Starting to get this thing put together. Mounted this bridge I got off Etsy that is really nice. Test mounted the 5 way switch and while attempting to fit the pickups I realized I need to route the cavities more because the mini humbuckers are deeper than p90s. Either way it’s going to look awesome because I’m making a custom milled aluminum plate to mount the pickups over the holes instead of using soapbar Mini humbucker mounting rings.
Finally found a big ol slab of mahogany for my baritone tele build
- Thread starter ADAOCE
- Start date
Thank you! These are Phoenix pickups from Mr. Fabulous Pickups. Really interested to try them out
Thank you! So my brother in law is going to mill the pickup plate for me and he will machine it as fine as possible to remove most of the tooling marks but then I’ll likely just buff it to a shine similar to the bridge. I think that will contrast nicely with the brushed nickel pickup covers. Maybe I’ll have him make two plates and I’ll brush one with maroon scotchguard to see how that looks
Alan W
Well-known member
After you buff it, wax it, with a microcrystalline wax. Aluminum is very reactive, with no protection it will oxidize (which on aluminum is a dull grey, that eventually becomes very hard, and sort of a finish unto itself, but is not attractive). Brushed is a bit harder—almost anything you put on it does affect the brushed look. But wax is probably the least offensive in this regard. If you do brush them, put the pad on a flat surface, with a straightedge on it, and slide the pieces along the straight edge. It’s such a simple trick, but produces much nicer brushing than free handing it.
Thank you for the information! I’m leaning more towards the buffing rather than brushing but I’ll certainly apply some sort of protection to it. I think my brother has a bunch of stainless too not sure if that needs the same level of protection.
Alan W
Well-known member
No, stainless is pretty much polish it and leave it, although refreshing the polish (with something like Semichrome) every now and then will keep it looking new. And bushed stainless can just be that way with nothing else on it. Steel is much harder to work with though.
Ok good to know. I’ll build a brushing jig with a straight edge and find a way to automate it hahah.
My brother said he could experiment with different tooling marks to create patterns that might be fun. I gotta say usually I enjoy this stage of building things but I just want to play this thing so bad if buy an off the shelf part if I could!
Feral Feline
Well-known member
Hand-scraping on alloy Bugatti-engine blocks:
Hand-scraped engine block, machine-turned firewall:
A lot of patient hours were put into this Bugatti type 41 Royale 12,7 litre straight-eight engine:
More machine-turning, this time on a Bugatti T51 dash:
Hand-scraped engine block, machine-turned firewall:
A lot of patient hours were put into this Bugatti type 41 Royale 12,7 litre straight-eight engine:
More machine-turning, this time on a Bugatti T51 dash:
Last edited:
Good lord that is some beautiful craftsmanship. Thanks for the pictures!Hand-scraping on alloy Bugatti-engine blocks:
Hand-scraped engine block, machine-turned firewall:
A lot of patient hours were put into this Bugatti type 41 Royale 12,7 litre straight-eight engine:
More machine-turning, this time on a Bugatti T51 dash:
Update! Opened up the pickup area so cables can route easier and enlarged the hole to the control cavity. Prototyped a plate and then my brother in law fabbed them up. Off to get nickel plated before the final install.
Attachments
Plate is back from getting nickel plated. Decided to string it up even though the pickups aren’t installed yet so I could install the string tree and feel how it plays.
Gotta say I can’t wait to finish this thing up because even just acoustic it sustains for days and sounds epic.
Gotta say I can’t wait to finish this thing up because even just acoustic it sustains for days and sounds epic.
Attachments
Thanks man!Killer looking guitar
Just need to finish soldering the controls and make the control cavity cover plate but finally got the pickup plate and got everything to fit nice. Here are some pics. I’ll post a thread when it’s really done with a video or two.
Attachments
BuddytheReow
Moderator
Those control knobs are tight!
Thanks! Wasn’t sure how they would look in the end but with all the metal on tue rest of the guitar it works!
DGWVI
Well-known member
That's turning out absolutely gorgeous!
Hipshot makes satin tuners that would make that look even more stellar
That’s a really good point. I never meant to do this chrome and satin mismatch thing. It’s not the worst thing but it bothers me slightly lol. Maybe I’ll slowly replace everything chrome. The bridge is shiny too
