Original Posted February 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Well, you're having fun making a nice looking guitar. Did you airbrush that burst? SR Thanks Scott, It's airbrushed. I tried hand applying it, but didn't like the results as well. Putting finish on has always been my Achilles' Heel. I'm trying to change that. Most of the woodwork I can do without anxiety, but I'll lose sleep thinking about finishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 I think airbrushing is the way to go for a burst. I like to spray the dye on the wood as you've done here and then again as a tint during the clear coating process. The thing about finishing is there are very few things you can do to screw it up that cannot be repaired. Sandpaper is the universal eraser. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu. Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Honeyburst is one of the prettiest and most underrated finishes around. You've got such a cheeky vintage vibe with that and cream binding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I think airbrushing is the way to go for a burst. I like to spray the dye on the wood as you've done here and then again as a tint during the clear coating process. The thing about finishing is there are very few things you can do to screw it up that cannot be repaired. Sandpaper is the universal eraser. SR The airbrush was for sure the most controllable. I like that the solution won't dry out in the gun, and the easy cleanup. I really do need to spend some time honing my skills with it though. Honeyburst is one of the prettiest and most underrated finishes around. You've got such a cheeky vintage vibe with that and cream binding. Thanks Stu. I had to force myself to do something other than black trim. I'm not real happy with the way the cream pickup covers look though. They seem to have a pinkish tint when compared to the finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 I sprayed the first of the clear coat tonight. The weather is supposed to be warm for the next several days. That always helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted February 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 The finish is about done. I hope to assemble it this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu. Posted February 22, 2014 Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 I still think that you've done a great job with the cream and vintage vibe. It'll really come alive when you get some pickups and hardware in there... maybe in time for GOTM? Are you still unsure about your cream pickup covers? You could definitely pull-off black covers with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted February 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 I still think that you've done a great job with the cream and vintage vibe. It'll really come alive when you get some pickups and hardware in there... maybe in time for GOTM? Are you still unsure about your cream pickup covers? You could definitely pull-off black covers with this one. Thanks Stu, I'm liking the way this one's coming out. Some of the aspects of the construction were new to me, but overall I'm very excited with my results. I don't know about GOTM, but thanks for the nice words. I'll probably try some cover's from a different maker. Hopefully I can find some that aren't so pinkish. First I'm going to try to tint these by submerging them in some dye. I've done it before with pickguard's with decent results. Meanwhile... The next one in queue is going to be a Bass. my inspiration was a Univox Hi-Flyer (Moserite Copy) that a friend brought by last week. Mine's going to have a maple top on a one piece mahogany body, and a one piece walnut neck. These are a short scale, 30 1/4". I think this will be a fun project. My progress so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanKirk Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 I like your burst. It has a nice shape, matching the body with a nice transition between colors. I think gold hardware might look very nice with this but either way I look forward to the finished product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted March 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 I like your burst. It has a nice shape, matching the body with a nice transition between colors. I think gold hardware might look very nice with this but either way I look forward to the finished product. Thank You. This is all new territory for me, but I'm excited with my results, and I'm anxious to try it again. I bet it would look nice with gold hardware. It's a little late for that. I did get gold speed knobs for it though. Meanwhile, the Mose bass is moving along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted April 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Wow, It's been a while since I updated here. I had a setback with the double cutaway guitar. The finish cracked. I tried repairing it once by sanding it back about 75%, and re-shooting. It looked great for about 2 weeks before some of the cracks returned. I ended up going back to bare wood, and starting over. The colors in the original burst that I did seemed to clash with cream color of the pickup covers. It made them appear pinkish which wasn't good. From the start of the re-do, I knew that I'd be using a different palette of tint colors that would be more harmonious. I also decided to go to a little more subdued approach with the tints. For the base tint, I used a diluted yellow with a very small amount of red in it. The second color around the edge has just a bit more red. I hand applied it this time. Keeping things wet I worked the color in gradually from the edge inwards. It's subtle, almost indistinguishable in the pictures. I think it fit's this guitar better, and the cover's instead of clashing, coordinate well. If the weather permits, I'll spray the final coats today. The solid walnut neck for the bass is almost done. The consistent density of the American walnut makes it a luxury to machine when building necks. This is the first time I've used it. I can't wait to try it on a guitar. I'm such a minimalist. I know that there's nothing remarkable about them, but one piece necks seem so elegant, and simple at the same time. This one is looking good so far. I'm anxious to see it with finish on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted July 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2014 Once again, it's been a while since an update. I didn't have much free time for a couple of months. I've completed the double cut. For those who weren't following, it's a maple over mahogany, sapele neck, cumara fingerboard thing. I've begun the finish on the mose bass. And, I started on a DC Junior this week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 11, 2014 Report Share Posted July 11, 2014 That double cut is sweeet. And I like where the bass is going. What is the neck wood on the jr? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted July 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2014 Thanks Scott, The Junior is all mahogany, except of course the rosewood board. It's a 24 3/4 scale with jumbo fretwire, abalone dots. I'm working up samples of a black/white doghair finish for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slmguitars Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 Well, this is my first ever post and I have to say that I really like how that double cutaway turned out. It looks classy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted July 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Well, this is my first ever post and I have to say that I really like how that double cutaway turned out. It looks classy. Thank You, and Welcome to the forums. The Junior moved forward. I planed the body, sanded, and rounded the edges. I finished the neck taper, and gave he head stock some shape. I recently built a small vacuum table for molding pickup covers. I've been wanting to try this for years, and now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Wait wait wait, what?! Tutorial on this pickup molding please! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Nice little vacuum thingy. Do you place it in an oven all together or do you heat the plastic with a hat gun? Or I might just say +1 to Chris... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted July 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 The whole process is pretty simple. My research amounted to a couple of 'how-to' articles, and youtube vid's. Basically, all that is done is to mount the thermoplastic in a frame, then heat it to a workable temperature, place the frame with the soft plastic over the 'form', and apply the vacuum to pull the material down around it. The learning curve is short. I was making usable covers with my first efforts. The experiment was inexpensive, but quite rewarding. I heat the plastic in the oven at 375* for about five minutes. It cools very quickly, so you have to work fast. There are small vacuum tables available on ebay etc. I built mine from scrap. Material is cheap. I bought a 4' x 8' x 1/16" sheet of black ABS for $21 from a local plastics supplier. No comments on the guitar's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted August 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 The last one of these went to my Daughter's boyfriend. (the blonde double cut) This one's mine! I really liked the other one, and had a hard time giving it up. It'll be a tobacco burst with black plastics. The finish on the Junior, and the bass is stalled right now. I don't want to spray lacquer in this high humidity. Damn these monsoons! I've got five guitars in different stages of progress. It makes for a big pile of necks. As usual, Elvis the cat is on the workbench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 This one's mine! I really liked the other one, and had a hard time giving it up. Yeah........ SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted August 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 This one's mine! I really liked the other one, and had a hard time giving it up. Yeah........ SR Yeah! I'm using a bunch of re-cycled parts on this one, and the wood I selected except for the neck was about the least attractive on the pile, so I've got plenty of excuses to keep it. I need a demo guitar for P-90's, and this one should be well suited. Plus, it's been a while since I made one for myself. The weather is supposed to dry out here in the next couple of days, so I'll be able to proceed with finishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 I was commiserating with you. I miss the one I sent home with my son not so long ago.... I totally agree about the need to have a guitar with P-90s available at all times. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted August 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 I was commiserating with you. I miss the one I sent home with my son not so long ago.... SR Ahh.. I got you. Justin's is definitely a stunner. You did some great work there. The thread was fun to follow. I do need another P-90 guitar. Currently the only one I have is my Jr. The Junior was the first one I ever built from scratch in '07. It's a cool guitar, but limited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 I was commiserating with you. I miss the one I sent home with my son not so long ago.... SR Ahh.. I got you. Justin's is definitely a stunner. You did some great work there. The thread was fun to follow. I do need another P-90 guitar. Currently the only one I have is my Jr. The Junior was the first one I ever built from scratch in '07. It's a cool guitar, but limited. That is a cool guitar. A P-90 in the neck position is one of my favorite sounds, so yeah, you gotta build another. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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