A Kay, a Duo and a Hiflier (Ready For Paint)

Painting? Routing? Set-up tips? Or just straight-up making a guitar from scratch? Post here, and post pics!

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cooter
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A Kay, a Duo and a Hiflier (Ready For Paint)

Post by cooter »

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Well, I finally got these three together. It took a while but I'm ready for the paint and wiring
stage.
First up is a 1965 Kay Vanguard. It looked like this when I bought it. Neck binding was missing,
pickguard had crumbled, unknown dead humbucker, broken tuners... a real project guitar.
I have a can of Robins Egg Blue for this one.

Image

Next up is the DuoDelRay. It has a Squier Mini Strat neck, poplar duosonic body, a set of Teisco
Tulip pickups and a 3 ply mint pickguard. Thinking about Sonic Blue with a matching headstock.

Image

Lastly, my HiFlier project. I've had the neck and the body tracing for a couple of years.
I've been trying to build up the nerve to attempt making the body and doing the carve on top.
It turned out better than I expected. I've got a little tribute to the Motor City paint scheme planned for this one.
Last edited by cooter on Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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DGNR8
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Post by DGNR8 »

Those are all cool! Keep showing pics. Nitro or acrylic or wild card?
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Post by cooter »

Thanks!
The Robins Egg blue is acrylic rattle can I picked up at Hobby Lobby.
The DuoDelRay is Reranch Sonic Blue.
Wild card on the HiFlier. Still working that one out.

I still have a Mandocaster to paint as well. I think I'm going to use Butterscoth Blonde on that one.
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Post by stewart »

i really like those kays, i'm sure i've seen a silvertone branded one before.
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Post by Pens »

That Hiflyer turned out great. I've always been a fan of those bodies reversed. I'm curious to see how the Robins egg blue turns out also!
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Post by Addam »

Top quality work again!

Quick question, have you ever used a stain on poplar?
If so, how does it look?
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Post by cooter »

Thanks guys.
AddamInsane wrote:Top quality work again!

Quick question, have you ever used a stain on poplar?
If so, how does it look?

Never tried stain myself but I've been told it doesn't always go on evenly with poplar. I think Ends used some green stain on his Jaguar.

I've been meaning to pm you about getting a copy of your teardrop template. I might have a few pdfs you might be interested in as well.
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Post by gypsyseven »

Wow, i can´t wait to see them finished...
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Zack
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Post by Zack »

that kay looks really rad, the tailpiece cover looks like a 'teisco' I have but it's missing the trem arm.
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Post by Addam »

cooterfinger wrote: I've been meaning to pm you about getting a copy of your teardrop template. I might have a few pdfs you might be interested in as well.
Slightly embarassing; I have no electronic or paper templates. :(

I used pictures, mainly this one:
Image
I took measurements and traced sections from my computer screen. And just scaled it up.
I used standard Fender Jazzmaster dimensions to help me out, like the size on the neck pocket and distance from neck pocket to the bridge.
I made a thin MDF template and flipped it over when cutting the thicker template to ensure symmetry.

Sorry! That's not really the answer you wanted. :oops:
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Post by cooter »

No problem. I can scale up a picture and do the same. Just thought I'd check with you and see.
The one you made looked great.
Offer still stands if you need a pdf of something I have.
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Post by Addam »

I would love a HiFlyer template if you have that as a PDF!
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Post by Sparky »

AddamInsane wrote:I would love a HiFlyer template if you have that as a PDF!
I can trace my Phase 3 Hi Flyer for you if Cooter doesn't have a template handy.
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Post by Joey »

ice blue ---> flyer
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Post by cooter »

Here's one back from the dead. Since I couldn't spray punkacc's Musicmaster neck today because
of crappy weather I had time to work on my Vanguard.

I wasn't real happy with the look of the single chrome mini humbucker so I sold it to HNB a while back for his
JagStang build. I had a set of P90s I got in a trade so I routed the body and pickguard for a bridge pickup.

I'm diggin' this build a lot more with the changes.

Before:

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After:

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Post by cur »

I love that Kay. Flame top headstocks are the sexy. That is going to look great. Also the duo is nice. I have been keeping my eye open for those old teisco pups to use on a project. They really look nice. Keep it up man. Love your stuff. Looks like a lot of cool projects going on. Maybe that is the sign that summer is over.

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Post by cooter »

Thanks. I thought those flame/bushwhacker headstocks were butt ugly the first time I saw them but
now I love 'em. Here's the color blue I'm going for. I may need to use a little tinted clear to get the
shade right.

Image

I'll keep an eye out for you for a set of those teisco pickups. 8)
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