Very nice, Spacey.  

Man I appreciate the kudos but...
if I could take pictures and you would have been here you
be congratulating me for surviving...maybe....and there would
probably be at least 10 more 12's.
 
This has been nothing like building one.
I've watched those shows that folks buy an old home and restore it and
all the while I'm  thinking; wouldn't it be better and probably cheaper just
to build a new one?; so if there wasn't sentimental value and the oppertunity to learn
then this would be one dumb ass project. I'm hoping I learned a few things...'cause it
wasn't cheap or easy. Geeze...had to strip it down twice!
Those rattle cans are about 15 dollars a shot and I got on a first name basis with the guy that
sells them....I could go on but I have coffee getting cold. It was fun though. Much like blowing
coins on the midway.
 
 
oh Craig...I do have a sense of humor and that was funny:)

Aww, that looks great and I love the story behind it.
 
It's kind of like having a little brother I guess, he's great for sharpening your claws on when you are younger but you have less time for each other later on but you stilll love him and make the effort to fix him up and treat him right.
 
Now he's looking bloody well for his age and I'm sure you've just made him feel like a million dollars.

That guitar certainly looks good. I feel your pain on the sound and the tone. 
 
Reminded me of a guitar I bought at a church yard sale for $20 (included a case)..... this thing was so ugly it was beautiful. Green in color with a bunch of those old slide switches for pickup selection. The neck felt pretty good. The condition was good too... not a bunch of dings or scratches.... and 2 chromed pickups that had no adjustment pole pieces like my Gibson.  Since it was bought on a Saturday morning, I carried it to the gig that night. Plugged into my Mesa and it proceeded to scream with feedback...... tone was horrid.... I actually was determined to give it a fair shake and played a few songs in the first set using it..... but... in all seriousness..... after the second song, it had to go back in the case..... where's my trusty Gibson?
 
I sold it to the sound man about a week or two later.
 
 
BTW: my first "real" electric was a $99 Harmony solid body with 2 PU's.... from the local music store. Nice guitar for the price and the day..... kinda wish I had kept all the guitars I have ever owned.