Stevie Ray Vaughan's "First Wife" Number One Guitar Replica

[PHArchivist]

Found a well-built electric guitar kit on-line for a hundred bucks.

Figured I'd ply my meager skills at creating a replica of SRVs most famous six-string.

Much like for Boba Fett helmet replica's, this could have been done (almost certain has been done) using templates. I've chosen to do this by hand.

I am much farther along now, but here is my start.

 

[PHArchivist]

The finish on this guitar has understandably eroded over the years we were graced with Stevie Ray.

Here is my primary reference shot, posthumously displayed (once only, I understand) in a museum in Texas.

 

[PHArchivist]

The kit came with chrome hardware, but I have replaced it all with appropriate gold. This includes genuine Fender gold tuning keys with pearl heads, however the tremolo bar is right-handed and on the bottom with my replica.

 

[PHArchivist]

Again, there's been much more work, including replacing the knobs with "aged" versions, yellowing the pick-up covers, and more.

Stay tuned...

 

[feek61]

I like it!! Looking forward to your progress.

 

[IFA]

Superb project and amazing results !!! I hope the sound will be here too ;-)

 

[joberg]

Very nice project and so far, so good Eager to see what's next to transform that axe

 

[Apollo]

Got bored with the puzzle I see…

 

[13doctorwho]

Really cool project. I just put Lace pickups on my black and white Stratocaster to make it more like Eric Clapton in the 90s. I also have a Keith Richards styled Telecaster.

This is much more ambitious than either of mine. Looking really good, it's an iconic guitar for sure.

 

[PHArchivist]

A closer look at my upper horn (has been further finessed since this image), compared to the original (first pic):

 

[PHArchivist]

Beginning to work on the lower horn...

 

[PHArchivist]

Some more progress...

Just a reminder, I'm notably farther along; just posting a few progress pics each day.

 

[joberg]

Looking very good. I guess it's the layering game you're playing right now

 

[PHArchivist]

Looking very good. I guess it's the layering game you're playing right now

Yeah... The black paint on the real deal is about the thickness as a sheet of paper, (or more).

Hence supporting how templates could do the job. But to me, somehow, that's cheating...

 

[PHArchivist]

Eff up...

Move along now...

 

[PHArchivist]

OK try this...

Progressing

 

[joberg]

Eager to see how you're gonna yellow the dials and mikes

 

[yaris]

 

[chibobber]

NICOTINE! SRV smoked and the clubs were full of smoke. Set up a smoke box and leave those parts marinate. Will be yellow in no time

 

[13doctorwho]

Fender actually sells cream pickups, knobs and switch knob. They kind of look like yellowed white hardware.