Another guitar build

This is the 3rd version of my copyrighted design, the AstroCaster. This time instead of a flat slab body like the previous two, I'm adding some 3D carving to add some dimension to the shape. I'm also angling the pickups, and matching that angle at the heel on the neck.




I buy the necks with a 'half paddle' headstock, ready to shape to your own design. I use this design on all my AstroCasters:


Then I made some routing patterns out of 1/2" MDF to include with my original body pattern:


Rough cut the body to shape, then starting routing using the patterns:


Then started shaping the body to create some 3D dimensions:



The color will be Dupli-Color Paint Shop 'Burnt Orange Metallic':

 

Very nice! My middle son (of 3 boys) made a guitar from a cigar box back way back when that actually sounded pretty good because of the type of humbucker he used and the tube amp. Shades of his old man using diff mics/amps for his harp blasting...

 

Vinyl sealer and white lacquer base coat on:

 

Do you use spray with paint gun... very nice work as Expected

 

Yes, a small portable compressor and an LVLP gun. I also have an airbrush if I want to do shading.

 

First color coat on:

 

Looks like a copper - orange - gold mix. Is there a name to the color?

 

Dupli-Color calls it 'Burnt Orange Metallic'. I like it!

 

Duh!!
If I had only looked at the can before I opened my piehole

 

I was holding off starting the clear coats 'cuz the weatherman was predicting snow this week, and I spray outdoors. Ha! Weatherman got it wrong- it's a blue sky, windless day today, so clear coats are getting started. I think the roasted maple neck is looking great with the body color.

 

Pickguard done:

 

What material do you use for that?

 

I usually get it on eBay- https://www.ebay.com/itm/145892318661?var=444945939879
It comes in lots of different colors, and has a clear protective sheet on it so it doesn't get marked up during routing or cutting.

 

love the color, close to my Ranchero

 

Final clear coats on, now the wait for lacquer to cure before wet sanding and polishing. That color is pretty awesome.

 

How many coats of clear, and how much do you burn through after final finishing?

 

This one has 9 coats, and I imagine I'll go through half of those wet sanding & polishing.

 

Body mocked up:

 

Spent all day wet sanding and polishing the body; it's beer-thirty now.