Unboxing - StewMac ES-335 Kit
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- Unboxing the Stewart MacDonald ES-335 Kit.
I've been setting money aside to buy a nice ES-335. However, during this pandemic, all guitar stores are closed. So I figured, why not build one?!
Stay tuned as I go through this step by step. The next video will be the process of fine tuning the mortise and tenon joint of the neck to body.
I built a StewMac Lp style ( see thumbnail) during pandemic. I want to do a semi-hollow next. Thanks for posting this!
I just assembled this exact kit. I'm very happy with mine.
I used an ebony-colored stain on the fretboard which made it look more like a dark rosewood than ebony, then hit it with 2-3 thin coats of tru-oil for protection and a little shine.
Willie Deuel fretboard is the one area I'm still a bit undecided on for color/finish. It's been fun doing this and documenting it for people to see!
in my catalog, its more, i think all these kits are chinese, i had high hopes for this , because i like/ want that guitar! good luck on yours, hopefully all works out!
While some mistakes have happened, I've so far been able to salvage the kit... Wait until you see PART 6 ;) That's when everyone will be able to see her true beauty!
Not a bad looking kit except for a couple minor things. I have bought 3 of Stew Mac’s Telecasters that we’re just ok. I hollowed them out and made thin acoustics out of them and threw all the keys, plates and electrical parts in a box with stuff I’ll never use. The major issue with all 3 kits would be the necks are garbage. Thick as baseball bats. I used one, bought a neck from Kiesel (which they no longer sell), and one from Warmoth which I am still waiting to be delivered. I will try to mill one of the Stew Mac necks down to a thinner profile and see it it is usable. The kits are worth the money but I had 2 bodies that had flaws that if they weren’t painted, would be unacceptable. Still having a lot of the work done like the neck joint and body wood and shape is worth trying one of these kits. Good luck!
I have heard of the Tele necks being massive on the stewmac kits!
I'm glad I'm not the only person willing to say they are unimpressed with the quality of the StewMac kits!
I remember in wood shop, never chop too much off so as to leave something to work with. Pretty sure this is the same with the neck, given that there are so many preferences on neck thickness they just leave it full bodied. That way, if someone prefers a thinner profile, they can always sand it down to preference for a custom fit. Just IMO.
The flame book match does match.....the wood/veneer is flipped...creating a dark stripe one side with an opposing lighter stripe...that is the allusion that book matching flamed maple gives....check the pattern and you will see the "match"...😀
I'll admit when I'm wrong, and I see it now. Best explanation I've had so far. Thank you!
Idk why but i prefer it when the wood grain doesnt match up. It gives off a weird fake feeling when the grain matches up perfectly.
I've recently changed my mind and agree with you!
A “dead blow” hammer has a weight inside, often led pellets, that can move back and forth in the head as you swing and strike. The effect is a very limited bounce when you strike something. Most designs will sound like a maraca if you shake them. I think what you have there is a soft face mallet.
Sincerely, The Tool Name Nazi 🤓
P.s. The kit looks nice, really dig the flame on the top and grain on the back. I would be excited too, it gonna be cool. Was there some delaminating in the neck pocket? Not a big deal I guess but an unnecessary bit of work.
AngryRed Banjo i was waiting for that correction. Trying to get over the awkwardness of what to say, had that snafu and left it in.
your comment is tons more informative for newbies than mine would have been. Thanks Tool Name Nazi 😁
IamBucketdotcom - I hear ya on the awkwardness, I have a few videos up of a repair to an old guitar that belonged to my late Dad. It’s on another channel- AngryRedBanjo. Note the missing space on this one, stupid mistake a long time ago. It’s odd that in real life I cut up a lot but the videos are dry as a bone and quite humorless. I put em up for family mostly so I guess it doesn’t matter but they did razz me a little.
AngryRed Banjo for mine, I like to help people, and by documenting different processes and what I do right or wrong, I think it'll help people unfamiliar with certain projects be better prepared for what they may encounter. I do not want to get huge, just be helpful :)
I just purchased one through Solo in Canada I think. Good quality. Im replacing all the electronics and hardware with better quality. Still cheaper then 3K for a true gibson 335 and I get to build myself.
Thanks for watching FlintLock!
I've played a few expensive Gibsons and feel some cheaper Epiphones or no-names are better! I can't wait to see how this baby turns out/feels.
Just a tip, don't get fooled on the neck angle. Due to the curved top on 335s the neck has a rather prominent angle to the body. I have another 335 Kit and was surprised as well by it, but then I compared it to my original Gibson 335, and that one had surprisingly the same angle. With the winered finish it was not as obvious. First I also thought the kit might need shimming, but that's not the case. Without finish, pickups and hardware and the binding highlighting it, it might look stronger than it actually is. If you need I could provide measurements of my Gibson.
Thanks a ton Martin! I am fortunate to have an Epiphone Dot in the family that I can use for some measurements. I appreciate your input!
@@iambucketdotcom_official Yeah, I'm just watching the other video where you show it. Could have looked beforehand, also on the date, but when hearing shimming, it immediately came to my mind how I got almost fooled myself. Good luck on the build. Great work so far.
Martin Grabher-Meyer thanks! It's a great learning experience.
@@iambucketdotcom_official ummm, would that happen to be a made in Kalamazoo Epiphone, would it? 😉
I'm kidding, I just got a faux Paul Reed Smith kit for my first build.
I'm really looking forward to diving into it. The electrics look cheap, I may be upgrading them
^^⚖👨⚖️⚖^^
[ JudgeGarry ]
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
nice guitar kit, 440.00 , though, i think stew mack , is pricey..
Gene Kloszewski I paid 239.99 plus I bought a fretting hammer.
It did have some issues, which had caused a video delay but will be covered in the video I'm working on to be uploaded next. But StewMac is replacing it.
They surely are one of the more expensive distributors for sure. Jury is still out on kit quality.
Where do you buy the kit?
www.stewmac.com/ is where I bought this one
Have you ever book matched a top?
David Schrenk I have with other projects, but I can't wait to do it to a guitar. I plan to build a body with a book matched top in a few months.
So, when you ordered it you assumed it was made by Stewmac. If it was, it would be $600... not $350
You're right! However, it's marketed as if its made by them. Lesson learned!
@@iambucketdotcom_official I read the ad on their website and it does make it sound like they make it in house, except they never actually say they do. The way I knew it wasn't made by Stewmac is that I found the exact same kit several places on the internet, and the even the photos were identical. Stewmac actually used the factory ad photos.
just buy an epiphone sheraton ...you will thank me.
Absolutely. Great guitar!
By building kits I'll eventually get comfortable and start building from scratch.
where is the fun in that?
China...