ScottR Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 That's going to be one stripey guitar! SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 As much as you really don't want to be hearing about finishing schedules or ideas right now Luis, that Khaya instantly makes me think of an oil/shellac/poly finish. Boiled Linseed oil soak, wipe and let cure. Repeat as much as is required. Shellac over the top to seal and provide a surface that the poly can adhere to. If Tru-Oil can be used in place of BLO, that would also solve the grain filling. Not recommending that you do this type of finish without practice as it can be a bit tricky, especially on a guitar. If I get ahold of any Khaya or Sapele in the near future I think another Carl Thompson bass with this style of finish is on the cards. Really love that Zebrano Luis. How close is that cut to being flatsawn? Really ribbony.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Indeed scott, indeed. I still have enough for like 3 more guitars. I am not sure i would want to try that right now. There is just too much that could go wrong with it. I am sure it would look great with that method done correctly though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Totally. Tru-Oil would do me over Khaya and Zebrano. The shellac/poly would be for the durability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Oh, and i forgot to say. I cant tell if it is flatsawn. I mean, it looks like it, but being veneer you cant really tell from the side view since there is no endgrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I'd say that it looks like it is. When Zebrano is quartered, the stripes are thinner and far more regular. Maybe 1/8" to 1/2" spacing and pretty thin. Sawn towards the flat it widens out and becomes much wilder as any variations move greater distances across the face. Whichever way, that bookmatching with the tighter grain and light central portion really complements the instrument. Explorers and other offset shapes don't tie up with flame or quilt as well as more symmetrical shapes (to my eye, anyway) however continuing some feature through the centre along with neck brings both opposites together. Sort of like how Thunderbirds and Firebirds work out. That raised section has an important part to play in the design as a whole. Yeah, I think you need to do your usual work and hit this out of the park in terms of the wood side of things and take the hit on outsourcing the finish. The level of work you're at these days should be out there at several times the price you've sold others at. Maybe you need the acknowledgement of actually selling one at a few k to get that wagon running true again, eh? What happened with that asshole who was stealing your photos and passing them off as their own work anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Yeah, i am really hoping to outsource in the next build or two. I have a run planned with some quilted bubinga and flame maple necks that should be great with a real clear coat. I never heard back from that place that was using my pictures as their own. I hope nobody fell for it. It has actually happened a couple times with different people. There was also a guy who woudl buy stuff off ebay and then tweak it a bit and claim he built it. He did that with one of my KL copies a while back. I saw it pop up on ebay again after he re sold it. I couldnt convince the guy who bought it that the guy didnt build it and it was one of mine. HIs website even had pictures of him assembling it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Well, you can't do much about that. Ultimately unless you have some legally binding agreement with a buyer they can do what they want with an instrument they buy from you. Not sure about the implications of lying about having built it, but hell that would be expensive to litigate. Don't undersell yourself otherwise you open yourself up to being screwed by these muppets. Got anybody specific in mind for the outsourced work? It should come at quite a cost. Cheap should set alarm bells ringing. References and recommendations to the gunwales, dude. It'd be nice seeing you set up some sort of relationship to make these ongoing bugs (not RAD's actual bugs though) go away, and leaving you to concentrate on the stuff you enjoy more and are better at. Please tell me when the first one is finished and cased up. Leave beer in the fridge and let me know when you'll be out of the house for an hour. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Yessir, i am going to go through the guy Doug uses to finish his guitars. He does amazing work. I already talked to him and its a pretty good price for the quality of his work. I am excited to see what one of mine will look like with an actual, pro finish. Should be night and day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 Sounds like an excellent idea. Doug is one of the best references you'll find, especially as he is "part of the family". Haven't heard from him in a while despite a couple of emails. Talked recently? Good luck with this Luis. Stoked to see you working through the immediate barriers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Definitely. the guy does amazing work. This one is actually looking pretty awesome with the oil finish. Just a few more coats then it will be ready for parts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Along with that, here is an amboyna burl strat i started for a customer. He is going to do the finish himself. Makes it easy for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 If he mentions "pickguard" then I would sacrifice him to Odin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 I will refund him and finish it myself if that was the case! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Mostly finished. Plays the best out of the past 5 that i have made. Came out awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Beauty! And you've come up with a way to camoflage strings, they are almost invisible. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Haha, i didnt even notice the invisible strings until you said that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetterOffShred Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Yeah that's one beautiful guitar sir. I really like that top, and as Scott pointed out, the string concealing fingerboard is a definite bonus It's like you're playing on thin air! -Brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygtr Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 What fretwire do you use? Looks massive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 The fretwire is the largest available from warmoth. It is just a hair bigger than stew macs biggest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted October 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Thanks. Here is the super flamed piece that i am working on. Looks pretty intense for mahogany. This one now has a super figured bubinga veneer. Pics of that tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Ops accidentally responded thinking some older posts were newer posts. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 I feel for you. That's how I feel about finishing most days. FIND A FINISHER. That's my current plan. I tried one guy but it didn't work out. A key is ensuring they understand both gloss AND perfectly level, that they report any scratches/lack of filling in places EARLY, and that they use a product that you're able to spot-fix easily. Finding a good finisher is hard too; but if that's not where your skill set is, then maybe it's time to farm that out like a LOT of luthiers do. Chris You were perfectly correct though. Either your finished needs to understand the nature and process of the work, or you need to be in the loop during the process. Obviously the second is not practical unless you are maybe learning the skills with somebody hands-on. It might be pragmatic to sit in on the first simple job, perhaps keeping the coffee on and with a pack a beer afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Lovely grain, but I think the neck might be just a little bit short on this one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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