1st build - ESP-1

[Simon Barden]

You'd typically mask off the top of the fretboard, but a lot of guitars have clear lacquer on the sides of the fretboard. As you have noted, it stops you having a step on the side of the neck, which is most off-putting in the hand.

[Freak_Hybrid]

Progress update:

Thanks for the input guys. I changed my mind once again and decided I didn't like the front, the longer I looked at it the more I thought I could do better. I sanded the front back down to roughly the primer level, resprayed a rough white and then went back at it with the colours, trying my hardest not to get carried away with the black this time. It's ended up a slightly different finish than what i achieved on the back but it looks a lot better than it did, i think my ('screw it') technique had changed slightly.

Over the last month or so I've put on about 13 layers of lacquer, roughly 5 coats with 15 minute intervals between coats then 2 weeks drying, a little 600 grit sanding and repeat. My photography skills are lacking but I've tried to capture the shine it has (which is so fricking awesome!!! xD).

I've tried to capture the 'orange peel' texture that it has at the moment and once this last coat has fully cured (still smells of solvent) I plan to sand to 1000, 1500 and then 2000 grit before using some rubbing compound to get that shine back (Then maybe some wax or something for a final polish? Not sure on what/if this is needed)

Thanks for the input with masking just the front of the fretboard, it's worked and there's no bump between the neck and the board but a quick look shows I've gotten a little lacquer under the tape in places, so i'll scrape/sand that off once it's hard.

I didn't put a decal on the headstock in the end, mostly due to not knowing what to put there. I may regret this later on but we'll see. I still need to buy a new bridge (Forgot to ask for it in black when i ordered) as the chrome one just ruins the look.

Timeline wise I'm thinking another 2 weeks for the lacquer to cure, a day to sand and polish and a few hours to level the frets and drill the holes for the hardware then she be good to to take for a test drive. The project has taken far longer than i though it would but I am so looking forward to amping up and see how she plays (I'l be a little heart broken if it's horrid but that's a bridge we'll burn when we get there)

Hopefully, my next update will be one of a fully finished axe.