Marauder....and a XII!

[Sonichris]

A few months ago, I volunteered to make some Fender Marauder style bodies and pickguards for 5 fellow members here. I'm lucky enough to be able to spend a lot of time at Texas Toast guitars, and build some of my dream guitars.

Do you know what happens when you make 5 Marauder bodies? You also make one for yourself. and, when you buy Marauder templates from Faction ( who makes the best templates and plates!) , you also order Electric XII templates. And neck templates. Damn Faction guitar, making me spend money.

I know, Fender has that new XII coming out, but mine is cooler, just for the color.

Both bodies are locally sourced Alder. Necks are Maple with rosewood. I'm not a dot, or binding, or block fan, so only the smallest of dots. I do what I want, alright?

The XII is Fiesta Red, The Marauder is Cadillac Green. It's what charcoal frost would be if it was green. Dark dark dark metallic green. I like it a lot.

So, here's some pics of the Marauder and XII projects as they are coming together. Both should be done in the next few weeks. electric XII pickups are expensive!!!! Some of these pics are of other dudes bodies with mocked up plates. Hyphen-Nation's ash body in particular.










I'll add more pics as progress continues.

[JagTango]

Wow! Those are looking great! Can't wait to see them when they're all complete.

[higgsblossom]

That Cadillac Green is

[Trout]

Well played

[Rgand]

Darn nice worki, there. They look great! I'm really looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

[Fiddy]

They looks great, what bridge are you using for then XII?

I will own a Texas Toast one day...

[wproffitt]

Looking good!

[Sonichris]

They looks great, what bridge are you using for then XII?

I will own a Texas Toast one day...

I’m using the Gotoh 12 string bridge. I’ve used them on several other 12 strings, and they work great. The faction templates are set up for that bridge.

[Musjagjazz]

Some Marauder II prototypes were made with slanted frets the theory being that it would be more comfortable to play.

There is a photo of a Marauder Ii with slanted frets in the Fender Archives book on page 73.

[Fiddy]

You should do a XII run..

[Shadoweclipse13]

That looks wicked!! I love how you've got a slight bevel on all the guards for the Marauder, emphasizing the separate guard pieces by the contrast between pearloid and the black edge lines!! Very classy!!!

[Hyphen Nation]

Paint is looking good, man!

I’m torn about mine. Don’t want to totally lose the grain, but I’ve already got a few bursts, and trans white or blonde doesn’t really suit this one to me. I may do an IBM, but not do a grain fill...

Also, for anyone curious, it even better in person.

[Sonichris]

Pickguard and plates made. I used mirrored acrylic for the normally metal plates. It looks pretty convincing from a few feet away.

[Sonichris]

That looks wicked!! I love how you've got a slight bevel on all the guards for the Marauder, emphasizing the separate guard pieces by the contrast between pearloid and the black edge lines!! Very classy!!!

I think it looks cool too, and is a good cheaper way to build this one. at $50 a plate, it adds up quick. I've got some other ideas for the plates that I'll share. Or not, if it looks stupid.

here's a double neck we did where the bevel on the two pickguards really sets it off and helps with the whole 2 guitars as one thing.

[Embenny]

Man those look great. Makes me slightly sad because I had decided already to go with a dark green for the Marauder you built me, but I'm going DIY and there's no way it'll look as good as these amazing Texas Toast finishes!