The Electra Forums

... yes, I know... I'm not to be trusted!

Anyway... Avenger AV325 for A$120 to my door could not be ignored, and here it is!





Plans for this are a little vague presently, but a veneer and purple burst for the finish is likely at this point, and a hardware change if I can't replace the one tuner I ruined in the process of restoring it! I think I shall put P90s in this, while keeping the control layout as it is in case I want to go back to OEM.





The neck had already been stripped down and I removed the frets as they were well worn, and I don't like skinny frets.



My usual Avenger mod for the output jack...





And this is how it arrived at my door... this lass can pack a guitar, eh! Apparently it was hers from new and wears it's many bruises and nicks proudly; it went through a few more family members before she got it back, decided to restore it, got a little way in before deciding that she was in over her head.

It is quite complete - knobs aside - though the finish is munted...

Bit of fun, really!!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

There you are John, a right resto case indeed! Well she landed in great hands with you at least!

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

Underway slowly and by degrees...



bridge needs replating as it was gold. I hate gold hardware.





all the filling and sanding of the dents and nicks is ongoing. Gee, that paint took some shifting... I use a butane burner in the end and got the job done right quick!

Plans for this are locking tuners, replated bridge, Kluson Fender string trees, P90s and a custom finish, perhaps, which could involve a veneer job and deep purple stain.

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Deep Purple finish? Cool, which album cover?

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

If I did a DP record cover.... hmmmm.... I think it would have to be Machine Head, eh, but no - deep purple with lower case letters!!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Make it worthy of Blackmore!

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

Really looking forward to seeing how this one turns out!

It has to be unvailed with a POOL SHOT! You know it. We expect it. Good luck and have fun with the build, I know you'll do it right.

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SlmGuy

Oh yeah, right on, the pool shot!!!

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

My 2255 has the string thru bridge set up like that and I think thats what gives it such good tone. Like one huge tone block on a trem.

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SlmGuy

Rightio, gang...moving slowly along...

I've decided that I've been overthinking this one and have opted for a clear coat over the bare, rather scruffy looking wood.

Now, before y'all start wondering about my sanity and whether excommunication from these hallowed forums might be in order, let me explain...

1) I have done the veneer thing, the graphics thing and the original finish thing

2) This is to be my 'working' guitar

3) I cannot find a piece - or 3 pieces!! - of veneer that blow my skirt up at all!

4) I also cannot find purple wood stain that I like for love nor money, and lastly..

5) When I assembled the thing with it's new hardware to check for fit, I found I rather liked the way it looked... just nicely understated.
I rather like the butchers block construction, too, and think it should be shown off, even with the scorch marks etc.!

So... whaddya reckon?? It'll mean rather a lot of flatting back between coats as Hans reckons that the wood will just soak up the 2 pack clear in places, and almost reject it in others which means loads of thin coats. he'll blow the clear onto it when he's doing bike tins and I'll take it home and flat it off.

The headstock had been sanded before I got and the decal was gone, but Hans reckons when the clear goes on, the 'shadow' left by the decals should be, if not blindingly obvious, at least quite noticeable; cool!!







Oh, I haven't sanded the board yet, or re-fretted!!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Cool, remember when it's finished....... BY THE POOL!

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SlmGuy

As requested... by the pool!

Work done is tuner replacement - Gotoh lockers -, new string thru bridge, Kent Armstrong P90s and new Kluson string trees. The finish is the OEM paint taken back with a burner - that stuff is just SO thick! - and sanded dead-set smooth and a 2 pack clear over it as I found I really liked the way it looked... YMMV!!
The neck is totally unfinished - sanded to 2000 grit and then 000 wire wool - and feels just sublime in the hand; absolutely wonderful; becasue I'm going to be the only one playing it, I think I'll take the chance on it being OK and keep my hands clean when playing it, otherwise it's just a small re-sanding job, eh!

The action is perhaps a touch low for my styles of playing, but there's no buzz anywhere on the board so it'll do for a while. Oh, and there'll be a trc with "John's Rat" on it eventually!!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Hey looks great John. Been busy and haven't checked in for a while. You been busy your self with that build. And as always, a great pool shot to bring out her eyes. Does it sound as good as it looks?

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SlmGuy

Thanks, man!!

Mate, it has absolutely no business sounding as good as it does; utterly fabulous!! I've not had anything to do with P90s ever, so wasn't sure what to expect so was ever so pleasantly suprised when I opened up the taps - what a neat sound it is; meaty and muscular, with loads of harmonic overtones.

Oddly enough, it required quite a bit of fiddling to get action and intonation just right; the use of a couple of thin shims, 1 under the neck heel and 1 under the nut, were needed to just get it where I wanted it, as I decided that I wanted a little tiltback on the headstock rather than just straight-through, and it works like a dream!

Question.
I have 2 Avenger AV 325s and this one will sustain for Australia, the other doesn't have anything like the sustain: would this be down to the string-through body that the Bougainville Avenger lacks??

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."