Christodav's MM-1Q

[wazkelly]

Interesting thought on the pups without rings.
I think you're right. It would look a lot cleaner across the top of the guitar that way.

That is how the genuine EVH Wolfgangs are done. FrankenWashie was looking at doing similar on one of his builds where you make a plate or bracket that sits in the bottom of the PUP cavity and allows height adjustment screws to do their stuff upside down. If the brackets are not made from high tensile steel the screws should tap a thread themselves as you screw them into a relatively softer metal.

Wish I come across that idea when I top loaded PUP's without rings on my EX-1.

[christodav]

I've had SO MANY issues with this top, but I seem to be finally coming to the end. It has challenged me and really got me angry and satisfied at the same time. I did everything wrong and I am amazed that it may just work out! To give you an idea, the top picture was taken tonight.



This is where I was at this morning!

............and the picture below is an example of the problems I have been having.




So, where did I go wrong????

Fearing that I would sand through the top, I didn't sand the thing at all and went straight into dying the top. I think because the laminate grain was open, the dye was sucked in quite easily. I just kept on going with the dye several times. I don't remember how many applications, but far too many! I then went ahead with several (too many) coats of Tru-oil both spray and liquid. As it got flat and even, the dye blended with the tru-oil and turned brown. I was still too scared to sand too much, but as I started to sand, I found it was brown in puddles and didn't always brown up everywhere. I then watched many videos on You tube and discovered the obvious. a) I had applied WAY too much dye and b) I should have used a sanding sealer before applying the Tru-oil.
There was heaps of dye sitting on the surface as well as I had added more dye in the beginning probably over the top of some Tru-oil. I started using sanding sealer and sanding back the top and it started to work to a point. I still had patches where it would turn brown after applying the sealer.
The further I progressed the worse things got until today.

Today, I decided to bite the bullet and sand further than ever before. First the sanded dust was clear, then quickly pink and then finally a darker red. I still had quilt and I had a brighter colour. There were spots where the red was sanded off and back to the quilted maple, but only a few areas. I then opted to go again with the sanding sealer and after a few mist coats at 10 min intervals I suddenly had a mat quilt finish and no brown patches! I did however have a few very faded areas and the colour was patchy. So, I sanded back the sealer again and reluctantly wiped over the top with a bit of black and red dye, mainly concentrating on the faded areas. (There are still 2 areas that I am not pleased with, but I am thinking I will call it a day whilst I am ahead.) One more time with the sanding sealer process and I am where I am now!
Although I have got the Tru-oil on the back and sides, I am going to give the nitro lacquer a go as it matches the sanding sealer.I am not sure if I need to sand back the sealer before the clear, but I don't think I need to? Thoughts?

SO................. I am a lucky man and the guitar lives to see another day for now. Fingers crossed that the lacquer goes on without the dye being ruined again.

Chris

[ILRGuitars]

Nice save mate. Looking good now.

[Sonic Mountain]

This is going to be very pretty when its finished. Nice work.

[christodav]

OK, that was scary!!!!!!!!!!

2 coats of Lacquer and now I'll leave it dry until tomorrow. As I sprayed it, the guitar just turned red and slowly the quilt and the black re-appeared out of the 'mud'. I'm still not sure what will happen, but I hope it all works out. I am also not sure what will happen with the lacquer over spray hitting some of the Tru-oil on the sides? I din't think of that before I started.

FINGERS CROSSED! I so want this to work now!

Chris

*UPDATE*

After 2 coats of lacquer................

[FrankenWashie]

Chris have you got any fingernails left? It all looks like it's going the right way now, but man oh man the trials and tribulations on the finish, good on you for sticking at it!

[Kick]

*Applauding to Chris!*

[JB RETRO]

Yep we can all feel your angst. These things look easy but have a way of curve balling you at the slightest error. Keep going its looking great

[christodav]

Thanks gents!

[Dedman]

You've defiantly earned your Guitar Rescue badge mate, should be smooth sailing from her on in