Resurrecting the green beast

[bargeloobs]

What a crazy technique, I can honestly say I've never seen this executed before, wicked stuff.
Love the print too, looks kinda Yellow Submarine-ish.

[iceadj]

Thanks I'd never thought about the Yellow Submarine look. Maybe that'll be the demo song

Nickosaurus and Gav - if you have any specific questions (or really, suggestions, I'm just guessing here!),let me know,otherwise, extra info:

Iron the fabric before you put it on, any creases or seams (if you're using reclaimed fabric like I am) will show in the finish.

Watch out for tiny air bubbles on a bigger surface. I found some after the body had half dried and I had to use 1x super sharp pit to create a tiny hole and 1x glass head pin (the coloured bobble on top) for pushing out the extra air. Luckily with such a busy pattern, it won't show bubbles... but *I'll* know...

Scraping the glue off: razor blade was recommended, but not on hand. Be super careful with the blades for obvious reasons.
Because we did it with popsicle sticks, I'll be giving it a light sand to clear any extra glue.

Cutting the fabric off: I did it in stages, 1 mostly close to the edge, 1 right on the edge, 1 at a 45 degree angle to the body. Then sand very gently around the edge to remove excess dried glue and uneven material bits.
On the headstock, I did a very light black line around the edge of the fabric.Because it's so small I'm not airbrushing the headstock, but I will go around with a paint brush and a light sand one more time.

Epoxy:we still have to do our test, but the single coats of lacquer have been pleasing,but because this fabric has an embossed surface it needs many, many coats. We're going to be using the Feast and Watson Glass Finish epoxy ( http://www.feastwatson.com.au/consum...t-details/1536 ), which is the equivalent of 60 coats of varnish with one application.
I've seen it as a finished surface and it looks amazing and will be very tough, which it great because I'm clumsy. It'll also fill in the embossed pattern with very little fuss. Doing around the f-hole is going to be a bit of a challenge though.....

Airbrushing this weekend.

Oh,gear run down:
P/ups: tone Rider Rebel 90's
Tuners: Grover locking rotomatics
Bridge: Warman Tuneomatic Roller bridge <---- I really considered a rosewood bridge, but I could only find them available for archtops

Everything else is China-tastic, but I may (will) replace the pots on the control panel.

[gavinturner]

Thanks for the details Sophie! Definitely gonna give this a try when I find the right design . Looking forward to seeing yours come together. More photos after the epoxy?
Cheers,
Gav.

[iceadj]

So about that black sunburst....


Yeah, I decided after using the gun and looking at the black with dismay that I'd 're-bind' the guitar and the f-hole.

Process:

1. Figure out what size the original binding used to be using calipers and the neck pocket (2mmWx5mmD)
2. Paint with white paint pen.
3. Go over again using white decanted spray pen.
4. Give VERY LIGHT sand to the white paint once dried.
5. Apply Gold-teak Feast & Watson stain to give it an authentic bone colouring. The light sand on the paint pen helps with this too. You don't want it to be fully level (that what the epoxy is for), otherwise the stain will take to everything a little too well.
6. For the love of Slash, Jeff Buckley and Steve Vai, leave it alone to fully dry.

The photo is pre-epoxy, hence the tissue paper and tape. The epoxy is on now, and our lounge has been commandeered by all sorts of things that have been impulse lacquered.

Pro-Tip: I used 3shots:2shots of the Feast & Watson Glass Finish. That did the guitar top and sides + one smallish amp chassis.

About 1 shot:1 1/2 shots did 2 stomp pedals and the headstock with left overs...... It's thick, but a lot more economical than I first thought.

[lunaticthighs]

Looks beautiful. Can't wait to see it completed. Great job.

[gavinturner]

Wow Sophie, looking amazing! Can't wait to see it with the epoxy on. This is just the coolest finish ever, and you're just killing it...

cheers,
Gav.

[stan]

this is so good Sophie, I have checked out the FW epoxy myself, so very interested to see the result.

[kells80aus]

That Material overlay reminds me of my Surfboard building days. Well more that a surf mate had a blue combi van and he got his old mothers lace table cloth and taped it to the front of the van then went to town with a pile of different colours. when it was done he pealed the table cloth off to leave a fantastic psychodelic image ion the front of his Van.

Cheersd PK

[Fretworn]

Wow,that looks great!

[Tim]

Now that looks groovey