First builds: JK-1, MM-1Q

[wazkelly]

Finally, something went very right with one of my builds. I did a little happy dance last night when I stained the top on the MM-1. The back, which I painted a hammered pewter color, is a little rough. My painting techniques need a lot of work, and the hammered texture really didn't come through on the guitar the way that it did on my test scraps. But the top came out looking fantastic. There are a few glue spots around the edges that I worked on with a wire brush. I managed to get them down to some fairly small spots. I'm trying to decide if I can live with them because I love the way the top has come out, and I don't want to mess it up. It dried more of the color I was looking for, and I think with the clearcoat, it might be very close to what I hoped for. That's a nice win in what has been a pretty frustrating finishing experience so far.

Attachment 22713

Looks pretty good in that shot.

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[Sonic Mountain]

Nice to have a win, looks great in the photo. Nobody is an expert finisher on their first go and its hard to learn the finer points without jumping in and having a go.

[Spychocyco]

I'm actually pretty happy with the way the MM-1 turned out. I polished up the back with some steel wool and managed to get some of the rougher spots smoothed down. It's still a little bumpy back there, but not awful. And I'm loving the top. I think I'm going to live with a couple of little glue spots rather than risk messing it up. Got some sealer on the way and as soon as I get that, I'll start the Tru-Oil treatment. It's darkened a little in drying, but with a little shine on it, I think the top, at least, will be close to what I envisioned.

I've put the JK-1 on the backburner for the time being (go with the hot hand, right?), while I decide what I'm going to do with it.

[Andy40]

Damn man that red dye on the quilt is a beaut

[wazkelly]

I'm actually pretty happy with the way the MM-1 turned out. I polished up the back with some steel wool and managed to get some of the rougher spots smoothed down. It's still a little bumpy back there, but not awful. And I'm loving the top. I think I'm going to live with a couple of little glue spots rather than risk messing it up. Got some sealer on the way and as soon as I get that, I'll start the Tru-Oil treatment. It's darkened a little in drying, but with a little shine on it, I think the top, at least, will be close to what I envisioned.

I've put the JK-1 on the backburner for the time being (go with the hot hand, right?), while I decide what I'm going to do with it.

Don't really need sealer if using Tru Oil.

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[Spychocyco]

I'm using the Tru-Oil sealer that they make just to be safe. I've seen a few stories of dyes and stains rubbing off a bit with the direct application of the Tru-Oil, and I've had enough go wrong already that I'm sure that even if it's a one in a million chance, I'm that one.

[wazkelly]

I'm using the Tru-Oil sealer that they make just to be safe. I've seen a few stories of dyes and stains rubbing off a bit with the direct application of the Tru-Oil, and I've had enough go wrong already that I'm sure that even if it's a one in a million chance, I'm that one.

Brushing on first couple of finish coats rather than using rag method prevents stain colour being adversely affected.

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[Spychocyco]

Did a little work on both projects last night.

On the MM-1, I scraped some stray paint off the binding, put the sealer on and gave it the first coat of Tru-Oil. I was already happy with the finish, but man, that sealer and first layer really popped the grain on it. It looks really fluid in person. Can't wait until I get some shine on it. Despite some flaws, I'm really, really happy with how this one is turning out.

Also turned my attention back to the JK-1, or at least the neck. After a couple of days of heavy sanding to shape it, I managed to take out the hump on the bottom. It looks a little more like a vulture beak than the Jackson-style headstock I sketched out on the paddle, but I've gotten it to a place where I don't hate it.

[wazkelly]

Did a little work on both projects last night.

On the MM-1, I scraped some stray paint off the binding, put the sealer on and gave it the first coat of Tru-Oil. I was already happy with the finish, but man, that sealer and first layer really popped the grain on it. It looks really fluid in person. Can't wait until I get some shine on it. Despite some flaws, I'm really, really happy with how this one is turning out.

Also turned my attention back to the JK-1, or at least the neck. After a couple of days of heavy sanding to shape it, I managed to take out the hump on the bottom. It looks a little more like a vulture beak than the Jackson-style headstock I sketched out on the paddle, but I've gotten it to a place where I don't hate it.

Lots of quilt showing through the stain. Headstock looks good too.

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[Kick]

That stain is great. One question; shouldn't you have colored the cavity of the trem? The PU cavities will be masked by the PU rings but the backside of the trem will float into the cavity ans most likely you'll see some bare wood there.