Carolers Visit Taman Impian Ku

December 12, 2025. Team Carol 2025 from the Tamil Methodist Church (TMC) Kuantan dropped by the home of Uncle Ramesh (my neighbor) earlier tonight.

Team Carol 2025 T-Shirt

Team Carol 2025

Team Carol 2025 with Uncle Ramesh

1996 MIK Squier Stratocaster Neck - Part 5

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Clear-Coating the Fretboard

Clear-coating commenced on November 15 and concluded in early December. The job basically involved spraying light and even coats of Samurai 1/128 Clear, with gentle abrading after every three or four coats. To even out the final coat and give it a matte look, I employed 0000 grade steel wool. This would have been on December 8.

Clear-Coating in Progress

The Fretboard on December 8

Refretting Commences

As the client requested super jumbo frets, Dunlop Accu-Fret 6000 fret wire was used on this job. Fretboard prep included cleaning out and deepening the fret slots with a Luthiers Mercantile Fret Saw, all the while checking fret slot depth with a StewMac Fret Slot Depth Gauge.

Luthiers Mercantile Fret Saw in Use

Checking Fret Slot Depth

 

After cleaning the fret wire with naphtha, each two-foot length was gradually curved into a 7.5" radius with a StewMac FretBender. A 7.5" radius would help ensure that each fret would seat securely on the 9.5" radius fretboard. After cutting the fret wire to length, I also went one step further and slightly overbent the fret ends by hand.

StewMac FretBender in Use

Fret Wire Cut to Length

The frets were installed by the "hammer-in" method, as I have yet to own a fret press. The fretboard was then waxed in preparation for the next procedure, which was super gluing the fret ends. Here, drips can sometimes happen, so the back of the neck was taped off beforehand.

First Seven Frets Installed

Fret Installation Completed

Applying Super Glue to the Fret Ends

After leaving the super glue to cure overnight, the fret ends were trimmed with a StewMac Fret Cutter. The next task was leveling the trimmed fret ends flush with the fretboard edge. Two files were used for this purpose, a dedicated flat file and a plastic-bodied fret end leveling/beveling tool. This tool incorporates a removable flat file. This file may be installed in one of two slots, the first, perpendicular to the fretboard edge, and the second, angled at 35 degrees.

Trimming the Fret Ends

Files Used For Fret End Leveling

Fret End Leveling in Progress

Fret Ends Leveled - Side View

Fret Ends Leveled - Top View

With the fret ends leveled, it was time to bevel them. For this purpose, the plastic-bodied fret end tool was once again used. Repurposing this tool only required a Phillips screwdriver. The flat file was unscrewed from the perpendicular slot, and reinstalled in the angled slot.

File Angled for Fret End Beveling

Fret Ends After Beveling

Comrade! Vol. 32 Gig - Calm Before the Storm

Here we are at WarmRoom Records on the evening of December 6, 2025. Showtime is 8:30PM, so everyone is on their toes. Five bands are slated to perform, namely, Seek, Likedodgeball, Fushojiki, Channeling Mahatma, and Ratchet.

Comrade! Vol. 32 Poster

Gig Rundown

Emcee Bro Hafiz

New Stage Setup

Guitar and Bass Amps

Drum Kit Is in the Corner Now

Soundman's Station

WarmRoom Staff

Channeling Mahatma Sound Check

Yamaha Pacifica PAC612VIIFMX - Part 5

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8

Wilkinson VS50 Disassembled

In today's exciting episode, the Wilkinson VS50 Vibrato Bridge has been taken apart for evaluation and servicing. At a glance, it's obvious that most of the components are tarnished, while the screws and bolts have begun to rust. Now, while a bit of spit and polish should take care of the tarnish, I'm quite certain those rusty components will need to be replaced.

Individual Saddles Disassembled

Base Plate/Tremolo Block - Top

Base Plate/Tremolo Block - Underside

Tuners and Neck Plate

The Grover locking tuners, featuring the same satin chrome finish as the saddles, are just as tarnished as the latter. Yes, time for a little polish and lots of elbow grease. And, though the bushings themselves are largely in good shape, a number of washers show signs of rust. As for the "Yamaha" neck plate and screws, they'll look much better after some Autosol.

Grover Locking Tuners Disassembled

Neck Plate - Top

Neck Plate - Underside

More About the Neck

Looking at the butt end of the maple neck, it's safe to conclude that the lumber is rift sawn. Equally interesting are the neck heel and neck pocket stamps. We'll start with the neck pocket, then. Here, the "23 NOV 2021" stamp tells us exactly when the body was milled. Meanwhile, the "1412 - 2021" neck heel stamp suggests that the neck was also manufactured in 2021.

Neck Pocket Stamps/Markings

Neck Heel Stamps/Markings

Neck Heel - Right Side

Neck Heel -Left Side

Neck Heel - Butt End

Fretboard and Frets

The rosewood fretboard has definitely seen lots of use with probably zero cleaning and conditioning. Hopefully, we'll be able to remove all the crud and grime with naphtha. Now, the frets. The owner was complaining about fret buzz when he sent his PAC612VIIFMX in, and after closely examining the frets, I can see why. Frets 1 to 16 suffer from a combination of divots and flat spots. No spot leveling here, folks. We'll be going the whole hog and dressing all the frets.

Frets 1 - 2

Frets 3 - 4

Frets 5 - 6

Frets 7 - 8

Frets 9 - 10

Frets 11 - 12

Frets 13 - 14

Frets 15 - 16

Frets 17 - 18

The Gypsy "Di Lorong Ini" Album Launch

Date: November 29, 2025

Venue: WarmRoom Records, Putra Square, Kuantan

Event Banner

Merchandise

Stage Backdrop

Yeast

OffNote

Shake My Joystick

The Gypsy

Post-Gig Group Photo - 1

Post-Gig Group Photo - 2

Post-Gig Group Photo - 3