NGD...I present the Duno Superstrat

[harddriver]

I finally finished this project up, it sat for way too long.

Since I never cared for my Dean Dime ML I wanted a Dime Nuno fiddle with an L500XL in it. This is my 1983 Kramer imperial clone DUNO guitar. KNE Poplar body, Musikraft 0.87"/0.95" 12" radius maple neck/Pao Ferro fretboard 6100 Jumbo frets, Antique copper Floyd Rose, 42 MM OFR brass block, Bill and Becky L500XL, Seymour Duncan 59N, NOS Kramer Schaller tuners, I have a .5mm brass shim under the neck so I can set the Floyd totally flat. I'll note that this guitar is only running two 500K volume pots, I have the tonepot disconnected ala, Nuno, EVH and Dime(Which I didn't know about until recently).............

I also have a Seymour Duncan Jupiter pickup to try in it but I like the B&B L500XL alot so far.

Body color is Krylon Metallic Copper with antique worn copper relicing cleared with Spraymax 2K satin clear, Neck finish is 3 coats of Birchwood Casey Gunstock Oil, two coats of Birchwood Casey gunstock Wax just like EBMM uses. Headstock is cleared with Spraymax 2K satin clear. The Spraymax 2K applies great cures awesome and the fantip shoots awesome...thanks to Velcro Fly, Smashing Atom and everyone else for the suggestions and tips in my paint thread in the Tech corner.

Guitar intonated fine, plays good and the poplar is quite resonant, I'm still not 100% happy with the neck body pocket fitment but it works, (I had to do alot of sanding and I should not have), the Musikraft neck is great like all my Musikraft necks. The KNE neck pocket needed work and I'll leave it at that. I was concerned that the B&B L500XL would be shrill with not alot of bottom end like my BLUSA L500XL but the B&B L500XL is a step up from the BLUSA IMHO. It's better balanced with a nice lowend and the highs are not shrill at all even with the tone pot bypassed.

The B&B L500XL sounds like this BLUSA B&B comparision video from Euge( The COUNT)

 

[thegame]

I dunno about that

 

[kchoe]

I dig this build! That stinks that the KNE body needed work but this looks great!

 

[SoooRad]

Funny enough, I also have a Musikraft neck on a KNE body, and they also don't fit together super well. Sweet guitar!

 

[* velcro-fly *]

Looks great! Nice job on the guitar!

 

[harddriver]

I dig this build! That stinks that the KNE body needed work but this looks great!

Thanks, overall I'm pleased with it, but I just can't help but feel howmuch better it could be with a better neck pocket fitup. I did my best with what I had, I can always scrap this body and pick up a Musikraft Kramer body in the future... we'll see.

Funny enough, I also have a Musikraft neck on a KNE body, and they also don't fit together super well. Sweet guitar!

Funny that you would have the same issue.

I have a Warmoth neck/body build....perfect neck pocket fit. I also have a Musikraft neck/body build perfect neck pocket fit. This was my first KNE body and will probably be my last....the Kramer exterior body dimensions are spot on but the standard Fender neck pocket was not correct and did not fit the 2 3/16" Musikraft neck.

It was so tight the neck would not even push into the pocket and then it appeared as though the side walls of the neck pocket were slightly cupped. Either way I think I will spend the extra bucks and purchase from Musikraft or Warmoth if I decide to do any more guitar builds.

Oh well... it's together now, it plays, stays in tune and makes noise I guess that's what counts in the end!

 

[harddriver]

Looks great! Nice job on the guitar!

Your endorsement for the Spraymax 2K clear was spot on and money well spent! Thanks!

 

[* velcro-fly *]

Your endorsement for the Spraymax 2K clear was spot on and money well spent! Thanks!

Glad it worked for you! Its great stuff, relatively easy to use and the end result is usually killer. I've got a few projects in the works now and cans of 2K on deck haha. Re 2K vs 1K - I've run into some repeated headaches with 1k primers shrinking back and think I'm just gonna bite the bullet and spend the extra $$$ on SprayMax 2K primer moving forward, it flashes off super quick, gets dry / hard faster and allegedly doesn't have the shrink back issue.

Stoked your project turned out killer, time to get the next one on deck!

 

[harddriver]

Glad it worked for you! Its great stuff, relatively easy to use and the end result is usually killer. I've got a few projects in the works now and cans of 2K on deck haha. Re 2K vs 1K - I've run into some repeated headaches with 1k primers shrinking back and think I'm just gonna bite the bullet and spend the extra $$$ on SprayMax 2K primer moving forward, it flashes off super quick, gets dry / hard faster and allegedly doesn't have the shrink back issue.

Stoked your project turned out killer, time to get the next one on deck!

So they make a 2k catalyzed primer as well now.....I'll have to keep that in mind! Thanks again!

 

[* velcro-fly *]

Either way I think I will spend the extra bucks and purchase from Musikraft or Warmoth if I decide to do any more guitar builds.

Will add I've had good luck with KnE but have been getting most of my stuff from these guys in Canada lately....getting the ruff versions to save a few $$$. No worries on import duties either since its finished product under $800:

https://tonebomb.com/

 

[mnemonic]

I was concerned that the B&B L500XL would be shrill with not alot of bottom end like my BLUSA L500XL but the B&B L500XL is a step up from the BLUSA IMHO. It's better balanced with a nice lowend and the highs are not shrill at all even with the tone pot bypassed.

That’s pretty much how I feel about them also. I have a BLUSA L500xl from the 90’s (out of a Nuno signature actually) and it has a pretty cool tonality but it’s just a bit too grating to use for any extended period of time.

I bought a B&B L500xl for my strat on a whim (mainly because I thought the creme and chome would look killer on sunburst, and it does) and it’s a real step up, keeps that real unique tonality but is so much more balanced.

 

[harddriver]

That’s pretty much how I feel about them also. I have a BLUSA L500xl from the 90’s (out of a Nuno signature actually) and it has a pretty cool tonality but it’s just a bit too grating to use for any extended period of time.

I bought a B&B L500xl for my strat on a whim (mainly because I thought the creme and chome would look killer on sunburst, and it does) and it’s a real step up, keeps that real unique tonality but is so much more balanced.

I had to run the tonepot on my Dean Dime ML to try to take out some of the shrill..........I had an extra new BLUSA sitting around so I happily gave the guy the pickup that bought the Dean and I was happy to be rid of it. Granted it was one of latest production(2018 I think) BLUSA's so the old ones might be better for sure. But it was almost even too shrill and harsh with no low end for Dime stuff.

If I didn't like the B&B L500XL I have a SD Jupiter sitting here to try out as well, I hear those as slightly warmer L500XL, the B&B L500XL is 13.92K ohms and I think the Jupiter was about 14K when I measured it. So far the I'm going to keep the B&B in it and play it, I probably will swap in the Jupiter at some time just to hear it.

 

[mnemonic]

The Jupiter looks super cool but holy hell is it expensive. I remember being excited when they launched but the price kinda put me off.