Non PBG LP project refresh

Hello everyone,
I have decided that I'm a multi tasker. I'm not suggesting that I'm good at this, just that I like to have a few things on the go to give me something to fiddle with even if the main project is drying or whatever.
Currently on the to do list...
Polish frets and finish setup on the strat Tele TLA
Recess bridge and refinish headstock on RCA4
Buy a steel nut for SV1 as the locking nuts are stripped
Continue working on the incomplete SG
And to top it off, I have decided to refinish my first kit guitar, an LP kit. I bought it off eBay about 6 years ago, and it isn't a PBG kit, but I did get the Tonerider Rocksong pickups from Adam. It plays like a blinder and has been my go to guitar for years.
Here it is, I painted it to match the Harley Night Rod which I rather fancied the look of, but I didn't end up getting one!
The paint was auto finish, and it didn't stick too well. The flat black feels a bit rubbery and can be scraped off with a fingernail, the Chevy orange is as hard as a rock!
I have done a bit of exploratory scraping to see what it looks like underneath, and I'm hoping I'll be able to save the rather nice 3 layer binding on the body.
More to come, but not in a rush!!!
Attachment 26882

Man, those stripes are nice. Pity the black isn't adhered properly. Any idea what caused it?

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Originally Posted by JohnH

Man, those stripes are nice. Pity the black isn't adhered properly. Any idea what caused it?

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Not sure, I painted the body orange, then masked the edges and the stripes and painted it flat black. The primer and orange has taken really well, the orange is an enamel engine paint. The black is White Knight epoxy enamel, amazing on metal, obviously not so good on timber!
On the neck it can be removed with a fingernail, it peels of not flakes, which I have never seen before. Wrong product for the job I guess.
I liked the stripes, but I don't think they suit the classic lines of this guitar. If I'd bought a Harley night rod with the same paint I might think differently!

I had a similar encounter with peeling varnish on my home-made bass cab. Used a coloured varnish then a clear one over the top to build up some depth, same make, same product range, no exact statement on the tin as to what it was but was water-based so maybe it was poly or acrylic, applied several coats. Left to dry for a couple of weeks, then went to sand it down flat before polishing and the random orbital sander just started pulling patches off. It just hadn't stuck to the wood at all and was a flexible plastic film that I could peel off (on all except the bottom of the cab). So it's now been sanded right back, re-stained and has just had its first coat of good-old high VOC yacht varnish on it.

Yes could be it. This will get a gold top as I'm going to lose most of the holes on the front and go with an Axis setup with one volume, one switch

Mmmmmnnn, gold top....

Attachment 26888

That's what I thought, it's the only opaque finish for the top I like. I will have to hide the three holes I'm gonna fill so I have to go solid. I have started stripping the finish off the back, it is super hard to get the orange and primer off the body, the black came off of the neck in 10 mins!
I'm hoping to save the binding which is under the finish, so far so good, and go with a timber stain on the back, probably Jarrah. Satin finish on the back, gloss on the headstock and arch top

How about this if a Gold Top is too boring....
Attachment 26906

Ooh that's nice too!
I am going with the Harley vibe with this one, and have two Harley tank logos cut in vinyl I'm intending to use as stencils on the body, they are a left right pair.
I was going to paint the top black, add the vinyl, paint it gold and peel off before clearcoat to show the decals as black against the gold, but against the blue would work as well!
I have all black hardware for it now, was almost there anyway bot got a cheap black tailpiece setup with roller saddles to finish the look.

Attacked it with the sander tonight and it's looking ok, the finish is coming off as anticipated, but making a lot of messy black dust!

Sanding done! Just popped on a coat of Jarrah stain. Could have gone darker to hide any imperfections, but I quite like this stressed look. Will be getting a satin finish on the back, gloss on the front.
Attachment 27078

Ok so it's didn't end up as a gold top after all. I intended to paint the top black and then apply these decals, paint it gold and remove the decals revealing the black lettering. Painted it black and loved it so the decals in silver so cleared it as is. Have black hardware for it anyway. Sides and back are Jarrah and will be satin finish.
Attachment 27081

Would have looked better with Triumph Motors.......:p :cool:


actually looks great. Awesome gloss.

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Originally Posted by Dedman

Would have looked better with Triumph Motors.......:p :cool:


actually looks great. Awesome gloss.

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Ta!
Hey you are probably right, the stickers are parallel twins not v twins.......

Have you polished it to get that finish or is that how the clear settles?

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Originally Posted by blinddrew

Have you polished it to get that finish or is that how the clear settles?

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That's just how it came out. I'm trying Dulux Duramax for the first time and so far I like it. I have had problems with it reacting to colours under it, even other enamels, but I'd sanded this right back so no worries there.
The other advantage of it is it hardens quickly, it stinks like auto base coat which also flashes off fast.
This was a couple coats of flat black, then the decals, then one flow coat of clear.

Filed away for future reference. :)

When I squint so that I can't read what the words say, it's beautiful.
So many great bike names to pick from and .....

Haaa haaa, hope I'm not poking you hard enough to offend, fingers crossed ;-)

Got a little assembly done this evening. Happy with the way it is going so far...
Attachment 27714

Love the darker sides which almost look the same colour as old oak bourbon barrells.

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Originally Posted by wazkelly

Love the darker sides which almost look the same colour as old oak bourbon barrells.

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They kinda do don't they? I really like the stressed look of the timber on the back and sides where I sanded off all the flat black paint.

Ok now it is done.
Feast Watson Jarrah back, Dulux duramax flat black and duramax acrylic clear on the front with vinyl cut logos under the clear
Tonerider rock songs pickups with orange caps and bone nut
I love the inserts in the fret board with the mop.
Big improvement!
Attachment 27774
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Attachment 27776

Looks great