mistermikev

congrats!!

8 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Well whaddaya know, sometimes it goes to show that a photo shows things less obvious to the bare eye! Hip hip hooray to George Eastman!

I was actually curious if anyone would notice it as well.  def from about the f hole over to where it meets the neck pocket.  but honestly did not see it well with naked eye.  the flash actually accentuates it so... def happy accident.

1 hour ago, ADFinlayson said:

Love that subtle blue burst, clearly a lot of time went into that stain job. Awesome.

thank you.  yea, doing it rubbed... I had to build it slowly to prevent what biz is talking about below.

48 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Gotta love that burst as well! Funny how the transition looks much better in the upper picture showing the body instead on the last one where it looks almost like a stripe. In real life I believe you can't barely see where the burst starts.

after I had taken these photos I noticed the lower horn didn't have enough transition... drew some more color off with min spirits to correct.

alien archeologist lizards - cracked me up there lol

afa rings... i like the idea of pouring them in the sense that I think this could be a useful process to know.  I also think that cutting them might be problematic given the material.  could combine the two ideas and mill something out of scrap and then make a mold from it.

8 hours ago, Prostheta said:

Depends on the place in the range. I've seen low-end bodies with sealer so thick that would hide a body. Higher end stuff tends to use less problematic stock. It's difficult to know where this sits in that range, however this all comes down to prep. The sealing and filling all need to be perfect.

right on... well admittedly I was as much telling as asking as I figured you would know the nitty gritty and not dissapointed.

wow, lot of great details there.  nice job.

On 8/30/2021 at 11:40 AM, Prostheta said:

I had to check myself a bit about that UV777 as I'm sure other guitars have equally stunning finish work, but that one really has something unique about it. Almost like a Bentley or high-end Merc black. In fact, those are likely the reference chips I'll be using for the paint when I get it mixed. I know custom car shops mix on an individual basis, but unless I can get the heads up on something that will hit the spot then "standard" chip mixes are probably my best bet at aiming for that.

well... anyone who's ever refinished an ibanez will tell you one key factor is probably the thickness!  have not done myself but a friend refinished one once and I guess that finish was pretty hard to get through.

23 hours ago, Prostheta said:

Man, that sounds like a bad idea for the bank account walking into one of those dens! Mine was a Japanese custom shop build from what I am aware. ESP lost loads of their records including those referring to "mine" back in the 90s. I would genuinely have ESP build me an absolute repro (but HH) if I could a) afford it b) get them to do a lawsuit headstock and c) wasn't willing to up my game to try and hit that level of awesome.

So far none of those are on the table right now. haha

I'm quite certain that what you will do will be every bit as good as what you'd get in that custom shop.  

had never noticed that about the ibanez universe... but now that you mention it!

Just now, ScottR said:

Thanks Mike.

What's mixol? What it is is black transtint mixed into lacquer thinner and then mixed into lacquer and airbrushed over the previous clear coats.

Black chrome, now that would be cool. Gotoh has a hardware finish called Cosmo black that looks like Hematite, and I absolutely love. But they don't do knobs in it and Babicz bridges don't come in that finish either. So yes to all black hardware, but sadly no to black chrome.

SR

well mixol is just a tint for laquer.  

yes, cosmo black - big fan.  on my bucket list.  black hardware should look dynamite.  

this one I think is good to go... but I can't tell if the burst is done yet... 

still drying so... will see tonight

in this pic the headstock doesn't even look like it has burst... not quite happy w that yet... but so hard to transition in such a small area... and make it match the rest... does match the logo well tho.

2 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Can’t wait. It’s going to look splendid

thank you sir!!

4 hours ago, Bizman62 said:

Ooh, some scarily interesting times ahead! I already was wondering how you're going to make that -if I may say - dull washed blue look stunning. A burst, definitely! And natural binding, trying hard to prevent the burst bleeding... Just reminding you of how @Lumberjack does it by protecting the binding with a good layer of clearcoat. But of course you already knew that, didn't you?

well, the nat binding already has clear on it... so adding the burst will just be done by hand rubbing.  I considered spraying because I think it's a lot easier to get that nice fade with an airbrush... but doing a second round of tape-off... doesn't sound like something I'd like to do.  

4 hours ago, ScottR said:

 

SR

I am trying and failing to try to understand what in the wild world of sports is going on in this picture.  the only guess I can fathom is that this is how you hang up your build for spraying?  Otherwise this is some new electronics I simply have to know about.

not to overshadow the finish... that finish looks amazing but at this point honestly I wouldn't have expected anything less than a 10 from you.

edit: just got my answer from another of your pics.  pretty cool idea.  on another note... I assume that's mixol in your lacquer?  sort of looks like smoked glass.  really is a classy look.  you aren't going with black chrome hardware are you?  if so... mind - prepare to be blown.

"sweary" - love it.

1 minute ago, ScottR said:

Ooooooh a burst, that's just what it needs. I''ll bet it's barrels of fun with all that faux binding. At least as much fun as the dye job. I can't wait to see that too!

SR

yup... having fun w it today.  just doing it with dye.  unfortunately... the binding makes it a lot more challenging!

16 minutes ago, ScottR said:

Looking forward to seeing some clear on that color. I'll bet it will be spectacular.

SR

thank you sir... yes, really comes alive when wet so... just have to get the burst done.  working on it today.  thanks for the support!

insane to me that you are that good at such an unconventional build.  cudos.

5 minutes ago, ADFinlayson said:

that natural binding is delicious 

thank you sir.  def learned a thing or two there.  was very nervous how that would turn out but fairly pleased in the end.  thanks fer noticing!

52 minutes ago, ShatnersBassoon said:

Gorgeous as always! There’s something about the bevelling on the edge of that fretboard that really tickles my fancy (she said)

I have been working on rolling those edges... and trying to get close to a fav tele neck I have.  it is heavily rolled which means refretting it would be akin to refretting a scalloped neck as the wood under the fret has to remain straight out to the edge... but the rollover comes in quite a bit.  comfy as all get out.  I appreciate that that detail was even noticable!

14 minutes ago, Prostheta said:

 

Thanks Mike. In some ways I'm hurried to get my immediate CNC stuff "out of my head" whilst I am still able, however I'm still in my usual mode of constant improvement; focusing on getting better at skill X or Y rather than just pulling the same rabbit out of the hat (Zakk Wylde syndrome?).

Yeah, that old ESP was godly. The best information I have on it is that it was produced prior to the ESP/Jackson lawsuit era which I think was somewhere around '87. Correct me if I'm wrong, don't count on that as fact! Also, Mirages never had carved tops. That was the Horizon model. So the best I can come up with is that it was a prototype Horizon, but full-depth as in Les Paul thick! Like a Mirage with a big thick top plonked on top. The fit and finish were unreal, and it taught me so much about what a guitar should be. Of course, I am still falling short of that mark, but I'm circling and eyeballing it! That top was crazy....pencil thin flame but subtle. Yeah, I was the biggest idiot ever for selling that. It was the cream of the cream.

well no esp expert here... but I remember the esp custom shop on sunset blvd in the 'rock walk' in la.  have been there many times.  just crazy good guitars there every time I went but that was around 95.  If I'm not mistaken you could walk in there and say "i want this shape with this carve, these pickups, this bridge in this wood" and they'd do it.  

for me... the one that got away was a gibson sg90.  it didn't get away as much as it had a headstock break back before I knew anything about fixing such things.  guitar just was made for me.  the steinberger trem on it was awesome altho the bases were not made well, and it had issues.  I will gather what I can from your bravery and someday attempt to remake my 'dream guitar'!

looking fwd to seeing that binding.  I understand that's how musicman does it.  

that esp is a lovely guitar.  looks like a fast player.

you really going balls out as of late!  right on.

5 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Beautiful!

thank you thank you!!

7 hours ago, Prostheta said:

Holy Sunday shirtballs, that's cool!

well thank you altho I'm not quite certain it's worthy of shirtballs!!

On 3/2/2021 at 7:34 AM, Andyjr1515 said:

I've got my fifth No Treble "Bass Of The Week" !

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2021/03/01/bass-of-the-week-ajrguitar-mods-swift-triple

I'm sure they think I have a small fully equipped industrial unit in the heart of the UK countryside, rather than a small workbench squeezed up against the cellar wall 

The power of self-promotion...

(Very pleased all the same   )

 

 

congrats!!