Refinishing / Modding my Strat

wern101 · 2018-09-11T07:11:44+00:00

Morning guitar people! So as the title suggests, this is my first mod. I am scared to death. I realize all the more what a noob I am. I’ve been contemplatin...

Refinishing / Modding my Strat

klaasvakie

wern101

If you are willing to do the work yourself, you can buy time at Made in Workshop (http://madeinworkshop.co.za/). I've used them before, and they have a laser cutter, plasma cutter, lathe, cnc milling machine, drills, welders, benders, 3d printers etc. You pay per day of use. I usually wait until I have a bunch of things on my list and then buy a 10-day package which works out to R175 per day.

Tuckstir

klaasvakie

Problem is our esteemed friend wern101 Lives out in the middle of nowhere.
but looks like a cool place to go tinker about in

klaasvakie

Tuckstir d wern101 Lives out in the middle of nowhere.

Ah, forgot about that. Maybe there are similar maker spaces in the V-Town area? I know there are a couple in Joburg and a couple in Pretoria. I've only been to the one above though, quite close to where I work so it is convenient.

klaasvakie

klaasvakie spaces in the V-Town area

Eish @wern101, obviously had you confused, I think its @warrenpridgeon thats in the v-town area? I love Nelspruit, would move there in a heartbeat if I could find a job there.

wern101

Thanks Guys. Nelspruit isn't exactly 'nowhere', but yes, we don't have a quarter of the stuff they have in the big cities. And Nelspruit is known for being excessively expensive for anything not considered normal. (That means everything)

I will still see about the Pickguard. Hoping to get everything sorted before the Xmas break. At least I'll have a guitar to play again. Started with the Tru Oil coats yesterday.... ?

wern101

klaasvakie move there in a heartbeat

Says everyone I talk to. It's very 'clicky' down here. Had to carve out an existence when I moved here 18 years ago... has not been easy. But there are big developments and big opportunities opening up. Keep your nose to the job classifieds and I am sure something will pop up. I'd be nice to have a fellow forumite down here. When can even organise our own garage days. ?

klaasvakie

wern101 I have three good mates down there, so I do get to visit a couple of times a year. One is a very competent guitarist, but his guitar seems to spending too much time in the case nowadays --- kids + work I guess. I'll let you know when I'm there again, maybe we can do a garage day.

wern101

klaasvakie Sounds like a plan!

guidothepimmp

Hows the truoil experience treating you?

wern101

guidothepimmp Its been an interesting experience. The first coat went on and the Basswood soaked it all up. I did the 2nd coats last night and this morning and the colour is coming through nicely, with a bit of a shine. Loving it!
I noticed now that the finish feels a bit rough after the 2nd coat. Good time to break in the 1000 grit steel wool? Or should one continue with the coats and only 'sand' at the end?

I have also started tinkering with the metal bits of the guitar, trying to make em look weathered. Specifically the bridge and tuners. I think it worked out ok?

I really have to sort out my workshop too. Too many projects at the same time...

guidothepimmp

Maybe do 1 or 2 more coats.. then with 1500 grit.. hit a wet sand using truoil. Will take off the rough bits while filling any places with truoil. Dig the weathered look on the hardware man..

wern101

guidothepimmp So that 1500 grit you are referring to - this would be sandpaper right? I have steelwool as well - not sure which one would be best??

I saw some dudes on the net using Steelwool.....

guidothepimmp

Not sure... i used steel wool before applying truoil. Youre right on the 1500. It is sand paper that you can wet. If you have access to 1800 and 2500.. that also helps. then you can go through them starting at 1500.. ending at 2500

wern101

guidothepimmp Champion! Tnx. Will update with pics once done. ?

wern101

Quick update and question:

I've done about 5 coats of Tru Oil and the colour is coming out nicely. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but still pretty cool. I should have probably gone for a deeper red instead of the Cherry Red, but I noticed the wood grain (and type) also affects the colour. Basswood slurps up everything you put on it!!

Anyhoo - I am about to start the wet sanding process. I got 1500 and 2000 grit paper today (cause that is all you find in Nelspruit) and have watched a vid or two on the topic.

Question - I see some people 'dilute' the Tru oil (just a tad) with 'mineral' spirits (Turpentine??). Some wet sand with the spirits only. Apparently this makes the oil a bit thinner and the end result is a brighter, smoother, 'shine'. I dunno... seems risky.

Opinions??

klaasvakie

wern101

Just a heads up, when working with Danish Oil (a tung oil blend), I found that "turpentine" and "white spirit" are not quite the same thing. Turpentine is quite a bit more sticky and greasier than white spirit. The white spirit is more volatile and evaporates quicker. It is not as volatile as lacquer thinners though. White spirit and turperntine have a similar smell, although the turpentine is a bit sweeter.

I sanded my final coats with white spirit which worked better than turpentine in my opinion, the turpentine was too grease and left a residue.

The only place I found that carries white spirit is Hardware Centre in Strijdom-Park. They also carry the superfine steel wools and very fine sanding sheets. Not a bad place to visit (Not sure if Nelspruit has a stockist).

But then I see that Tru-Oil is a linseed-based blend, so I'm not sure if any of this applies.

klaasvakie

Not guitars, but two Danish oil finishes I've done in the last couple years.

wern101

Soooo, this weekend I did the Wet Sand using Tru Oil and, well.... had a mishap or two. Basically, the oil (behind my back) was dripping off the sides and made 4 or 5 nasty streaks on the sides of the guitar. (Hear me scream)

The actual finish came out very nice except for a few streak marks here and there. I dunno why that happened.

So I cleaned up the sides and covered with oil again and then went at the body with a dry sand.... yes... that's what I did. I did a very light sand with 1500 grit paper and then applied a very thin layer of Tru Oil on top of that and left it. The results are great! A nice smooth, shiny guitar!! The color's didn't quite pop like i hoped they would, but all in all, I am very chuffed. Pics will follow soon.

Now I can focus on the other bits and bobs. I am leaving the neck as is for now.

Still waiting on the pickguard - expecting it mid January... ?

wern101

Ok update time. In two parts...

Part one:
I took a bit of time to 'relic' the hardware on the guitar. Just a bit of sanding through the chrome plating and a lovely coppery color came out. I decided to go with it, sand marks and all. Some photos below, although the pics don't do em justice:

Currently busy with a copper 'wire mesh' back cover - work in progress... all will be revealed later ?

I also took the old control knobs and made em fit inside copper fittings. These will be the volume and tone knobs once done ?

End of part one.

wern101

Part two - Neewb alert!
I want to start with the wiring while I wait on the pick-guard to arrive. I am completely confused.
The idea is two humbuckers with 1 master volume and 1 master tone controls and a three way switch (LP Style). Simple. Right?
Found this diagram which I think is pretty clear:

HOWEVER - when looking at the Humbuckers I received, I see a problem:
Bridge pickup:

Neck and bridge pickups:

The wiring on the pickups is not the same as on the diagram! Am I being stupid? The 'neck' pickup has only two wires. White and Bare. The Bridge Pickup has, what appears to be, five wires - Black, green, bare, red and white. The green and bare are already soldered together and the white and red as well. Is this normal?

I can't seem to figure out how I am to do the wiring. Below are the contacts on the pots and switch:

Help?!

wern101

wern101 Am I being stupid?

Apparently I am. I just found this comment on Youtube that states:
"The "Hot" wire is the wire inside of the braided shield. If there are more than one wire, then that means the pickup has separate coils"

So in other words - the Neck pickup does not have separate coils but I can split the coils on the bridge pickup if I wanted to?

Am I still being an idiot? (Can you tell I have never done this before?)