SpaceGear - Custom Guitar Builds by Alien The Cat

Current Projects

The SPACECASTER Guitar

Work in progress

The Fender(TM) Jack White Signature Triplecaster is one of the most innovative guitars in recent years. I love it, but didn't want to spend the cash and I felt like building something. So I decided to modify a Harley Benton TE-62 DB. View Build Progress →

Les Travel Jr Guitar

Done

A compact travel guitar based on a Harley Benton DC-Junior FAT.

View Project Details →

Modular Synth Case

Done

Custom Eurorack case for housing some modules. The case was built around a Behringer Eurorack Rack.

View Project Details →

SPACECASTER Guitar Project

I love the Fender(TM) Jack White Signature Triplecaster, one of the the most innovative guitars in recent years.

This is an image of the original FenderTriplecaster:

But I didn't want to spend the cash and I had the itch to build something with my hands. My SPACECASTER should include the configuration of the Triplecaster, but not be an exact copy. So I used the 3 pickup configuration and the wiring of the Triplecaster, added a Duesenberg tremolo, and a Hipshot Xpander, but did not do the powdercoating.

This is my SPACECASTER:

The body and neck is from a Harley Benton HB TE-62DB BK. I routed the body, shieled the caveats, polished the frets, painted the headstock, installed new tuners, the tremolo, the pickups and pots, and made a custom scratchplate.

SPACECASTER Specifications

Body

Based on: HB TE-62DB
Wood: Basswood
Shape: T-Style
Finish: Black, double binding
Routing: Spacecaster 3 pickup
Binding: White on top and back

Neck

Based on: HB TE-62DB
Wood: vintage caramel maple with roseacer skunkstripe
Fingerboard: Laurel, oiled
Profile: Modern D
Scale Length: 25.5"
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo, polished
Radius: 305 mm

Electronics

Neck: Fender Wide Range Humbucker
Middle: Iron Gear Platinum 90
Bridge: TV Jones Power'Tron
Controls: Volume, Tone, direct to Jack, 3-way
Special: Kill Switch
Output: Standard 1/4"

Hardware

Bridge: Cut vintage Tele Bridge
Tremolo: Duesenberg
Tuners: Gotoh HAPM
Special: Hipshot Xpander

Build Gallery

Photos will be added as the build progresses

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Initial wood selection

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Body shaping process

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Neck construction

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Electronics installation

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Finishing process

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Completed SPACECASTER

Les Travel JR Project

When Alien The Cat goes on vacation, he wants to bring along a guitar. The Les Travel JR is a compact travel guitar based on a Harley Benton DC Junior FAT. I cut down the "wings", routed the body to host tone and volume pots, and made custom fittings to attach the wings for better playability. The guitar is now ultra portable and still very playable.

This project focused on creating a guitar that can easily fit in overhead compartments and backpacks without sacrificing tone or playability. The simplified single-pickup design keeps things straightforward while delivering that classic Junior sound.

The original Harley Benton:

HB chopped up with a saw:

The result: small without the wings, but still very playable with the wings attached!

The result: small without the wings, and still very playable with the wings attached!

The Les Travel Jr is ready to take along on any vacation. Sorry about the crappy mobile phone photos. Let me know if you want to know more details about the build process or if you want to see additional Photos.

Modular Synth Case Project

This custom Eurorack case was designed to house a portable modular synthesizer setup.

The case is build around a Behringer Eurorack Rack, 84 HP with. The Behringer Eurorack 104 would have been an alternative, but was not available at the time.

Key modules include a power supply, USB port for powering keys, delay, reverb, and output mixers.