ES3 "Sophie Rose"

This hollow bodied Jazz number will be my fourth pitbull build, I've been a bit slack with the diaries so far but will try to do better with this one! Naming it after my first-born and still debating colour choices...
I was thinking of attempting a sunburst in wudtone or dingotone but I'm not convinced I could pull it off with my limited skills and using the usual dingotone application method. Has anyone done a simple burst that they're happy with and could give some pointers? any pics? I did a search but couldnt find anything.
Other options are a single colour in dingotone (I'm keen to try DB's product) like coolangata gold or the ochre. My 4 year old daughter has suggested blue, her favourite colour, so I'm wondering if bondi blue would look pretty cool.... If I go with single colour I'll be doing the neck with it too.
The grain on this guitar is awesome and I really want to do it justice, colourless maybe??
The neck is gorgeous too and has a subtle flame that might be visible in the pics.

Planned upgrades:-
gotoh kluson style tuners with the oval white plastic buttons
Dawgtown PAFs
Bournes minis ( the only pots i could get through the f holes on my ES1 build!)
PIO caps
bone nut
possibly a bridge upgrade if I can source something with a 73mm post to post measurement ( most after market bridges seem to be 74mm as far as I can tell)
That's it so far,

Dan

another of the neck, hopefully showing the flame

That top is wild! Huge score.

nice score alright Dan, that grain looks very cool. You could have a practice blending DT colours and use a separate blend rag. Just takes a bit of practice a burst.
But the straight gold colour looks awesome as it is. Colourless neck would be cool to show off that grain

Sweet looking top! I reckon blue will look rad.

sweet kit alright, you could just clear it and string it up!

Great looking kit Dan! I really love this model personally. This one is going to look amazing. I also think that the blue will look really cool. You could always blue the body and the headstock and leave the neck natural as Wokka suggeted.

cheers,
Gav.

Beautiful kit, this will be a gorgeous looking guitar.

Love the asymmetric headstock. Goes well with a single cut guitar.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fretworn

Love the asymmetric headstock. Goes well with a single cut guitar.

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Thanks fretworn, even a very simple symmetrical headstock seems to be beyond me, hence this design!

Thanks for the colour ideas guys, I'm veering towards single colour body and headstock face with a colourless neck.
Gold or blue? Time for some more sanding while i Think about it.

Dan I think gold or blue will look unreal, so really you are the one that has to make that decision. I'm sure both coolangatta gold or bondi blue will look awesome

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stan

sweet kit alright, you could just clear it and string it up!

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What he said...

Neck/body fit is nice and snug and the scale length looks ok.

However one side of the neck heel isn't quite straight leaving a slight gap (see pic). I'm assuming that filling the gap somehow would be preferable to trying to level the heel, any help as to how i go about that when the time comes would be most appreciated.

Cheers

hey Dan, I wouldn't recommend trying to level the heel, will be a hard task to get all the faces seated nicely, plus you could change the scale length by 1-2mm. What I would do is try and find some matching timbermate putty and as you have it in the photo try and fill as much timebermate into the gaps, let it dry and sand off the excess.
When you glue the neck that will take up any small gaps that there may be.

Thanks wokka, that was my gut feeling about any levelling attempt.
I guess I'll have to hold off my decision as to whether to finish the neck in clear until I see how good a match I get.

yeah good move Dan, that was going to be my next question what colour the neck will be stained or if just cleared

I just about shit bricks when I read the name of your guitar. ... That's my name.

It looks like it'll be awesome!

Ok, I'm going with coolangatta gold for the sides, back and neck, Bondi blue for the top and headstock face.
I've done a stain coat of the coolangatta, very impressed with how easily the DT goes on.
Regarding the neck, have I got this right from DB's video if using a body kit colour....

1. 1 or 2 stain coats according to taste
2. NO intensifying coat
3. Get a separate bottle of the neck top coat to finish

Just want to be sure I've got that right

Dan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by iceadj

I just about shit bricks when I read the name of your guitar. ... That's my name.

It looks like it'll be awesome!

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lol, it's a lovely name too! Sorry though, it's not a signature model for you!

Dan, plans sound good.
Start off with stain coats, I generally go onto intensifying coats when you are pretty happy with the depth of colour from the stain coats. The intensifying coats will do exactly that add a bit more colour intensity. Then put the clear coats on.
Be sure to allow minimum 3-4 days between coats and DB always says thin coats are the best.
The neck finish kits have their own clear/final coat but the body clear coats can go on the neck ok.
Also be sure to shake the bottles thoroughly before applying

Thanks Wokka,

So you think use intensifying coats on the neck? DB seems to be saying not to in the DT tutorial. Also, I'm just wondering if the neck top coat is formulated for a bit more slickness than the body top coat? I might drop DB an email to clarify