The Astro Jet Build Thread

[Elias Graves]

Not sure how to handle that. My neck pocket cut into the hole they drilled through for wiring access. Should I go to the trouble of cleaning it up and plugging it properly or fill it with wood epoxy?

You know, despite setbacks like this, I feel privileged to get to work on a piece of mahogany like this. It really is a woodworker's holy grail piece of wood.
It's so light, very consistent and takes tools like a dream. I've never had a nicer piece of wood in my possession. If it doesn't make a killer guitar, there'll be nobody to blame but me.

 

[instantsteve]

Another thread where Elias makes a drool worthy guitar!

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I don't think that shape's ugly -- it's unusual, but not ugly. +1 to not painting it -- very pretty.

That is what I was thinking. Going to catch up on the rest of the thread to see what happened.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Hundreds of them surfaced like 3 years ago. Another bunch of a few dozen came up 6 months ago or thereabouts. Many were one piece but I saw pics of 2 and 3 piece bodies, some of which looked terrible. Many were heavy. I knew it was a bit of a crap shoot ordering one out of a stack without seeing it or weighing it but I got lucky. Mine is a gorgeous color, one piece and weighs less than 4 pounds. It should make a 7-7 1/2 pound "tele."
Especially since I'm removing so much wood.

Here are tracings from my 339. The butt on the right is still big but it is an offset, after all. It won't be 100% symmetrical.
I can't make the ears that narrow unless I tighten the waist. I'm still debating.

View attachment 23071

I'm also ok with the big butt. Kinda of an Average White Band sort of thing,

Or maybe a baby got back sort of thing.


EDIT: but after reading through and seeing your re-design, I really like that too.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I'm also ok with the big butt. Kinda of an Average White Band sort of thing,

View attachment 23944

Or maybe a baby got back sort of thing.


EDIT: but after reading through and seeing your re-design, I really like that too.

PS, I barely remember what songs AWB did. Though a trip to youtube well reminded me of sounds I remember. I just remember as a little kid seeing the album (or maybe 8 track tape) and thinking "Holy Crap! There's a butt on that album cover!!"

@Elias Graves I think you should play a version of "Pick up the Pieces" when you get this guitar done. Maybe you can find some sort of "Horns Section" pedal to use, kinda like that Digitech Trio.

 

[Elias Graves]

I got one hole drilled and my battery died. The spare is at work. D'oh! And I don't feel like using the press for this so it'll wait till tomorrow. But I did get to bolt it up with one screw anyway.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

That is going to be really cool!

 

[Bob411]

Looks good from here.

 

[Elias Graves]

Thanks. A problem has arisen, however.
Most of you know that I don't like strats and the tummy cut is one big reason. At 165 pounds, the tummy cut causes the top of the guitar to fall backwards which puts my fretting hand in a bind.
This guitar does that same thing. I'm not pleased. Not sure what to do about it.

 

[Elias Graves]

Forging ahead. The bridge plate is on. There is still some adjusting to do on the neck joint. The alignment is off a little and the joint needs to be deeper yet. The saddle is maxed out but needs to up more yet. It'll be better to bring the neck down to the bridge.
And it makes noise. It's loud, twangy and has a lot of mids. About what you'd expect from a mahogany body tele.

 

[Elias Graves]

Did I say it's loud? It's Freaking Loud. Louder than my 339 by a wide margin. Maybe the loudest solid body I've ever heard. It's freakish.

Here's where I'm headed with the pickguard. I took the top half of a tele pickguard and moved it back to the last fret and mirrored it. It now extends past my patches under the bridge. I'll need to narrow it a bit but it'll work.
This is 3mm Baltic birch plywood. I'll stain it black and clear coat it.

 

[Guitar Heel]

Did I say it's loud? It's Freaking Loud. Louder than my 339 by a wide margin. Maybe the loudest solid body I've ever heard. It's freakish.

Here's where I'm headed with the pickguard. I took the top half of a tele pickguard and moved it back to the last fret and mirrored it. It now extends past my patches under the bridge. I'll need to narrow it a bit but it'll work.
This is 3mm Baltic birch plywood. I'll stain it black and clear coat it.

View attachment 23994

I like that a lot.

 

[wagdog]

Really like where you're going with this.

 

[Elias Graves]

Really like where you're going with this.

Thanks. Tonight I broke out the heavy machinery and cut the bridge hole with the router.

Almost seems like going tiger hunting with my elephanting gun given the small amount of cutting done.

 

[Elias Graves]

Now fine tuning the neck alignment. It's still too high, though. That's next.

 

[Knox in Box]

Looking great.

 

[Dogsinplastic]

Whilst I now see and understand you're thinking I was going to post that you shouldn't do a pickguard on this guitar. That's some sweet mahogany right there.

 

[Elias Graves]

Whilst I now see and understand you're thinking I was going to post that you shouldn't do a pickguard on this guitar. That's some sweet mahogany right there.

Unfortunately, Gretsch left me with little choice in the matter but I'm going to keep the guard as small as I can. This really is a nice hunk of wood. With strings in place, I'm blown away at how loud the guitar is. Way louder than my 339.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

That is looking really nice! Maybe a 3 ply black guard, small as possible?

 

[Elias Graves]

That is looking really nice! Maybe a 3 ply black guard, small as possible?

Definitely a black guard, and small. It is three plies...of birch. I'm staining it black and clearcoating it.

Doing the final sanding now. At this moment, I'm leaning towards a gold/dark brown burst or transparent cherry. Any last minute finish ideas? I could be swayed with a good argument.