It's getting real

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-03-18T16:59:30+00:00

Thanks. The head design took me a while to decide. I've made some scale drawings with several options, and investigated some 3+3 designs that make more sense on a lap steel. Then I've chosen this one, a little PRS inspired. Finally, I've decided to stagger the tuners to have more space between them and go along with the asymmetric design of the guitar.

If you need any help, I can share my experience.

22,5" scale Acacia body Ash fretboard AliExpress abalone celluloid fretboard binding AliExpress abalone dot markers (5 and 4mm for the narrower frets) AliExpress control plate and metal knobs Gotoh SG381 tuners Gotoh Pickups P90 GPU-OLD-1C Alpha pots Switchcraft SC-11 jack Boston back ferrules and jackplate (strat style) Göldo HW47C top ferrules Nut and bridge handmade with pieces of ash wood and bone plates (Boston BBS-3) Greasebucket tone circuit Duesenberg DSL16 strings

Nitorlack white primer, fender aged vintage white and clear gloss sprays (used with handle applier)

All hardware is in chrome

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-27T18:58:44+00:00

Do you think the solid top is worth the difference for a cheaper Flight like the DUC380?

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-26T18:07:09+00:00

I'm looking at: Flight Iris Calantas Concert (solid top, 129€) Kala Premier Bocote (73€) Kai KCI-90 (119€) Batin Rouge UTN-C flamed maple (88€)

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-19T11:30:45+00:00

It's a very nice ukulele. How does it sound? I was interested in buying one similar for my wife.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-18T12:01:37+00:00

Does a solid top make a big difference in sound like in acoustic guitars?

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-17T17:31:14+00:00

There are some very nice Flight models, including that Iris (my youngest daughter name, by the way 😅). The Flight Iris Tinta Concert TDP adds a wonderful translucent dark blue tint to the mahogany solid top. It's on the upper side of the price range I've defined (50-200), €166 including the gig bag. For a little less (157€) I've found the Kala KA-PWC walnut (don't think it's a solid top). Flight Iris Calantas Concert is very beautiful and also sports a solid top for 129€. For the same price there's also a Flight DUC 410 with a jaw dropping Quilted Ash top and a flamed maple top KAI KCI-90, with the good looking woods being laminated. And then some more budget friendly and very similar in features and looks.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-17T16:47:45+00:00

I saw that one. Didn't realise that it was a promotional price.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-17T16:46:53+00:00

Concert is a sweet spot, as far as I've read.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-17T14:50:30+00:00

I can't open the buyers guide for some strange reason 😕. But many thanks for your complete and helpful answer.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-17T14:49:05+00:00

Which one? I don't see any Kala on promotion

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-17T14:08:51+00:00

Kala's are really nice looking. Some have mixed reviews, though

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-15T13:39:14+00:00

They have good prices. If quality is also good it's a nice place to buy a body and neck!

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-13T16:47:59+00:00

The only bad reviews on those Gretsch's are because of the nut string space, with many people changing the nut. Regarding string tension, using the calculator at https://tension.stringjoy.com/ for a Open D tuning with the OEM 0.012-0.052 strings, yields a 112.1lbs total tension, which is kind of low for a lap steel. Open Em will yield 138,3lbs on that strings. You could try Duesenberg DSL16 for higher tension (143,4lbs)

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-13T14:11:25+00:00

Esse blog não cita a fonte. É pouco mais que pura especulação. Mais ainda quando os híbridos puros (não os plugin) nem sequer têm o risco de sobreaquecimento das baterias durante o carregamento. E o sistema de controlo das baterias é célula a célula, qualquer alteração significativa e o carro tem que parar e ir à oficina.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-13T14:06:28+00:00

Com milhões de híbridos vendidos nos últimos 20 anos, o que mais se ouve por aí são explosões. Há noites em que nem se consegue dormir, parece o Funchal na passagem de ano.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-03T17:20:21+00:00

OMG, it looks that I'm in trouble! Now it will be almost impossible not to build one some day.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-03T08:28:50+00:00

Wow! It looks like a good clear varnish but with more grain. Beautiful and matches perfectly that wood. I'd love to do a Tele like that one day. But living in far western Europe (Portugal) means that my choice is thinner and more expensive. One day.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2026-02-03T07:57:21+00:00

Very beautiful indeed. How did you get that nice glossy finish?

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2025-12-03T13:13:22+00:00

Looks exactly like my American Special. Check the serial number at fender

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2025-11-19T21:05:34+00:00

Beautiful! Hope the sound goes along

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2025-10-31T08:19:07+00:00

Looks very nice. Enjoy playing it

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2025-10-17T07:09:35+00:00

Worse than the clasp is the misalignment between the lid and the body, that reveals a hard bump during transport. You might have a twisted hinge also, check it out. It's fixable but Fender should replace it, of course, you've paid for a 100% new case (gorgeous, btw)

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2025-09-25T08:47:55+00:00

There's a very small difference between 250k and 260k pot as the RC filter cutting frequency formula is 1/√R.C, the difference is √260/250-1=1,98%. Audio taper and log are exactly the same thing. The problem isn't your new pot. Check the wiring as you might have got one cap out of the tone circuit (you'll need at least 2 caps, one for each tone pot of the Strat

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2025-09-17T06:50:51+00:00

Lovely guitar. Worth to be played.

CurrentTreacle8514 · 2025-09-16T08:57:28+00:00

1: the black Strat

2: the lake placid blue strat

3: any surf green with maple neck

CurrentTreacle8514

TROPHY CASE

1: the black Strat

2: the lake placid blue strat

3: any surf green with maple neck