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Should I document my kit builds here?

#26
Markshan said:
I just felt hesitant to associate the word "luthier" with what I am doing. I'm a wannabe. So since I didn't see a Wannabee's Corner...
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Do you enjoy what you are doing? Do you love sharing it with people? Do you enjoy the creative process? Then I don't see any reason why not. I've done some kits myself, and that's the furthest I have delved into building my own stuff, simply because I don't have the facilities to build from scratch.

Chrissy Glamour Shot.jpg
Rikki Glamour Shot.jpg


Both of those were built from kits and I enjoyed the entire process of building them and modifying them to be 'mine'. Are they perfect? Nope. Do I feel proud of them? Dang straight!
 
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#29
Thegreatzambini said:
I don’t get why you wouldn’t have just spent a little bit more money for a better kit. I mean 89 bucks….???
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No man, that's the beauty of it. For two reasons. First, like I said I went into this approaching deficiencies as learning experiences. I know it doesn't always work out this way but I think one would reasonably expect there to be fewer deficiencies in a $400 kit from StewMac then in a $90 kit from an Amazon seller. Secondly if I do something really stupid and ruin it I'm only out 90 bucks instead of 400. Buying the cheapest kit I could find is actually very liberating. I might have been afraid to carve into a $400 piece of wood, but I'm not really afraid to carve into a $90 piece of wood.
 
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#31
Markshan said:
No man, that's the beauty of it. For two reasons. First, like I said I went into this approaching deficiencies as learning experiences. I know it doesn't always work out this way but I think one would reasonably expect there to be fewer deficiencies in a $400 kit from StewMac then in a $90 kit from an Amazon seller. Secondly if I do something really stupid and ruin it I'm only out 90 bucks instead of 400. Buying the cheapest kit I could find is actually very liberating. I might have been afraid to carve into a $400 piece of wood, but I'm not really afraid to carve into a $90 piece of wood.
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I have done a $150 kit and some of the old Carvin kits, which were EXCELLENT! (I really wish Kiesel would start making kits, again). While I loved doing the Carvin kits, there was nothing really challenging about them. The construction and fitment of the parts were spot on, and everything was perfect on them. All I had to do was a finish and then assemble them and set them up.

The Leo Jaymz Ric style kit is still a thorn in my side as I try to work out the kinks on it.

The Guitar Kit World Warlock kit was fun to work out how I was going to do it and decide all the pieces I wanted to upgrade and what I would upgrade them with.

Both kits I pretty much tossed everything on them but the body and neck. Everything else got an upgrade.

It is definitely fun to find those deficiencies, and come up with a solution to resolve them! That's the fun of doing the 'cheap' kits!
 
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#32
JC BASS 91 said:
Do you enjoy what you are doing? Do you love sharing it with people? Do you enjoy the creative process? Then I don't see any reason why not. I've done some kits myself, and that's the furthest I have delved into building my own stuff, simply because I don't have the facilities to build from scratch.

View attachment 5151972 View attachment 5151973

Both of those were built from kits and I enjoyed the entire process of building them and modifying them to be 'mine'. Are they perfect? Nope. Do I feel proud of them? Dang straight!
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Is the logo on the Rich copy a waterslide decal? I didn't know how they would work against a black background
 
#34
Markshan said:
Honestly the process isn't really any different than using a file except that it moves much quicker. When I wanted to take large amounts I went against the grain and when I wanted to smooth it up I went with the grain. The Shinto has a coarse and a fine side. I did 90% of it with the coarse side then once I had it basically where I wanted it I flipped it over and smoothed out the work with the fine side. The thing that surprised me was how quickly I was able to do that. I was under the impression that hand carving a relief like that would take a dozen hours or more. I spent maybe an hour and a half on the back and an hour on the front. Already this experience is proving to me if you want to do something just try to do it and see what happens.

Oh, and the most important part actually came before I used the Shinto. I held the guitar in playing position and watched how my wrist swept across it. Then I drew that line on with a pencil. Then I looked at my arm angle and Drew the line on the side to try to match that. Same thing with the belly contour. I held the instrument against my big fat self and looked at where the contact points were. I drew those out with a pencil. Then when I started with the Shinto, I started carving right in the middle of those pockets and feathered my way out to the ends. I don't think I could have visualized The contours just nebulously. The whole time I was rasping I had the pencil lines as a Target. I think that was very important. But I've literally never done this before so maybe I just got lucky.
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Thank you! Might have to look into a Shinto rasp for myself...

JC BASS 91 said:
No. It is a vinyl decal. I have a person who has a business doing vinyl lettering on cups, mugs, shirts, etc. I paid her to make my logo for that one. Then I sealed it under multiple coats of clear, level sanded it, then more clear. :cool:
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Good to know that's a viable way to go about it. I think I may go this route myself, in as much as the "custom" waterslides I've seen are very much meant to copy 7ender...
 
#35
definenredefine said:
Thank you! Might have to look into a Shinto rasp for myself...


Good to know that's a viable way to go about it. I think I may go this route myself, in as much as the "custom" waterslides I've seen are very much meant to copy 7ender...
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I print my own water slides with my personal logo on them. I've just always been limited to light colored backgrounds.
By the way, the Shinto rasp was only 15 bucks on Amazon. Well worth the small investment. If you want a link let me know.
 
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#36
Markshan said:
I print my own water slides with my personal logo on them. I've just always been limited to light colored backgrounds.
By the way, the Shinto rasp was only 15 bucks on Amazon. Well worth the small investment. If you want a link let me know.
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How on earth do you print your own waterslides???

As for the rasp, I should probably use the tools I have now and get to work. I'll buy the rasp when I have use for it. Otherwise it's gonna collect (non-saw)dust with the rest of the stuff...
 
#37
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#38
definenredefine said:
How on earth do you print your own waterslides???

As for the rasp, I should probably use the tools I have now and get to work. I'll buy the rasp when I have use for it. Otherwise it's gonna collect (non-saw)dust with the rest of the stuff...
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Here is the Technics 1200 I found on the side of the road and rehabbed. That is my logo (not the Photobucket, the crown).
PlinthFinished.jpg
 
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#40
definenredefine said:
Good to know that's a viable way to go about it. I think I may go this route myself, in as much as the "custom" waterslides I've seen are very much meant to copy 7ender...
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I have a color laser printer and I purchased waterslide paper to use with it. I can print any logo I want. The one on the Ric copy is one that I have made along with others.
Truss Rod Cover Detail.jpg
05 - Headstock finished.jpg


And not just for headstocks...
DIY Rick-o-Sound Box.jpg


I have also used it for various other hobbies. :cool:
 
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