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Post by godzilla on Dec 20, 2006 21:00:18 GMT -6
Hello Forum Members
My name is Mark and I am from Fisherville, Ontario, Canada.
I have been researching Saga guitars for a bit now and finally purchased a Telecaster kit which I hope will be here before the weekend.
I also own a Kramer F 1000, Kramer Focus and an El Degas SG copy( my first guitar at age 10)
I am really looking forward to building this Telecaster and this forum has already answered some of my questions. ;D
Mark
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Dec 21, 2006 18:19:30 GMT -6
Mark -- Welcome to the club. Hope you enjoy building the Saga!
Let us know how it's going.
John
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Post by godzilla on Dec 24, 2006 17:22:10 GMT -6
I got my Telecaster kit Friday when I came home from work. I spent Friday night and part of Saturday assembing it ( and also putting the new computer together and getting it working). I took it out of the package and did an inventory check. Everything was there except the instruction manual!!! No problem, I can fake my way through it.  Everything went pretty good in the assembly. Just a few hiccups, 2 holes in the neck to attach it to the body were not deep enough, 1 wire was missing off the selector switch, screws for the neck pickup were too small for the holes and I put in bigger screws for the strap holders. The neck on this guitar was real good. I guess this one wasn't made Friday afternoon at 4 PM !!! ;D No high frets,although the nut needs a bit of work(either filing the slots down a little or replacing with a bone nut). And the tuners aren't real high quality. After getting it all together yesterday afternoon and doing a quick string height adjustment and intonation on it, I plugged into my effects and Traynor practice amp. I was surprized at how this guitar played.It has a fast neck and with a little fine tuning I will be able to get the strings down a little more. It has a real nice sound to it whether I am playing clean or dirty. We had band practice last night and it played and sounded great through my Peavey amp. I need to get a better set of tuners though. I took it apart to cut the headstock this morning and it is back together so I can beat on it some more. Still not sure what to do about the painting. Overall I am happy with the guitar. I had fun building it and doing the setup. It's gonna come apart at least once more when I decide what colour to paint it. It cost me $135 Canadian including shipping and taxes and I think it was well worth it. Mark |
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Post by cknowles on Dec 25, 2006 20:17:20 GMT -6
Fantasmic Mark!!
Post pictures when you get a chance.
I live just up Hwy 6 from you, Mount Hope ON.
I got a Saga LP copy, cost was about $225 CDN shipping and taxes included.
I was also surprised at how well my Saga plays.
Though I will also be replacing the nut.
I've got a Graphtech tusq nut on order.
Rock on, enjoy your Tele!
Chris
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Post by godzilla on Dec 26, 2006 7:34:38 GMT -6
Hello Chris, If my guitar turns out half as nice as yours I will be happy !! I am going to see if any music stores are open today. I need 3 sets of strings and to see about a new nut. The one on the guitar needs to be filed down or replaced. The strings that came on my Kramer Focus and the Saga Tele are too thin for my liking. Wife is working and she left me the interac card!!!! I would like to post pics but we got a new computer and my digital camera won't download to it for some reason.  I can attach it to my laptop and it downloads no problem. And it's the same software program. Mark |
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Post by godzilla on Dec 27, 2006 20:27:33 GMT -6
Got the computer software figured out and now the camera will download pics to it. Heres one of the guitar built but no paint. I'm thinking copper but not 100% sure yet. Our Jr Dragster is called "Spoiled Brat" so it is fitting that this guitar will be known as the "Bratacaster" I want to get decals made for the headstock. Chris, I was at the music store in Caledonia for the first time yesterday and was very impressed with it. Mark  |
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Dec 28, 2006 8:03:40 GMT -6
Hey...it already looks nice! Keep the photos coming.
John
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Post by godzilla on Dec 28, 2006 15:31:31 GMT -6
Thanks John,
For paint I don't know whether to strip the sealer right off or just scuff it and paint. I've read guys doing it both ways.
Mark
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Dec 31, 2006 7:06:38 GMT -6
Well...if you have some extra time to kill you might try to get all of the sealer off of the guitar. Make sure you read the article on the Guitarattack.com Repair page on removing finish from a Fender Bullet body. It is about as bulletproof as the Saga sealer.
Remember -- Once you get all of that sealer off, there is likely quite a bit of prep work required to get it ready to paint.
If this is your first Saga, I recommend scuffing with a Scotchbrite pad, wiping down the body with some naptha (lighter fluid), and let the spraying begin!
As always, practice on scrap, and paint at your own risk!
Good luck,
John
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Post by godzilla on Jan 1, 2007 15:07:45 GMT -6
I think just a scuffing of the sealer is going to happen. I don't have the time or the patience to take all that sealer off and prep.
I had a piece of the headstock left that I cut off and I got 4 coats of paint (metallic copper) and 4 coats of clear on. It looks pretty good.
I have band practice tomorrow night and after that I think I am ready to take the guitar apart for paint.
Mark
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Post by cknowles on Jan 2, 2007 7:48:02 GMT -6
Hi Mark,
I've never been to the music store in Caledonia either.
I usually hit Pongetti's on Upper James, or go to Long & McQuade in Burlington.
Your Tele is looking great, keep us posted!
Chris
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Post by godzilla on Jan 2, 2007 21:47:48 GMT -6
Long and Mcquade in Burlington....I could really get the Visa card smokin' in that store!!!! Not really up to starting to take the guitar apart at this late hour, and the wife is going to buy a new computer desk tomorrow, so I know what I'll be doing right after work. Hopefully after supper I can get the guitar apart and some sanding done on the body. This is the color I chose. Something a little different. Mark  |
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Post by godzilla on Jan 4, 2007 20:23:21 GMT -6
I got the guitar all apart and got some paint and clear on it between last night and tonight. I can't believe how quick lacquer paint dries!!! Its not looking too bad. Some more wet sanding and clearcoats and hopefully let it sit for a week then I can polish it. In the pictures the lighting makes the paint look alot lighter than it really is. Mark   |
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Post by cknowles on Jan 5, 2007 7:22:41 GMT -6
Looking good!
I'm sure it looks way better in person! In the photo it looks a bit pink, but I'm guessing it's a darker orange or brown is that right?
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Post by godzilla on Jan 5, 2007 14:48:38 GMT -6
The flash on the camera makes the colour look lighter than it is. To me if you took a piece of copper water pipe, polished it up and added a bit of sparkle that is what the colour looks like. I tried taking pics from different angles and lighting but it keeps coming out the same Mark |
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