REQUESTS…
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Reader Paul Mitchell took his guitar’s hardware into his own hands, and he’s ready to go to work on the finish…
I was reading the latest letters page and noticed the section about requests for features. Well, I recently undertook a project to reinvigorate and refit an old Squier Telecaster I didn’t use, which had seen better days. I replaced pretty much all the hardware, learning to solder in the process, removing the old paint and refinishing it. It was quite a steep learning curve with some mixed results and mistakes, but in the end it was a very worthwhile project and not too expensive.
I think it might be interesting to have an article about projects that guitarists might consider undertaking, with some basic advice about how to go about deconstructing, reconstructing, repainting and setting up a guitar.
There is so much information out there about different types of paint and lacquer, just deciding on the best way to achieve a nice finish on a guitar is a minefield. It certainly gave me a new-found appreciation for the art of the luthier, and has provided me the encouragement to eventually build my own guitar from scratch one day.
Paul Mitchell, via email
Great idea, Paul – a contributor did a few pieces on vintage finishing techniques for a modding special a while back and we’re always happy to publish tips from experts like Scott Cameron from SC Relics. Definitely one for Dave Burrluck’s Mod Squad in issues to come, too! In the meantime, there’s a bit of related interest hopefully in editor Jamie’s ’52 Tele reissue pinstriping project over on page 68. to slope away the top there, too. But that created a sort of Tele within a Strat shape, which I rather like.
The underlying wood (basswood?) and fittings turned out to be better quality than expected, and the frets are accurate, but the electrics were replaced, and eBay also provided an attractive tortoiseshell pickguard to set off the exotic Lacewood.
Careful finishing, a few coats of Tru-Oil – a sort of cross between a varnish and an oil, as used on rifle stocks, and easy to apply – and a set of Schaller straplocks finished the guitar. That and a silver Coronation Crown coin cut into the body, celebrating my birth date as well as adding just a touch of bling and balance.
The end result is probably the closest I’ll get to having a signature guitar, but has proved itself on gigs, and sounds and plays rather well. It may not be Custom Shop, but I reckon the Custom Shed special is not a bad alternative, and all for around £200 all in.
Andy Couchman, via email
Hi Andy, thanks so much for sharing your ‘custom shed’ build with us. It’s not only cool for its fine looks and tidy construction but because it shows there is a middle path between straightforward kit-building and built-from-scratch lutherie. Your ambitious but well-executed mods look great and, as you say, led to an instrument that is unique to you and your playing needs – and all for a few quid and some deftly applied elbow grease. Bravo, sir!
FOLLOW THAT CAB!
I have seen a number of homemade guitars in recent issues, so I thought I would contribute something different. Inspired by Dan Thompson of Guns and Guitars, I built this 1x12 cab using a pine beehive box and a Marshall-branded Celestion speaker, sourced from eBay. Along with the extra hardware, it probably cost £60 to build. It gave me a great deal of satisfaction to make and it works brilliantly with my little Bugera five-watt valve amp. Really enjoying issue 465. Particularly the reviews of non-mainstream branded instruments.
Les Shorter, via email
Thanks, Les – that’s great and nearly unbeatable in terms of bang for buck. Building cabs might just be the ideal entry point for anyone who doesn’t yet feel confident enough to tackle full-on lutherie but wants to get creative and enjoy the fruits of their labours in the workshop. With speaker choices to dabble with, not to mention finishes and cabinet woods, there’s plenty of scope for the amateur here, so thanks for the inspiring example you’ve sent in.