Mooncaster build
- Ayrton
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:45 am
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Mooncaster build
I have lurked here for some time and thought you guys (gals) would like to see this.
Surfing the web looking for Jazz/Jag ideas, I stumble across this Warmoth body on clearance. I bought it with no real plan, but then decided I wanted to combine the look of a Jazzmaster, Starcaster, and Coronado.
The idea being it could have been something Fender would have offered. The build part is the neck that I wanted to go along with the body.
Ordering a B&B neck is hella expensive, so I started with a new Allparts neck.
Pulled the frets and dots.
Added strips of wood to prevent rocking
Bearing bit in the table
So far so good, now the inlays
I normally use melted binding as my "glue", but I was lazy and went with CA glue. I paid for it by having a slight gap along the maple seam. (Doh!)
Making a mess
Red side markers
Jescar 57110 stainless
Rattle can black lacquer on the headstock
Lots of clear
Hipshot lockers with pearl buttons
Neck meet body
Wired it up with Seymour Duncan Whole Lotta Humbuckers
Surfing the web looking for Jazz/Jag ideas, I stumble across this Warmoth body on clearance. I bought it with no real plan, but then decided I wanted to combine the look of a Jazzmaster, Starcaster, and Coronado.
The idea being it could have been something Fender would have offered. The build part is the neck that I wanted to go along with the body.
Ordering a B&B neck is hella expensive, so I started with a new Allparts neck.
Pulled the frets and dots.
Added strips of wood to prevent rocking
Bearing bit in the table
So far so good, now the inlays
I normally use melted binding as my "glue", but I was lazy and went with CA glue. I paid for it by having a slight gap along the maple seam. (Doh!)
Making a mess
Red side markers
Jescar 57110 stainless
Rattle can black lacquer on the headstock
Lots of clear
Hipshot lockers with pearl buttons
Neck meet body
Wired it up with Seymour Duncan Whole Lotta Humbuckers
-Chris
- HNB
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- Deed_Poll
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3209
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:24 am
- Location: Brighton, UK
Re: Mooncaster build
Very nice clean work indeed! I love the binding and inlays
Owner Operator of GuitarForm - Custom Offset Guitar Bodies
www.guitarform.com ◈ @guitar_form
www.guitarform.com ◈ @guitar_form
- 07hubbardj
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Joined: Mon May 20, 2013 11:37 am
- Location: Braintree, Essex, England
Re: Mooncaster build
Awesome work. Seeing the work on the neck makes me want to add binding to my VM jaguar. Want a bound neck with matching seafoam green headstock haha. But seriously man, lovely guitar
- kdanie
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Re: Mooncaster build
I dig it!!
ken
ken
Life is an adventure, not something to be suffered through. Don't like your life? FIX it!
- Kwyjibo
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Re: Mooncaster build
oh man- so lovely. neck inspiration right here!!
- garyptaszek
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Re: Mooncaster build
Goddamn that was some fine work on that neck!
- Steadyriot.
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- Location: The Netherlands
Re: Mooncaster build
Looking good!
I have thought about doing that with a neck; how did you overcome the round edge screwing with your bearing? You don't really have a straight edge to push against.
I have thought about doing that with a neck; how did you overcome the round edge screwing with your bearing? You don't really have a straight edge to push against.
"If someone duetted with a Bald Eagle, they could rule the Country charts from here to eternity." ~shadowplay
- ThePearDream
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Re: Mooncaster build
Wow! Looks great. Super gutsy job on that neck. I like the touch with the red side markers. This would be awesome with a Duesenberg Les Trem.
Doug
@dpcannafax
@dpcannafax
- Deed_Poll
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- Location: Brighton, UK
Re: Mooncaster build
I also love the red side markers... Is there a special tool you can use to make them? I have some beautiful tortoiseshell offcuts I'd love to use for side markers!
Owner Operator of GuitarForm - Custom Offset Guitar Bodies
www.guitarform.com ◈ @guitar_form
www.guitarform.com ◈ @guitar_form
- Ayrton
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:45 am
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Re: Mooncaster build
Thank you, everyone, for the kind comments.
The red markers are just plastic rod stock available anywhere luthier supplies are sold.
I have punched out tortoise dots before from various picks. You just need to drill a hole into a piece of metal the size of the dots you want and then use the same bit (reversed) to punch out the markers.
Same thing here
http://www.guitarify.com/2011/05/make-y ... oard-dots/
Last edited by Ayrton on Wed Feb 21, 2018 12:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-Chris
- OV7
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Re: Mooncaster build
droolworthy
- Ayrton
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:45 am
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Re: Mooncaster build
Let us revisit, shall we?
Pro tip, don't use clip-on tuners with fresh lacquer.
There were a million little things I was not happy about with the headstock paint, but I ignored them until my tuner left an impression.
Heat gun time!
The heat gun made quick work of the lacquer and left the sanding sealer intact.
More black
Since I was going to all this trouble, I decided a more appropriate decal would be nice. The body shape is a Fender Starcaster, but the headstock is Jazzmaster. The look I went for was a combination of the Starcaster, Coronado II, and the Jazzmaster.
So I got with Scott @ GuitaRestore and he combined all the ideas to create a custom decals for me.
The inspiration
To concept
To cutter
Add plenty of clear
and one pickguard
I highly recommend GuitaRestore for custom decals. Scott is a very cool guy who takes great pride in his work.
Pro tip, don't use clip-on tuners with fresh lacquer.
There were a million little things I was not happy about with the headstock paint, but I ignored them until my tuner left an impression.
Heat gun time!
The heat gun made quick work of the lacquer and left the sanding sealer intact.
More black
Since I was going to all this trouble, I decided a more appropriate decal would be nice. The body shape is a Fender Starcaster, but the headstock is Jazzmaster. The look I went for was a combination of the Starcaster, Coronado II, and the Jazzmaster.
So I got with Scott @ GuitaRestore and he combined all the ideas to create a custom decals for me.
The inspiration
To concept
To cutter
Add plenty of clear
and one pickguard
I highly recommend GuitaRestore for custom decals. Scott is a very cool guy who takes great pride in his work.
-Chris
- smjenkins
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Location: The Emerald Fucking City
Re: Mooncaster build
Wow. Still a stunning guitar and now looks even better. I love the Starcaster II idea for the name.