-
hi guys,
Hey Ho Let's Go!!!
Well it's finally arrived. My Mosrite Ventures MkII kit - the guitar made famous by none other than one Johnny Ramone.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...66-johnny3.jpg
I've been lusting after this for years now and it's finally here! And boy it's been worth the wait. This is one unbelievable kit! All the key features are there - the body shape is spot on, the headstock has the perfect Ventures shape, and even the 0th fret has been included. This is just amazing!
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...h-IMG_4658.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...5-IMG_4660.JPG
It's so unbelievable I've already contacted Adam about ordering a second one. That's how damn happy I am right now.
This one will be finished in traditional Johnny Ramone white, with the exact same bridge pickup used by Johnny: a DiMarzio FS-1.
I'm so excited!! It's like my very first kit has arrived all over again :).
Gabba, Gabba, Hey!!!
cheers,
Gav.
-
-
wow cool looking axe Gav, never knew this axe was available. Is it a standard range or special order ?
So you going with the bucker neck and single bridge pup or reshaping the pickguard for 2 buckers ?
Love the shape and the bart simpson hair headstock shape !
-
Holy crap! It even has a zero fret, that is awesome. I love Mosrites. Any colour other than white would be sacrilegious.
-
It was a custom order Wokka, but I did get an extra one for stock. I think the price is $179 but Gav can confirm. If anyone else wants one it would be for delivery in October/November. If you want in Ash it will be $209.
-
That is a damn good price for a custom like this. If only I had some dollars. :( To the future!
-
A Mossie. That will be so cool. You keeping the original looking headstock too, Gav?
-
Forgot to ask what colour you have in mind. Those things came in so many colours that some haven't even been discovered yet.
-
@Adam/Wokka - yep $179 it was.
@Lawry - it's gotta be white, at least for the first one. That was Johnny's signature colour with the plain black pickguard. The headstock has the traditional mosrite "M" so there's nothing for me to do!!
cheers,
Gav.
-
Ads, I've emailed you to snap up the other kit, look forward to your reply
-
Thats one good looking kit!! Zero fret?? Dang, thats nice!!
-
I'm the lucky owner of the other kit. You beauty !
looks like 2 white mostrites coming up, we better not enter GOTM the same month Gav !
-
Gavin is a punk! Massive Ramones fan here. Keen to see this made man. Now (cretin) hop to it! :P
-
Yes. Good work Wokka. Looking forward to seeing these come together.
-
Nice looking kit. Can someone explain why we have a nut instead of just having a zero fret on everything? Seems more logical to me.
-
Zero frets give a more balanced tone for open strings and chords. However, they wear out as fast as the other frets. On the other hand, nuts are designed to take less wear and are easier to replace. Also, some people dont want a perfectly balanced tone on open chords.
-
And most importantly, they look cool.
-
hi guys,
Well the mock build is done. Everything fits together like a dream - the neck is a perfect fit in the cavity and is very tight. No wiggle room at all!
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-2_mockup4.JPG
With the neck bolted in this position the E strings sit perfectly up the neck. No adjustment necessary.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-2_mockup2.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-2_mockup3.JPG
Without further ado, it is on to the sanding. 8-)
Gabba Gabba Hey!
cheers,
Gav.
-
hi guys,
Time to get the neck looking right.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...ny_ramone3.jpg
I sanded the neck to 600 grit and raised the grain. I then applied successive coats of Colortone Vintage Amber until I got a light yellow colour.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...3-3_neck1a.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...sc-3_neck6.JPG
It's now ready for a decal and some clear coats. I may use Tru-Oil on the neck as clear, so this will darken the colour up substantially before I'm done. Alternately I may use Wudtone clear neck finish over the top. I'm still completely undecided on this one.
cheers,
Gav.
-
Looking pretty damn good already, Gav. And you've only just started. Ya know, when you're finished you need to go to the $2 shop, buy a mullet wig and take a B&W photo in the same pose!
-
LOL. Way ahead of you Lawry. Mullet? Perish the thought! It's a 60s "pudding" bowl cut (or whever they are called ;) ). Maybe for the sound demo?? :P
chers,
Gav.
-
Hi guys,
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...s388-USEME.jpg
A bit more progress on the Johnny Ramone Mosrite Ventures II. I have stained the neck with Colortone Vintage Amber dye and started layering it with Tru-Oil. I'm up to 5 coats now and it's looking really nice - the Tru-Oil gives such a depth to the finish. I love the way it looks on necks. I'm steel wooling in between each coat and soon I'll do a bit of wet sanding in between coats to get it even smoother. I reckon I'll need about 8 coats for a silky neck.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...v-IMG_4729.JPG
I'm also sanding the body. I've givin it a good goimg over with 180 and 240 grit, then proceeded to 360 grit and filled the pores with a slurry of Timbermate.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...porefilled.png
After sanding the Timbermate back with 400 grit the basswood looks really nice. This would have made a really nice stained finish! But alas, it's solid white for this bad boy. Next job is to give it a lick of 600 and 800 grits before spraying with primer.
chers,
Gav.
-
looking slick Gav, another great axe from you coming up...
-
hi guys,
More progress finally. I have sanded the pore filled body to 600 grit and raised the grain a cuple of times. The paint finally came out and the first coat of primer is on. The primer spat a little coming out of the can so it'll need to be sanded with 800 grit before the next coat goes on.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-5_primer1.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-5_primer2.JPG
Starting to look more like Johnny's axe now..
cheers,
Gav.
-
looking good Gav, I've barely made a start on mine yet, too many other projects to try and wind up and I just ordered a LP-1M Sunday special axe.
-
-
hi guys,
Well the paint went on today. After 4 coats of primer (light 800 sanding in between) I laid down two coats of acrylic white gloss. The amazing this is, no insects got stuck in it! Bonus! Anyway I've got 8 thin coats of Tru-Oil on the neck and she's really starting to come together now. I'm just praying for no fails during clear coats...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...losscoats1.png
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...glosscoats.JPG
cheers,
Gav.
-
excellent Gav, can't wait to see it with gloss on the body and hardware on. Are you using acrylic clear with the spray gun ?
-
@Wokka - thanks dude. yep acrylic clear again. I've been having successes recently with my scratchy, so I'm hoping it will go straight over this acrylic gloss without an issue. Fingers crossed!!
cheers,
Gav.
-
hi guys,
The decal went on to the headstock today. Thanks to Andy yet again.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...yf-7_decal.JPG
I also got the first coats of acrylic lacquer on the body. So far so good! Just 3 more spray-days to go and this bad boy can sit and cure. That's if I don't go and get a heat lamp from the big green shed like DB did ha! ;) .
cheers,
Gav.
-
looking sick Gav, well done. Got to get around to working on my kit !
-
hi guys,
Well the last acrylic clear coat went on on Monday. No way I could wait a whole month for it to cure, so today I decided to go out to the big green shed and buy a DB APPROVED IR lamp (outdoor heater). A few hours under this bad boy and i'll be ready to cut and polish.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...learcoats2.JPG
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...learcoats3.JPG
Woot!!
cheers,
Gav.
-
... and a warm bathroom too!
-
hi all,
Wet sanding started today - 1500 grit.
Will take a couple of days on and off until everything is level.
Can't wait to polish and assemble! I better purchase my DiMarzio pickup in preparation..
cheers,
Gav.
-
awesome Gav, you're way ahead of me so I'll be watching this thread with interest
-
Hey gav, out of curiosity how much was the heater. Had a look on the sheds site and the only one was $800.
-
Andrew, think those jumbuck infra red heaters are about $100 from the big green shed. Don't quote me on the price, give them a call
-
Andrew, it's $69 bucks. Here is the link:
http://www.bunnings.com.au/jumbuck-2...eater_p3180158
cheers,
Gav.
-
Thanks mate. No love for me unfortunately. My local store probably doesn't have any hence the link goes straight to their home page and no results when searched.
-
Gavin, I'm imagining the look on your wife's face as she goes to the bathroom.. it's nice and toasty but has a distinct paint smell. I'm guessing she's the understanding and patient type.
