The BuddyCaster build! Updated 2/15/2009

[kerc]

This is a project Strat I'm building...Why BuddyCaster? Well, it's not for Buddy Guy (although I love the guy), but rather because most parts of this build were provided to me by a couple good buddies...for free!

I hope this comes out well...

Here's the original body: A Filipino mahogany Strat replica. Almost one-piece (except for a tiny part in the side), solid, resonant. Unfortuantely it was finished in a hideous paint that looked like a Crayola box had melted over it.

After stripping and sanding, I gave it a coat of automotive sandable primer:

And this is the color it'll have:

More to come....

 

[CitizenCain]

Following closely!

 

[just strum]

Sweet color.

 

[M29]

Oh man I love this stuff, that color is gunna look great:rockon:

 

[Katastrophe]

Looks great so far!

I'm interested to see how this strat turns out.

 

[murph]

My very first electric guit was a Danelectro and it was that color, a very good choice and good to look at.

Murph

 

[kerc]

With the primer dried, I sanded it to smooth it out and...it was paint time! I warmed up the paint, and off I went...

The grain wasn't filled to perfection--it does shows all over the guitar. But I like it--it looks similar to when the paint shrinks over the wood in a relatively old guitar.

I suddenly had the idea to paint the headstock. I couldn't get the bushings out, so I painted over them...Here's the headstock with the pickguard/pickup set it'll use (thanks Riley!):

After the finish was dry, I couldn't resist mocking it up. I love how it looks! I gotta work out some pickguard fit issues, but it's no biggie.

There's still some hardware I need to buy, like a neck plate and the jack...

 

[ted s]

Looking good !
Nice clean garage too.

 

[CitizenCain]

You gonna go hardtail on this given the weirdo trem setup?

Lookin' good! Clear coat that mother and polish it out!

 

[kerc]

You gonna go hardtail on this given the weirdo trem setup?

Lookin' good! Clear coat that mother and polish it out!

Yep, hardtail. I'm gonna use a trem baseplate, but will turn it into a hardtail, using some Tele brass saddles. You'll see...



About the paint, I dunno if I should clear coat it--the grains wasn't completely filled, so it shows...like an old guitar that has its paint shrunk over the wood. It is glossy, but not overly so.

My wife likes it a lot.

 

[Jipes]

I like the sweet color and the matching pickguard they go together pretty well :AOK:

 

[hagarfreak33]

looks cool!

 

[M29]

Without filling the grain first you would have to put a whole lot of clear over the blue. You may be able to fill with clear but it will take quite a while. You could start putting clear on it and see how it comes out. It would either still have some grain show or it will fill it. Either way you will end up with the protection of clear coating and still have a gloss.
It might be cool to put a light coat of semi gloss on it like some of the new guitars and maintain a very resonant body with very little material on it.

It suhr looks great with that white pearl pickguard. :AOK:

M

 

[kerc]

Without filling the grain first you would have to put a whole lot of clear over the blue. You may be able to fill with clear but it will take quite a while. You could start putting clear on it and see how it comes out. It would either still have some grain show or it will fill it. Either way you will end up with the protection of clear coating and still have a gloss.
It might be cool to put a light coat of semi gloss on it like some of the new guitars and maintain a very resonant body with very little material on it.

It suhr looks great with that white pearl pickguard. :AOK:

M

Thanks guys!

I'm gonna throw a clear coat over it just for protection...

 

[M29]

Sounds good Kerc, she will be a tone monster!

 

[BluesHowler]

I like the idea of a semi gloss coat (or a couple coats) of semi gloss clear on that guitar.

It is going to look awesome!

 

[Riley]

Wow that is looking sweet! Hope that pickguard and pups work out well in it!

 

[Carlström]

Looks great kerc!

 

[CitizenCain]

Well?