It came from the black lagoon...

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, tauzero said:

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003662960717.html is a bit cheaper.

 

Thanks, but these are not applicable to the situation - Hipshot Ultralites are screw fit bushings and the spacers are simple round rings which fit entirely inside the tuner hole and go around the supplied screw fit bushing to fill out the gap:

 

https://btnmusic.co.uk/products/hipshot-licensed-ultralite-adapter-bushings

 

The product you linked are press fit bushings which sit proud of the surface of the headstock and are for "traditional", non threaded tuners.

[BassTool]

On 20/08/2025 at 00:53, neepheid said:

 

 In the fullness of time, something decorative on the headstock.

 

 

Great work!!

 

Don't bother being overcharged on a simple decal by the likes of Rothko and Frost - they wanted £57 for my 'complex design' which was simply a take on the Stingray logo 🙄 and since completing my BlazerRay build I've always recommended folk on here to use Rob at https://www.guitardecals.co.uk/

Two (in case you mess up!) top quality ultrathin waterslide transfers to finish your headstock 👍🏼

[neepheid]

Lots of progress yesterday and today.  The final piece of the puzzle (from the procurement point of view) arrived from South Korea:

 

 

So, the cavities got new copper lining, then wired to the cavity, then the pickups went in.

 

 

Strings went back on to check alignment and roughly set heights, then it was on with the mounting of the electronics (Artec SE-2 - which had also been in the shed this whole time...)

 

 

That was me done with it yesterday, but tonight I wired it all up.  

 

 

Unbelievably, it worked first time!  So I loosely put some knobs on it (not wedded to these ones yet)

 

 

And had a bloody good play with it.

 

It still needs quite a few things done to finish it off (in no particular order):

 

• area around the neck pocket which I routed off, smoothed, rounded off and refinished
• suspect I might have to give the neck a full fret level and crown
• decorate the headstock
• finish off the control cavity cover (put screwholes in it, then pilot holes in the body, then screw it down)

But for now, I can be happy with my work so far.  It works, yay!

Edited yesterday at 20:31 by neepheid

[Hellzero]

It's alive!

[BassTool]

Well done!! 👍🏼

[neepheid]

Well, that's the simplest of the jobs off the to-do list - fit the control cavity cover.  Had some old screw holes to fill, and one to avoid because it has a broken, rusted out screw in it.  Very pleasant hour or so spent pottering with a Stanley knife/blade, mallet, some wood glue, a bradawl and hand drill.  

 

Found my nice countersink bit in the shed also, so that was a bit of a bonus!

 

 

This cover might end up serving simply as a template and might get replaced with something 3D printed, but for now, the gubbins have a functional cover.

 

Totally not putting off the other jobs which involve taking the neck off...

[Richard R]

2 hours ago, neepheid said:

Totally not putting off the other jobs which involve taking the neck off...

 

It's the bank holiday weekend.

Who wants to take their neck off on a bank holiday?

[neepheid]

1 hour ago, Richard R said:

 

It's the bank holiday weekend.

Who wants to take their neck off on a bank holiday?

 

As it turns out, me.  Decided to put my big boy pants on and get the tedious stuff started at least.  So now, the area around the neck pocket looks a bit less like someone attacked it with a router and ran away.  There's still quite a sharp transition into the new shape, but I've got it about as good as I can be bothered with.  All done the old fashioned way, with sandpaper round various diameters of dowel etc. - I must be mad, but I'm in a real anti power tool mood today, just can't be bothered with the noise, I think!

 

[neepheid]

Bugger.  No-one seems to have Colron French Polish in stock.  I have no idea if a different brand (Rustins, Liberon) is going to look the same or not.  Don't suppose anyone has a half used tin of Colron French Polish they could spare?  Sorry to say but two house moves since 2007 have put paid to me ever finding my old can of it

 

[kodiakblair]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

Don't suppose anyone has a half used tin of Colron French Polish they could spare?

How much do you need ?

 

I've a tin in the hut. I'll have a look about for something to decant it into 👍

[neepheid]

35 minutes ago, kodiakblair said:

How much do you need ?

 

I've a tin in the hut. I'll have a look about for something to decant it into 👍

 

That's very kind of you, thanks! I don't need a lot - just refinishing the area you see above, some in the neck pocket and some in the holes for the neck screw ferrules.  50ml maybe?  75?  I'm not very good at gauging it.

[kodiakblair]

Champion.

 

I'll hunt for a slim plastic bottle, whisky miniature/hotel shampoo type. Being bald and teetotal this might take some serious hunting 😆

 

You still at the address I sent the Herrick to ?

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, kodiakblair said:

Champion.

 

I'll hunt for a slim plastic bottle, whisky miniature/hotel shampoo type. Being bald and teetotal this might take some serious hunting 😆

 

You still at the address I sent the Herrick to ?

 

I am, yes.

 

If you're having difficulty finding a suitable receptacle then as a whisky lover I can safely say I can get my hands on something suitable - happy to send it down to you.

Edited 1 hour ago by neepheid

[kodiakblair]

Just now, neepheid said:

 

I am, yes.

Got some baby jiffy bags here so I'll get the Colron away to you ASAP 👍

[neepheid]

Just now, kodiakblair said:

Got some baby jiffy bags here so I'll get the Colron away to you ASAP 👍

 

Legend, mate - cheers!

[Richard R]

BC collaboration at it's finest.