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My New Guitar!


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Hi all!

I have been lurking on these boards for some time ( B) )and took the plunge into making (as such) a guitar from scratch!

I wasnt brave enough :D to build a body and neck from scratch - partly because of lack of garage to work in, and im a wuss!! - so i decided to buy one! :D

Now im in :D and am looking for someone/company in london who would be able to paint/finish the guitar - as i mentioned before, i dont have anywhere to finish the guitar!

anyways - if anyone knows of anyone in london who could finish it, that would be great B)

anyway - heres the guitar so far! - btw i know that the pickups arent straight - i only laid them into the body - and as for the stoptail - i know its on the wrong way round... doh!... but you get the idea!

PA140136.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200037.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200038.jpg

the neck

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200043.jpg

the neck inlay

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200044.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200046.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200052.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200053.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA100124.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140135.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140137.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140138.jpg

heres a mockup of the headstock and truss rod cover

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...ockmockup-1.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...ckup4custom.jpg

the finished truss rod cover from www.pickguardparadise.com

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA270001.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300007.jpg

the backplate design - im getting it from www.frestonthenet.com

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300019.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300020.jpg

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The stoptail ain't even stopping anything :-D

Have you considered an oil finish? You can have the satisfaction of doing the finish yourself, plus you don't need space to do the work! Tru-oil is awesome, but I'd recommend investing in some top quality lint-free clothes to apply it.

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plenty of car painters in london have you phoned any up? best bet is to phone them cuz they usually are cheeper than somewhere like sims. i may know one that specialises in guitar they did this for me (see the guitar gallery, page 5 and toms tribal guitar in the link) and they are in crawley i think judging by the area code. art4artzsake

T

Oh and is that from woodycustom on ebay?

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i wouldnt know where to begin even with oils! what oils could i use - do they come off.... how do i put them on - would i need to oil the guitar regularly?? etc.... i really am a bit clueless!.. please help! :D

as an aside... i see your bandname in your sig... arent you supporting dkl?? :D

Edited by rob_tart
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Nice looking guitar coming along there :D

Danish Oil and Tru-oil are similar in that they are polymers with natural oils like tung and linseed. They can literally be wiped on with a cloth then left to sink into the wood and harden after a few hours. By building up lots of thin layers over a week you can get a really nice natural sheen, or buff to a good gloss. Danish oil is available in B&Q, Homebase, etc. Rustins Danish Oil is really excellent stuff, as is Watco and Colron.

Tru-oil is harder to get, you can buy on ebay or websites dealing with shooting accessories, its used to treat gunstocks. I think it hardens faster than danish oil but both will work well on guitar wood: bodies and necks.

Oh, you can finish off with 0000 grade wire wool and some natural furniture polish applied with a soft cloth. once applied, no re-oiling is necessary if the wood has had a lot of good coats. Buff up with a little polish once every now and then.

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tru oil is nice and easy to work with.

you can do a french polish. now don't get all how do I do that .

all french polish is varnish that is mixed with acohol and wiped on with a cloth same as tru oil

you can find french polish pre mixed from woodcraft.com

LIBERON French Polish

French polish in a bottle. Each is the equivalent of a 3 lb cut of the finest shellac and is ready to use right out of the bottle. Perfect for finishing (each bottle contains enough polish to finish a standard coffee table top), touch ups or as a friction polish on your next wood turning project. Three colors to choose from: Special Pale French is de-waxed and almost transparent in color; Garnet is a deep rich brown/red color; Button is a golden brown

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now don't get all how do I do that .

all french polish is varnish that is mixed with acohol and wiped on with a cloth same as tru oil

you can find french polish pre mixed from woodcraft.com

Sorry, but you are a little mistaken. :D

You can buy pre-cut shellac (generally 2lb. cut), and there is definately no such thang as french polish in a can. French Polishing is a process that uses Shellac, Alcohol,oil(like extra virgin olive oil), Pumice is often used as a grain filler. It is a special process that requires technique(you can't just wipe on shellac and shine it up later- that is not french polishing). It is not expensive to get set up to french polish. It takes a little practice to get the method down, but it can be very forgiving while you learn.

peace,Rich

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Actually I just up loaded a couple pics of the first stage of a FP job so I could send them to a friend. This is just after wash and filler coat, and getting ready to start body sessions. First pic w/flash, Second no flash so you can see reflections. That is what the finish looks like when you start building it is not "polished and buffed out" that is much later after building coats are done.

Pic 1

pic 2

Peace,Rich

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Hey Rob - yeah, we're playing with Dry Kill Logic as top support on Wednesday night. Are you a DKL fan or are you (clutching straws here...) the Rob from London, formerly from Lincoln?

peewee.gif

Nice bit of French polishing there, Rich. I had a look at the Liberon range a while back but couldn't make head nor tail of where to start. :D

Edited by Prostheta
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I don't know anything about building guitars, but know a little about wood, and that's nice piece of lumber. It would be a shame to cover up with paint. I'd find a lightly tinted stain/sealer that brings out the grain. Brush it on and rub it in evenly with a rag.

Hi all!

I have been lurking on these boards for some time ( B) )and took the plunge into making (as such) a guitar from scratch!

I wasnt brave enough :D to build a body and neck from scratch - partly because of lack of garage to work in, and im a wuss!! - so i decided to buy one! :D

Now im in :D and am looking for someone/company in london who would be able to paint/finish the guitar - as i mentioned before, i dont have anywhere to finish the guitar!

anyways - if anyone knows of anyone in london who could finish it, that would be great B)

anyway - heres the guitar so far! - btw i know that the pickups arent straight - i only laid them into the body - and as for the stoptail - i know its on the wrong way round... doh!... but you get the idea!

PA140136.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200037.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200038.jpg

the neck

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200043.jpg

the neck inlay

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200044.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200046.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200052.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P9200053.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA100124.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140135.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140137.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA140138.jpg

heres a mockup of the headstock and truss rod cover

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...ockmockup-1.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...ckup4custom.jpg

the finished truss rod cover from www.pickguardparadise.com

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA270001.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300007.jpg

the backplate design - im getting it from www.frestonthenet.com

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300019.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PA300020.jpg

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That cavity cover is pretty sweet. Is it recessed into the wood? Kinda hard to tell from the pics. For that wood I would not stain it, but shoot clear.

Oaky I don't think I understand, you didn't want to build the body or neck so you bought them, and now you don't really want to do the finish yourself so your having somone do it? So what exatly are you doing on this build? :D

Edited by Godin SD
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Here is a guitar i finished with danish oil and bri-wax. This is probably one of the easiest finished becasue you can do it with stuff thats easy to find. Tru-oil can be taken to a higher gloss with a little more effort and obviously french polish can be taken to a gloss as well but does take a bit of skill to learn

PICT0227.jpg

You could also use a brushing lacquer such as rustins plastic coating if its going to be clear, easily available in the uk and real easy to use!

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That cavity cover is pretty sweet. Is it recessed into the wood? Kinda hard to tell from the pics. For that wood I would not stain it, but shoot clear.

Oaky I don't think I understand, you didn't want to build the body or neck so you bought them, and now you don't really want to do the finish yourself so your having somone do it? So what exatly are you doing on this build? B)

The cover will be recessed into the wood once i route the cavity channel out :D

I am thinking of oils though for the finish - i still havent decided! - i would love to spray but feel it is too risky because - As i said in my original post i bought the neck and body as i wasnt brave enough to build/work it myself - just to reiterate partly because of lack of garage, and because i am a wuss!! (yes ive admitted im a wuss twice now i know! :D )

What i will be doing is constructing it! We all have to start somewhere :D

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  • 2 months later...

http://invite.filmloop.com/x?3StEAI2awu3Oh...68hY/WjD4rt9BjY

My guitar build so far! :D

In the end - I opted for Colron natural danish oil which i bought from BandQ - i bought some decent cloths and have done a lot of polishing of my wood so to speak!.... its quite theapeutic really!!! B) ... just a question though... when should i stop??.. i could carry on for aaagggess in my opinion!!!?!

I have been mostly oiling but i have done the rear cavity rout and have attached the machine heads, truss rod cover and have drilled the bridge and all the screw holes! - all ive got to do now really is attach the neck (dont panic, i have set the bridge according to the neck position to get the right scale etc B) !!) and do the electrics (and get a decent guitar strap!) .. I am aiming to try and get it finished by the end of the month! - as with all projects, it seems to be running over schedule and over budget!!! :D .... im enjoying it though (and it keeps me off the streets! B) )

Anyway... any comments please.. i know ive not done all the shaping etc... but im very proud of what i have done.. and as ive said, ive really enjoyed doing all the research etc and I cant wait to get it strung up!

Enjoy :D

PC1902851.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/PC190287.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P1070050.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P1070052.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P1070054.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P1070057.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P1070060.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P1070062.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P1070063.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/ro...rt/P1070066.jpg

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Drak mentioned that oiling wood can be a stage under a lacquer finish as long as the wood has had PLENTY of time to dry out. I hope he clarifies this in terms of your build. That said, it'll be a LOT lighter without several tons of finish on there! Great contouring around the upper and lower cutout too. Very slick. Despite me being an EMG man myself, it seems a shame not to use some nice passives in there....

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Looks like this will turn out very nice. Congrats. I am a firm believer in a kit (or in you case) a parts build as a very good way to get your feet wet. Granted you don't gain the woodworking experience, but many questions get answered on a build like this and you wind up better prepared for the next one!.

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Drak mentioned that oiling wood can be a stage under a lacquer finish as long as the wood has had PLENTY of time to dry out. I hope he clarifies this in terms of your build. That said, it'll be a LOT lighter without several tons of finish on there! Great contouring around the upper and lower cutout too. Very slick. Despite me being an EMG man myself, it seems a shame not to use some nice passives in there....

...thanks about the contouring etc - please remeber - i didnt actually do it - the body was precut etc - so i cant take any credit for that!!!!

Hopefully drak can shed some light on this oil, wait, then lacquer then!!!! :D OI DRAKKK!!!>.. what say you!?? B)

PASSIVE EMGS!!??? :D Im shocked!!!!

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Looks like this will turn out very nice. Congrats. I am a firm believer in a kit (or in you case) a parts build as a very good way to get your feet wet. Granted you don't gain the woodworking experience, but many questions get answered on a build like this and you wind up better prepared for the next one!.

Glad you likes!!!! B)

...ironically enough though - i have got woodworking experience - i got an a at A-level design technology (:D) - i made an ergonomically designed wooden lounger seat, out of flexible ply wood B) !! - but as you quite rightly said - youll end up prepared for the next one!!!! :D (not too sure the girlfriend would want ANOTHER project guitar though!!! :D |)

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I didn't mean passive EMGs of course - I despise those with a passion! I meant something nice and dynamic, perhaps a little more organic like DiMarzio Tone Zones or FREDs, or perhaps something from Bare Knuckle. I think EMGs will sound awesome in there, but I think sometimes that they disguise some of the finer points of how an instrument is made and the natural properties of the materials also.

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  • 3 months later...

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