Welt Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 (edited) This is my first project guitar. Its basically a replica of the Ernie Ball/Music Man Edward Van Halen Model. This is my favortie guitar of all time. I really like this guitar, but I don't want to shell out $1800 for a used one. And plus I want to make it my own with some different options The body is an unbound 1/4" Quilt Maple cap on a basswood body. Its routed the same as the EVH model, including for a Floyd Rose. This body was built by Scott Miller of Miller Guitar Works in Fort Worth, Texas. Cost was $150 Body done before finish: Back: http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/body_back.jpg Neck Joint: http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/neck_joint.jpg The neck started out as a paddle head. It was cut in the Music Man 4-2 style. There is also a piece of Quilt Maple veneer, made from the left over top, overlaying the head. Its drilled for Schaller Tuners. Routed for a top mounted R2 Floyd Rose nut. This was also made by Scott Miller for $125 Neck with Tuner Holes drilled: http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/lock_nut.jpg Edited August 13, 2005 by Welt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welt Posted August 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 (edited) I started the staining process a couple days ago. I'm using ColorTone stain wixed with denatured alcohol. The base coat was a super dark black. I put many coats of this on. I let it sit for a day and then started sanding it yesterday. After enough black was removed, then a green stain was applied to the body and the headstock. No pictures of the headstock yet. I didn't take a picture of the dark stain but here are pics of the process: After sanding for 5 minutes http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/First_sand.jpg Another shot. Dont remember how long after sanding: http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/grey.jpg http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/Grey_2.jpg And finally, the green: http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/Green.jpg http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/green2.jpg The green looks britgher in person and will look really good after clearcoat. Pictures just odn't do the color justice. Today I will be painting the black on the back and sides, let it dry and start the clear coat tomorrow or monday. I'm interested in hearing your feedback. Edited August 13, 2005 by Welt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!!METAL MATT!! Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 It Look's Good!! And For The Price Afew Thing's, Now It Look's Like You dont Have Much Room To Round Over The Edge On the Back of the Guitar With the Toggle switch Cavity so Close to the Edge like That, And The Same Thing With the Neck screw There! So What Are You planing To do With the Back? !!METAL MATT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!!METAL MATT!! Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Hey I Love That Color But Just A Head's Up One Pic per post Forum Rules There Also Kinda To Big !!METAL MATT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welt Posted August 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 (edited) Hey I Love That Color But Just A Head's Up One Pic per post Forum Rules There Also Kinda To Big !!METAL MATT!! ← Fixed it. I'm gonna spray black lacquer on the back. Don't worry about the cavity and neck hole being really close. They arent that close. Enough wood is still there. Very tight control cavities, almost wish I didn't go that route. But its the look I'm going for. I will not be rounding over the edge. Edited August 13, 2005 by Welt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Nice! It's cool that you were able to pick up such nice parts for a really good price, too. I like the preservation of that EBMM five-bolt neck joint, too, even if it doesn't have the five-bolt neck plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay5 Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 I think that I would have sanded back the black a bit more myself but if youre happy with it keep going, I cant wait to see it finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CudBucket Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Very, very nice. But I too, think the cavity and two of the neck bolts are too close to the edge. Hope that works out. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 But I too, think the cavity and two of the neck bolts are too close to the edge. Yeah, doesn't look like much room for a roundover on the edge. The original EVH/Axis used a five-bolt neckplate instead of recessed washers and screws, so there's no issue with clearing the edge on the originals. Still kicks ass, IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welt Posted August 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 (edited) But I too, think the cavity and two of the neck bolts are too close to the edge. Yeah, doesn't look like much room for a roundover on the edge. The original EVH/Axis used a five-bolt neckplate instead of recessed washers and screws, so there's no issue with clearing the edge on the originals. Still kicks ass, IMHO ← Thanks alot. I didn;t even bother trying to get a plate from EBMM. I have a Wolfgang and I like the recessed screws and I like the 5-Bolt pattern so I had them combined. Its comfortable as it is even without the round over Edited August 13, 2005 by Welt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Which pickups are you going to use? Yes, I am an EVH/Axis/Wolfgang fanboi... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welt Posted August 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Which pickups are you going to use? Yes, I am an EVH/Axis/Wolfgang fanboi... ← DiMarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton. $112 for the set. Correct bobbin configuration also. b/c c/b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kammo1 Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Nice guitar bro do the guys that make these have a website?? Kammo1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mledbetter Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 wow. 150 for that body? that's a very nice looking top and to be a full 1/4" thick is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dino Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 Schweeeeeeet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!!METAL MATT!! Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 Nice guitar bro do the guys that make these have a website?? Kammo1 Hear's What I found http://store.millerguitarworks.com/?a= !!METAL MATT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackZ Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 this guitar is awesome! never liked the EVH-body very much, but this color is simply gorgeous. keep on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welt Posted August 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 this guitar is awesome! never liked the EVH-body very much, but this color is simply gorgeous. keep on! ← Thanks for the comments. I got the black sprayed on the back today. One more coat should do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted August 15, 2005 Report Share Posted August 15, 2005 That's a nice maple top... I don't like the tone of the green, IMO is too weak, but as long as you ar ehappy with it... And like Cud mentioned I think that the pup control cavity is a tad too close to the edge... The neck bolt is not a big deal since all you have to do is drill it a bit deeper to clear the edge of the ferrule, but the edge left between the control cover and the edge is too close, especialy with the soft basswood as a body wood, a hit in that area will most surely dent all the way to the cover. And too bad the top is only 1/4, that quilt would haved been a killer with a nice carve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welt Posted August 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 Heres the black almost done, I hit it with 0000 steel wool. Just enough to get the gloss off. I orignally did it to remove fingerprint that got in the paint. I wiped it down with Naptha (Zippo Lighter Fluid as seen in pic) to remove the oil and to clean the surface. I still need to do more with the steel wool and then wipe it down one more time: Heres the back: http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/Back,_0000.jpg http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/Back,_00002.jpg Ok, heres a shot of what I did with the binding. I still need to touch up here and there on a few spots, but nothing too major. http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/Binding.jpg And here are some better pictures of the color http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/Front2.jpg http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/Front3.jpg Heres another comparison of the headstock and body. THe head looks darker due to the angle, but are perfect when compared at the same angle. Can't wait to get my logo printed and slap it on there. Then I can start clear coating: http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/Camparison.jpg And finally my logo. ot exactly this size or the black outline. http://www.EddieVanHalen.com/images/uploads/WCG.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 I still don't know about the color, but it's OK, I think that there is too much black for the amount of green used. I like the idea of the lenghtwise venneer on the headstock, I don't remember seeing it like that before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welt Posted August 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 I still don't know about the color, but it's OK, I think that there is too much black for the amount of green used. I like the idea of the lenghtwise venneer on the headstock, I don't remember seeing it like that before. ← Thanks for the comments. I like the color. The black turned into a slight hunter green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welt Posted August 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 (edited) I started clearing the top yesterday to seal the top for binding. Clear Coat I will take a picture of it out in the sun later today. Edited August 20, 2005 by Welt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Now with the clear the gren looks a bit more deeper, better IMO. So you are putting the binding after staining the top??? I think this is a bit risky, one slip of the router, scrape on the top while scraping the binding would spell disaster for you my friend. I would haved bind and then seal the binding and after that stain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gun Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Now with the clear the gren looks a bit more deeper, better IMO. So you are putting the binding after staining the top??? I think this is a bit risky, one slip of the router, scrape on the top while scraping the binding would spell disaster for you my friend. I would haved bind and then seal the binding and after that stain. ← Totally agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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