LP maple top build

[KurtSlash123]

pest I went through your whole build diary, started at nine and I finished at 2 minutes to midnight! Was crazy! I'll have a play around with the pickups tonight and that should cover most of it. It'll have a green stain, with a black paint sunburst over the top, atleast that's the plan anyway. So hopefully the black paint should cover it. If it doesn't then I'm screwed!

[wokkaboy]

haha nice one Kurt, 3 hours to get through Pest's build diary !
I think the black stain should cover the glue mark Kurt, and the pup ring should cover close to half of it. Don't drill the neck pup ring till the neck is set (glued) and you usually butt up the ring to the neck heel

[KurtSlash123]

Thanks for the advice woks!

On another note a quick edit, the guitar is now completely sanded back and ready for some sweet green stain, if I had some. I got DB to custom make the colour, but he had to source the pigments from elsewhere, he said he placed an order last Monday and as of yesterday they hadn't even processed his order yet 😔 looks like this build won't be ready in time for our anniversary, it's just going to be a little late! Nevermind. I shaped the headstock today, nothing fancy, just a Gibson style top on it, however, I do plan on putting decals on it... Not Gibson ones of course :P these decals will probably say something like 'Princess' across the top, you know, the usual sappy thing that you say to your girlfriend, whatever. Haha. Anybody steer me in the right direction with getting some of them?

[wokkaboy]

Hey Kurt, haven't heard from Andyport on the forum for ages but send him an email about a logo
citysigns at internode dot on dot net

[KurtSlash123]

Thanks for that woks.

A small update, DB has the pigment and should be on its way soon if not already!

I have a noob question but is there a way to make the maple grain really stand an pop out? I saw some other forum members on other threads about 'popping the grain' thought that it was literally what it said? Just thought if it's doable I may aswell do it so it's ready for stain!

Thanks
Kurt

[pablopepper]

Dye with a dark stain first, then sand back. The darker stain will stay in the open grain to give a nice contrast.

[wokkaboy]

Kurt,
as Pabs said don't do any pre sanding on the cap (if you haven't done so)
put a black stain coat down and sand back till it pops the flames.

[KurtSlash123]

Thanks fellas, what sort of black stain do I put down? I've seen people use cartridge ink, coffee. Etc, do I then sand that colour straight out or just antil it's flat again?

[wokkaboy]

Kurt, what type of stains are you using for the green and black edges ?
Keep it the same brand/type if you can. I'd use the same black stain you plan for the burst edges.

Sand back the dark stain coat to look something like this so there are lighter and darker flames.

Just be aware the caps are ultra thin so keep the sanding on the cap to a minimum, thats why I said best not do any pre-sanding of the cap before the black pop coat goes on

[KurtSlash123]

Cheers woks,
The actual stain itself is a dark green then I'll end up airbrushing the sunburst on with a solid blackcolour. I'm hoping for it to look fairly similiar to the Gibson Green Widow when it's done. The stain itself is a custom colour from DB.