Drummerdude's first build.. TLA-1Q. Wish me luck

[Simon Barden]

Unless it's got a veneer top, I always think it's best to have two finishes in mind for your kits; a translucent one if it's got good grain, and a solid one if it hasn't. Unless you go to a website where you can buy a specific body (and pay a lot more as a result) as Woks says, its all pot luck.

You might get lucky with a really dark brown stain for the IB-5. You don't want anything too light, but dark should reduce most of the grain contrasts.

[Drummerdude]

Yeah I know Simon I shouldn't complain I bought three kits so far and two of the three were really nice looking grain. I am thinking about a dark gray stain with black timbermate grain fill. I can always darken the stain to hide more if I don't like the looks. I just can't bring myself to paint Ash...

[Drummerdude]

Ok I just finished som sanding on the tele. I wet sanded to 2000 and then used 3000 on a wheel attached to my drill and man that poly is already shinning. I am going to have to wait another week or two for fully cure the poly and then final cut and polish I can't wait to see how much more shine I am gonna have. I am pretty satisfied with it since it was my first build. There are some spots that will always bug me but I have learned so much that my next two should go a little better. I am still needing to put on my headstock decal and then a few more coats of TO and then fret job and final assembly and set up.. thanks for all the help from you guys.

[Drummerdude]

[Drummerdude]

Here is my buddy that had to get in the picture..

[Kick]

I already love the gloss! Well done job I say for a first build! I think your buddy agrees with me

[wazkelly]

Yeah I know Simon I shouldn't complain I bought three kits so far and two of the three were really nice looking grain. I am thinking about a dark gray stain with black timbermate grain fill. I can always darken the stain to hide more if I don't like the looks. I just can't bring myself to paint Ash...

Hi buddy, I would almost suggest having a crack at the chemical wash finish I have done on my latest Tele build that is still nearing completion. The Alder had all sorts of differing timber colours and fairly dull grain patterns to work with but the rust solution stain gave it some character. Ash naturally has more grain waves and should be easier to make it look good, particularly after using ebony timbermate as a grain filler put down after a coarse grit, say 120 maximum so that plenty of it has a chance to soak in.

Cheers, Waz

[Drummerdude]

That's a great idea Waz. I just may give that a whirl. If I didn't like how it turned out could I just use the black water based dye and go over the chemical wash?

[wazkelly]

Or sand it back and try something else.

[Drummerdude]

Waz you just did an application of the tea mixture and then let it dry and then the vinegar and steel wool concoction. How many coats and how did you apply just wipe one with rag? How fine did you sand down to? Questions , questions i have many... I think that this is just what I need to try and blend the different grain patterns and get some character in a dark color.. I should probably start a new thread for this but this will do for now.