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

Danele

guys, i need advise... i got my waterslide paper today, and made the logo.

now the question is - IS IT TOO CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL? i realllly like it tho. looks awesome. plus, its not like i'm ever gonna sell the guitar.

Serial # 003 (haha)

Neon-Gecko

That looks pretty cool, but I reckon you could still ruffle some feather with that design...

DonovanB

I tend to be of the school that says don't put anything like the original logo on it. What if it gets stolen and sold to some not-so-smart chap as the real deal? It's not hard to scrape off the pirate details.

Why not call it a Fendarrr. That fits better with the pirate theme...

costafonix

Donovan Banks wrote Why not call it a Fendarrr. That fits better with the pirate theme...

:roflmao:

brilliant,,,

Danele

Donovan Banks wrote Why not call it a Fendarrr. That fits better with the pirate theme...

AGREED! dont know why i didnt think of that!

DonovanB

Danele wrote AGREED! dont know why i didnt think ok that!

Because you don't have the moves like Jagger... 8)

Danele

Donovan Banks wrote Because you don't have the moves like Jagger... 8)

Just as well, i dont like that song.. haha

anyhoo, got the decal printed, well 5 of them actually, cuz knowing my luck i'd need them all for one guitar.

Norman86

cool stuff!! i also quite like the fendarrrrrrr! ?

Danele

got the decal applied.. went through 4 of them before i got it right!!! good thing i printed 5. haha

some headstock pics..

costafonix

nice one :applause:
well done dude, that's very cool.

makepeace

Looking suuuper cool! Well done guy!

Danele wrote
Donovan Banks wrote Because you don't have the moves like Jagger... 8)
Just as well, i dont like that song.. haha

anyhoo, got the decal printed, well 5 of them actually, cuz knowing my luck i'd need them all for one guitar.

Might I ask where you got these printed up?! Been searching for aaages.. Also, what are the options regarding metallic colours etc?

Danele

makepeace wrote Might I ask where you got these printed up?! Been searching for aaages.. Also, what are the options regarding metallic colours etc?

i had it printed at MinuteMan Press (the Parkmore, Sandton branch). they did a great job.

theyre store locator is here - http://www.minutemanpress.co.za/store-finder

i dont know what the restrictions are with color tho. best would be to get the design you want and have them print a sample on plain paper 1st so you can see what it comes out as, and that the dimensions are correct. also have 2 versions of the design at hand, 1 metallic and the other just plain.

i actually took a tracing of my headstock along to make sure the design was printed the right size.

Neon-Gecko

The paper we use is only really designed for laser printers and laser printers can't print metallic colours. I asked the bloke if silk screen printer inks could be used for the metallics, but he said he wouldn't recommend it... ☹

makepeace

Thanks Danele!

Ah thanks Neon, I feared that might be the case..

Might have to try this approach:

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/logo.htm

Danele

makepeace wrote Might have to try this approach:
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/logo.htm

looks like a mission...

clear coat on the neck is drying, i will most probably finish it the weekend. exciting times!

Danele

she's done, just needs strings, OH and a nut.. haha.. i melted mine when sanding the headstock down.

i will take pics in the morning n post them (anything other than sunlight wont do it justice..).

here's a sneak peek.

21Fretter

That little pirate logo at the end of the decal is great.

slyd

Great job! . . . . Looks real cool ?

costafonix

dude that's a great job.
Now when you put a new nut on, use bone so it won't melt ?

Danele

haha, yeah ill go get one later today and fit it. then hopefully i can string it up and attempt my 1st intonation / setup.

so here are a few pics, assembled and ready to go (apart from the nut n strings, obv..)

« Previous Page Next Page »