Thanks Simon. I guess it's lucky the days of me performing night after night in sweaty clubs is long past! That said, I have sealed the top of the pickguard with a satin clearcoat - just in case there's one sweaty club gig...
Thanks Simon. I guess it's lucky the days of me performing night after night in sweaty clubs is long past! That said, I have sealed the top of the pickguard with a satin clearcoat - just in case there's one sweaty club gig...
Completed Builds: #1 TL-1 "Telemaster" (GOTM Oct 2016); #2 The "Maplecaster" scratch build; #3 JB-4 "Bass IV" (co-winner GOTM Jan 2017); #4 ST-1M "Surfcaster" (GOTM Apr 2017), #5 JZA-1 "EC Deluxe"
In Progress:
Build #6 N1R "Semi-scratch" build
Build #7 JZA-1 Baritone
The Cavan Project
The Magnificent Compañeros
Good move Chuck as that will also help with fingerprint stains and prevent eventual oxidisation if left untreated.
# 1 - EX-5 https://goo.gl/fQJMqh
# 2 - EX-1 https://goo.gl/KSY9W9
# 3 - Non PBG Tele https://goo.gl/W14G5g
# 4 - Non PBG J Bass https://goo.gl/FbBaFy
# 5 - TL-1AR GOTM Aug 2017 https://goo.gl/sUh14s
# 6 - MMB-4 Runner-up GOTM Oct 2018https://goo.gl/gvrPkp
# 7 - ES-1 Runner-up GOTM Aug 2018https://goo.gl/T9BEY8
Hey chuck love the pickguard and stain colour, turning out to be a great build mate.
Fender electric Fat Strat mim. (Bought)
Maton Electric Acoustic EM325C
Pitbull Guitars ST-1 ( finished) http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=5970
Pitbull Guitars SG-2 ( Finished) http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=6124
Pitbull Guitars JM-1 (Finished. 2018 June GOTM))http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=7150
Pitbull Guitars TL-1 (In production) [url]https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=8676
I'm now a fair way in on doing the gloss coats - gotta love the Sydney weather at the moment. When I started doing the gloss coats the body was certainly nice and smooth, but as I've been doing successive layers of the gloss I can now feel very small ridges that run with the grain. I feel like with about 10 coats on it should have enough to be able to buff back after curing, but given I've never done a stain finish like this (and indeed only ever worked with basswood rather than ash) I wondered if I should do even more? Any tips?
Completed Builds: #1 TL-1 "Telemaster" (GOTM Oct 2016); #2 The "Maplecaster" scratch build; #3 JB-4 "Bass IV" (co-winner GOTM Jan 2017); #4 ST-1M "Surfcaster" (GOTM Apr 2017), #5 JZA-1 "EC Deluxe"
In Progress:
Build #6 N1R "Semi-scratch" build
Build #7 JZA-1 Baritone
The Cavan Project
The Magnificent Compañeros
nice colour Chuck looks great. I was in Sydney last week for 3 day work conference and the weather was much better than Perth weather lately !!
I'd say 10 coats of gloss should fill in the coarse ash grain. You will know when you have enough layers when you run your fingers over the body.
Current Builds and status
scratch end grain pine tele - first clear coat on !
JBA-4 - assembled - final tweaks
Telemonster double scale tele - finish tobacco burst on body and sand neck
Completed builds
scratch oak.rose gum Jazzmaster - assembled needs setup
MK-2 Mosrite - assembled - play in
Ash tele with Baritone neck - neck pup wiring tweaks and play in
Fender electric Fat Strat mim. (Bought)
Maton Electric Acoustic EM325C
Pitbull Guitars ST-1 ( finished) http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=5970
Pitbull Guitars SG-2 ( Finished) http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=6124
Pitbull Guitars JM-1 (Finished. 2018 June GOTM))http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=7150
Pitbull Guitars TL-1 (In production) [url]https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=8676
Thanks guys, I'll let it settle for a few days then do a fine sand to assess how close I am.
Completed Builds: #1 TL-1 "Telemaster" (GOTM Oct 2016); #2 The "Maplecaster" scratch build; #3 JB-4 "Bass IV" (co-winner GOTM Jan 2017); #4 ST-1M "Surfcaster" (GOTM Apr 2017), #5 JZA-1 "EC Deluxe"
In Progress:
Build #6 N1R "Semi-scratch" build
Build #7 JZA-1 Baritone
The Cavan Project
The Magnificent Compañeros
And so, after the painful week of gloss coat curing, I was able to start the finishing process. As I'd put 12 coats of gloss on, I was happy to start with a light sand with 800 wet and dry to get a feel for how much I'd need to take off. As I mentioned earlier, I could feel what seemed like "grain ridges" in the top coat, but I actually quite liked them. I wanted a finish that was like an old antique (a well polished one!) rather than that "brand new" perfect finish, especially as the aluminium pickguard is such a contrast. So I did my 800 cut, then moved to 1200, then 1500 then 2000. The idea was to get everything in good shape to take the shine rather than knock it back to perfectly flat. Here's where we are at with a quick crack with some Maguiers Compound. Before finishing everything off I'll do some proper polishing, but I really like how it's looking so far - you can see in the lit section at the top the small imperfections I've kept to get the feel I'm after.
Now I've got to this point I can check the alignment on everything and get the pickup surround holes drilled - I wanted to wait to attach the neck to get this done as I still have the ability to expand the pickup holes a little should I need to. Hmm, maybe I'd better get cracking on the neck!
Oh, and that's the pickguard with the protective coat over it - doesn't take any finger prints now but still looks nice and raw.
Completed Builds: #1 TL-1 "Telemaster" (GOTM Oct 2016); #2 The "Maplecaster" scratch build; #3 JB-4 "Bass IV" (co-winner GOTM Jan 2017); #4 ST-1M "Surfcaster" (GOTM Apr 2017), #5 JZA-1 "EC Deluxe"
In Progress:
Build #6 N1R "Semi-scratch" build
Build #7 JZA-1 Baritone
The Cavan Project
The Magnificent Compañeros
looking super cool Chuck. I agree on the finish, the grain waves suit it
Build 19 PSH-1 Kustom
Build 18 HB-4S Kustom
Build 17 WL-1 Kustom
Build 16 TL-1TB Kustom
Build 15 PBG-2-
Build 14 FTD-1
Build 13 RD-1 Kustom
Build 12 DM-1S
Build 11 MKA-2 -
Build 10 Basic strat
Build 9 JM Kustom
Build 8 FV-1G
Build 7 ES-2V
Build 6- Community prototype
Build 5 LP-1LQ
Build 4 ES-5V
Build 3 JR-1
Build 2 GD-1
Build 1 TLA-1
Completed Builds: #1 TL-1 "Telemaster" (GOTM Oct 2016); #2 The "Maplecaster" scratch build; #3 JB-4 "Bass IV" (co-winner GOTM Jan 2017); #4 ST-1M "Surfcaster" (GOTM Apr 2017), #5 JZA-1 "EC Deluxe"
In Progress:
Build #6 N1R "Semi-scratch" build
Build #7 JZA-1 Baritone
The Cavan Project
The Magnificent Compañeros