Neck Thru Strat Build

[Jim Outman]

Just finished my latest build. A neck thru Strat. Used GFS Texas Special Strat Pickups and GFS locking tuners (goodbye tuning problems). Golden Age Hardtail Bridge from StewMac. CTS pots and a miniswitch for each pickup. Sounds incredible

Woods are Maple / Purpleheart 7 layer neck. Bubinga fingerboard. Body is Curly Maple top and Sapele back with Purpleheart accent strips. TruOil Finish, about 10 coats.

Specs: 25.5" scale, 10" fretboard radius, 22 frets. Tusq nut.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_3168_zps7bdf1548.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_3168_zps7bdf1548.jpg.html)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_3171_zps3a4747f7.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_3171_zps3a4747f7.jpg.html)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_3170_zps0c54af1f.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_3170_zps0c54af1f.jpg.html)
Brothers in arms
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_3174_zpsf182d457.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_3174_zpsf182d457.jpg.html)

[Jim Outman]

Some build pix:

Neck woods glued
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/Neckbeingglued_zps284e6321.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/Neckbeingglued_zps284e6321.jpg.html)

Body wings
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_2663_zps0ea08c28.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_2663_zps0ea08c28.jpg.html)

Wiring channel
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/RoutingJigSide_zpsd50e882e.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/RoutingJigSide_zpsd50e882e.jpg.html)

Neck taking shape
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/SpindleSanderforshapingNecks_zps009ee91f.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/SpindleSanderforshapingNecks_zps009ee91f.jpg.html)

Fretboard
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/FretboardReadytogo_zpsc1cac2ef.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/FretboardReadytogo_zpsc1cac2ef.jpg.html)

[Jim Outman]

Pup layout
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/LayoutTracedout_zps25cf8058.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/LayoutTracedout_zps25cf8058.jpg.html)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/TrussRodinPlace_zps2b9b6c90.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/TrussRodinPlace_zps2b9b6c90.jpg.html)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_3038_zps50c4eb3e.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_3038_zps50c4eb3e.jpg.html)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_3075_zps8456acda.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_3075_zps8456acda.jpg.html)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_3078_zps25491d9f.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_3078_zps25491d9f.jpg.html)

[Jim Outman]

Acoustic bass build going on as well.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/IMG_3079_zps5e1e66e1.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/IMG_3079_zps5e1e66e1.jpg.html)

Plus a neck for another strat build, with a trem, thicker body. same pups as well.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/downandoutman/Under%20Construction/Neckswithcarvingtools_zpse3cdc996.jpg (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/downandoutman/media/Under%20Construction/Neckswithcarvingtools_zpse3cdc996.jpg.html)

[Julie Moriarty]

Beautiful!!! And very cool use of purpleheart, Jim! I was looking to use it in a build but it was so heavy I walked away. I hadn't thought of including it in a laminate. And you're doing an acoustic bass too? Post pics as you go along. I'd love to see the progress. :D

[Jim Outman]

I love using PH for laminates. Might even use some for a top. The bass neck is walnut and Ipe. Talk about heavy. Made a fretless with an Ipe fingerboard. Super smooth.

[Julie Moriarty]

I only started building guitars a year ago but immediately I wanted to stand apart and do something a bit different. I went with cocobolo for two of the first three guitars I built. The other one I used Macassar ebony, which now looks a lot like aged rosewood. I've never seen Ipe sold at the hardwood store I frequent but it sounds interesting. What I did to make the fretboards really smooth was take Micro Mesh and polish the bare wood. I got it to a gloss shine but it doesn't stay that way. Still smooth though.

On the bass I'm working on now, I'm thinking about using Tru Oil. How is that for working with it? Do you rag it on? Brush it on? Do you sand between coats? Does it require a sealer? I have no idea as I've only read about it.

[Jim Outman]

Tru Oil is easy. Just wipe it on and rub it in. Sand it or use steel wool every few coats. Micro Mesh would work as well.

[Dennis Peacock]

Where are each of you getting your instrument wood?
I'd like to build a 5-string bass AND build my youngest son a 6-string Strat......I don't want to pay crazy prices for raw wood.....I have a vacuum press and can laminate if/when necessary.