Just an update on the status of the 51.
Got the neck today, looks great, no sharp frets, and I think the nut will be fine after all. The birdseyes aren't quite as prominent as they look in the ebay pics, and the wood is even more pale than I thought it would be (and sadly there is no flame to be had). But I am still very happy with it. Satin finish is wonderful.
Only off thing is the fact that there are five screwholes at the body end of the neck instead of just four. Not sure why this is, but it is not a concern in the slightest.
Also, now when the guitar is rebuilt, if I decide to sell (unlikely) I will perhaps be able to pass it off as a stock guitar, as the neck has an original serial number. Only difference is my pickguard will be black, whereas sunburst 51's only came with white pickguards.
I am going to the lutier tomorrow, as I STILL do not have the guitar. I took it in 3 Mondays ago and was told 1-1.5 weeks, but still no word. No big deal, as I plan to give them a revised list of things I want done, and some pics I got of custom pickguards from the 51 modders forum. I might decide to go for a custom pickguard shape instead of trying to replicate the original shape. It will mostly depend on how much more it will cost to have the leftover screwholes filled in and refinished.
Speaking of the 51 modders forum, I tried to sign up to the forum, but all new signups need to be personally approved by an administrator, and a week after trying, my signup still hasn't been confirmed. No big deal.
