Tims LP-1M, Sams SG-1 and Henrys LP-1 - first builds

Well, its our first diary entry and after spending the last few days sanding and doing our final bits of preparation (thanks Brendan and DB) and applying our first deep colour coats this afternoon it feels really good to have reached this stage.

The three bodies are now hanging in the shed and looking fantastic. We will leave them for 48hrs until we apply our next coats.

In terms of next coats, we will make a decision on Sunday as to whether we apply any more deep colour or move to the base coats.

I couldn't be happier with the LP-1M after applying the wudtone burning sun deep colour so at this stage I'm thinking I might not do anymore deep colour and will move onto the base coat next. Sam's SG-1 is looking fantastic in deep colour dark onyx - the wood seems to have lapped it up and its developed a lovely rich black. He too is thinking he may move to the base coat next. And Henry's LP-1S is looking great after doing the carmine gypsy deep colour outer for his sunburst. I think the red of the carmine gypsy is really stunning and Henry (as the only one of us doing the sunburst) is champing at the bit to move to the base coat stage and start blending the amber with the gypsy carmine to develop the burst (the amber doesn't have a deep colour so we have to wait til base coat stage to start applying that and the blending process). In fact I think I'm every bit as excited as Henry about starting the blending process and seeing the amber inner and gypsy carmine outer merge into each other.

Tomorrow we will measure up our necks (thanks again Brendan) mark a line where the neck exits the body (so we know where to stop the neck coat) and then apply our neck coats. Can't wait and it will tide us over until Sunday arvo when we can start work on the bodies.

Clamps have worked really well when working on the backs of the guitars (after doing the front and sides) and are perfect for hanging to dry.

Thanks everyone for their posts, videos and pics. Its been a great resource so far and greatly enjoyed every one of the many, many hours I've spent trolling through the site, developing ideas and planning the build. We will be doing everything stock with this build - our goal is to produce the best finish we can. Future builds will be more experimental .... and we are already talking about ideas for our next builds!
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Tim, Sam and Henry - looking great - you guys must be stoked! Loving that Dark Onyx SG!

Great work guys! All 3 are looking awesome already.

cheers,
Gav.

Cheers Gav and Brendan, yeah we're loving it and absolutely stoked with the way the guitars are shaping up.

In terms of progress, the past two days has seen real progress.

Yesterday saw the three of us apply the first coats of wudtone aged vintage yellow to the necks (after sanding with 320 grit) and Henry also did a little more work on the outer part of his sunburst, adding a little more carmine gypsy deep colour to even out the feathering and prepare for the amber inner base coat to be added and blended with the carmine gypsy base coat.

Very happy with the work done - necks look great after base coat 1 and Henry's work on the carmine gypsy outer for the sunburst made us feel much more confident about tackling the blending the following day. Spirits very high!


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Hi all, today started off with us giving our bodies and necks a light rub with 0000 steel wool before applying our first base coats to the bodies and second base coats to our necks. You could have cut the air with a knife - such was the excitement and anticipation!

Application of the base coats to the bodies was trouble-free and very rewarding. Sam's dark onyx continues to deepen and is looking amazing as the silver streaks of the grain become more defined against the black. My LP-1M is simply glowing and the grain on the flame maple top is beautiful - I cant stop looking at it! And Henry's sunburst is looking incredible. After a bit of work with the steel wool to prepare the feathering the amber and gypsy carmine base coats went on and the blending process commenced. We are super happy with how its looking after todays first blend and looking forward to applying our second base coats and doing some more blending on Henry's sunburst in two days time.

What a great way to spend Australia Day - listening to the hottest 100 while working on the guitar (in between swims) and then a few beers and a lamb roast with the family 8-)
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stunning guy's , all three are looking very awsome

great start guys keep up the good work

Wow guys. They are all looking hot. What a fantastic project to do together. So, when you're done are you going to rock out as a combo?

excellent work guys!

Great work guys - all three guitars are looking amazing! I'm particularly impressed with the burst - it's hard to pull off and you are doing a cracker of a job!

cheers,
Gav.

Tim - they're all looking hot already! That burst looks like it will be pretty special! Well done guys.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

We're really happy with the results so far, and even more so after today's application of the second base coats to the bodies (see pics below) and the third base coats to the necks and heads.

We are extremely pleased with how Henry's sunburst is going. Its has lots of work with the 0000 steel wool between coats to refine the graduation of the gypsy carmine into the amber, but with the amber now starting to darken in the centre and blend more its starting to take shape.

Two days drying now - next coats Thursday. Will move to the top coats for the neck and do another base coat for the bodies :P
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wow all 3 looking excellent. The flame top on the Les Paul looks amazing, did you put a colour coat on originally and sand it back ?
Are you planning to cut the headstock shape ?

Thanks Wokka!

Re the flame maple tops on the LPs - both bodies were prep'd with 180, 240 and then 320 grit sanding and then a singe deep colour coat was applied. In the case of Henry's sunburst, only the carmine gypsy had a deep colour (the amber didn't) so we applied the deep colour coat and then added a little more deep colour (in a second coat) to refine the fade of the burst. Once the deep colours were dry (2 days) we gave both a rub down with the 0000 steel wool, but in the case of Henry's sunburst we also gave the inner edge of the carmine gypsy a light sand with 320 grit to further refine the fade before applying the first amber and carmine gypsy base coats and starting the blend. We also used the steel wool to do some more work on the blend before we applied the second base coat of amber and gypsy carmine today.

My burning sun has only had the 1 deep colour coat and then only seen steel wool between the deep colour and base coat and then before applying the second base coat today. Sam's SG has seen the same treatment.

Re the shaping of the headstocks - originally we weren't going to cut them or shape them, but I'm now thinking I might actually cut and shape mine. Not thinking of anything too radical - just something nice and simple. Not an ideal time to be deciding to cut it after applying three base coats of the vintage yellow, but I don't see it being too problematic.

Henry and Sam are quite keen to keep their headstocks as is.

.....My next project for tonight is to work out how I want to shape my headstock and then give that some thought.

Well, after a couple days of contemplation (going through the PBG website and sketching original ideas) this morning I settled on a "wave" shape for the headstock to complement the burning sun body.

I knew I was taking a risk doing it this late (!!), but throwing caution to the wind I decided to buy a jigsaw today and after drawing the design freehand (yes, I know that's probably quite insane) its now cut, sanded (180, followed by 24 and 320) and I've applied the first base coat of the vintage yellow. And I couldn't be happier with the result!

We also applied the 3rd coats of base coats to the bodies and they are now looking bewt. After further fading with steel wool and more blending of the amber and carmine gypsy Henry's sunburst is starting to mature and is looking really organic and beautiful. Sam's dark onyx, well that just seems to get darker, deeper and more silky with each base coat and is really looking pretty special with its lines of silver and pewter coloured grain. My burning sun LP is much the same - the grain looks incredible and it almost seems to be developing its own glow. I love it! 8-)




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great effort guys!

brilliant work you guys!

all builds progressing well guys, well done Tim cutting the headstock, wave shape looks very cool. Keep up the good work guys !

Tim - nice job on the headstock - glad you're happy with the outcome - certainly makes it more ... yours.

All three builds are looking awesome guys! You must be stoked. Great work with the jig s

All three builds are looking awesome guys! You must be stoked. Great work with the jig saw Tim. Those concave shapes can be a bit of a hassle to get perfect!
Well done one and all, and roll on those clear coats!

Cheers,
Gav.

Great work guys, all three look fantastic. Headstock looks great too! Looking forward to seeing the clear coats.

So do you have three amps, or are you all going to be fighting over one?

Quote:

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/<\\/p>[/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/]<\\/p>/Quote from Fretworn on January 31, 2014, 10:02
So do you have three amps, or are you all going to be fighting over one?

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And do you all like the same genres of music or will there be some artistic tension?
:o