so on. I will however strip the finish off the neck and recoat it in clear lacquer. Sky Blue Strat motivation pic.. [img width=339 height=509]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--zNNv0zvWac/T3Q_cWlKBvI/AAAAAAAAAKE/wV1iSeAf9Qw/s509/blueStrat.jpg[/img] So here is the guitar as i bought it. It had a few dings and paint chips in it, but nothing that cant be fixed. Body.. [img width=375 height=500]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Emh7zkvyZDI/T3Q-XToUKwI/AAAAAAAAAI8/7Pn3UNmS_js/s500/1.jpg[/img] [img width=375 height=500]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WZDmbmkFMvw/T3Q-YE2ChPI/AAAAAAAAAJU/etaE79tJarw/s500/3.jpg[/img] Neck and headstock.. [img width=375 height=500]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3gSR5DYKb8M/T3Q-XwK3A9I/AAAAAAAAAJI/DZqp7QTCg7k/s500/2.jpg[/img] So i got to stripping the hardware out, then sanded the flat areas. Took about 10 mins to sand it down to the wood (plywood..), a great testament on how nice these cheapies are finished.. [img width=375 height=500]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Vn_kifxS05E/T3Q-ZLLA4DI/AAAAAAAAAJk/60wIx6ARW08/s500/7.jpg[/img] [img width=375 height=500]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wLgifrFVpak/T3Q-ZfSSzoI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/mJw4qVmJsrQ/s500/8.jpg[/img] Also sanded the neck and headstock, also went quick, and i got it fine sanded to 1000 grit in about 20 mins. its looking and feeling very nice. i went over the fretboard with some very fine steel wool, the frets are nice n shiny and the little bit of clear on the fretboard is now gone as well. i will redo the steel wool again once the new coat of clear is on, with taped off fretboard, as to get all the clear off the frets. [img width=375 height=500]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o9N5wKba-04/T3Q-Yz9td1I/AAAAAAAAAJg/a-dNNEAVoiI/s500/6.jpg[/img] The truss rod route fillet was a bit raised toward the heel, so i removed the dab of glue at the heel's end and whacked it in lightly with a hammer and a block on top, not to damage the neck. sanding took care of the rest. [img width=375 height=500]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EA3A0fWAigo/T3Q-X6V-mrI/AAAAAAAAAJE/nGlwKUwr5s4/s500/10.jpg[/img] So thats where this project is at at the moment. other plans include installing a MOP pickguard, updating the hardware (found this fully loaded Squire pickguard for sale for cheap that i might just pick up), and installing a Les Paul Stoptail and bridge. BUT then i'd have to fill the trem cavities in the back and the front. Guess ill just fill it as best i can with wood and wood seal the lil gaps its bound to leave. Thats it for now, wont do any work on this puppy for the next 2 weeks. I'll update once i make some progress. (old forum) Poll Results: What color should this guitar be refished in? Pale Sky Blue like the left guitar in the 1st post?: 8 Off white like the right guitar in the 1st post?: 9

Norman86

pretty cool dude ?

costafonix

Not sure where you're located by Matts Music in Roodepoort had some great DiMarzio aged pot buttons which were very reasonably priced,

Very cool, well done so far,, keep us posted :applause: :yup:

Danele

CostaFonix wrote Matts Music in Roodepoort

the one in the corner there at Builder's Warehouse?

also looking for aged pup covers.. closed pole preferably.

Nitebob

Have to agree, the pickgaurd breaks the white beautifully...well done, keep em pics coming ?

Danele

Nitebob wrote Have to agree, the pickgaurd breaks the white beautifully...well done, keep em pics coming ?

yeah it does! thanks for the words of encouragement. its stripped down again, ready to be flat sanded and then its 2nd coat of color time. prob tomoz.

costafonix

Danele wrote
CostaFonix wrote Matts Music in Roodepoort
the one in the corner there at Builder's Warehouse?

also looking for aged pup covers.. closed pole preferably.

yes in the corner,
they had a good selection of accessories last time I checked and great service too.

Danele

Got some work done today, now i have to wait for the paint to dry before i can carry on and get the 1st couple of clear coat on.

Still to do:

Body

~~Sand 1st coat of color~~ - Done
~~Shoot color again~~ - Done
Clear coat - lots
Wetsand
Final buffing

Neck

Headstock decal - Paper incoming, thanks NicoVlogg!
Clear coat - lots
Wetsand
Final buffing

Assembly

Find aged knobs
Find aged pup covers
Find ages switch and trem tip

THEN BUILD THE THING

I'm thinking of just printing the standard Fender Stratocaster (with curved Stratocaster text) and instead of all the patent stuff below, I'll just put 'Blatant Replica' or 'Genuine Copy' or something similiar, as I dig the look of that decal, plus I cant come up with my own name for the thing. Not putting Wharfedale on there as they did nothing but supply the wood and pups at this point. Ha!

Neckplate is gonna get stamped with 0003 serial number, as it is the 3rd guit I've built, well - number 1 was a full from scratch build, the rest are refinishes. The 1st 2 are not in my possession anymore, theyre somewhere at one of my family members' (not sure which one) garage..

But once this one's done, i guess its on to the next.. haha. I'm really diggin this too much, might need to build a guitar room, or convert the garage..

Neon-Gecko

Don't be too heavy handed with the clear coat, or any paint for that matter. The trick is to get an awesome finish with as little paint as possible...

Danele

Neon Gecko wrote Done be too heavy handed with the clear coat, or any paint for that matter. The trick is to get an awesome finish with as little paint as possible...

yeah i am taking it easy with the clear, 2nd light coat is on the body, and neck as well. you kinda need to build up a few layers so you can wetsand and buff without going through the finish tho. im planning on 2 cans of clear. should be ok.

i swear, waiting for paint to dry is the worst feeling ever.

Neon-Gecko

Danele wrote
Neon Gecko wrote *Don't be too heavy handed with the clear coat, or any paint for that matter. The trick is to get an awesome finish with as little paint as possible...
yeah i am taking it easy with the clear, 2nd light coat is on the body, and neck as well. you kinda need to build up a few layers so you can wetsand and buff without going through the finish tho. im planning on 2 cans of clear. should be ok.

i swear, waiting for paint to dry is the worst feeling ever.

Yeah, waiting for paint to dry is the pits, but the aerosol stuff does dry quickly. The stuff I use takes 2-3 days to dry between coats... ???

*Fixed finger trouble, sigh

Blues-Brother

Danele wrote Got some work done today, now i have to wait for the paint to dry before i can carry on and get the 1st couple of clear coat on.

Still to do:

Body

~~Sand 1st coat of color~~ - Done

~~Shoot color again~~ - Done

Clear coat - lots

Wetsand

Final buffing

Neck

Headstock decal - Paper incoming, thanks NicoVlogg!

Clear coat - lots

Wetsand

Final buffing

Assembly

Find aged knobs

Find aged pup covers

Find ages switch and trem tip

THEN BUILD THE THING

I'm thinking of just printing the standard Fender Stratocaster (with curved Stratocaster text) and instead of all the patent stuff below, I'll just put 'Blatant Replica' or 'Genuine Copy' or something similiar, as I dig the look of that decal, plus I cant come up with my own name for the thing. Not putting Wharfedale on there as they did nothing but supply the wood and pups at this point. Ha!

Neckplate is gonna get stamped with 0003 serial number, as it is the 3rd guit I've built, well - number 1 was a full from scratch build, the rest are refinishes. The 1st 2 are not in my possession anymore, theyre somewhere at one of my family members' (not sure which one) garage..

But once this one's done, i guess its on to the next.. haha. I'm really diggin this too much, might need to build a guitar room, or convert the garage..

Maybe motivation for no.4

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=974992

Danele

more progress, well, paint is kinda dry..

the neck looks really nice, just have to wetsand now and buff. the front of the headstock is still bare tho.

painted and cleared the trem cover as well, to match the body (white wouldve looked kak).

Danele

so i picked the guitar up today to move it, then dropped the loaded pickguard on it... the clear coat got a little ding/chip in it. f*k...

so to avoid sanding it out, i drop filled it with a drop or 2 of super glue. will let it cure and then see what it looks like when i sand it flat. wish me luck.

Neon-Gecko

Aaargh! Damn frustrating as it happens to all of us at some stage. And here I was hoping to see some finished pics...

Danele

Neon Gecko wrote Aaargh! Damn frustrating as it happens to all of us at some stage. And here I was hoping to see some finished pics...

yeah man, it sucks. ill prob prep the body for final clear coat tomoz n then go get more paint on monday (day off). pity i cant finish the neck untill i get the decal paper nicovlogg sent, still waiting, gotta love our postal service.

Danele

finally im done painting the body! wetsanded it, and went over the body with a buffer and some rubbing compound. just need to find swirl remover now. tried car polish but it doesnt buff the swirls left by the compound. it is verrry shiny tho.

will post pics when i have some decent light (daytime).

build / refinishing is nearly done, boo...

Danele

just finished polishing up the body. shoulda done it last night so i couldve taken pics in the sun.. ill try snap some tomoz.

here is the body, all done. just need to install everything. then it on to the neck.

finish reflection..

some other pics..

quick mockup with pickguard, which is full of fingerprints.. haha

Neon-Gecko

I reckon you could shave in that... ? Nicely done, is this your first refinish btw?

Danele

Neon Gecko wrote I reckon you could shave in that... ? Nicely done, is this your first refinish btw?

thanks man. yeah my 1st proper one, you know, doing the whole process of wetsanding, buffing etc.

Danele

here are some pics in the sun (not the best light tho, had to work today..). looking good! pickguard is also installed now (no pics yet). on to finishing the neck now!

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