New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

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blimpage
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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by blimpage » Wed May 05, 2021 4:50 am

Holy shit. Amazing!

DEFINITELY keep that reverse headstock! Especially if you've already bought the tuners for it.

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Lost In Autumn
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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Wed May 05, 2021 5:12 am

I spent 20 minutes playing around with a quick 3D sketch on a junk neck, to see what’s possible, with the though of maintaining the spirit of both the classic fender shape and as well as that of the starcaster. Here’s what I came up with:
Image

It’s a little rough, but I like where it’s going. It would look more like this, reversed:
Image

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Beebe » Thu May 06, 2021 3:36 am

Lost In Autumn wrote:
Sun May 02, 2021 3:07 pm
I spent about 20 minutes and did a rough 3D sketch for a headstock on a junk neck I had laying around. It’s more of a concept than the final execution, just to play with some ideas. I’d love your feedback.

Image
I like the idea of merging the JM and SC headstock designs. I'd be curious to see what it would look like with the carved / pink area closer to the thickness of the black on the SC and following the shape of the JM border more closely. I would probably also make the carved area color match the pickup covers or pickguard.
Without music, life would be a mistake.

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Beebe » Thu May 06, 2021 4:02 am

Here are two other routes you could go:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hYjE3Qdxoqs9bZM29

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yuo8BhQHnZQdEnJu9

I'd also go with staggered tuners so you don't have a string tree messing up your awesome headstock!
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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Thu May 06, 2021 4:11 am

Beebe wrote:
Thu May 06, 2021 3:36 am

I like the idea of merging the JM and SC headstock designs. I'd be curious to see what it would look like with the carved / pink area closer to the thickness of the black on the SC and following the shape of the JM border more closely. I would probably also make the carved area color match the pickup covers or pickguard.
It’s getting nickel pickup covers, a Novak Thunderbird in the neck with a Novak WRHMB-JM cover painted to match; there’s also no pickguard

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Sun May 09, 2021 1:18 pm

Beebe wrote:
Thu May 06, 2021 3:36 am
I would probably also make the carved area color match the pickup covers or pickguard.
It struck me as I was carving the headstock this morning that you might be onto something. The back of the neck and headstock has gotten a matching stain and I was going to do that with the carve on the headstock, then it hit me that silver sparkle might make a wonderful contrast to the rose gold on the top, keying on the pickup covers. So, I’m gonna try that.

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Sun May 09, 2021 1:26 pm

I made some progress this morning and got some paint down. Next step is to scrape the binding clean, then it’s ready for clearcoat. Hopefully, I’ll get the headstock painted this week, then clear coat next weekend or the following.
Image

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Mon May 10, 2021 6:02 am

I started carving the headstock, it needs a little tweaking, but it should be ready for paint this weekend:

Image

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Thu May 13, 2021 4:00 am

Image

A few touch ups and it will be ready for clear coat this weekend.

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Sun May 16, 2021 5:27 pm

I began applying clearcoat, so far, it’s got about 12 coats of 2k poly. I may do a test level on Tuesday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8EVnnjcfL ... lr12t5rt2s

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by marqueemoon » Sun May 16, 2021 7:45 pm

The pink dye with the binding really pops.

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Sun Jun 06, 2021 2:43 am

I made some progress this weekend, I finished polishing the clear coat and began assembly, reaming out the holes for the controls, dry-fitting the pickups and installing the bridge thimbles. The AVRI tremolo is just for show; I have a Göldo DG tremolo en route from fellow member WhatIsDust- this one will go into another Jazzmaster that I have sitting around. I used lacquer on the back of the neck instead of Pole, so that will need to cure for a couple weeks before sanding, polishing and assembly. I hope to solder everything up next weekend, install the neck & nut the following weekend & hopefully have it playing by the 4th. I'm tempted to have it Plek'd, because why not?

Image

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by onichodaddy » Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:48 pm

Out of curiosity, how did you carve the headstock? By hand using a chisel? With a router? Looks great.

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Lost In Autumn » Sat Jun 12, 2021 1:13 am

onichodaddy wrote:
Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:48 pm
Out of curiosity, how did you carve the headstock? By hand using a chisel? With a router? Looks great.
i did the top part with a router and carved the rest using an angle grinder, with a flap-sanding disc.

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Re: New offset project: flat-top Starmaster

Post by Tweedledee » Sat Jun 12, 2021 7:12 am

This gets better and better with every update!

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