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I am actually building an Explorer now!
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 3:35 pm
by FlyingVFanatic
I always hate starting new threads to ask my million questions >.>
Anyway, I have minimal experience with... well... DIY anything, so, just wanted to throw it to you guys, should i like, start something simpler like a BYO telecaster or.... something?
Id enjoy having a tele i think, buti really want a gibson style explorer without buying another gibson :P
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 4:30 pm
by AxAxSxS
What kind of tools do you have available?
There are some decent kits out there, you get what you pay for though with the more expensive ones being higher quality and the cheap ones often having more issues than its worth.
This one looks decent but I have not built one of their kits.
http://www.byoguitar.com/Guitars/Electr ... O-EXP.aspx
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 7:17 pm
by FlyingVFanatic
Oh, wow, that kit will do nicely... Welp, i suppose ill get that instead
In terms of tools, im sure i have a bunch in my dads garage.... But ill just get that kit instead :P
I never saw that kit before though somehow o.O
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:37 pm
by Decibill
Yeah, if this is your first build, a kit is the way to go. It will give you an idea of what it takes to assemble a guitar and will get you familiar with the in's and outs without having to make any of the actual parts. It's a great gateway drug for doing more full-on builds.
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:36 am
by FlyingVFanatic
Okay thanks

Well, hopefully somepoint in the next few months ill get back here with a nice new guitar i put together myself :P
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:18 am
by AxAxSxS
My advice is dry fit everything before you glue, buy more clamps than you think you will need, (You will need them) And learn about shimming and using dowel to fill holes and redrill. Kits frequently are not so great as far as having correct measurements. All this will help you by learning to fix things.
Good luck!

Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:08 am
by FlyingVFanatic
Okay thank you!

All advice has been noted, And ill make sure to buy a whole bunch of junk before i even get the kit :P
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:09 pm
by FlyingVFanatic
Ressurecting this thread cause i got the kit that was linked, and i have more QUESTIONS
But seriously, i will probably ask a lot. But i will pay you in crappy camera phone pictures, deal?
Question 1 - My gut instinct is the finish the neck and body separately, before glue-ing, am i good there?
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:25 pm
by AxAxSxS
that depends on what kind of finish you are planning on doing. I've done the stain seperatly and then shot clear after it was assembled with good results.
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:47 am
by FlyingVFanatic
Hhhmmmmm okaay.... I just have three tins, primer, colour and clear satin... Which i think go on in that order. I think ill do em seperately :P Other wise i feel ill screw junk up
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 5:09 pm
by Nelson Instruments
As long as you make sure to mask off the areas that will be glued. Not only will finish ruin the fit of the neck to the body but if you are gluing in the neck you can't really glue finish to finish.
Unless you're attempting to build an Exploder instead of an Explorer. ;-)
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 5:36 pm
by FlyingVFanatic
Huh. I genuinely did not know that. Thank you greatly! That has saved me several hours of frustration :P aaaand given me some amuesment at the same time
As for updates, im trying to put the Gibson pickups from my V onto the pickup mounts just now.... the screws are fractionally too big -.-
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:01 am
by FlyingVFanatic
daaang, had a dream about this guitar build yesterday.... Everyone, literally every single member of this forum, aggressively told me not to use the pickups from my old V cause the unnamed stock ones from the kit were apparently far superioir :P
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:37 pm
by FlyingVFanatic
So i got the Gibson pickups mounted on the pickup rings, cause its basically all i can do right now.

- Screenshot (26).png (473.98 KiB) Viewed 4660 times
Aiming to get the primer layer done on wednesday if the weather is dry...
Re: I wanna build an Explorer at somepoin soonish...
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:43 pm
by Decibill
That wood looks pretty nice. Did you consider leaving it natural...??