Rebuilding the “Townshend” Stratocaster

[Guitarkiwi]

Here she is, free of clamps! It’s not perfect but I’m not disappointed. We’ve reached the part where, for me, it’s starting to become a guitar again, rather than the garbage bag full of parts I received a few weeks ago. Tapping the body anywhere gives a nice solid woody knock.

The bridge is just resting there — I was making sure the six mounting holes lined up properly. They do. Also, the contact under the mount points (except low E) is on the same plane as the “deck” behind it, so if I deck it, it should be really stable there.

Full-floating this may be a bridge too far, if you pardon the pun . View attachment 622773

I still have some work to do on the neck pocket - I may have to do some doweling there in addition to the neck itself. The back of the neck pocket has some indentations where the neck screws tried their best to go through the body. I’ll need to level that out too before I think of actually mounting the neck.

The chip at the lower right has a pretty deep crack behind it so that’s another thing to deal with.

I’m trying hard to stay focused on the structural issues but I’m so eager to get into cosmetics and electronics!

Looking great man well done!

 

[stratocarlster]

Great success! High five!

 

[Yves]

Looks amazingly good. I'm impressed, welldone!

 

[wooders]

Excellent! Enjoying this thread.

 

[Will Lefeurve]

You're doing the right thing by fixing it. I would have done. Its still a slab of wood, no matter that its guitar shaped. With modern glues and fillers, some clamps.. jobs a gooden..

 

[jpmist]

On my mind now is the bridge mounting area isn’t completely level so I won’t be able to set up the bridge until I sand that down. And I have no idea how to set up a six point floating bridge, since I’m mainly a bass guy.

I've often read that you only really need the two outer screws for the trem bridge and have proved that on my own strat. The outer two are snugged down then backed out a half turn or so, depending on how much range you want the trem to have. The inner 4 are basically for looks.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

A couple questions for those smarter than me: Nine of eleven pickguard holes have cracks emanating from them. I suspect those are just superficial on the finish. Should I drop a few drops of CA in places like that and hope that if the cracks are deeper, it will wick down in there? Any downside to doing that other than having to re-drill pickguard holes?

Also, for doweling the stripped neck holes - do I just drill out the existing holes, glue in an appropriate-diameter dowel, and chisel/sand it flush with the heel when I’m done? Is it any more complicated than that?

You can glue in round tooth picks into the pick guard holes with either yellow glue or super glue. When doweling the stripped neck holes get the next size bigger dowel than the size of the hole then use the correct size drill bit for the dowel and drill out the holes to the size of your dowel. Glue them in and redrill for the neck,screws.

 

[Shoegoo]

Fender may start a new lineup. In addition to the popular Relic series. Fender will offer the Repaired series.

 

[EJay]

Fender may start a new lineup. In addition to the popular Relic series. Fender will offer the Repaired series.

Yeah when this is done I’m gonna put it up on Reverb for like $5000

 

[92 Fiesta Red 62]

When I started this thread I called it the Townshend because this guitar looks Pete Townshend’s leftovers.

But I have a new name that is feeling more accurate:

Gluecaster

If you’re calling it a Gluecaster, you gotta put a decal of a horse somewhere on the guitar…maybe an etched neck plate?

 

[EJay]

If you’re calling it a Gluecaster, you gotta put a decal of a horse somewhere on the guitar…maybe an etched neck plate?

It’s funny you mention that - I put in an order just this morning for a F Fender neck plate (old one is bent!) but I have a set of letter punches and I think I’ll at least stamp “GLUECASTER” into it.

I wonder if anyone will pronounce it “glooster”

I’ve got a whammy bar on order too. Amazon had a genuine Fender in 10-32 for under $5.

 

[Will Lefeurve]

When I started this thread I called it the Townshend because this guitar looks Pete Townshend’s leftovers.

But I have a new name that is feeling more accurate:

Gluecaster

You do realise that 'glue' diminishes tone????

 

[EJay]

You do realise that 'glue' diminishes tone????

I can promise you the tone on this particular guitar will improve after glue. And I’m using special tone glue.

 

[bluejazzoid]

It’s funny you mention that - I put in an order just this morning for a F Fender neck plate (old one is bent!) but I have a set of letter punches and I think I’ll at least stamp “GLUECASTER” into it.

I wonder if anyone will pronounce it “glooster”

I’ve got a whammy bar on order too. Amazon had a genuine Fender in 10-32 for under $5.

You should have Elmer engraved on the plate too:

 

[Strat Jacket]

You should have Elmer engraved on the plate too:

View attachment 622865

That would be awesome!

 

[nifnof70]

Love it!

When complete, this Guitar will be special and have some serious "Mojo".

 

[EJay]

I’ve been patching up some more minor cracks and such that aren’t really worth an update. I’m feeling confident enough too that I’ve ordered a neck plate, whammy bar, rear cover, and even strings.

I don’t think any of my pictures have truly captured how torn up the back is, so I have a lot of work to do here.

My plan is to file as much of that to a flattish/angled surface, then cut a piece of hardwood at appropriate angles to approximate what is missing. Then I’ll repeat with small bits and use filler for any remaining little bits.

 

[Strat Jacket]

I’ve been patching up some more minor cracks and such that aren’t really worth an update. I’m feeling confident enough too that I’ve ordered a neck plate, whammy bar, rear cover, and even strings.

I don’t think any of my pictures have truly captured how torn up the back is, so I have a lot of work to do here.
View attachment 623141 View attachment 623142
My plan is to file as much of that to a flattish/angled surface, then cut a piece of hardwood at appropriate angles to approximate what is missing. Then I’ll repeat with small bits and use filler for any remaining little bits.

Egads, man!

 

[Guithartic]

I wish I had been following this from the beginning. Such a cool project.

 

[EJay]

I wish I had been following this from the beginning. Such a cool project.

Stick around, I’m gonna need all the advice I can get