EX-5 Build Diary - My First Build Bridge Pilot Hole Question

[FrankenWashie]

Looking sweet bro!

[MusicStudent1]

Looking sweet bro!

90% of the paint on this bass looks great, the other 10% is unacceptable. I’ve been hindered with cold humid weather here so my project is on hold for months. Some bizarre wrinkling issue is showing up.

I am thinking about using a rod in the jack output rout to hold the body. Then I might hold the thing up like a huge popsicle and spray paint it on a sunny day.

Picking black as a first attempt was a mistake. Every flaw is glaring.

More later ...

[wazkelly]

That is one of the reasons why i have chosen to do hand rubbed stain finishes on all my builds.
Hope it can still end up looking ok.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[MusicStudent1]

That is one of the reasons why i have chosen to do hand rubbed stain finishes on all my builds.
Hope it can still end up looking ok.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

Hey wazkelly177774!

Here are my excuses....I got promoted at work and the responsibility level increased dramatically. I am out of energy. I am about buy a retirement home....blah blah.... Thus, I haven’t had any time to work on this guitar...until now.

A while back we had a dry sunny day so I sprayed the body with satin black paint and about 3 coats of satin clear coat. I’m not gonna lie. It looked terrible. It cured and now I’ve wet sanded it with 1000 grit paper. It is freakin smooth to the touch and no paint came off from the sanding. I am using lousy Krylon paint from ACE hardware.

Well, tonight, I’m going to wet sand with 1200 grit, then 1500 grit, 2000, then some swirl remover rubbing compound, I am confident I can make this thing look ok. It’s time for me to return to playing!

Stand by for updates on the longest build in Pit Bull history!

[wazkelly]

Stand by for updates on the longest build in Pit Bull history!

My 2nd last one took about 18 months to finish.....was obsessing with trying to achieve a perfect mirror finish and in the end had to make the call otherwise I would still be fussing over it some 9 months later. They scratch and mark so easily anyways and now it just looks a bit more played in and slightly roadworn.

Hope yours turns out to a standard you are happy with.

Cheers, Waz

[MusicStudent1]

My 2nd last one took about 18 months to finish.....was obsessing with trying to achieve a perfect mirror finish and in the end had to make the call otherwise I would still be fussing over it some 9 months later. They scratch and mark so easily anyways and now it just looks a bit more played in and slightly roadworn.

Hope yours turns out to a standard you are happy with.

Cheers, Waz

Thanks, Waz. Funny you mentioned scratches and marks...right before the final color coat, I bumped something an got a chip. I painted over it and now it’s a dimple....aaagh! Yup, it’s just time to get the thing together.

I feel better knowing it took 18 months on your build. I guess I’m around month 9. No building took place over the winter. Will post pics soon.

[MusicStudent1]

Well, well...I am learning. I’d intended to do a gloss body and satin neck. I couldn’t get the gloss body to look good so I tried a couple of satin color coats and numerous satin clear coats. It looked horrible! Just came out of the can bad.

I let it cure and wet sanded with 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000 grit paper. Feeling discouraged, I continued with medium Stew Mac rubbing compound. Ok...now we’re getting somewhere. I don’t own a polishing wheel, but I can do it by hand. I’m back to my gloss body idea now. Gloss body, satin neck, gloss peg head. I’ll keep ya posted!

[Sonic Mountain]

Looking good. Black is a super hard colour to get right so don't feel too bad. Keep at it, looks like it will be very nice after a bit more elbow grease.

[MusicStudent1]

Looking good. Black is a super hard colour to get right so don't feel too bad. Keep at it, looks like it will be very nice after a bit more elbow grease.

Thanks, Sonic Mountain!

Yes, I think a few hours of rubbing and it’ll start to look good. It’s far from being finished but I’m inspired now.

[MusicStudent1]

After using an electric buffing wheel...huh...why didn’t I buy one of those before?

That freaking chip on the right lower horn sticks out like a sore thumb and excludes this one from making GOTM, but at this point I just want to COMPLETE THIS PROJECT, lol!!!!

The paint is the lousiest Ace hardware store satin black. Buffed to an unexpected shine. On most finishes, you can clean and degrease with naphtha. If I do that to this thing, the paint comes off!