Starting Work

Ok. I'll try not to make this one too long, but I've got a few photos to share.


First of all a few more purchases over the weekend, I think I have everything I need now.

• Replacement pickups. This is the most expensive bit really, other than the bass kit itsef. I've used Kent Armstrong pickups in the past and been really pleased with them. You get real bang for your buck. Only problem is they have now moved their hand wound pickup making to the US and the mass produciton stuff comes from Asia somehwere. So wanting to support UK business, I went to Wizard Pickups and ordered a set of their "84s". Andy was very helpful in sorting me out with specs and answering my quesiotns about them - he used to work for Kent Armstrong when they still had an operation in the UK, so he comes with a big rep. Can't wait to get these in the post later in the week!
• Acrylic Sanding Sealer and Acrylic Satin Lacquer for the headstock and neck. Had to order on-line as nowhere seems to stock it locally and the well educated B&Q staff don't know what sanding sealer is! I bought some Chestnut products in aerosol form from The Tool Post.
• What I did pick up in B&Q was a coping saw and some wood glue
• Finally I went to the local Motormania for paint supplies for the body. I'm using all Car Plan stuff; white primer, white gloss colour, and clear tetrosyl lacquer. Also picked up a range of wet & dry by the sheet (P320, P800, P1200) whilst I was there.
• Finally Halfords this afternoon to get some tack cloths (the guy in Motormania had never heard of them!) and a couple of face masks for when I start spraying.

Here is a few shots of the kit before I start any real work. All I've done so far is shop!

The frets will need dressing, they're a bit mucky.

Headstock needs shaping.

I won't be using these, but here are the standard passive pickups form the kit.

And finally what is it I actually started today? Well the clue was in the first photo. You may have spotted my pencil outline for the shape of the headstock. I cut this roughly with the coping saw and then sanded.

I have to say that this is certainly an inexpesive way of doing this job and its absolutely fine. However, I'm no master craftsmen and so I needed quite a lot of sanding after I cut the shape with the coping saw. I had to start with P80 sand paper, then P120, P150 and finally P320 wet and dry. IF you have a jigsaw or preferrably a router handy then I would suggets using those instead - the job will be done quicker and you probably won;t need to sand it as much as I did.

Here's the the final shape, a little fender-like.

The headstock will now get sanding sealer sprayed on it where I have worked on it (remember the whole thing comes already with sanding sealer on it) and then some P800 wet and dry before the satin lacquer is applied.

However, even though the maple wood has a nice bit of grain to it, I'm thinking maybe the front face of the headstock I will finish white to go with the body. What do you reckon? Maybe its too much of a faff?

Onwards and upwards :)