This has been a great build to watch develop AJ. And the way you're going you will be rocking it out in no time. Looks great.
Printable View
This has been a great build to watch develop AJ. And the way you're going you will be rocking it out in no time. Looks great.
Got the clear coats done today, the first coat I put some of the gold highlights into it to give it a subtle gold fleck through out. I then went on to do a few straight clear coats, allowing about an hour in between as I had the infrared light drying it. The gold flecks worked a real treat and are very subtle giving a slight metal flaky look at different angles.
Wont take much to cut n polish this one , the wood grain looks as if has been "airbrushed into flames... looking from the back to front", maybe I might be able to get Stan to get some better pictures for me when he drops by ;)
I have now de-fretted the neck, have to order some fret wire ( 2.7 mm wide stuff), unless you can reuse the fret wire? Nut area fixed now, so will start to sand the back , head stock, mark and drill the tuner holes etc.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...4-DSCF1521.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...t-DSCF1522.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...1-DSCF1523.JPG
Stunning AJ.
Holy cow AJ - that's sweet!
AJ, that is stunning mate. Is that gloss finish wet, or does it really look like that dry? If the latter, I feel an AJ's Gloss Finish Video is on the cards.
I am so glad I don't enter GOTM anymore.....how can anyone compete with that?
Wow, what a finish. it has left its ëxotic" origins well behind. bueatifly crafted
looking forward to seeing this complete.
yep, it is dry there Adam, will leave it a few days to completely harden up before I ht it with 2000 grit wet n dry and then with 3000 grit wet /dry. I think Jarrod has the edge on doing gloss finishes.Quote:
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from adam on January 25, 2014, 22:41
AJ, that is stunning mate. Is that gloss finish wet, or does it really look like that dry? If the latter, I feel an AJ's Gloss Finish Video is on the cards.
@ Gavin, no matey this isn't eligible for PBG monthly entry as I had only purchased a neck from you guys.. I am seriously considering redoing the pick guard on the TL-1 to remove the gilding on it.. then I might enter that one next month..
And thanks every one for the great comments, just hope I don't stuff up the rest of it as I am considering sending it over to the eldest son (he's in Perth) to keep for when the grandson grows up enough to hopefully learn to accomplish something that I have for my life struggled to do... that is belt out a song on one of these and have it sound reasonable to those forced to endure the listening... :D
Wow, you really achieved that "sucked lolly" look. A stunning looking guitar.
That is an amazing finish AJ, would love to take same pics of it for you, better bring the good camera!
That golden honey colour is awesome, I have an old Harmony archtop that needs this treatment.... Top work
Quote:
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from stan on January 26, 2014, 18:53
That is an amazing finish AJ, would love to take same pics of it for you, better bring the good camera!
That golden honey colour is awesome, I have an old Harmony archtop that needs this treatment.... Top work
Bring it along with you Stan, so we can see what it will need to do it 8-)
Will do mate, busy week this week, but it will be soon
Looks Absolutely stunning AJ! Really love the flamed appearance, great shape too :-)
Awesome job AJ, the jarrah stain made that pine look great but that gloss finish has added another dimension. Very classy. So did you go with TruOil in the end?
Ty Matt, I ended up going the with the lacquer, So I still have the new bottle of true oil that I want to experiment/ learn to use it.Quote:
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from MetalMatt on January 27, 2014, 23:10
Awesome job AJ, the jarrah stain made that pine look great but that gloss finish has added another dimension. Very classy. So did you go with TruOil in the end?
Q for the gurus: I have seen somewhere that the only oil needed for fretboard protection is "boiled Linseed Oil" how effective is that and is that better that the lemon/orange/distillate witches brews labeled as fret juice etc???? ( the lemon/orange component would surely create a slightly "acidic" tendency.. )
AJ, I've got a little bottle of Brehlen Fretboard oil. It is actually Lemon oil. a pair of gloves a couple of coats and it'll look real nice. I brought it from Guitars Australia You do have to be careful as this stuf is fatal if swallowed. http://www.guitaraust.com.au/finishi...board-oil.html
Thanks, I do have a small bottle of fretboard juice from JB hi-Fi, have used that so far. Just thought I'd ask the Q any ways.. :) ( on the possibility that boiled linseed may have been a better option??)Quote:
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from kells80aus on January 28, 2014, 14:04
AJ, I've got a little bottle of Brehlen Fretboard oil. It is actually Lemon oil. a pair of gloves a couple of coats and it'll look real nice. I brought it from Guitars Australia You do have to be careful as this stuf is fatal if swallowed. http://www.guitaraust.com.au/finishi...board-oil.html
Update:
Got a bit more done today with the scratch built guitar.
I got the body cut and polished and did the shielding. I also inserted the ferrules for the through body string retaining.
Still waiting on the fret wire to turn up in the post , then I can re fret the neck then finish sanding and also shape the head stock.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...c-DSCF1528.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...q-DSCF1529.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...4-DSCF1530.JPG
And a shot from another angle to show how it does sorta change to a darker color .. depending on where the light source is.
Another question.. do you think if I were to stain the fretboard japan black.. would sorta highlight/ contrast the whole appearance?
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...0-DSCF1531.JPG
Just a second while I pick my jaw up off the floor.
That must be the deepest, most glossy finish I've seen. I need to take a trip down south so you can show me your secrets.
The finish looks more akin to a fine French polished table top. Make sure you wear some white cotton gloves when you play this beauty.
You have blown my first effort out of the park, your attention to detail is superb. I can't wait to see it strung up.
AJ - sublime job! Totally amazing to think that a couple of weeks ago it was resting in Bunnings and about to become something totally mundane and you rescued it! Is that a pickup surround on some of the photos - same wood?
As for staining the fretboard black - are you planning the neck in a similar colour to the body? Last thing you'd want though is to take the attention away from the body with that beauty.
What colour bling are you thinking of? Gold? If so, I'd be tempted to keep with a rosewood neck and keep to the red / gold palete. Maybe go gloss with it though like the Ricky necks?
Quote:
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Brendan on January 30, 2014, 19:16
AJ - sublime job! Totally amazing to think that a couple of weeks ago it was resting in Bunnings and about to become something totally mundane and you rescued it! Is that a pickup surround on some of the photos - same wood?
As for staining the fretboard black - are you planning the neck in a similar colour to the body? Last thing you'd want though is to take the attention away from the body with that beauty.
What colour bling are you thinking of? Gold? If so, I'd be tempted to keep with a rosewood neck and keep to the red / gold palete. Maybe go gloss with it though like the Ricky necks?
Thanks guys for the fantastic comments, I'm humbled by them coming from guys that are so talented.
The hardware is a chrome solid tail bridge, couldn't get a round chrome jack ( so that will be the odd bit out , fortunately, it cant be seen unless directly looking at it.).. Tuners are chrome. Am planning on doing the back of the neck in jarah stain, then using gloss wood tone clear so it should be "slippery"
The gold fleck through out is subtle but jumps out at various angles. that is why I thought.. mm maybe blacking the fret board.
Dan, your work is outstanding quality, and it is what inspired me to have a crack at this. The gold fleck/ highlight was an old nearly off wood tone, so I added some to the clear and sprayed the first coat with that in a "dry-ish manner", same sort of process is used for doing metal flake. The next few coats were clear with the addition of a touch of jarah stain into the mix,that then gives a perceived deeper look, the final two light coats were plain clear.
Amazing work AJ. That finish is just superb!
Cheers,
Gav.
Wow AJ! Absolutely fantastic stuff.
sensational AJ, any more gloss and you would need to wear sunnies to look at it ! Oozes class, you must be stoked with the results, well done
Excellent work AJ. That finish is so deep that it looks like toffee. Mmmm, toffee. :?
Update - the custom designed effort:
Made a transfer up for the head stock, stained and clear-coated the neck, have now cut n polished the neck.
Made a bone nut and have filed the string slots, action at neck end is good. Neck now fitted and strung the guitar, carried out a rough intonation, will redo that along with neck relief when the neck has settled in. (note to self.. remember to glue the nut into place )
Apart from the neck pocket being a smidgeon too large(I routed the neck pocket before getting the neck and had taken the dimensions from the tele neck on my TL-1.The neck I received was of a slightly smaller width at the base. After having a 5 min play, am a happy camper with the sound and satisfied with the way it is.)
Overall this has been a great joy to do.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...q-DSCF1532.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...l-DSCF1533.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...6-DSCF1534.JPG
As for the sound, to me it can go from a deep Les paul through to a strat/Tele sound :)
AJ - that's beautiful. You've done a great job on that one!
Very nice... Well done AJ :)
Very nice, AJ.
Ty guys, for the fantastic comments, I'm humbled to get these from craftsmen like you.
Special thanks to Dan for inspiring me to have a crack at doing this. I've truly enjoyed this experience.
sooooo you painting mine right??? right!! RIGHT!! hehehe very nice buddy! packing up wood need address please!
Top job A.J.
I'm still in awe of that finish you were able to achieve. Stunning.
And the work you did carving the body contours has paid off. It really adds depth and character to the guitar.
AJ, that is a magnificent guitar and you have every right to be very proud of it. I'm impressed and envious. Well done, man!
Very Nice. Great job.
AJ as we say in North Qld. That would put a horn on a jellyfish.
Love your work.