My first kit build - GS-7Q

[Eric67]

It’s been a few weeks since I received my kit from Pitbull Guitars here in Canada, but I have moved to a new house and didn’t have time to really start the project.
Apart from a few minor glitches, I am really happy and looking forward to this.
Some of the small issues I’ve seen so far:
1) A couple of cracks in the Mahogany body. I did fill them with woodfiller, hoping it will be good enough.
2) The dots at 12th frets are completely out of line. Maybe I’ll route something with a personal design to cover this up.
3) The 3-way switch hole has not been routed deep enough, but it should be fairly simple to remove more material so that the switch can be attached on the top.
4) The 24th fret was completely out of its pocket. It was an easy fix, I’ll see later if it needs some glue too.

Éric

[Eric67]

I’ve been working a little on the headstock to personalize it. My goal was to have the Mahogany to show along with the Quilted maple.

And also, I am planning on reshaping the heal of the neck to make it align perfectly with the neck pocket. My new Japanese saw rasp should be useful to do this.

[glenwilliam]

Headstock is looking great! well done Eric

[JohnH]

Agreed, headstock looks great!

[McCreed]

A few days late, but...

Yes, nice work. You obviously have some woodworking skills which will be a big asset with your build.
I look forward to seeing this progress.

Cheers,
Mick

[Eric67]

Thanks Mick and all! If I have some skills, I am discovering them as I go, as it is a first for me to work with wood. But I like beautiful things, so I naturally make my life more difficult whenever I can!!! It should progess faster when I’ll have time to reshape the heel of the neck.

Éric

[Eric67]

Update
I have now reshaped the heel to join the neck pocket more seemlessly. I have also done the first pass of grain filler on the mahogany part of the body. Slowly getting there...

[Eric67]

Some progress. Pore-filling and first tung-oil coats.

[Theorn]

Hello Eric,
I have the exact same kit and am still in the process of choosing finishing materials. At the moment I have only a white stain that I had mixed for me to use to create a whitewash for a burst effect.
I really want to bring out the quilted maple. I am completely unfamiliar with staining wood, beyond basic furniture or decking. What materials and steps do you recommend to get that grain to pop as you have. I was under the impression that maple didn't require a grain filler.
Thanks in advance for ANY advice that you care to offer.
Cheers!

[Eric67]

Hi Theorn,
I did grain-fill the top too, first to fill the wood fibers to minimize the quantity of poly absorbed, and second to bring the quilted maple to pop up. I simply added some black tint in the wood filler which was also thinned with water to be easier to apply. After that I did a light sanding (beware of the very thin veneer while doing this). I am a beginner also, so I was just experimenting with some of the stuff I have seen.

Hello Eric,
I have the exact same kit and am still in the process of choosing finishing materials. At the moment I have only a white stain that I had mixed for me to use to create a whitewash for a burst effect.
I really want to bring out the quilted maple. I am completely unfamiliar with staining wood, beyond basic furniture or decking. What materials and steps do you recommend to get that grain to pop as you have. I was under the impression that maple didn't require a grain filler.
Thanks in advance for ANY advice that you care to offer.
Cheers!