So Far

Here is the thinline before spraying.  I have a cream pearloid pickgaurd that really sets body off.  Not a very good picture.  But getting closer.

Ready for the dye

Putting the dye on without screwing up was tough.  The color is Merlot alright.

Body and "f" hole

 I am probably the proudest of the "f" hole. I enjoy sanding with a small dowel rod wrapped in sandpaper.  Rounding the edges of the body was run. More art. 

More neck work

Putting frets in is a pain.  Now I see why there is so much comment on web sites etc about fret work. This is a job that requires skill and experience.  I did some, but mostly gave way to the expert.

Here is the thinline

Top on, more sanding is in order.  You get the feel of the instrument and know each bump and divit. 

Getting color

Learned to mix colors today.  Basically trial and error.  Trying to come up with a Merlot color.  Maybe I drink too much damn wine. 

Thinline ready for top

My thinline is ready for its top. So we routed the pickup cavities and made sure the top and body alighned correcly.  That is why we used pins to fasten the two together.  Next step is glue and several clamps.

Jerry Routs

Jerry was making his own Thineline along with mine.  Here he is routing away. 

Mother of Pearl fret markers

I had to defer to the expert in placing the dots on the frets.  I did what I do best.  Sand and sand and sand.  Neck has got a great feel to it.

The neck in final form.

Here is the neck in close to final form.  Not sure if it is really final, did more sanding later.  Even used a razor blade to shave the finer points. 

Carving and Sanding

I wanted to get the same feel of the neck on my 62 Strat reissue.  Thin. So we measured and carved, sanded and sanded more.  This is where the art of woodworking is at. 

Radius sanding the Fingerboard

Sanding the rosewood fingerboard is great work.  First you are sanding rosewood that is considered an exotic wood that has fine particles that could be nasty. So I wore a mask.  We used a 10inch radius to a 12inch toward the bridge. Lots of sanding and time.  Really neat to see the wood be shaped. 

All Laid out

Here is the body, still a bit roughed in and the neck.  Rosewood has been glued and both are ready for some plaining and sanding.  Never thought I would like to sand wood for hours.  Zen.