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The excitement is building.
The kit has arrived in flawless condition, no glue spots or problems. Thanks to uni holidays I'll get started on it tomorrow. That flamed maple will look stunning in carmine gypsy.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...n75z-image.jpg
Wow- that is a one gorgeous top there! Can't wait to see the progress!
Just make sure you don't knock over your bottle of Carmine Gypsy. Trust me, it looks like a crime scene if you do... :P
Yeah, that would be bad! I've just acquired a man cave with carpet, which would not look good red! :)
Also, when I get to sanding tomorrow can someone give me an idea of how much sanding is appropriate? I've never worked with a cap before and want to make sure I won't go through it.
With the Maple top, start with the 220 grit and go easy along the edges!
when you have got it looking nice and smooth, go in with 240 grit and sand it until it is really smooth.
Next, polish the binding with steel wool, this will make it easier to remove the Wudtone after each coat has dried.
But, before all this, do a mock up build and drill all your holes. This may save you some swearing when you do the final build! :)
I second that Wow! That is a really nice flame finish. I remember when Phil W and I opened the first one of these kits, we almost wept.
Oh, you shouldn't have asked how much sanding is required. Stand by for some posts you won't want to read...
Thanks guys, this kit looks like it will be amazing. I was already planning on drilling the hardware first as it's the part of the build I like the least. Already done a mock fit and everything's correctly drilled. I was especially worried about about the strung through tailpiece but the holes were dead on.
On a sanding topic ( DB'S favourite topic, I know) how do you sand a serious flametop? Along its grain, or against it to rough up those flames?
Always sand with the grain.
The top of the FV is level, so although the caps that are used are thin you should be safe with the cap on the FV. It's the curved tops like the 335, LP, etc. that will cause problems as there is barely any cap at all on the edges!
And this why we don't talk and drill
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...f1h3-image.jpg
Oooppss. Have done it at other times - though thankfully not with my guitar... Good news is where it is - I think you'll be the only one who knows it's there - you and the person you were talking to...
Bwahahahahahaha! Welcome to the club!
That is a mistake you will only ever make the one time!
Good news is it is in a spot where you should be able to hide the repair so no one but you (and the forum members) will ever know is there.
The tooth pick should work fine as a plug, just round off the fat end so it is a snug fit then tap it in.
I wouldn’t worry about gluing it in as the Wudtone will seal it up nicely.
haha, i did that with the strap buttons on my LP, I drilled them at 4mm not 3.5mm... Also DB gave me the wrong bit at the start, so I'm blaming him as well :P
I hope he doesnt give me a pink, fretless Hofner Bass now....
Yeah, I felt extremely silly after that, I can assure you i'll be a lot more careful now!
Pest, your next kit is going to arrive in a putrid hot lipstick pink for that remark :)
Oh crap!!!! I better keep this Dark Onyx with me so i can make it red :P :D
Also DB don't worry, I'm going to make a plug for it soon and re-drill the hole
Tristan the washers on the tuners need to be reversed.
Yes the toothpick should hide the hole once covered with wudtone, I've done that trick once too and won't do it again !
OK, I think I'll be using a hand drill.
Ok, all drilled with very few problems, will have to remember to put the washers the right way up. :) I've got a decent camera I'll use soon, but I'm waiting for the batteries to charge. :(
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...oo25-image.jpg
I will also admit to having done that too, on my first guitar kit...I left the hole on mine (with a red headstock face)...for me, it's a reminder to be more careful in future :)
The wudtone arrived today, so tomorrow will involve sanding, sanding and you guessed it, more sanding.
ordered some more carmine gypsy for a strat refin that I'll start after the fv-1's finished.
Unfortunately a tuner screw managed to break as I was removing it.
I did an shoddy job of extracting it and there was a nice uneven hole in the back of my
headstock. Luckily timber putty came to my rescue, as I found a colour in my garage that will blend well with the carmine gypsy. This build has already been a great learning experience for me :)
Hate it when that happens......Quote:
Quote from tcjbrown on June 6, 2013, 08:27
Unfortunately a tuner screw managed to break as I was removing it.
I did an shoddy job of extracting it and there was a nice uneven hole in the back of my
headstock. Luckily timber putty came to my rescue, as I found a colour in my garage that will blend well with the carmine gypsy. This build has already been a great learning experience for me :)
Here is a link to the process I use to avoid or fix the problem.
http://pitbullguitars.com/?page_id=4...70#postid-5765
For the wudtone experts out there, when the deep colour coat's all good, applied yesterday (pics soon) would I be able to use masking tape on it when I steel wool the bindings? I don't want to take any of the wudtone off of the body accidentally and masking would make the job a lot easier. and less scary :)
You really want to do the bindings up to a smooth polished state before painting....then if you get paint on the bindings it will come off with a light steel wool application!
First coat's done and I polished it (binding) up as per instructions. I just wanted to check to see whether or not masking off the body while cleaning off the binding was advisable.
Thanks.
If you are careful, it will not be an issue at all. Be measured in your approach and keep the steel wool only on the bindings and you should be fine. I think it will take you more time to mask off the body in between coats!
I have not masked ANY of my guitars....by doing so you also run the risk of pulling pain off the body. But if you must mask up the body...make sure when you remove the tape that you pull the tape along itself...in other words as if you were folding it in half from end to end. Do this slowly as it reduces the risk of tear-out.
Tristan I used painters tape on my 1st wudtone build LP-1S and it was very time consuming applying it, in the end I did 2 coats of back sides, then 2 coats of the top between re-taping. I never got any tear out so if you must do this method be careful as Gav said and make sure the wudtone has plenty of cure time before applying the tape.
In hindsight it was a pain in the bum taping and I'd just steel wool the binding between coats anyday !
Thanks Gavin and Wokka, I'll just steel wool the binding. Since I ordered the extra carmine gypsy and vintage yellow, I think I can justify a tl-1 or baritone if there's one when the v's finished :)
sounds good Tristan,
any photos of the 1st coat ?
Have you done the front of the headstock in carmine ?
the forum love photos in build diaries !
Yup, will take photos tomorrow, and the whole thing is carmine gypsy, neck as well as body.
I like V's and other Gibson styles to have the same neck colour as on the body.
cool Tristan, sure it looks sweet. So you bought vintage yellow neck and haven't used it ?
the necks do look orsome in vintage yellow as well, trust me !
If you go back to early build diaries check out my FV-1 in azure lagoon
http://pitbullguitars.com/?page_id=4...iewtopic&t=138
Hey Pest I just clocked up 300 posts and Gav is beating you at the moment - 913 versus Gav's 920 !
Yup man, the vintage yellow and another order of carmine gypsy are either for a strat refin or another kit. preferably another kit of the telecaster variety. Luckily my 18th is coming up so there may be a tl1 in my future. :)
ur joking Tristan, we got another youngen in the forum, when do you turn 18 ?
Late July, the day before I go back to uni I'm afraid.
bad timing Tristan but 7 weeks uni break - most workers can only dream of a break like that long.
wait till you get a full time job thats about 2 years annual leave !
what course are you studying ?
Secondary Education - Music Teacher, it's a good course though a lot of the theory is dry and the music subjects have bee simple so far.
ok good choice should be a fun career and teachers get about 51 weeks annual leave a year ! haha just kidding, but heaps more than 4 weeks annual leave.
Got to start with the basics I spose. Would you be lucky enough to teach guitar as a teacher ?
I don't think I'd be qualified to teach guitar for some time I'm afraid!
I'm a late convert to the guitar, I've been playing trumpet for ten years and only recently (Year and a half ago) switched to the greatest of instruments.