ScottR Posted November 12, 2010 Report Share Posted November 12, 2010 Nice "table top" that headstock is laying on. The HS looks good too. I was skeptical about making it look like the body binding. Did you have much clean up of masked edges? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oblaty Posted November 12, 2010 Report Share Posted November 12, 2010 Nice cheat Drak! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted November 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2010 Nice cheat Drak! Thanks! Did you have much clean up of masked edges? Yes, there was some clean up necessary, I used a brand new utility knife blade to clean up a few small imperfections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFly Posted November 12, 2010 Report Share Posted November 12, 2010 I can kinda see where the imperfections are in the artificial binding there. Little waves and peel marks here and there. I'm assuming these pics were taken before you cleaned it up with the blade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted November 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2010 No, they were taken afterwards. The problems were: 1. A bit of overspray onto the face where the tape lifted a little bit that had to be scraped back to a clean line 2. A small piece of paint wasn't 100% dry when I pulled tape and it 'drooped' onto the black, which cleaned up quick. These pics were taken from about 4 inches away, very up close and personal. At normal viewing distance, I can't see any issues I would have a problem with, YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFly Posted November 12, 2010 Report Share Posted November 12, 2010 I'm sure you know, but I meant absolutely no harm from the last post. I'm always a little extra critical of your work because of your abilities. I really do like this build a lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted November 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2010 I meant absolutely no harm from the last post I didn't remotely think you did. I have a great respect for people who repair guitars for a living. It's an entirely different ballgame than building guitars as a hobby and calls for talents I don't have and maybe never will. So there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Starting the buffout process on Loco-Head... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I call this the 'Shinedown' phase, as the lacquer that looked great is now getting the process that will take it to perfect mirror-flat shine. In the third (last) pic, you can see the shiny/flat areas where the Micro-Mesh is starting to perfectly level out the finish. I did chip those damn TOM holes a bit, but nothing the lips of the stud won't cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 ...And we're off to the buffing station, Micro Mesh is now done. That went fast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Got mah shine back on now... On to installing the tuners, Gotoh gold Lockers. I friggin' love that faux binding job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Starting to put it all together now. All cavities have been shielded with copper foil tape, including pickup cavities, control cavity, and connections in between, then the foam goes under the pickups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Those are great pictures for trying to explain to someone who's new to finishing how the leveling should go. It's hard to get pictures that effectively show the surface getting flatter and flatter when these ridges get real small towards the end. Kudos. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Thanks Chris . The original pickup layout was going to be an EMG job, 2 SA's and an 85 in the bridge, and you will see that in a few pics, but I decided the white just didn't cut it and have since swapped them out. Anyway, here's another cool little trick. I CYA glue the springs to the bottoms of the pickups. No biggie either, as when I removed the SA's, I also removed the springs for use on the next pickups. Gluing the springs on sure makes it a hella lot easier to get them installed, and it really just a drop, maybe not even a full drop of glue holding them on there... Anyway, on with the show... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Now I have the tuners on, bridge and tailpiece basically in place, I can put it together, align the neck to the bridge properly, and drill the holes for the neck screws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 And here is Version 1 done less electronics, but it's not done yet, I couldn't roll with the white, I thought it would look good, but changed my mind out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 So we went from this...to the next try. Different pickups, different bridge, different knobs, different look! Still not happy yet. Those were two lace Hot Golds with a DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF in the bridge. Interesting, but still not there yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Well done sir! Excellent finishing how-to/tips. I think the white is very in your face in the pictures. The black and gold look better in the pictures. I wish I could see it in person to give you a better opinion. Creme might be the best... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops1983 Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Very cool Drak! That top reminds me of mine but richer colours. I like the black S/C's but the gold isn't quite there...what about a black cover h/b bridge p/up with gold slugs? Can ya even get gold slugs? hmmmm.....Looking good anyway! Chad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Well, money's tight right now, and I have a drawer overflowing with pickups, so my deal to myself is that I have to find something here that I already have that will satisfy the requirement. I'm not done yet, and actually, the damn thing looks much nicer in person than it does in the pics, I'll try to get a shot of it in the sun if the sun should so cooperate in the next few days. I was dissapointed in the EMG thing, I really wanted that to do the trick, and yes, I also thought that Creme would be the ticket, but alas, no Creme pickups to be found in the pickup drawer. I have several Bardens that would work, and they would most likely sound fabulous in this guitar (softer woods) but from a design standpoint, I wanted to stay away from any Blade style pickups as the Rosewood sort of goes up and down, and blades go across, sort of a design clash I think I want to avoid. I was considering a black cover HB like a Drop and Gain or a Hemi or something Lace-oriented, but damn, no Lace HB's in the drawer! Haha! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFly Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I like the 2nd pickups better. Wile the white looks nice, it's like putting a lumberjack in a zuit suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Haven't you mentioned painting pickups or pickup covers before? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Haven't you mentioned painting pickups or pickup covers before? That is so hilarious you mentioned that. I did a quick thread on spraying a Telecaster baseplate a few months ago, and last night right before I went to bed, the same thought hit me, to airbrush the covers. Now I'm just thinking of different designs and what I would like best, but yes, that's the direction I might be headed with the EMG's. Funny you brought that up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I really like the two black single coils,and think a black humbucker might look good with a gold pup ring , and carry the black/gold theme along in the other hardware. I'm sure you'll give it just what it needs to be a stunner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 I was trying to find some cream humbucker covers,but no dice..I did find these though that you "might" like..I just started using covers because I like being able to use and pickup I want and still having it look clean with a cover http://www.allparts.com/Humbucking-Pickup-Cover-No-Holes-Maple-p/pc-0304-0m0.htm http://www.allparts.com/Humbucking-Pickup-Cover-No-Holes-Walnut-p/pc-0304-0w0.htm http://www.allparts.com/Humbucking-Pickup-Cover-No-Holes-Bubinga-p/pc-0304-0b0.htm http://www.allparts.com/Humbucking-Pickup-Cover-No-Holes-Rosewood-p/pc-0304-0r0.htm http://www.allparts.com/Humbucking-Pickup-Cover-No-Holes-Ebony-p/pc-0304-0e0.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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