Aluminum Strat

[Ian Ashdown]

I recently purchased the 1993-4 Fender Aluminum body from Lonn and it’s nearly finished, just waiting on the Babicz Bridge and Ratio Tuners.

Days and days of sanding all the way to 2000 grit, then polish. It looks pretty good now!


I just wanted to try something different.

Ian
SoCal

 

[tygr1]

That looks sahweet! The carbon fiber is the perfect touch.

 

[Higgins1980]

That carbon pickguard is sweet. How’s the weight on that thing?

 

[Impulsive guppy]

You didn’t go with the aluminum neck?

Looks awesome!

 

[Bob the builder]

Gonna be a sonufagun to keep clean but it looks great

 

[Stu78]

Gonna be a sonufagun to keep clean but it looks great

That ^

 

[Higgins1980]

Send it to a plate shop and anodize it

 

[Old Guy]

Holy Bauxite Batman!!

 

[Lonn]

I don’t regret much, but I regret selling both of those aluminum guitars. I made a lot of money on them but I still wish I had kept them. Ah well.

 

[Ian Ashdown]

Gonna be a sonufagun to keep clean but it looks great

It will! I just touch it an there’s a thumb print.

im going to polish it a few more times and then I’m going to try some carnauba wax.

Ian

 

[Higgins1980]

It will! I just touch it an there’s a thumb print.

im going to polish it a few more times and then I’m going to try some carnauba wax.

Ian

I think they make special wax for chrome rims on cars. Not sure if it would work on aluminum but might be worth looking into

 

[Ian Ashdown]

Send it to a plate shop and anodize it

That would be a practical solution but it won’t have the same shine. To be honest there were large areas of this that were mirror like after many years, I suspect, of no polishing. There were some scratches which is why I went all the way to 400 grit. It may be made of a low corrosion aluminum.

I will play it and see how the finish survives. Mojo in a hurry?

Ian

 

[Ian Ashdown]

I think they make special wax for chrome rims on cars. Not sure if it would work on aluminum but might be worth looking into

I will.

Thank you.

Ian

 

[Ian Ashdown]

You didn’t go with the aluminum neck?

Looks awesome!

Long story. But I think this is a more playable solution.

Ian

 

[Sixstringer107]

Mother's mag and aluminum polish.

 

[Ian Ashdown]

Mother's mag and aluminum polish.

I tried many different polishes after mechanical buffing with compound. The best result seems to be Simichrome. Having said that some Solvol Autosol just arrived so I’ll try that too!

Ian
SoCal

 

[Torvald]

Looks totally awesome! Is the body hollow? Must be. Weight?

 

[Robonarc]

Wow. Just wow. Beautiful.

 

[Ian Ashdown]

Looks totally awesome! Is the body hollow? Must be. Weight?

Hi,

The body is quite light actually. It’s made of 0.06” thick sheet aluminum with some structure inside. I’ll get the weight once it’s complete, but my guess is no heavier, may be a little lighter, than a regular body.

Ian

 

[Guitarchaeologist]

Looks great. Have you considered a clear coat over the Al? Because it can/will oxidize, particularly in high humidity, which may cause pitting. May be the easiest way to maintain a high luster shine and reduce maintenance.