The Electra Forums

95% of nuts don't need to be replaced (unless they are just made of of bad material or severely damaged). Generally I will move the string out of the way and clean the low slot. Then I fill or partially fill with super glue then clean off excess and buff the top with sandpaper to knock some of the black nut into the slot then let it dry. Then after it dries I recut. Generally this works perfectly, is a lot less hassle, usually is not visible and you still have the original nut too. You can't hear the difference either. I have never had to redo it either.

Do you have a fret mask for polishing? It is one of those "why didn't i think of that" best darned inventions made. It is a piece of steel slightly thicker than a razor blade, and it has a hole the size of the fret in the middle of it. You lay it over the fret and polish with some ultra fine steal wool, fine sandpaper, or even metal polish. Makes cleaning, smoothing and buffing frets almost effortless and protects your fingerboard from scratching or damage (although metal polish can run underneath it, so don't cake the stuff on). A MIGHTY FINE thing. Never knew I needed one until I saw one in use. Send me a PM with your address again, I can send you one. I bought a pack from stewmac, but one will last darned near any individual forever. Super cool fret polishing tool. They call it a fingerboard guard, and since that is really what it does (not used for polishing, but masking and protecting the fretboard when polish the frets).

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Fretting/Fingerboard_Guards.html?tab=Pictures

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Thorny

...aaaand this; Westone X300 Pantera, which is, according to the catalogue is Metallic Pink, and the Lady - the book just says "Red" but the sample from inside the trem cavity is definitely pink!!

I have to say, the Lady is more "pink" than the Pantera... YMMV! When it stops raining - YAY, by the way; we be in drought here!! - and the suns starts shining I'll whip them into some sunlight...

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

She is a real lady now.

Thorny, If you can find them eraser shields work well for masking frets and are cheap.

Excellent suggestion. I never thought of that. I already bought these and they are the exact size so I guess I have been taken care of.... but terrific idea for those that have them and have not purchased these. I don't know if their size is a good match, but I am sure that is likely where the inspiration came from originally - it just makes too much sense. These were a few bucks, but costs nearly as much to ship them as it does to buy them. Stewmac is not cheap for tools, but I will say, the tools I have bought there do the job. I have bought some more generic stuff off of ebay - for instance some nut files - that are terrible. I went back to the basic 4 recommended ones from stewmac and use them all the time. I think tubesandmore might sell some of those fretboard sheilds too, and may be other sources. Because somewhere I got a single smaller sized one for the upper frets. But all in all, the larger ones are flexible enough you don't really need it.

Man, what a NICE looking pair of guitars! I wonder if Satriani's chrome boy was originally inspired by a panetera that Ibanez was inspired to mimic? I remember the panteras a lot. I wouldn't doubt he played one first. There wasn't anything else like that back then.

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Thorny

I've set-to and am in the process of building a case for the Lady...

Pretty much done; just the vinyl covering on the outside and the hardware to go...

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

... and here we are!!









Job nearly done!! Just got to get some decorative tape to conceal the join inside the lid lip, and do a logo on the outside of the lip.

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Wow, you do some impressive work my friend

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Thorny

Lookin' sweet John!

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"This is the way that pop ends, Not with a BANG but with a box set whose fourth disc you never get around to playing” - Simon Reynolds

"My guitar wants to kill your Mama" - Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

Nice case. You could easily bring in some extra money making custom cases.

Thanks, chaps; what you can't see- and I'm not about to show you!! - are the imperfections in my workmanship!!

Now, does anyone what font etc. the script on the headstock might be, as I think that's what I'll put on the lid?? Either that, or ... one of the troops in here did a bunch of Electra stickers quite some time back and I have a couple; with his permission of course, if I cannot find out what font the headstock decal is then I might go with the sticker logo.

*edit* does anyone have a good, sharp picture of the Phoenix logo?? ('cause I'm a lazy b*****d and also, can't work graphics programs!! )

And boy; am I ever sorry that I missed the EF2014; from what I saw it looked GOOD!! Alas, the time difference meant that when I was awake you blokes were not, and vice versa... *sigh*

I'm hoping that there will be some video posted eventually, especially of Tom's presence there...

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Oh man!

Totally got lost in this thread looking at your collection!
The color on that Lady is fantastic, you sure are a lucky one.

I do graphic design, and if I can find the time on the side I'll try and make you a good copy of the Phoenix logo.

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

Right, then. I'm hoping there's still people out there....

I've just bought this girl inside for some lovin'... I have to say, she's a well-balanced, extremely versatile noisemaker; a fact I had forgotten because she has spent the last two years in a case, in a shed under a tarpaulin.

More a little later when I've had some time to wring her out a little... oh, there will be no more pool photos as our new gaff doesn't have one - we are now on 5 acres of prime Queensland bush!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Cool to hear an update, John. That is the only Lady I've seen that I've liked!

Did you move again?

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

Yeah, mate... from Hervey Bay to rural Takura, about 18km from where we were. Just a wee change to satisy the wanderlust which is rearing its' ugly head again!!

She's a beauty, alright; that Lady - I have the strap going over the top wing and the guitar sits like a good 'un...

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

That's great, John! Just something to satisfy the adventurer in your heart, very good! Hope you love it. Congrats!

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