AmityvilleMike Posted December 9, 2019 Report Share Posted December 9, 2019 Hello all... I finished my first "build" about two months ago and just got around to posting. I have been a lurker for a long time. It is an MJT body I inherited. It had a burnt-orange, cracked finish in it. I stripped it down, repainted and flipped all of the electronics. I know...it has a rosewood fretboard, not maple. It's what I got my hands on. Used stew mac nitro. It was my very first shot out of the gate. Already planning the second one. Thanks for your critique, feedback, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 9, 2019 Report Share Posted December 9, 2019 That appears to be a first rate finishing job, particularly if it is the first ever attempt. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmityvilleMike Posted December 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2019 Thank you very much! That is huge compliment. Indeed, it is my first go at this. I have lurked, read, watched..and then tried it myself. In the picture the upper part of the body looks dull, but it’s not. There are some fine scratches on the lower bout too. I must have made a mistake during the wet sand. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted December 10, 2019 Report Share Posted December 10, 2019 looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo Posted December 10, 2019 Report Share Posted December 10, 2019 The cost savings over the real one is immense. What are you planning for the second? Will you get into body or neck making? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayT Posted December 18, 2019 Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 It looks factory finished. Maybe I will go with the Stewmac nitro after all...I was leaning towards shellac over acrylic paint but now not so sure. Was the curing time reasonable? I've flawed everything I've ever painted because I can't resist touching the project too soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmityvilleMike Posted December 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 Thanks all for the comments. Much appreciated. Actually...VERY appreciated. At this time I have no plans to actually make a body and neck. That is way above my skill level. What I have done is purchase another Mexican strat to refinish. I am generally an impatient guy but I really took my time with this and did my best to adhere to all that I learned from research. Also, this was a key article for me: https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25496-diy-how-to-refinish-your-axe I purchased everything from Stew Mac, except for the electronics and bridge. Going back to the pictures, looks like I started in Mid June and was done About five weeks after. I let it cure for at least two weeks. I was afraid of the summer humidity--I did it in my garage and live in Eastern NY--but it was no problem. I did a rough sand on the first two coats of clear and then just kept spraying. I also did several rough sands on the paint before I sprayed the clear--at least three cans of the Nitro lacquer and the paint is the Stew Mac nitro black. I "matched" the pickups in the Gilmour--although not the high-end, hand-wound bridge. It sounds and plays great. As I said, there are some weird hairline scratches in the finish you can't see. It is not a crack int he finish, but light, as if a guitar pick did it. But it is not the pick. I must have done something wrong during the wet sand. Here are a few other pics. Hope the link works. Thanks again! https://tinyurl.com/t68ed97 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmityvilleMike Posted December 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 Try this? https://tinyurl.com/rtpzdgm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 18, 2019 Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 3 hours ago, JayT said: I've flawed everything I've ever painted because I can't resist touching the project too soon When you paint your guitar, paint a piece of scrap wood as well. That will give you something to prod to see if it's cured Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 Very well-presented work for a first-timer. You must be proud of the outcome. Feel free to enter your build in Guitar of the Month if you wish. Entry is still open for another week and it'd be a shame for there to only be a solo entrant for this month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmityvilleMike Posted December 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2019 Again.... VERY flattered. I will do that! Thanks very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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