Small body reshape project

davros · May 2023

I built this a few years ago, but have never been happy with the body shape - too wide in the lower bout and the horn was too long. I was going to bin it and start again, but this piece of ash was too nice not to try and reshape it.

I didn't want to change the pickguard because it only just covers the cavities, so, I cut down the long horn and slimmed the upper bout a tiny bit and the lower bouts by about 10mm each side. It's now the width of a strat.

I think it needs a little more fettling to make the shape flow properly but I think it's an improvement.

Before

After

TTony · May 2023

Very subtle changes, and definite improvement to my eyes.

And a too nice a piece of timber to have hidden under paint

davros · May 2023

Thanks Tony,

Unfortunately, while telling myself that I was taking too deep a cut on the router, I tore a big chunk from the side. I'm going to attempt a repair and see how well hidden it is, otherwise it might have to be painted.

JGTay · May 2023

How big a chunk? Have to agree with Tony, too nice a piece of wood to hide away.

Funkfingers · May 2023

Tony knows about router mishaps.

davros · June 2023

Managed to get this done. I'm much happier with the shape. Was tempted to start again with a redesign but trimming some width and shortening the horn improved it enough. I didn't want to have to do a new scratchplate.

I also didn't want to have to go to great expense finishing it, so I used about 15 part empty cans of nitro, and half a can of sonic blue from the original build. Juuuust enough to do the job. Last time I didn't grain fill because I wanted to keep the grain but, it pinholed when spraying and the grain got filled with crud, so this time I grain filled so it's a smooth surface.

There were a couple of other things I fixed - the trem claw screws were always badly drilled (I didn't have a long bit at the time), so I plugged them, and the trem block hit the body inside with only a little upward bend, so added a mm or so with the router.

I patched the router tearout with a piece from the original body blank. Somewhere I must have flipped it because the grain match is all wrong but at the point of gluing it in I couldn't be arsed any more. It looks fine though.

SteveF · June 2023

That looks brilliant. Definite subtle improvement to the shape. The repair looks absolutely fine.

Teyeplayer · June 2023

Amazing work, you build a lovely guitar dude.

davros · June 2023

Thanks Chaps!

BigMonka · June 2023

That's stunning! Love how the back is natural and the top is immaculate!

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Small body reshape project

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