ES-3 second build custom.

[DarkMark]

Making good progress while I’m on leave and looking after the junior DarkMark and DarkMarkess during the school holidays.

[Richy17]

Looks fantastic mate

[DarkMark]

Looks fantastic mate

Thanks, more work to do on it yet but phase one complete. It’s actually a little shorter than I planned, never mind.

[DarkMark]

Yes, never mind, I’ll just do it all over again. I took my measurements from the tailpiece but didn’t take into account that the bracket overhangs the body by a couple of cm’s. Got time and couldn’t live with myself knowing I had got it wrong. What a donkey!

[blinddrew]

These things are sent to try us, but this is shaping up beautifully.

[DarkMark]

These things are sent to try us, but this is shaping up beautifully.

Ha, thanks. Tested and failed I think.
My brass was too soft to use as a bracket, I was able to bend it with my hands. Brought a heavy duty strap hinge, primer and shiny gold paint from the big green shed. Unfortunately the shiny gold paint will rub off onto my fingers on my test piece. Heading back there today to ignore their recommendations and buy the (much cheaper) paint I went to buy in the first place. Shame, the shiny gold paint was a perfect match.

[Wayne.Mumford]

Hi DM, I haven’t been on here for a while and just read your thread, I like that natural look. I was wondering what brand of wipe on poly you used and what’s the dry time between coats? I have done two guitars with rattle cans and thought I might give the wipe on a go.

[DarkMark]

Hi DM, I haven’t been on here for a while and just read your thread, I like that natural look. I was wondering what brand of wipe on poly you used and what’s the dry time between coats? I have done two guitars with rattle cans and thought I might give the wipe on a go.

Hi Wayne, I’m using Feast Watson wipe on poly. I haven’t got to the polishing stage yet so I can’t recommend it or discredit it at this stage, but it’s been good to work with so far.
Drying time at 25 degrees and 50% humidity.
Touch dry 2 hours.
Recoat 6 hours.
Clean up Mineral turpentine.
I look forward to following your 12 string diary.

Next build I’m only going to do two coats of satin on the neck and leave it at that. It’s the perfect feel for me and hopefully it will be enough to protect the wood.

[Andy40]

looking real nice.

[DarkMark]

looking real nice.

Thanks. Tailpiece problem solving is holding things up but on the bright side it gives plenty of time for the poly on the body to harden before I polish.