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cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

I've been diggin' the looks of the Airline Bighorn for a while and decided to make one on a budget. I got in contact with Mr. Clevername at reranch who was kind enough to make a tracing of an original bighorn body and he also sent me a pickguard he cut and wasn't going to use. That gave me everything I needed to get started.

First the templates.

I bought a cheap basswood body blank and found a really nice First Act neck on ebay that I snagged for under $25 shipped.

Also bought a roller bridge for $14.

Control routes done. The Harmony Bobkat tailpiece and Teisco pickups and wiring were things I had in the parts box just waiting on for some sort of sign. Idea

Next the custom pickguard. I hate cutting pickguards for switches. Evil or Very Mad

All done except for paint.

I do have this...

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Smells like Rock n' Roll

Bacchus · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2018 10:39 pm Post subject:

This is class looking. I clicked expecting a Dano Longhorn but this is much better. Like a sixties Iceman.
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Noirie. · YOUTH Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 5135

Love it. Always wanted to try the Eastwood version of this.

Thomas · . Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 3285 Location: Glasgow, UK

As ever, amazing work!

Bacchus · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:12 am Post subject:

I like the pic from the back that's all wood. Maybe a solid front and an oiled back and neck?
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NickS · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:04 am Post subject:

Nice.

cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

Thanks guys.
Bacchus, I'm planning on leaving the neck as it is since it's already finished. I'm just painting the body. And I do have a Longhorn build going but I already did a thread on one of those so I didn't post it.

I strung it up last night and I think I'm going to recess the bridge about a tenth of an inch. I could shim the neck but I like the pickups at the height they are now.

Next on my Budget Build list is an 80's Fender Bullet Deluxe. I bought a Starcaster strat from Nick that I'm going to use the neck. Templates are almost finished.
I need to design a Budget Build decal for these.

Sneak peek.

This isn't the neck but it's a pointy one like this.

First, get rid of the strat heel.

Next, go to work on the pointy headstock.

And done.

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Smells like Rock n' Roll

Nick · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:52 pm Post subject:

amazing!!!

cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

Thanks Nick. Glad you're okay with me chopping up the strat for a new project. Embarassed

Bullet Deluxe templates finished. Very Happy

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Smells like Rock n' Roll

Noirie. · YOUTH Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 5135

I remember Stewart bringing one of those to Doogfest.

They have weird metal pickguards right? I'm too drunk to bing it tho.

cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

The Bullet had the metal pickguard / bridge combo. The Deluxe had a plastic pickguard with chrome bridge. The Deluxe is easier to duplicate for me.
Those metal pickguards go for pretty big money if you can find one.
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Smells like Rock n' Roll

benecol · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2019 5:40 pm Post subject:

I had one with the combined scratchplate and bridge. I strongly advise you not to build one with this design feature/fault.

Bighorn looks AMAZING. Sherwood Green or GTFO.

sunshiner · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 6:10 am Post subject:

Awesome work on that headstock and as with any of your projects it's just a treat for the eyes to watch your work
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NickS · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 9:34 am Post subject:

Love your work but I cry inside every time I see that potential Swinger headstock remodelled.

cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

sunshiner · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 12:45 pm Post subject:

Never realized it had rounded edges, looks sweet. It's hard to get what the difference between this shape and a standard tele is, though they are visibly different. This body shape seems a tad narrower
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stewart · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:56 am Post subject:

cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

Thanks sunshiner. Stewart, I've had a few of the strat versions and they were pretty nice guitars for the money spent.
I finally had some time to make the pickguard and drill the string thru bridge on the Bullet Deluxe. I still need to order a couple small parts. Knobs and string tree but it's done build wise for the most part. I'm going to paint it red. Just haven't decided what red yet.

Here's two more on the home stretch. A Goldfoil Duosonic and a Musicmaster ukulele.

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Smells like Rock n' Roll

Noirie. · YOUTH Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 5135

Amazing.

brainfur · . Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 1878 Location: United States

these are beautiful! cant wait to see that bighorn painted
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