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View Full Version : A day at the beach....



barrylicious
19-04-2014, 08:44 AM
Another day another build

This one reminded me of a sunshine coAst beach near perrigian.

As usual each build is assigned its own bottle of scotch for completion. The tricky part is not to finish 1 without the other....

And the wife saw this kit turn up so I had to buy her a pair of shoes to keep her quiet.

Anyway. So far so good with the axe. No problems as yet. Colour is on the neck and body. Just need 8 more clear coats and many hrs of sanding, steel wooling and buffing. To level it out and bring on the shine ..Some pics to show where I'm at.
Oops. First stuff up
Accidentally stained the fretboard a bit blue. Not sure if I should sand it back or continue dying it further... Any suggestions.????.



http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/5j975-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/zg969-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/1u2py-image.jpg

lawry
19-04-2014, 08:48 AM
Suggestions? Maybe drink the scotch after the staining? 8O
Love the colour scheme. Looks great!

barrylicious
19-04-2014, 08:48 AM
I love the smell of wet enamel in the morning
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/93q91-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/97000-image.jpg

barrylicious
19-04-2014, 08:53 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from lawry on April 18, 2014, 17:48
Suggestions? Maybe drink the scotch after the staining? 8O
Love the colour scheme. Looks great!


Hahaaahaa aaa . Sorry. Don't have time. I run a small business. Work 7 day weeks. I've 2 hobbies. Tasting scotches and amatuer luthiering.... Have to do both at once or give one up...

adam
19-04-2014, 09:04 AM
As an avid Irish Whiskey drinker, I salute your dedication to your arts. I think it looks amazing, who cares if the fretboard is stained... it was meant to be. Keep it up!

lawry
19-04-2014, 09:15 AM
Agreed. And I totally admire someone who can multitask.

dingobass
19-04-2014, 09:24 AM
Wow Barry.... You made a Mockingbird look great! well done that man :)

Or is it the hideous amount of Wild Turkey I have had this arvo?...... Nope, That MB looks amazing! :)

jarrod
19-04-2014, 11:23 AM
Thats dam wicked. I want one, I love the blends of colours that bring it altogether. It'sboth smooth and corse at the same time and it goes down the neck so well!!!!! The guitar looks bloody great aswell....lol...

stan
19-04-2014, 10:36 PM
nice paint swirl work

wokkaboy
20-04-2014, 01:13 AM
nice swirl job Barry, can you please describe briefly your method ?
I've heard its a very difficult painting method to perfect.
Working on a damp sump brings out your creativity, you would fit in well at 4D Guitars haha
If Dingobass said you made a mockingbird look good you nailed it !
can't wait to see it after clear coats. I wouldn't worry about bit of blue in the fingerboard ! adds to the effect !

Brendan
20-04-2014, 12:27 PM
Barry - to have DB praising a Mockingbird is a big call! Congratulations - it's already looking pretty cool!

barrylicious
21-04-2014, 02:33 AM
Cheers boys.
Painful process but worth the end result . Paint sets at different depths depending on thickness and colour when you swirl it. Will require a lot of clear to build up and level it. I'm redoing the neck. Not happy with it.
Will post progress.

barrylicious
21-04-2014, 03:12 AM
Not for a while though. I'm outta scotch.

gavinturner
21-04-2014, 05:32 AM
Wow, amazing swirl Dan!! Your MB looks gorgeous. Would love to try this technique but it scares me ;). You've so nailed it!

cheers,
Gav.

maxaxe
21-04-2014, 08:15 AM
Wow, amazing swirl Dan!! Your MB looks gorgeous. Would love to try this technique but it scares me ;). You've so nailed it!

Totally agree with with Gavin - eager to see how this puppy progresses.

gavinturner
21-04-2014, 10:11 PM
Dan, could you please let us know what kinds/brand of paint you used? You've inspired me!

cheers,
Gav.

barrylicious
22-04-2014, 08:36 AM
Sure mate no probs Paint brand doesn't seem to matter, as long as it enamel. so long as you thin out the paints enough. I've used "humbroll",stuff from bunnings,stuff from junk shops. They all work eventually More frustrating is the fact that I had 2 tins of paint that were identical that had to be treated completely differently. Unfortunately there is no 'rule of thumb" for it. Just have to add thinners to u think its right then try. Too little and till skin over straight away. Too much and you're paint will run. Practice practice practice.
Used 120l water , 400 g of borax. Water temp seems to work best at about 26'c. 8 months of research and test dipping before I did the bird. Everything in my backyard is multicolored now.

gavinturner
22-04-2014, 08:42 AM
LOL. Thanks for the info that's awesome! I'm gonna give it a crack one of these days. First I gotta find a container deep enough to dip the guitar body into..

Thanks Dan!

cheers,
Gav.

barrylicious
22-04-2014, 08:48 AM
Have some turps handy just incase you don't like what happens to your guitar. Very easy to wipe off the paint before it dries.

robin
22-04-2014, 09:59 AM
That looks fantastic Barry.

Thanks for the tips, but it looks a bit to involved for me at present, but it is something that I have wanted to try for quite a while. Who knows, one day lol.

cheers
rob

pablopepper
22-04-2014, 11:32 PM
Great colours. I would love to try a swirl finish one of these days.

wokkaboy
23-04-2014, 02:24 AM
yes nice finish Barry, I bet it takes heaps of practice to get the paint/thinner ratio and temperature correct so the swirl works

ihasmario
23-04-2014, 03:34 AM
Any pics of the swirl tub? ;)

barrylicious
23-04-2014, 07:47 AM
Sure mate. I just used a cardboard box. Lined it with a garbage bag. Added some gaffa tape for structural support and hoped like hell it would hold. Used the fish tank heater to help control temp
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/vf64m-image.jpg

wokkaboy
23-04-2014, 07:51 AM
wow thats a cheap option Barry to use as a tub, well done !

barrylicious
26-04-2014, 09:32 AM
My cardboard box just broke. 120l of borax and paint just flooded my patio. Wife's not happy. Will need to buy her shoes ..... Quickly......




Perhaps more gaffa tape on the next build

Brendan
26-04-2014, 09:49 AM
Have heard of people using their bins for swirling...

stan
27-04-2014, 03:20 AM
oh man, the clean up. Yep get a bin or plastic tub

bargeloobs
27-04-2014, 03:31 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from barrylicious on April 25, 2014, 18:32
My cardboard box just broke. 120l of borax and paint just flooded my patio. Wife's not happy. Will need to buy her shoes ..... Quickly......




Perhaps more gaffa tape on the next build

Sorry mate I had to chuckle when I read this, it sounds like something that would happen to me. Don't worry the missus will get over it... new shoes will definitely help speed the process though.
Builds lookin' sweet too!

Nickosaurus
27-04-2014, 04:05 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from barrylicious on April 25, 2014, 18:32
My cardboard box just broke. 120l of borax and paint just flooded my patio. Wife's not happy. Will need to buy her shoes ..... Quickly......




Perhaps more gaffa tape on the next build

Just burst out laughing. Hilarious misfortune. :D

gavinturner
27-04-2014, 11:11 AM
Bad luck Dan! Yeah when I read your misfortune I had the exact same thought - that's what would have happened to me! I can imagine the crap you're getting ;). Anyway, a plastic garbage bin for next time?? I'm already thinking of what I can use to experiment :).

cheers,
Gav.

ihasmario
30-04-2014, 04:03 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from barrylicious on April 25, 2014, 18:32
My cardboard box just broke. 120l of borax and paint just flooded my patio. Wife's not happy.

Of all the things to go wrong on a build! Haha

wokkaboy
30-04-2014, 04:19 AM
yer don't think its a case of more gaffa tape Barry. Plastic tub or bin sounds much safer. How did you clean up 120 litres of borax/paint ? thats at least 5 pairs of shoes. Sometimes cheaper options backfire !
Look forward to photos of the build and how the patio looked ! Maybe it's left a cool swirl pattern on your pavers/concrete !

keloooe
30-04-2014, 04:57 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Nickosaurus on April 26, 2014, 13:05

/<\\/p>[/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/]<\\/p>/Quote from barrylicious on April 25, 2014, 18:32
My cardboard box just broke. 120l of borax and paint just flooded my patio. Wife's not happy. Will need to buy her shoes ..... Quickly......




Perhaps more gaffa tape on the next build

Just burst out laughing. Hilarious misfortune. :D
Haha same here Nick!

barrylicious
04-05-2014, 11:19 AM
Allo again boys and girls.
Life's been happening. Had to put guitars on hold for a while.

It took quite a while to clean up the mess made by the rainbow flood out the back. Intact you can still see multicolored plants and rocks when you look in the garden :)

Anyway. Clear Coates are on. Still need a bit more rubbing.
Didn't like the blue stained fretboard so I've primed the entire neck and have prepped it for a complete swirl. Never seen it done before .
Will keep you posted.

Ps. Adam. If you haven't had it, do yourself a flavor and go get a bottle of smokehead. Filled with peaty goodness. 2 thumbs up!
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/144ah-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ck9hh-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/s321m-image.jpg

ihasmario
04-05-2014, 12:54 PM
The body looks amazing with the clear coats.

stan
04-05-2014, 10:32 PM
Welcome back Barry, I thought your wife may have killed you.
Guitar is looking the goods though, nice that you have a matching garden

gavinturner
05-05-2014, 10:39 AM
Looking fantastic! Interested to see how the fretboard turns out!

cheers
Gav.

barrylicious
07-05-2014, 05:39 AM
Neck redone.

Had another box break.
Bit it held long enough to get the neck dipped. Bit of a photo finish.
Now to let it dry and give it a light clear coat to seal it.
Then to break out the buff
The fret files
And a scotch
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/4f86h-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/v0vj7-image.jpg

wokkaboy
07-05-2014, 05:52 AM
wow great effect Barry, swirl all round will look very cool. So you haven't bought a plastic tub yet for the swirling, glad you finished the swirling or neighbors may get a coloured garden too.
So you're not cutting a headstock shape ?
What treatment are you going to put on the fingerboard to stop the swirl paint coming off ?

bargeloobs
07-05-2014, 06:35 AM
[quote]/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from barrylicious on May 6, 2014, 14:39
Neck redone.

It looks unreal mate! Nice job.

barrylicious
07-05-2014, 07:08 AM
Still might shave a little off the headstock

I'll be using a very thinned coat or 2 of clear enamel on the neck, unless you guys can come up with a better solution for me. Almost everything else I've played with leaves a yellow taint behind and id really like to keep the crisp white on the guitar.

As for buying a tub, well I'm kind of a tightArsedmutha(thankyou auto predict for that phrase). If I swirl again I'll knock up a timber frame for my box and double bin bag the inside .

Also for anyone trying a swirl. USE tank water . Thevpaint behaved much nicer.

barrylicious
07-05-2014, 07:25 AM
Can't wait to hang this one up on the wall
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ym08r-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/8izkz-image.jpg

wokkaboy
07-05-2014, 07:35 AM
Wow Barry the mock build looks amazing, can't wait to see it strung up and belting out some tunes !
Some nice curves on the top of the headstock maybe in similar shape of the body would be the icing on the cake

jarrod
07-05-2014, 07:51 AM
that's pretty dam cool Barry

stan
07-05-2014, 10:48 AM
the back of the neck is amazing - looks great

barrylicious
08-05-2014, 10:51 AM
Fret leveling and polishing done. Still a little paint to take off. 2 only clear Coates on fretboard done. Still a buff and polish to go. Looking better then I expected.

Plz note. Same blue paint used on neck as body. I dipped the body fast and the neck slow. Makes huge difference.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/u431l-image.jpg

lawry
08-05-2014, 11:15 AM
Don't know what possessed you to do this but it looks amazing.

barrylicious
08-05-2014, 11:54 AM
A series of unfortunate events led me here.

Figured I just roll with it

barrylicious
08-05-2014, 11:58 AM
A series of unfortunate events led me here.

Figured I just roll with it

I was about ready to order another neck before I did this.
Accidentally (drunkenly) grabbed the neck with paint soaked hands without realizing it. Couldn't remove the colour no matter what I tried... So I just went over it.

lawry
08-05-2014, 07:29 PM
So a bit of serendipity, then.

keloooe
08-05-2014, 10:25 PM
Wow Barry, that looks so stunning!

wokkaboy
09-05-2014, 02:43 AM
yes Barry the neck looks excellent, looks like the whole axe has been swirled as one piece !

gavinturner
09-05-2014, 09:42 AM
Looks utterly amazing!

cheers,
Gav.

barrylicious
09-06-2014, 08:49 AM
Been a while. Finally got a day off to make some progress. Wiring almost complete. Headstock shaped.
Replaced tone capacitors with some upgraded bits
These came highly recommended from a sparky friend
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gf6b0-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2848n-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2h6jl-image.jpg

Analyst69
09-06-2014, 10:31 AM
Love the Swirl finish. I've thought about doing a swirl, but haven't had the guts to give it a go.

Looking forward to seeing this finished.

Cheers

Darren

west0288
09-06-2014, 11:03 AM
This is an incredible build, Barry.

You should be super stoked with what you have achieved. I want to hear it in action once it is all strung up. ;)

gavinturner
09-06-2014, 12:13 PM
Great work Dan. Will be great to see her strung up and hear how she sounds!!

cheers,
Gav.

barrylicious
26-06-2014, 10:17 AM
Finally finished. Well. Almost. A small wiring problem. Volume for. The neck pickup won't turn off. It'll go quiet but still has signal coming through when turned off?? Any ideas guys? Could it be the pot? Or my bad soldering skills?

Any way some pics.

Still needs final buff and polish

Intonation set well
High e string seems to buzz a little fretted and unfretted. Think it might be the screw mount on the tom bridge that adjust length .
Apart from that she plays like a dream.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/l9b94-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ds983-image.jpg

barrylicious
26-06-2014, 11:25 AM
A few more in the pipeline...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/r8l88-image.jpg

Nickosaurus
26-06-2014, 01:09 PM
Shit Baz, just a few. :P

barrylicious
26-06-2014, 03:40 PM
Yeah. I suffer from really bad gas

gavinturner
26-06-2014, 09:20 PM
She's come up beautifully Dan. Your stack looks like mine. Never sees to get any smaller :).

cheers,
Gav.

bargeloobs
26-06-2014, 10:26 PM
Turned out sweet, excellent work with the paint job!!

Fretworn
27-06-2014, 01:55 AM
How does the fingerboard play with the swirl on it? Is it nice and smooth. I'd be too scared that bent strings would "catch" where the different colours were.

WeirdBits
27-06-2014, 01:57 AM
Quote from barrylicious on June 25, 2014, 19:17
[...] The neck pickup won't turn off. It'll go quiet but still has signal coming through when turned off? [...]

From the cardboard layout photo you posted earlier it looks like you've using standard LP style wiring with the pickups on the outer pot lug (with the tone link) and the switch connection on the centre lug, right? So you're saying with the toggle switch in the neck or neck + bridge positions the neck pickup signal still comes through when its volume turned all the way down? Does the volume work correctly other than that? It could be that the pot wiper isn't 'shorting to ground' completely when in the full clockwise position, meaning that some signal is still getting through. If you have a multimeter just turn the neck volume pot fully clockwise (off) and measure the resistance between the centre lug and the case-soldered ground lug (should be zero). Or, sans multimeter, just wrap a bare wire around the centre lug and short it to the ground lug (or any ground) and check the signal, if that stops the signal coming through then you'll know it's an issue with the pot.

If that doesn't locate the problem post some pics of your completed wiring and we can take a closer look.

barrylicious
14-07-2014, 10:54 AM
Fretworn: I built up a few thin layers of clear over the fretboard and carefully sanded it back smooth. No edges have cAught strings yet. Fingers crossed.
I imagine the fretboard will eventually wear in the favorite spots like they all do. Guess ill just keep some yellow paint handy to patch it up were necessary. Only trouble I have is getting lost whilst looking at the frets. It's a little distracting .

Scott. Cheers for the info. Found the culprit. Applied more heat to the soldered lug on the volume pot. Mustn't have had a solid join. Problem fixed.

Another problem has appeared though. When the pickup selector is in the middle position, it seems that only the neck pickup is working. When I tap on the bridge pickup, no signal comes through. ( Both volumes are turned up).
In the forwArd or backward position both pickups/ volumes/ tones All work independAntly as you would expect. Could this be the switch? Or is it once again my dodgy wiring job?

WeirdBits
15-07-2014, 02:42 AM
It could just be a dodgy contact in the switch for the bridge when in the middle position (I assume you're using the stock toggle switch). To check, get yourself a paperclip or a piece of stiff bare wire, put the switch into the middle position (make sure you can hear the neck pup) and then use the wire to short the switch's bridge lug to its output lug. If that gets you sound from the bridge pup as well then you'll know it's the switch at fault.

Standard LP wiring means that the volumes are linked in the middle position, so make sure neither volume is at zero when doing any tests.

barrylicious
16-07-2014, 09:13 AM
Ok Scott. Did what you suggested and have signal.
Next step I imagine is to pull apart the switch and find wich peice of metal isn't touching the other piece of metal in the middle position? Out of time ATM but I'll crack open that switch over the next couple days and have a looksy. Could just swap out the switch, but I'm a tight arse and I wanna know how it all works

Thanks once again for the info.

lawry
16-07-2014, 11:32 AM
Yep. Definitely the king of the axe-wirers. Good advice, Scott.

barrylicious
02-08-2014, 08:53 AM
All righty then. I'm ready to close the book on this one now!

Big thanks to all who put in ideas and advice

Finally got around to opening tge 3wsy switch to repair it. I thought there might be a little more to them. But I was wrong. Simple yet effective(when working) switch. I just had to bend a metal contact a little to make sure signal got through properly. Took a lot longer to put back together then it did to take it apart , but I got there.

Guitar intonates well. Plays solid and harmonically , well, squeals like a banshee. Artificial harmonics come off off every note with ease. Will upload video shortly

Very happy with finished product.
Thankyou pitbull guitars for deepening my addiction.

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/d47l9-image.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/iwtn7-image.jpg

Gavin1393
02-08-2014, 09:07 AM
Really Nice...looking forward to the audio.

lawry
02-08-2014, 09:13 AM
Been a bit of journey, this one, Barry and it's great to see it come to fruition. Like the Gavmeister says, I'm looking forward to hearing the audio too.
Congratulations on an 'interesting' build.

barrylicious
26-08-2014, 04:33 AM
Finally got round to plugging it in

http://youtu.be/giXHXGOl-ZM

Check it out

pablopepper
26-08-2014, 04:49 AM
Kick ass! You weren't kidding about the pinch harmonics. That thing wails! Tight playing.

stan
26-08-2014, 04:50 AM
swirl is perfect for the mockingbird style, well done.
sounds really good! stock pups?

wokkaboy
26-08-2014, 04:50 AM
sounds great Barry, trying to pick the riff you are playing or is it original ?

barrylicious
26-08-2014, 05:06 AM
Part of an old pan terra. Dimebag was a god!

barrylicious
26-08-2014, 05:08 AM
And yeah. All stock hardware. Only thing I changed was lots of shielding through the cavities and I reversed the bridge pickup to face the other way. Oh. And replaced the cap on the bridge tone pot with a Russian Polly oil paper job

wokkaboy
26-08-2014, 05:13 AM
ah that's the riff, thought I recognised it. You got the pinch harmonics worked out !