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

Neon-Gecko

Yeah man, that is very nicely done. I reckon a Bell's is in order. Just something about a plain white guitar and as for that tortoise shell guard... :-[

flatfourfan

I can honestly say that I hate a fender strat, It's right up there with having the trotts.

But seriously.......I REALLY like what you've done there. AAAAAARRRRRRGH you planing on doing another one soon?

Danele

flatfourfan wrote I can honestly say that I hate a fender strat, It's right up there with having the trotts.
But seriously.......I REALLY like what you've done there. AAAAAARRRRRRGH you planing on doing another one soon?

haha, yeah man, me too. theyre like the most generic shape guitars ever. dont get me wrong, im a Fender guy, but not a strat guy. well, if i get my hands on another cheapy then yes i will do another. but most my attention is now focused on getting a jazzmaster, jaguar or mustang built.

Norman86

bloody well done! i even see some flame in the neck!

Danele

Norman86 wrote bloody well done! i even see some flame in the neck!

thanks man! yeah the neck is full of flames.. like i said in the 1st post, thats the reason i bought this specific guitar, the fact that it was R250 was an added bonus. haha

DonovanB

When will we hear some clips of this?

slyd

Donovan Banks wrote When will we hear some clips of this?

+1 Yeah >☹

Danele

Donovan Banks wrote When will we hear some clips of this?

gonna buy a nut and strings after work, then its hardware off again.. forgot that i needed to solder all the wires back on. hopefully itll play a bit later tonight.

Danele

nut and string on, wired, nearly ready to rock, just needs a lil bit of a setup (action is way too high).

also managed to find aged pup covers and controls.. they look much yellow in the pic than they actually are.

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