2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

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cmatthes
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2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by cmatthes » Tue Jan 28, 2020 7:14 pm

One of my New Year's resolutions was to pare down the gigantic project pile I've amassed over the last 20 years by building some of the things I've come up with in my twisted mind...then sell off all the rest. I honestly have enough top shelf bodies, necks and parts to put together between 15-20 high-end guitars from the ground up. I clearly don't need - nor want - that. Partially, because I'll never play them and do them justice, but also, because I prefer living in marital harmony with my wonderful, patient wife.

This idea struck me a while ago, when a giant ad on my daily DC Metro commute reminded me of wanting to order a custom guitar in a Plaid graphic back in the late '80s/early '90s from Hamer, but I never pulled the trigger. At the time, I was looking to come up with something along the lines of Rick Nielsen's checkerboard Hamer Standard from the back of "Dream Police", which I drooled over as a kid. A couple of years later, Blues Saraceno turned up in a few guitar mags with a signature Yamaha shredder in a similar finish to what I had had in mind, and the air was let out of the balloon a bit.

SO...

A friend of mine highly recommended a Midwest builder who does phenomenal work, and thought this might be something doable. I reached out, we talked about what I had in mind and two days later, the deal was done and it was underway. Basically, a Plaid, Hollowbody, double-bound Tele 12 string, powered by a single TV Jones 'Tron.

First coat of clear:
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[URL=https://smg.photobucket.com/user/cmatth ... j.jpg.html]Image


Just after final buffing:
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(The ferrules in the back aren't wonky...they're for a particular bridge)

Image

Even the sides are Plaid!
Image

I'm a HUGE TVJones fan, and have them in most of my favorite guitars. For this build, I reached out to the ever helpful gurus at TV Jones (who got back to me within hours - even during NAMM Week!!), and we agreed that a Power'Tron would edge out a Super'Tron for the classic "Rick Jangle" I was looking to achieve.

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cmatthes
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by cmatthes » Tue Jan 28, 2020 7:19 pm

Parts all together, body wired up...I'm psyched!

Image



Next: a custom-ordered Musikraft neck...

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cmatthes
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by cmatthes » Tue Jan 28, 2020 8:33 pm

...showed up today.

Assymetrical '65 Strat back contour, Tele heel, fits my hand perfectly, and 1 1&11/16" nut width, dark rosewood on rock maple. More to come soon...

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Singlebladepickup
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by Singlebladepickup » Tue Jan 28, 2020 8:56 pm

xii hockey stick? yes, please :?

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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by marqueemoon » Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:21 pm

Love how subtle the plaid turned out.

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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by s_mcsleazy » Wed Jan 29, 2020 3:14 am

i approve
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:59 am

This is amazing! How was the plaid done? Was it a printed vinyl graphic, painted, or the wallpaper method we've seen once or twice?
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

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Rgand
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by Rgand » Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:30 am

That plaid really looks great! Nice choice, there.

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AcrylicSuperman
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by AcrylicSuperman » Wed Jan 29, 2020 1:36 pm

I think this guitar needs one of these.

https://www.greasygroove.com/neckplates.html?design=7

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cmatthes
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by cmatthes » Wed Jan 29, 2020 6:20 pm

Blackwatch Plaid neckplate you say?!

That might just work!

(Thanks!)

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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by HNB » Wed Jan 29, 2020 7:05 pm

Very cool!
Christopher
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cmatthes
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by cmatthes » Thu Feb 13, 2020 1:24 pm

Today's update...first clearcoats and decal done...
Image

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LVC
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by LVC » Thu Feb 13, 2020 1:43 pm

Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:59 am
This is amazing! How was the plaid done? Was it a printed vinyl graphic, painted, or the wallpaper method we've seen once or twice?
Very curious about that as well. In any case the result is stunning!
Create art, not content

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cmatthes
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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by cmatthes » Thu Feb 13, 2020 2:06 pm

LVC wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 1:43 pm
Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:59 am
This is amazing! How was the plaid done? Was it a printed vinyl graphic, painted, or the wallpaper method we've seen once or twice?
Very curious about that as well. In any case the result is stunning!
Sorry about that! I thought I'd responded, but apparently didn't hit "Submit".

The plaid pattern is actually a thin, cotton fabric - pretty sure it's dyed, but with the poly clearcoat, the finish won't "sink" and reflect the weave lines. Looking forward to getting this one onstage soon...

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Re: 2020 Project #1 - Plaidocaster 12

Post by badform » Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:06 am

You're in good company!

I've wanted a plaid telecaster ever since I saw this guy back when I was a kid...

Image

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