Re-starting, re-thinking finish on stalled build
I started a new strat build back in early November.
I got the 2-piece alder body shaped, contoured, drilled, routed etc and got started on the finish.
I had a great plan in my head: a natural trans-blue with a nice deep clear lacquer over it. (I'd been inspired by some recent blue guitars here)
Well, it stalled after trip to NZ mid-November followed by a 10 day virus I picked up on the plane.
The alcohol-based ink (first time using ink) just didn't come up as I pictured and from there I just kind of became ambivalent...
The colour wasn't as even as I would like, or as even as I have achieved before, and TBH, the grain is fairly uninspiring.
I contemplated sanding back and trying again but shellacing before re-applying the ink (as per Ozzbike's method) but the end grain has *really* sucked up the previous ink. I'm not sure I could get it down to bare timber without significantly compromising the areas around the neck pocket.
So now I'm getting my motivation back and it looks like Plan B is going to be another solid colour lacquer.
I will go with a blue metallic though, so sort of in keeping with the theme. At least I have all my hardware, electronics and a finished neck to go on it when the finish is complete!
Sometimes you just never know where you'll end up in this BYOG world!
That saying about best laid plans and such comes to mind...
