Twelve String Stratocaster Kit!

[Ivan3000]

Now we had to clear the neck, once again it was paint, sand, paint, sand etc...
This is the neck with some clear coats on it:

Clearing the neck.jpg

Also, you wont see this on the guitar now, but we both signed the inside of the neck before giving it the final clearcoat:

Clearing the neck signatures.jpg

More to come soon!

[Ivan3000]

Now, the final coat of clear on the body. I wish it was sunny like this all of the time, you could really see the shine!

Final coat of the body..jpg

[Ivan3000]

Special shout out to Art Keel at Sentinel Custom Graphics for getting this decal to us.
To test the decal just to make sure it sat correctly, we cut the 'WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO' and tested it on the back of the neck near our signatures.
Here is the test:

Test decal signatures.jpg

After testing the decal, we did a dry mockup to get an idea as to where we put it, we used a photo online to get the excact positioning:

dry mockup decal.jpg

[Ivan3000]

The decal is now on the headstock, clearcoat applied:

Decal on headstock.jpg

Now that all of the painting is done, its time to put it together!

[Ivan3000]

Finally, a dry mockup of the body to the neck. There was some paint on the sides of the neck pocket that Billy had to painstakeingly grind down for it to be a perfect snug (but not too snug) fit.

Body to neck dry fit.jpg

Aaaaand again, its apart, take not of the coutersink bit used so the paint doesn't chip whilst screwing it in. Also notice that the tuner machines are now installed, protective plastic still on:

the final stages of the build.jpg

[Ivan3000]

Somethings Missing!

somethings missing.jpg

I'd like to thank Ken Joseph for helping me find the ever elusive string retainer for a fender 12, without him, the headstock would look incomplete.
Thanks Ken!

[Ivan3000]

Here is the completed body with cream Fender aged knobs, tips, and pickup covers. The three pickups varied in size, so whe had to make a quick modification and widen the holes, after that we painted on the actual pickup to make it the least noticeable as possible.
I could barely contain myself while assembling this!

completed body.jpg

Another shot:

completed body 2.jpg

[Ivan3000]

Now the neck is on and it is ready for strings!

putting on strings.jpg

First the lower, then the octaves, thanks again Ken for Helping me with this bit!

putting on strings 2.jpg

[Ivan3000]

Finished! More pictures coming later...

[aceonbass]

Excellent work Ivan! Since it only cost ya $75.00, I'll give ya $125.00 for it. That's a quick fifty big ones! by the way, for a solid color, you're supposed to shoot the guitar with primer first, then the paint

[Ivan3000]

Excellent work Ivan! Since it only cost ya $75.00, I'll give ya $125.00 for it. That's a quick fifty big ones! by the way, for a solid color, you're supposed to shoot the guitar with primer first, then the paint

Luckily we learned that after the wood soaked up the first coat. So the order of body cover is like this:
Pink
Woodfiller
Primer
Pink Again (Multiple Coats)
Lots of Clear.

Thanks for the offer Dane, but I plan to keep this , I'm really starting to warm up to it. I just need to find somewhere to put it since the Krylon doesn't react well with the guitar stand.
Any suggestions?

More photos coming tonight!

[Ivan3000]

Here is a nice shot of the headstock, the waxed clearcoat really gives the that 'glassy' look:

12 string headstock.jpg

And another full body shot:

Fender 12 string project.jpg

[Ivan3000]

Back of the Headstock:

Completed 12 String 2.jpg

And right here is a shot of the completed body, wired up, strung up and ready to play!

Completed 12 String.jpg

Your probably wonder, how does it play? It plays and sounds very nice, the neck is signifigantly wider than any Rick-12 I've played, but it is very easy to get a hold of. The pickups, sound thin and glassy, but in a good way, and the octaves give it just the right amount of modulation while playing. It's really quite nice and stays in tune rather well.

[Ivan3000]

Yet another shot of the body:

Completed 12 String 3.jpg

[Ivan3000]

I may as well give credit where credit is due, so here are all of the things that made this project possible:

Art Keel at Sentinel Custom Graphics (Headstock Decal):
http://www.sentinelcustomgraphics.com/P ... ecals.aspx

Angela Instruments (String Tree):
http://angela.com/stringtreeforfenderelectricxii.aspx

Krylon (Paint - (Ballet Slipper) and Clearcoat):
http://www.krylon.com/products/indooroutdoor_paint/

Ebay Users 'Senior' and Some other guy who sold us the cream accessories:
http://myworld.ebay.com/senior?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Bullseye Amber-tint shellac:
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=245

Gator Grit Sandpaper:
http://www.gatorfinishing.com/

Elmers Woodfiller:
http://www.elmers.com/products/wood-fil ... od-filler/

Tite-Bond Glue (Blue Label):
http://www.titebond.com/index.aspx

And finally Billy, my step dad who helped create the guitar.