PDA

View Full Version : LP-1 in vintage white



SIMpleONe89
07-09-2013, 04:04 AM
Hello all! Just received my LP-1 kit today, and I must say I'm very impressed with the quality of this kit. This isn't my first build (third kit actually) and I have had bad experiences with previous kits. I'm happy to be a future Pitbull customer judging on the number of quality builds on this forum and also on the quality of the kit I received. Anyway, I'll let the pics do the talking.


http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/q3r19-20130906_141255.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/685rd-20130906_141813.jpg

SIMpleONe89
07-09-2013, 04:10 AM
So the plan is to build this guitar for my good friend in a vintage white colour. Now before you guys tell me about the banned word, just want to say that I tried staining guitars before and the results really varied and greatly depended on the quality of the wood. However, I've also recently acquired a taste in solid colours, with shiny (yes SHINY objects!) factory finishes.

I had wanted to do a Les Paul custom but due to the different designs, e.g. inlays, bindings, I decided to go with a long discontinued Gibson colour for the Standard series, which is their Alpine White. However, since most guitars from the 80s are old, they all have a nice aged white colour, like this:

http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/1989-Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Alpine-White-Big.jpg

Hopefully I'll be able to get this project done in one month, and I might consider doing a thinline!

Btw, how do I reply to the post without having to subscribe to it?

WeirdBits
07-09-2013, 04:35 AM
Looks like a it's going to be a great build, fantastic colour choice.

There is the 'Quick Reply' text box and 'Submit Quick Reply' at the bottom (which is what I'm using to post this, but you can't upload photos). Or, the main method of reply is via the blue 'Reply' button at the lower and upper right of the page. On some browsers/platforms this can look like one big 'Reply Subscribe RSS feed' button, but it's actually 3 individual buttons, and this reply method will give you the option to add up to 3 images to your post etc. The other option is to click the 'Quote' button above a post and that will open the reply box (with image option) with the text from the quoted post in the box. If you use the quote method edit the quoted text to only show the part you want and remove any quoted images so as not to duplicate them unnecessarily.

DanMade
07-09-2013, 05:31 AM
One word - Classy.

Are you using gold hardware?

SIMpleONe89
07-09-2013, 05:55 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from WeirdBits on September 6, 2013, 13:35
Looks like a it's going to be a great build, fantastic colour choice.

There is the 'Quick Reply' text box and 'Submit Quick Reply' at the bottom (which is what I'm using to post this, but you can't upload photos). Or, the main method of reply is via the blue 'Reply' button at the lower and upper right of the page. On some browsers/platforms this can look like one big 'Reply Subscribe RSS feed' button, but it's actually 3 individual buttons, and this reply method will give you the option to add up to 3 images to your post etc. The other option is to click the 'Quote' button above a post and that will open the reply box (with image option) with the text from the quoted post in the box. If you use the quote method edit the quoted text to only show the part you want and remove any quoted images so as not to duplicate them unnecessarily.



LOL i didn't realise there were 3 buttons!

SIMpleONe89
07-09-2013, 05:55 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from DanMade on September 6, 2013, 14:31
One word - Classy.

Are you using gold hardware?

Yes I managed to get Adam to swap out the chrome for gold for an extra fee! I think the gold would look stunning!

Andyport
07-09-2013, 08:00 AM
We all have our personal tastes....likes and dislikes.
But I am with you, I really like shiny factory finishes, particularly Gibsons classy finishes.
Looking forward to seeing your build take shape.
Your right, the gold will look really classy with the vintage white.

gavinturner
08-09-2013, 10:28 AM
White and gold is a great combo. This is going to be one great looking LP!

Cheers,
Gavin.

stan
08-09-2013, 10:26 PM
great choice, looking forward to seeing how it comes up

SIMpleONe89
16-09-2013, 06:21 AM
Hey all, sorry for the lack of updates! I have been working on the guitar for the past few days but I still have work to do hence the slow progress. I also figured out posting pictures of before and after sanding, sealer and primer pictures are kinda boring!

So after sanding, sealing and priming, I sprayed 3 white colour coats.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/48kay-20130915_154837.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/8e083-20130915_154842.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/9bnkg-20130915_154847.jpg

SIMpleONe89
16-09-2013, 06:23 AM
Then I sped up the ageing process by travelling in a time machine - first 30 years later, then 30 years back to the present.


http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/x66h1-IMG-20130915-WA0003.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/b55ax-IMG-20130915-WA0001.jpg

SIMpleONe89
16-09-2013, 06:26 AM
I also ordered cheap truss rod covers off eBay, and used Posca acrylic paint markers to design it. Then I sprayed a clear coat over it.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/a22k6-20130915_170439.jpg

DanMade
16-09-2013, 07:10 AM
. That paint job looks great. What did you use to spray it, cans or a spray gun?

SIMpleONe89
16-09-2013, 07:39 AM
Dan I used cans. I might invest in a spray gun in future, but for right now I don't have a proper work environment. I'm doing all these on my balcony which gets pretty windy at times. I don't have a choice :( apartment, no garage :(

DanMade
16-09-2013, 07:49 AM
You did a good job with the cans then.

stan
16-09-2013, 09:39 AM
is the white as creamy in real life as in the latest pics? Looks spot on

SIMpleONe89
16-09-2013, 10:23 AM
I sprayed a white coloured coat, hoping to try and make it yellow with various things but to no avail. Then I saw a can titled "classic cream" and I knew it was what I wanted! So it's kinda off-white, something you would expect from a 70s white nitrocellulosed guitar which was in many smoky pubs!

gavinturner
16-09-2013, 10:38 AM
Looking great! Love the off white colour too. Your LP is going to be sweet!

cheers,
Gavin.

SIMpleONe89
17-09-2013, 02:32 AM
I sprayed black on to the headstock, and left it over night. To my horror, some paint had seeped through, and the tape left residues (3M painter's tape). I also had some dents in the body because I stupidly left it on a hard surface. So I have to sand those down and do a respray. And I ran out of paint, but it's raining now in Sydney so I'll have to wait...

In the mean time, I designed a lame logo trying to copy Gibson's one.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/1l011-IMG-20130916-WA0006.jpg

gavinturner
17-09-2013, 06:40 AM
I feel your pain. I had the same issue on my first build. I have found that 3M Vinyl tape (have a look on ebay) is the best for edges when using a spray can. It produces a nice crisp line that the blue painters tape cannot. I use the 3mm vinyl tape along the edge of where I'm painting and then lay more standard painters tape back from that if/when required. Hope this helps.

PS. The logo looks awesome! did you free-hand it??

cheers,
Gavin.

SIMpleONe89
17-09-2013, 08:49 AM
Thanks for the advice! I'll check out that tape!

And yes I used a posca paint marker to write those words. I didn't want to order a huge amount of decal paper just for one job.

57strummers
18-09-2013, 12:15 AM
What are the colour details you are using mate, vintage white is what I am looking at for my TL-1 kit

SIMpleONe89
19-09-2013, 06:37 AM
Hey man I went to Bunnings and found their Whiteknight TouchUp paint "classic cream". It wasn't my first choice but I had no choice because I tried some techniques but couldn't get the colour I wanted with just a white base coat. A spray gun would be much easier as you can mix colours and stuff.

SIMpleONe89
19-09-2013, 06:42 AM
Some updates! This build has been more frustrating and tedious so far. The 3M painter's tape I used had left behind residues and marks, and when I did a respray, some paint fell onto the headstock. So I stripped the headstock and resprayed, and to my horror some paint leaked back onto the white! It was so frustrating because the tape I used was bad, so please I don't recommend 3M painter's tape!

I also scraped the binding, and things couldn't get much worse. The paint was so thick that just finding the depth of the binding was difficult. And I could see some of the primer layer after scraping off the paint. In other words, I couldn't get a perfectly rounded binding. But screw it, I'm not gonna respray!

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/4xu7b-20130918_172704.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/6bupv-20130918_172710.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/684j5-20130918_172717.jpg

SIMpleONe89
19-09-2013, 06:44 AM
Here's a pic before I masked the fretboard and sprayed the clear coat.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/jcq28-20130918_094046.jpg

wokkaboy
19-09-2013, 06:59 AM
looks great Simpleone, what a hassle you have had with the painters tape, love your dedication spraying the axe on a unit balcony, this axe should come up a treat when it's finished

SIMpleONe89
19-09-2013, 08:10 AM
Yes unfortunately I don't have a proper workspace. I live in an apartment with no garage. Argh! The winds can be crazy at times so it's definitely a challenge!

Tim
19-09-2013, 10:53 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from SIMpleONe89 on September 16, 2013, 17:49
Thanks for the advice! I'll check out that tape!

And yes I used a posca paint marker to write those words. I didn't want to order a huge amount of decal paper just for one job.

ONE job.. lol
This will be the first of many axes

SIMpleONe89
19-09-2013, 01:32 PM
LOL...one job...maybe not. I'm already looking at a second build yikes!

gavinturner
19-09-2013, 08:57 PM
I haven't had a build yet that hasn't involved a re-spray (or 2 - yikes!) it happens unfortunately. That said, the paint job is looking awesome. You managed to find the binding as far as I can see and the contrast between binding and paint shade looks great. I want to see that clear coat!

cheers,
Gavin.

SIMpleONe89
22-09-2013, 06:28 AM
Hi guys there has been a slight delay for the past few days. I made some mistakes (really stupid ones) which I'm embarrassed to say because these are mistakes one shouldn't make! My impatience to finish it cost quite a bit and now I'm regretting it!

So be patient and never rush to finish your guitar!

23-09-2013, 03:12 AM
UUmm! now I'm really keen to get my Les Paul kit, don't have spraying faculties, unfortunately. Looks like it will turn out great.

SIMpleONe89
15-10-2013, 10:11 PM
Hey guys sorry for the lack of updates! I finally finished the guitar but it didn't turn out the way I wanted, mainly because of my stupid mistake which I made. I accidentally touched an area of paint while it was still wet, and no amount of touch up could restore it back to the perfect finish it once was. So after letting the lacquer cure for 2 weeks, I buffed it and the body was shiny, except for the part with the mistake.

I'll let pics do the talking! I decided to make a feel dents in it (because of my frustration really) to make it sort of a worn, vintage guitar. The cream colour (vintage white) really suits the worn look. I didn't overdo the relicing so I'm quite happy with how it turned out.


http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/y5ov6-IMG_3332.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ze241-IMG_3333.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/he5im-IMG_3334.JPG

SIMpleONe89
15-10-2013, 10:14 PM
Don't know why my pictures turned out so grainy! It was bright that day!

Those are tonerider rocksong pickups btw. I highly recommend it for the price!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/u0qm6-IMG_3335.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/h5kh7-IMG_3336.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vkzf5-IMG_3339.JPG

SIMpleONe89
15-10-2013, 10:30 PM
Here it is next to my previous Ebony Les Paul build.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/23kq1-IMG_3341.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/78n2d-IMG_3347.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/74x55-IMG_3349.JPG

AJ
16-10-2013, 12:39 AM
looks great! well done

wokkaboy
16-10-2013, 01:03 AM
well done Simpleone the white LP turned out looking sweet, love the gold hardware with black plate and pup surrounds, did you order all the gold hardware ?
The pair look cool together the colours are almost opposites !

SIMpleONe89
16-10-2013, 02:22 AM
Yes I told Adam to put in a custom order for the gold hardware, but apparently it wasn't easy for him to do it. This goes to show how dedicated Adam is ;)

gavinturner
16-10-2013, 03:59 AM
looks awesome. well done!

cheers,
Gavin.

SIMpleONe89
24-10-2013, 07:31 AM
Hi guys, I changed the hardware to cream to suit the original design that I wanted. Some better pics:


http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/3893i-Les-Paul-white-1.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/m5956-Les-Paul-white-2.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/88n6x-Les-Paul-white-4.jpg

SIMpleONe89
24-10-2013, 07:41 AM
More pics...
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/30rhf-Les-Paul-white-11.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/6pdn8-Les-Paul-white-13.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/0i730-Les-Paul-white-16.jpg

pablopepper
24-10-2013, 10:37 AM
Gorgeous.

groundfloordoofus
24-10-2013, 10:55 AM
drop dead gorgeous.

stan
24-10-2013, 11:15 AM
W O W

adam
24-10-2013, 11:25 AM
Ummm, yeah, that is rather spectacular (this coming from a Tele guy). Hope you don't mind if I take this one straight to the pool room (our Facebook page).

SIMpleONe89
24-10-2013, 11:36 AM
Sure thing Adam!

Thanks guys.

SIMpleONe89
24-10-2013, 11:42 AM
Do note that I made a devastating mistake at the top of the body and so I decided to do a light relic of the guitar, hence there are some dings and signs of wear. I personally would love to have a perfect finish, but I was lazy to redo the entire thing.

SIMpleONe89
24-10-2013, 11:43 AM
More pics!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/909u2-Les-Paul-white-10.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/0j8ff-Les-Paul-white-9.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2ecnm-Les-Paul-white-14.jpg

adam
24-10-2013, 12:15 PM
I did notice the "blemish" on the top between the pups. Can you tell us what happened (it's probably in this thread, but I'm lazy). For what it's its worth, this is a beautiful guitar, with or without the blemish.

Tim
24-10-2013, 04:35 PM
Stunning

gavinturner
24-10-2013, 07:36 PM
Awesome result. You must be stoked. The vintage white really works with the gold hardware. Totally drool-worthy. GOTM candidate without question.

Cheers,
Gavin.

SIMpleONe89
24-10-2013, 08:14 PM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from adam on October 23, 2013, 21:15
I did notice the "blemish" on the top between the pups. Can you tell us what happened (it's probably in this thread, but I'm lazy). For what it's its worth, this is a beautiful guitar, with or without the blemish.

It was a punishment for my impatience. When I sprayed the fourth clear coat, I had a run and for some stupid reason I touched it. Then I tried to salvage it by trying to wipe off the wet paint which is totally stupid and I don't know why I did it. Not my first time working with spray cans but I should have waited at least 3 hours to sand it level. Later on I tried to do a respray of that area and tried to level the finish as I went but the coats weren't even like the rest of the guitar. So this blemish showed up during buffing and I couldn't be bothered to start all over and waste my hard work. So I decided to relic it (quite therapeutic actually!) to suit the rest of the guitar.

So lesson learned: patience is a must in guitar building if you want great results.

lawry
25-10-2013, 08:17 AM
Hey Simon. You know, blemish aside, this is a really classy looking axe!

GlennGP
25-10-2013, 09:59 AM
As I said on the book of face, so very very classy. I wouldn't worry about the blemish, this is one stunning looking guitar.

Scott J.
25-10-2013, 10:29 AM
Oh, yes that baby just oozes class ... all you need now to finish it off is a white tuxedo to wear when your playing it! :D (there's just nothing else that would do!)

Blemish or not ... Super nice job on that one Simon!

robin
25-10-2013, 11:10 AM
Simon, I have never been a big fan of white LP's until now. Wow, a VERY cool guitar. Love it.

rob

SIMpleONe89
25-10-2013, 11:19 AM
Thanks guys for all the comments! I really feel like making another guitar right now! Maybe an ash tele/strat with some nice wudtone stains...

dvous
27-10-2013, 06:47 AM
I swear that if you lick that guitar, it tastes like white chocolate!