smileynumber13

that looks really nice, keep up the good work

Hey, thanks for the comment... I notice you like Project 86... great band.. Just out of curiousity, do you have any pics from that refinishing? Thanks again...!

Apparently, First Act guitars does an apprenticeship program. http://www.firstact.com/studio/interns.asp I'm no good at building, but I thought that those of you who are considering making this your life's work might be interested. So if you are heading off to luthiery school, look at this as a possibility for when you get out. or maybe you don't have to go, I'm not sure, I'd email for an answer... Anyway, I hope this helps someone...!

Well, I decided I would refinish my guitar mostly because the old paint was boring and the flames my friend put on were chipping off. So I dissasembled the guitar and today I began sanding. I've aslo created a new headstock logo and some design for the body... let me know what you think! This is what the guitar looked like after my friend put the flames on: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...itar/bottom.jpg It looked really cool, they changed color, and he made a custom clear sandblasted pickguard for it. It's just the flames were 1) on top of the factory finish and 2) had little or no clear coat, so they began to rub off. he also cut them in with an X-acto knife and left grooves in the finish. Therefore, refinishing time. I took it apart: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...itar/parts1.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...uitar/body1.jpg After that I had to wait until I got my sander... so I worked on the design for the body: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...r/hibiscus1.jpg I want it to be stained with this sort of design ini black on the body. I am still debating painting or using black epoxy to fill in a shallow engraving. I also put together a new headstock logo. Now much different from the original, but it goes with the body: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...stockdesign.jpg Today I began sanding, this is how far I got: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...ndbackdone2.jpg I didn't go through the clear yet, because I want to use a finer grit and not damage the wood underneath. I'm assuming I will have to do the contours by hand... I started on the flat areas of the front as well. I'm not going to sand out the cavities, only because I think he sprayed over the insulating paint stuff. Here is a test of the stain color: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...r/staintest.jpg Let me know what you think, please... input is very important to me, especially since I am new at this. Thank you!

hm i dunno dude, sorry i'm not much help... someone did mention, however, in a post i put up, about decal paper that looks like it's worth a try i wish you the best of luck, i apologize for not being more help..

i really don't know much besides what i've read about building a guitar, i can't do much because i don't have any access to the proper tools. however, your design sounds good, and I really like the body design. good luck with this!

hey well i'm no expert, i'm getting ready to refinish an ibanez as well. I don't know what advice to give you on the chip... however, for your other problem i can offer what little i know. maybe the technique on the main site for adding your own headstock logo could help you. you could print out one or two sheets of what you're looking for on the transparency paper, shape them the right way, and spray mount them to the guitar. then you would just need to clear coat over, in my understanding. the only thing that might be difficult is concealing the line where the pieces of transparency paper would merge together. no one's answered my post yet on whether or not they think this method would work for the body. but you wouldn't have to worry about edges except the joins if it was the same size and shape as the top of the guitar. another idea would be to again, use the computer and print out your text, and then cut it out, leaving you with a stencil to apply it. i stencil a lot with spraypaint but as long as you can keep the stencil down while you do it, you should be able to run something like a spongebrush over it, or dab the paint on. from what i've read on the forum, when you do detailing like that, make sure your paints are compatible with each other and your clear coat. i hope this helps some, if not, just tell me, i'll leave you be... lol... good luck, and i hope you have some fun with your project. take care!

Just wondering, would this technique work on the body? And would it work over stain? Also, would poly or nitro be more adviseable for over this? Thanks. And you know, it'd be really nice if someone would answer. It will take you like 30 seconds to say yes or no. You don't even need full sentences. Thanks.

So hello, I'm new here, and I decided it would be wise to join up since this is my first time even taking apart my guitar. I have a few questions though, for anyone who can help. First of all, I wouldn't be refinishing if it wasn't for the fact that the friend who put some sweet color change flames on the guitar did a crappy job on the clear, and also just put them right on top of the original finish. It was cool for awhile, but the flames are rubbing through and chipping a lot, and since I beat on the thing, I've chipped once or twice through the black factory finish. And now that I've got my other guitar (used Ibanez RG 170, emerald green the color is so nice, I wish it wasn't chipped) I can destroy this one as much as I need to. So basically the idea is to strip down the entire body, and refinish with stain, paint on in black a stencil I am making of a hibiscus (Hawaiian) flower, and a really nice shiny clear coat. I have picked out a Minwax color... Red Oak to be specific. I would have gone for a purple dye, but I don't currently have the option of ordering online. Here is the body in it's current state. I am hoping to leave as many of the electronics as possible connected and attached to the pickguard, so all that's left to do right now is unsolder the back ground and the jack, and remove the trem claw, and some other small things. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...uitar/body2.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/smil...uitar/body1.jpg Not a great guitar, swimming pool and all, but I'd like it to look a little nicer if possible, and use this as practice. So first of all, what is your opinion on staining? I have read all the tutorials, but I'm still a little lost in the grain filler and sand sealer, specifically when and how to use them. Also, do I need to remove the trem shafts before I do this, or can I just cover them? If so, how would I put them back into the guitar? Do you think that wipe-on poly is an acceptable finish? I'm sorry, I feel completely clueless, but the last time I did anything involving wood was about 5 years ago in shop class, and that was making dumb things... So basically, any suggestions, ideas, and especially answers, are appreciated, I am hoping this goes moderately well because I would like to finish more guitars in the future, and possibly learn to build... thank you!

hey dude this project sounds like it's going to turrn out well. just don't give up because someone told you you can't do it, i think it sounds perfectly plausible, and i hope it turns out well for you. good luck! also, fo any other skeptics, go to this site: http://members.fortunecity.com/jtfish/lpc/cvr/cover.htm (from the project guitar reference section) this guy had to use pvc pipe as a binding, so don't say something cannot be done unless you've tried it. again, good luck, it sounds like it will look awesome when it's finished!