#12 - shaped, sanded to #180 -hope to get it sanded up to a reasonable smoothness and attach the fretboard this week.
#13- shaped, removing tool marks. Hope to get sanded this week as well. Will have an extra thick fretboard that is going to take some extra time to deal with. #13 -really happy with this cherry body. just getting started on the weight relief, etc.

I was out of town last weekend. I couldn't take a real vacation this summer, so I rode my motorcycle around the perimeter of WA state. About 1200 miles that routes across networks of islands via ferries, rainforest, mountain passes, deserts and all else. It was exhausting but great.

Had a good week- #12 Bolt on neck is getting frets. probably a couple weeks out. Let me know who wants it- it is an experiment, so will sell for cost of materials. #13 is coming along- board is slotted, marked and radiused. Should be ready to attach to the neck and get fretted when the other is done. And I stumbled into this Framus Texan. Totally fucked: side crack, bellied, covered in filth. But neck is straight, and all there except the pickguard. Plus w/ a bolt-on neck I can correct the action. Will be bolting in a lipstick pickup. should be fun.

I'll post more pics this weekend, but here is a shot of all the wood and aluminum that I took off today while cleaning up the epoxy joint between neck and fretboard. I found this Simmonds Multi-kut file in a thrift store, it is the best I've ever used- sought out and bought a smaller one, as well as a half-round version. Also highly recommend their nu-kut file for fret ends and plastics. Because this is a hobby, I have only moderate amounts of time, after work and a bit more on weekends- so I have to pay attention to how much I can get done, and try to order my operations to maximize that time. example from this week:
Monday- home at 6pm. Installed 6 frets on #12 (2 at a time, glued/clamped, wait for them to dry), installed locating pins on #13, sanded Texan body and neck. First coat of tru oil on #13 body
Tuesday- Home at 6:30- Installed 6 frets, trimmed #13 fretboard to rough size, pickup locations finalized and started machining. Texan body oversprayed, neck damage drop filled. More oiling
Wednesday- Home at 6:30 -Finished fret install, finish pickup location machining, Flatten/radius #13 board, spray Texan neck. More oiling
Thursday- Home at 5:30-Dress fret ends, remachine headstock slot, cut headstock spacer, epoxy fretboard onto #13. Still more oiling.
Friday -work from home. Oiled body- getting close. Cleanup of fretboard edges (see above), Bevel fret edges on #12, Cut pickguard for Texan.

This weekend we have to re-side another wall of the shop and try to get some paint on it- so I won't get as far as I'd like- but will try to get a start on the bridge I need to make from scratch, plus starting the sanding process for both necks.

Just want to post some positive feedback so you don't feel like you're in an echo chamber.

Still amazed and impressed by all of this sir.

Garth wrote: Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:33 am Just want to post some positive feedback so you don't feel like you're in an echo chamber.

Still amazed and impressed by all of this sir.

Yes! Seconded.

More pictures and progress. First, finished up the bolt on neck. Will sell as is, or add tuners/drill tap. This is a prototype-selling for the cost of materials ($150 currently). 25.5" strat/jm heel. Body for #13 is finished- straight grain, but lots of depth- really liking the cherry I've been getting lately. Receiver is machined for X-wide rail pickups. This will have a 60+mm string spread, so everything is different. Frets are installed, and the edges are dressed- lots left to do. The biggest challenge is creating a bridge with unusual spacing- we will use a set of tele brass saddles, but space them 12.5mm apart, and the baseplate and anchor block will be separate, Now understanding why Hayman and Shergold instruments always seem 'homemade'.

That neck looks insane, great work, sir.

Sorry for being slow on updates. I was out with the Idol crew again last weekend, so that slowed me down a bit.

I've been watching a lot of guys who are beyond talented at wiring, and I'm really trying to up my game- Trying to make it simple, elegant and with the bare minimum of components. Sanded the receiver of #13 to #2000 and dressed fret ends. will do a quick test fit-up and drill and tap a few last holes for tuner screws and pickup rings. Hopefully get that done during the week so I can polish and start putting things together. ...and some obligatory shots from the Sunday show in Vancouver. I hate pushing this vault in and out of the semi...but it is really nice to work out of. Lots of space, and well lit. Had a couple seconds between guitar changes. never gets old, despite the 15+ hours days.

double post

Well- rectifying the scale issue will be accomplished by building a whole instrument. 25.5" scale mustang. always thought that would be a good idea to begin with. Here it is mocked up. should get the pickguard dialed in tomorrow. want to have this one wrapped up in 2 weeks.