A Clockwork Guitar, the Steampunk Stratocaster

Jake von Slatt — Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

I have a Fender US Highway One series Stratocaster, which is a half decent guitar, but looks just like a million other Strats. I had been planning to replace the pick guard with a black mother of pearl guard but my experiments in electrolytic etching made me think I'd like to try something a bit more unique. Thus the Steampunk Strat was born.

I started by scanning the pick guard and printing out a bunch of copies that I could sketch on until I got the image that I wanted.

Next I carefully traced an outline of the pick guard and begun to draw my image. The concept was to make the pick guard look like a brass clock escapement with gears, cogs and a flywheel.

drawing the escapement for the clockwork guitar

Google images was instrumental in finding images of clock escapements I could cadge features from. Once I had a good drawing I scanned it back into the computer and filled in the black area with the Gimp (a Linux image editor like Paint Shop Pro). This gave me a mock-up to test on the guitar.

Next step was to cut the brass and to iron a laser printed reverse image on it. See my article on Electrolytic Etching for the details of that process.

There were some gaps and flaws in the toner mask so I touched it up with paint.

Into the copper sulfate bath, I made a nice cathode grid and a new plate holder out of brazing rod for this project.

Mysterious energies etch away the copper and zinc components of the brass. I love that blue!

The etched pick guard was cleaned up with steel wool, drilled and the pickup holes cut out. Then painted with 2 coats of Krylon Ultra Flat Black.

After the paint dried overnight I sanded away the high spots, polished it a little with some more steel wool and gave it a couple of coats of lacquer.

I painted the pickup covers and knobs with Krylon Plastic Fusion paint and re-assembled the pick guard to the guitar. If you are interesting in making your own, the original artwork can be found here.

The Clockwork Steampunk Stratocaster Guitar

The finished Clockwork Steampunk Stratocaster !

Set everything up with plain water and apply the power. I am assuming that your charger has a meter on it. Mix in a teaspoon at a time until the meter reads 5 amps or so if it is a typically sized charger. If it's a large charger you can go for a higher amperage. Regardless, even a small amount will work so start small and experiment.

ahh, just drop some in and

DreamHazard — Tue, 04/27/2010 - 12:23

ahh, just drop some in and see then! should've just said!

yes, it's a bloody bugger not being able to use proper British measurements, we used to measure it in cups of tea!

Anyway, thanks for that... I'm planning on doing some plates, and maybe a decal for my violin, provided it doesn't sound too bad (I'm guessing it will, but it'll still look cool =D)

Awesome job on the strat!!!!

machinecorpse — Mon, 02/15/2010 - 00:54

Dude,

I love the attention to detail and the industrial revolution feel to the stuff you build and modify. I just finished building a new metal guitar myself. Here is a link if your interested.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=152895653&albumId=1750678

I just discovered your sight today whilst looking for ways to chemically plate copper to iron. I'm so glad I found your sight. I think I'll be making a Wimshurst Machine of my own very soon. Like in the next few days.

Awesome,
Kris Barton
Wasilla, Alaska

You do really wonderful work.

Andratte — Tue, 01/26/2010 - 15:04

You do really wonderful work. While I am sure that you have been told that many times, one more wont hurt.

I used your etching guide and have the process down. My question is how did you cut the brass in this shape so perfectly? I understand how you made a guide, but what tools did you use to cut it?

Thanks!

A band saw, and then I

Jake von Slatt — Tue, 01/26/2010 - 15:16

A band saw, and then I cleaned up the edges with a belt-sander.

This guitar is beautiful than

Clockworckbutcher — Fri, 01/22/2010 - 05:02

This guitar is beautiful than other steampunk guitars I have saw.
Guitar with metal body dosen't sound beutiful.

How much does it all cost with out guitar ?

I have idea to make my black les paul look something like this.
Unfortunately I don't have pickguard on my guitar and my budget is tight.

Les paul pickguard picture

My guitar looks like this

Do you sell your work ?I

doug — Fri, 11/06/2009 - 18:47

Do you sell your work ?I would be interested to have a steampunk-like telecaster pickguard....
Your work is fantastic it's really amazing ! Thanks

I don't do commisions but my

Jake von Slatt — Sun, 11/08/2009 - 17:53

I don't do commisions but my design are all Creative Commons, Attribution, Share-alike so if you find a local craftsperson to male one for you they are welcome to the original designs.

Very nice

saganhill — Mon, 09/21/2009 - 21:12

Do you sell your work? I would be interested in buying this for my Strat.

Thank you,
SP

Steampunk Strat

Rxyrox — Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:40

Jake: Love the etching. Could I get a copy of it e-mailed? Full credit to your "lateral thinking" projects. P.S.: My brother has the same amp cabinet, turned into an amp, but nowhere near as enhanced!!

Rex

Great Work and Inspiration!

bybenjamin — Wed, 09/02/2009 - 16:11

I came across this page a while back and it inspired me to play around with the process myself. The first time out I was able to create this great self-portrait...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bybenjamin/3881998038/in/photostream/

I haven't used electricity in the process yet, but I might if only to speed up the process: etching took over two hours.

Thanks for all the photos, information, and inspiration. :D

~Benjamin

Wrong Guitar

Ferlo — Sun, 07/26/2009 - 13:37

I mean, the guitar looks great, but I think you should've used Eastwood Guitar's Airline 2P DLX in Sunburst. It already looks pretty steampunk with the crimson pickguard and all. This is just my opinion. I don't know how hard it would be to acquire a new plain pickguard for it, so in that sense the Strat was a good idea.

Fantastic work

steedy123 — Sun, 07/05/2009 - 19:57

This is seriously fantastic work Jake. Would you mind if you sent me the template of the full design or something? My love for steampunk grows stronger and stronger the more I see masterpieces like these =)

Man, I Really like your

Elduderon — Mon, 06/29/2009 - 09:53

Man, I Really like your work!

I'm Trying to do the same with one of my guitars, but i can't create a a real good art...
Is there any way you can send me the original that you used in your guitar?
'Cause I just can't draw something as cool as you...

Thanks a Lot for the help, and congrats for the job!

Amazing!

tacamaral — Thu, 06/25/2009 - 22:55

Man, that's excellent work! Congratulations.

Using your techniques, I have done somethings myself (nothing compared to this guitar, though).

I showed this guitar to a friend of mine who owns a stratocaster and - guess what - he asked to write you asking for the template (as others have done). : )

Is it at all possible?

Thanks a bunch for all the info.

All the best.

Sure, drop me an email and

Jake von Slatt — Fri, 06/26/2009 - 09:57

Sure, drop me an email and I'll send it to you!
Thanks for the kind words!
Jake.

Copper Sulfate Bath

jstanfield — Tue, 06/02/2009 - 13:19

Excellent work Jake!

Where on earth did you get the idea for the copper sulfate bath for the pick guard?

I ask only because I'm working with a company that is producing music instruments, and they're looking for something interesting to do with an aluminum panel aside from painting or covering it in Tolex. I thought of this and wanted to know where you got that idea?

It's an old process used for

Jake von Slatt — Tue, 06/02/2009 - 15:13

It's an old process used for making etchings of the print variety, I found most of the best information here: http://www.greenart.info/galvetch/contfram.htm
I've seen aluminum electrolytically etched in salt water with good results as well.

clockwork artwork

damnallmyemails — Wed, 04/08/2009 - 13:36

wow jake man you have a serious cool idea here i wonder do you still have the artwork for this guitar i would love to do this on my strats pickguard but i couldn't find very many gears cogs and wheels and my drawing sucks lol. anyway you have this scan still around and could a brotha use it

Awesome axe!

LonePhantom — Thu, 03/26/2009 - 03:25

That pickguard is absolutely awesome. I'd love something like that for one of my guitars. I reckon continuing the theme on the rest of the body would be brilliant too.

From a fan

eL3VEn — Wed, 01/07/2009 - 20:05

Hello I'm a fan of steampunk as a style and thriving culture and also a huge fan of your site and works, I have a request that if its not to much trouble would be a great help and very much appreciated; I too have a Highway one strat and i love what you have done with yours and i was hoping that i could possible get your template to make my own clockwork strat from your design, I also plan to do a few designs of my own using the technics i have learned from your site but nothing i have drawn has compared to yours in representing the steampunk style. It would be much appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
-Max R. Barton

Thumbs up Dude

swabby1965 — Sun, 12/21/2008 - 18:51

Now you have an awesome one of a kind Strat. Sweet!

Actually, I recently sold her

Jake von Slatt — Mon, 12/22/2008 - 10:35

Actually, I recently sold her to none other then Nathaniel Johnstone of Abney Park! Rumour has it she has already laid down several smoke'n tracks on the new album!

nice

Punkerpan — Fri, 07/25/2008 - 23:13

good job jake!

amazing guitar!

gryosium von krieger — Fri, 08/21/2009 - 16:09

i love what you have done to your strat i would love to something similar please send me the template

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