ScottR Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 The one that looks sort of like a bat? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted August 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2014 So here is a mockup. Looks cool, but i always make the stupidest decisions regarding finishes. I should have done this one the way i normally do, with a open grain satin poly. But nope, i had to be an idiot and try to do an oil finish because people have been suggesting it. So now i have a very sticky, easily fingerprinted, very easily scratched finished guitar. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygtr Posted August 23, 2014 Report Share Posted August 23, 2014 So here is a mockup. Looks cool, but i always make the stupidest decisions regarding finishes. I should have done this one the way i normally do, with a open grain satin poly. But nope, i had to be an idiot and try to do an oil finish because people have been suggesting it. So now i have a very sticky, easily fingerprinted, very easily scratched finished guitar. I would add beautiful to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 That is definitely one of my favorites of your builds, it looks fantastic! I'm not sure how long you've let your oil finish cure, but if it's still sticky after another week you can put a coat of good quality cabinet wax on it. No added protection but it looks nice and feels good. Or do like RAD does and shoot a couple light coats of lacquer or poly over the oil. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted August 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Thanks scott. Construction and visually this is probably my favorite i have ever made. I wanted to shoot it with poly, but since i already waxed and buffed it, I can guarantee i would get fisheyes everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Oil and wax just mean that the guitar benefits from more loving care. Poly wrapped guitar can be thrown through a car wash if you want to clean them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted August 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Haha, as true as that is, i dont think the customers quite feel the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu. Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Stunning result on that explorer! I really like how the shape's evolved with the tummy carve now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Thanks man. Here is the one i had planned on pairing it side by side with. It is a 27" scale. Should sound pretty intense tuned to C or B. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Goddamnit Luis. Just. Goddamnit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Probably would have looked good with a veneer, but i dont have anything left. Also, i think my favorite part of the whole thing was making the back retainer bar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff St. Germaine Posted September 10, 2014 Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 I really like the look of the dark stained oil finished Explorer! Too bad you're having difficulties with the finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 Thanks. It has been sitting on my couch since i took the parts off. I just looked at it a few minutes ago outside, and the dye faded like crazy. Now it just looks pale and weird. I will have to re dye it and see if i can get it to look as good as it did i the pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Man, i just really dont know what to do anymore. I feel like i have almost mastered all of the woodwork and general guitar construction. All of that comes out pretty much perfect. Every line, joint and rout is always near perfect. But dang, every. single.Time. I ruin the finish or do somethign to where the finish just completely takes away from the actual build. This is borderline not worth it anymore. I ruined the black explorer again, for the 3rd time. I should follow my own rule of never trying anthing new. It has NEVER worked, and has done nothing but cost me money and a good build. I am going downhill fast business wise. I dont think i can last another 6 months at the rate i am going. Looks like my career will be cut shorter that i had intended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Please, stop crying like a girl... try to improve your skills instead. If you've mastered wood working, start learning finishing. Guitar building is both. It takes time and patiente, like woodworking, but I'm pretty sure you can do it... are you? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Please, stop crying like a girl... try to improve your skills instead. If you've mastered wood working, start learning finishing. Guitar building is both. It takes time and patiente, like woodworking, but I'm pretty sure you can do it... are you? I am absolutely not sure i can do it, because i have been doing finishing on guitars before i ever even started building. That puts it at a little over 9 years of the same finishing experience. Alrighty, no need to cry little a little girl anymore. See ya guys around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Luis, I am still of the opinion that you should consider outsourcing. The quality of your luthiers coupled with a pro finish would be perfect. Then you should hike your prices to 3x-4x what they currently are. You totally undersell your work. I talked to a couple of different pro touring guitarists in name bands and they loved your Blackhawk. Their sponsorship contacts tied them out though, but the love is there for your stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Yes sir, I agree. I have already contacted a guy about doing this. Will cost me around 400 with shipping both ways. I am going to make some quilted bubinga explorers and see how they come out. If they come out well, i will send them to him to clear. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 One good update: I call this koahogany. Looks exactly like what i woudl picture a cross between mahogany and koa would be. I have 8ft of this left in a board that is 10" wide. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightninMike Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 (edited) Sapele? (altho Koahogany is a good name as well) Edited September 24, 2014 by LightninMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 It is actually african mahogany (khaya) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 Very nice! Khaya is definitely my favourite wood of all of the African "Mahoganies". Wonderfully light in comparison to Sapele and invariably straighter and hence more stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetterOffShred Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 That's a nice find for sure! If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay per board foot for that bad boy? -Brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 I am really excited to use this stuff. I had made some strats out of a very similar piece a while back, but the figure was a little more subtle. I get a really great price on this stuff since they dont grade their mahogany. It was 5:37 a bd ft. They have an entire pallet of identical stuff. Hopefully they still have some next time i get wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I have been using this same batch of zebrawood since 2011. Still my favorite zebrawood. Fretboard glued on: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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