Special Edition Build Off -- Fusion Bird

[Jon Clegg]

Here's my first entry: Completion of one of my three entries from the 2019 build off, a mashup of a Guild S-300 Thunderbird (or JetFire if you prefer) and a Non-Reversed T-Bird. Build stalled when I decided to focus all of my efforts on the Victory 5D.

Here's that original thread: Two Birds of Different Feathers

Need to finish repainting the body in Pearl blue, finish building and painting the neck and assemble.

 

[Jon Clegg]

My original thought on finishing the neck was to go with clear on the back of the neck, pearl blue reveal on the headstock face and black on center of the headstock face. Now seriously considering painting the neck black; seems simpler and less busy.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Marked the fretboard in preparation for bandsawing to size:

 

[Jon Clegg]

Worked on the headstock transition and the end block for the TR channel

Rasped to shape

Headstock plate attached

 

[Jon Clegg]

And into the clamps!

 

[Jon Clegg]

Out of the clamps and ready to trim.

Love the color of Padauk.

 

[Jon Clegg]

The fretboard is all trimmed up now; there's a 1/4" overhang on the heel end of the fretboard that I plan to round slightly, similar to a Fender.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Marked for the first set of facets; I'm using the same assymetrical profile that I used on Fat Freddy's Special-K.

 

[Jon Clegg]

First of 4 sets of facets done

 

[Jon Clegg]

Second set of facets done, it's starting to feel like a proper neck.

 

[Gary_M]

Second set of facets done, it's starting to feel like a proper neck.View attachment 3831866 View attachment 3831868

It always amazes me how just a couple of facets carved on a neck make it feel so right. One of these times, I'm going to make a neck and leave it "faceted" just to try it. I'm sure it's been tried, but I have this feeling that I may like it.

 

[Jon Clegg]

It always amazes me how just a couple of facets carved on a neck make it feel so right. One of these times, I'm going to make a neck and leave it "faceted" just to try it. I'm sure it's been tried, but I have this feeling that I may like it.

And if you don't, you can always just smooth it off.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Neck carve complete (mostly) a couple of bandsaw nicks to deal with but otherwise ready for next steps.

 

[Jon Clegg]

I decided to make 'rims' for my fretboard markers on the T-Bird VI, liked them so much that i decided to do the same for the markers on this one. I start with 5/16" OD, 0.035" wall thickness aluminum tubing from K&S.

Since the wall thickness causes the ID to be a hair under 1/4", I cut about a 2 1/2" length, clamped it in the drill-press vice and used a 1/4" bit to drill it out to 1/4".

I ended up building this simple jig to cut the pieces to the proper lengths: It's a piece of maple with a 5/16" hole drilled through it and a 1/8" hole for the set screw, a piece of 1/32" brass sheet and a piece of 1/16" aluminum with another 5/16" hole drilled through it. I clamp the sandwich into the vice with the holes lined up. Then I put my drilled out tube into the jig with the end maybe 1/64" proud and thighten the set screw. I use a file to dress the proud end and then use a hacksaw (the kerf is just about 1/32") to cut a peice of tubing to about 1/16" thick which is about the thickness of the dots I'm using.

Once I have the rings cut I assemble them with the dots on a piece or waxed paper or polyester tape, apply a drop of CA and let cure. I have another fixture that I use to clean up the dot assemblies -- a piece of oak with a 5/16 x 1/16" hole that that dot sits in while I file it flush.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Finished dots:

 

[Jon Clegg]

Ready for frets:

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Some of that @Fat Freddy glowing paint thingTM, (forgot what he calls it) on the back of them markers would have been a neat addition.

If the glow would come through.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Some of that @Fat Freddy glowing paint thingTM, (forgot what he called it) on the back of them markers would have been a neat addition.

If the glow would come through.

Yeah I think these things are pretty opaque.

 

[Fat Freddy]

How on earth have I managed to miss this entire build!!!..........

Extra slobber by way of apology.....

 

[Jon Clegg]

How on earth have I managed to miss this entire build!!!..........

Extra slobber by way of apology.....

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