What's On Your Workbench?

I cut up some wood this morning for a CD rack I'm making. 2 shelves, just under 16" wide, for the book case, to hold overflow CD's that no longer fit in the full CD cases located in the utility room. I worked on this for just under an hour and I'm tired. Quite a change from just 5 years ago when I could work all day in the shop. But I'm trying not to over do it.

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I'll start assembly tomorrow, or the next day. I have to decide if I'm going to glue this together, or screw it, or use dowels. I bought pre-finished plywood, so if I glue it, I'll have to sand off the finish so the glue will hold. Perhaps I'll screw it together, then use dowels in the screw holes. I plan on painting it once its finished.
 
Guitarist in my band has a Squier Tele that he dislikes. Just lackluster. So we discussed to do some updates and make it a bit more personal. He wanted a few things:
Budget 4-500 usd
3 pickups ( Nashville Tele)
Extended pickup selection options
Comfort contours
Retain a signature on the finish
Give it the impression of age without it being a “relic” job
Gold hardware.

Let’s get to it!

Selecting pickups is ongoing
Xentric White pearl knobs, and switch tip
Freeway 10 way blade switch on order.
250k Dunlop super pots
.22 uf tone cap
Switchcraft jack.
White pearl pickguard
Gold Engraved cut down modern tele bridge
Matching Gold Engraved control plate
Gold US Fender tuning keys with white pearl knobs
Adjustable brass nut
Gold roller string trees on order.

Progress:
Before:

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Hand cut contours
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Strip poly off neck
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Stain basswood body and neck with Aqua Fortis.
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Will use Tru Oil on contours and neck, will add light Nitrocellulose Lacquer coat to neck afterwards.
Yet to be done , Route for middle pickup.

Full fret dress.

Will come back and provide more status updates.
Update: couple parts arrived, owner wanted a bit more “aging” :( JOY!?
Relic a poly coated basswood body, grr.

Well here we go. Shooting this with amber shellac, then will clear with satin poly and buff some spots to make a bit shiny.

Had to stain the exposed wood to look like the arm contour and belly cut, the basswood is almost white:( so I even stained the neck pocket just for consistency.

Results are ok, ( I think?) the wear points were derived from multiple online real world naturally aged guitars.

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Update: couple parts arrived, owner wanted a bit more “aging” :( JOY!?
Relic a poly coated basswood body, grr.

Well here we go. Shooting this with amber shellac, then will clear with satin poly and buff some spots to make a bit shiny.

Had to stain the exposed wood to look like the arm contour and belly cut, the basswood is almost white:( so I even stained the neck pocket just for consistency.

Results are ok, ( I think?) the wear points were derived from multiple online real world naturally aged guitars.

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Looks... Good? Looks fitting let's say. You did a good job either way. Though I wouldn't call this aging. More like abusing haha
 
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Looks... Good? Looks fitting let's say. You did a good job either way. Though I wouldn't call this aging. More like abusing haha
I agree! a Shiny 3 year old Squier made to look as though it’s a 40 year old that has been through the object of a few years of teenage angst, and many Smokey bars, allowed to get philthy :)

I think I achieved an authentically abused look :)

Paired with the neck it’s really abused/ raw /Resurrected looking !
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