Building "Pistol Pete" The $52 Temu Guitar: Body Prep for Assembly (OSU Tribute Part 8)

Can a $52 guitar kit actually be a solid foundation for a custom build? In Part 8 of the Pistol Pete project, we’re prepping the mahogany body of our Temu T-Style kit for assembly. This Oklahoma State University tribute guitar is finally coming together, but first, we have to tackle the "hidden" essentials: ground wire drilling and cavity shielding. I’m walking you through why I prefer a dedicated ground wire hole over the "over-the-side" method and sharing my experience with Rustins G-Shield paint. We also offer a "word to the wise" regarding shielding before or after your clear coat—a lesson learned the hard way! Whether you’re working on a budget kit or a high-end build, grab a Diet Coke and some popcorn, and let’s get to work at the bench. Note: This project is a personal fan tribute and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Oklahoma State University. Just a dad building a cool guitar for his son! In this episode: Drilling the bridge ground wire hole. Shielding the cavities using conductive paint. Connecting cavities for full continuity using the bare wire technique. A first look at the upgraded hardware: Artech Big Pole pickups and "cowboy-style" engraved plates. Discussion on the "hidden costs" and value of $52 Temu kits. Watch the Full Pistol Pete Journey: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMhTW3lOIKQ3f6ekNy_Ghk0cbRaBeJrZl Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome back to the shop! 0:45 – The truth about this $52 Mahogany Temu body. 1:26 – The two-step plan: Grounding and Shielding. 2:00 – Drilling the ground wire hole. 3:20 – Deep dive into cavity shielding with Rustins G-Shield. 5:14 – Why I’m building this guitar for my son. 6:38 – Applying the first coat of shielding paint. 9:40 – Why you should avoid shielding the output jack hole. 12:25 – Options for connecting cavity continuity. 16:03 – Testing for continuity 18:50 – Can you poly over shielding paint? 21:17 – Unboxing the upgrades: Strap buttons and Artec Pickups. 25:45 – Bridge fitting: Filling and redrilling for the new plate. 29:34 – Community shoutouts and closing thoughts. Rustins G Shield - Shielding Paint https://amzn.to/4eh92pl Artec Big Pole (Neck Pickup) https://amzn.to/4tpElTx Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate links. If you buy something I may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. ____ Shoutouts: @TexasToastGuitars @j-mansgearcave (Jay) @TonJager (Brant) Checkout our playlist page for more series and journeys https://www.youtube.com/@TedTalksGuitars/playlists Special Thanks to our channel members "The Jacks" Want to support the channel? Feel free to explore Channel membership options: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBr6kaWeOvldTHvntB3tnMg/join Ted Talks Guitars & Life Merch Store: https://tedtalksguitars-shop.fourthwall.com/ Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3W3PZox *If you click on this link to shop at Amazon the channel will receive a modest financial commission from your purchases. Guyker Referral Link: https://www.guyker.com/?ref=tedtalksguitars If you use the link you will save 15% at Guyker Use the coupon code: TEDSMITH #GuitarBuild #Temu #PistolPete #Luthier #GuitarRepair #BudgetGuitar #OklahomaState #DIYGuitar #GuitarTech #Telecaster