Jimmy Page “Dragon” Telecaster. Revised Final Specification
The latest incarnation of my Jimmy Page “Dragon” Telecaster project build. I’m seriously running out of upgrade options now…
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Jimmy Page “Dragon” Telecaster. Upgrade to a Fender “Jimmy Page Signature” Custom neck
The upgrade to a Fender “Jimmy Page Signature” custom neck, finally completes my “Dragoncaster” project build, in some style.
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Jimmy Page “Dragon” Telecaster. Final Specification
After swapping out the original HOSCO neck, for a Fender neck with a rosewood fingerboard – the “Dragoncaster” somehow looks and feels a whole lot more authentic. It might not be a Vintage ’59 slab board – but it does have something of the essence, and it finally finishes the build off properly. Time to…
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Jimmy Page “Dragoncaster”. Upgrading to a Fender neck.
Earlier on this year, I finished off my “Dragoncaster” with a HOSCO neck. This was always a compromise. Due to the CITES restrictions then in place, I didn’t have much of a choice when it came to vintage style, rosewood boarded necks. Fortunately, the CITES restrictions have recently been amended, and I have a chance…
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Jimmy Page “Dragon” Telecaster. Specification (with HOSCO neck).
This build has taken ages – but I’ve eventually managed to achieve the quality of both finish and componentry, which I first set out to realise. It’s well worth the wait, and the hours I spent, getting it as right as possible, haven’t been wasted. And I have the additional pleasure of having put it…
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Jimmy Page “Dragoncaster”. Setup (with HOSCO neck)
My “Dragoncaster” project has taken more than a year to get to the point where I can add the finishing touches, setup and finally get to hear those revered Don Mare pickups. I’ve had to solve a couple of technical problems along the way, but I’m really happy with the way the guitar has turned…
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Jimmy Page “Dragoncaster”. Wiring the “Dark Circuit”.
In building my “replica” I have to take a little bit for granted, here and there. I don’t know exactly what kind of innards Jimmy’s original Dragoncaster had. I’ve put this build together to capture the look of Jimmy’s original paint job. The pickguard is as close as I can get to the spirit of…
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Jimmy Page “Dragoncaster”. Scratchplate, control plate, pickups.
Because of the close-fitting inter-relation between the scratchplate, control plate, neck pickup and bridge – the final fixing of these elements is only possible after som precision scribing to the guitar body. A few slight modifications may be required before the screw hole positions can be finalised, and drilled out.
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Jimmy Page “Dragoncaster”. Making my definitive “production” scratchplate.
There’s plenty to get on with, and this lockdown thing means I have plenty of time. Putting the 50’s “Hank Marvin” Strat together has given me a bit of confidence, but I have to balance what I can achieve, with my current visual handicap, against the need to get technical and design elements just right.…
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Finishing and fitting a neck.
The tinted nitro finish on the Dragoncaster neck has now had plenty of time to cure properly. I’ve been waiting to fit the neck, so I can push on with fitting the guitar out, but my current ocular situation means I can’t really deal with much detail work. I can’t just sit here though. Stuff…
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Sourcing and prepping a suitable neck.
The International CITES regulations, regarding the import and export of various hardwoods, have been with us for a while now – but some knock-on effects are becoming apparent. Finding a 1959 style, rosewood, slab fingerboard neck for the Jimmy Page Tribute, “Dragoncaster” project has proved a difficult task.
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Copper shielding, and installing that difficult jack socket.
I’m still trying to source a suitable neck for the Dragoncaster. Since I need the neck in place to check the final scatchplate and control plate positions, I’m left with only a few bits and pieces I can do to push the project along. At least I can get the ground side of the circuit…
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Polishing the body & installing the bridge.
The clear nitro lacquer on “Dragoncaster” body has been curing for more than a couple of months now. Polishing can be a lengthy job, and I wanted to be able to set aside a few, consecutive days. With a suitable gap in the schedule coming up – it’s time to crack on.
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Jimmy Page “Dragoncaster”. I think I just worked out how to do the scratchplate.
I’ve just taken a break for a couple of weeks. But even then – I’m still thinking about my various projects. It’s remarkable how solutions to problems often present themselves when you least expect. The other day, I just happened to watch a TV programme about vinyl wrapping supercars. Nothing at all to do with…
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The “Dragoncaster”. Second attempt at a scratchplate. And a possible finish?
I’ve done some running repairs to the “Dragoncaster” scratchplate template. I’ve also had a chance to offer it up against the body – to try and get the neck pocket deviation sorted out, and straightened up. With lessons learned from my first attempt at cutting my own scratchplate – I’m keen to see if I…
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The “Dragoncaster”. Cutting my very first scratchplate. Lessons to learn.
With my newly completed template for a scratchplate – I just have to try it out. I’m sure there is plenty to learn – in terms of both process and technique. I need to be able to try a few different finish techniques, to get the right “diffraction grating” effect. I have a piece of…
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The “Dragoncaster”. Making my own scratchplate template. Fun with a router!
Whilst the lacquer on the Dragoncaster body does its’ thing – I need to start looking for a solution for the scratchplate. I’d originally planned to have a couple of plates custom made – so I could experiment with finishes. However, the logistics at this stage are troublesome. Because of the crucial geometry between the…
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Final clearcoats – Progress update 7.
The light amber tint coats have had almost a week to cure. It’s the effect I was looking for. Subtle, and not too yellowed – but definitely tinted away from the ash blonde look of the natural wood. A few more coats of clear lacquer, and I can look forward to polishing the Dragoncaster up…
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Tinting – Progress update 6.
I’m getting to the final stages of levelling the finish. A few more coats of clearcoat, and I should be able to set the guitar aside for a couple of months before it’s ready to prep and polish up.
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Clearcoating – Progress update 5.
Back to the “Dragoncaster”, and yet another stage in the clearcoating process. The lacquer drop-fills have cured and shrunk back. I hope the fills have done the job, and that I can start to look towards a final levelling of the overall finish.
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Finish update 4. Dropfilling pinholes.
The clearcoat is building up nicely – but I need to get on top of some troublesome pin-holes.
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Clearcoating – Progress update 3.
Another week – another look at the “Dragoncaster” clearcoat. The sanding sealer drop-fills have cured and shrunk back. Now I can see if the technique using sanding sealer works, and if I can continue to build up a lacquer coat over the top.
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Clearcoating – Progress update 2.
This week’s update from the long, “Dragoncaster” finishing saga might seem like little progress – but it’s another step on the ladder. That’s the nature of the process – small steps.
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Clearcoating – Progress update 1.
Beautiful weather in Garageland this morning. And that coincides perfectly with the clearcoating schedule for the “Dragoncaster”. It’s still a little chilly in the workshop first thing in the morning – but a quick blast with the heater brings it up to a comfortable working temperature.
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Clearcoating – First stages.
As I learned last year – clear coating can take ages to get right. Especially if it’s at all damp or cold, and drying conditions aren’t ideal. It’s still pretty cold in the workshop – but, since the clearcoat will take ages to cure and shrink back, I want to get the first coats onto…
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Back to the “Dragoncaster”. Making a template for a scratchplate.
The scratchplate for the Jimmy Page “Dragoncaster” needs to be custom made. So I can test the fit, and make sure the end result matches nicely with the lines of the painted design, I want to try and mock the finished plate up before I commit the design, and clearcoat the body. I also need…
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Painting the Dragon.
Get your paints out. Time for some patience and a steady hand. Not the greatest time to find out my eyes aren’t, apparently, as good as they used to be.
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Jimmy Page Tribute “Dragoncaster”. Laying out the design.
The sealer on the Telecaster body has cured, and I’ve flat sanded it back to 400 grit. It feels smooth and, when running my fingers across the grain, there aren’t many signs of undulation due to the grain. In fact, it might just prove to be too smooth, in order to provide a good bond…
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Prepping, grain filling and sealing an Ash Telecaster body.
The body for the “Dragoncaster” has finally arrived. Before I can begin to add the dragon design by hand, I need to make sure the body is prepped well enough to take the paint well, and prove a suitable base to build the rest of the guitar upon. As with most things – preparation is…
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Research. Planning. Shopping. Drawing.
As with most of my projects – I just don’t have the resources to go out and buy all the parts in one go. The way the projects tend to come together over several months enables me to phase the project, and get parts in for when I need them, for any particular task. Obviously…
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New Project. New Jimmy Page Dragon Telecaster.
In a way – the Dragon Telecaster made famous by Jimmy Page, is the perfect partscaster project. In fact – Jimmy’s original was pretty much a partscaster itself, having undergone extensive modification and restyling over the years. When I was looking for projects last year – I decided on the Strummercaster, and put a Dragoncaster…
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Garageland 