Simon B's ES-3 build

[nitroburner1000]

Have been scraping the binding and it's quite slow going because the lacquer is now very hard. It also goes better when you don't overestimate the width of the binding and keep scraping away a sizeable strip back to bare wood that you think is simply white plastic so you keep going and the white strip gets wider. I am now going to have to do some rescue repair work round the edge. D'oh!

Just checked out your diary and even though youve had a few stuffups its turned out awesome. Also as well as yourself, ive learned heaps from reading this, so thanks. Ive been a bit hesitant to do any inlay work but yours is a cool workaround so im keen to give it a go.

[Simon Barden]

Yes, works well as long as it's a painted headstock and you can get thin enough sheet so there's not a ridiculous amount of paint to build up, or too thin so there's no depth to the colour. Also, don't draw any positioning lines that you will probably be able to see once you've sanded the shell! I may even spray a white coat first and glue the sheet on top of that - though with some colours of shell they recommend a dark background to help bring out the colour.

[phrozin]

I cant wait to see this finished love the burst, gezz i so want to do one of theses

[Simon Barden]

Thanks. I'm still slowly scraping the paint off the binding a bit at a time (I should have done it before it hardened too much, but the respray of the top put paid to that). I'm going to have to do a fair bit of edge repair work, just brushing the lacquer on, so will mask off the binding this time before attempting this.

The tobacco lacquer certainly deepens in colour as it dries, and I should have put at least one less coat on, maybe two - but it didn't look solid enough when touch-dry. Lesson learnt for next time!

[Tweaky]

I've just been seeing the updated build photos of Gilcrest's current batch of instruments [ It's so each owner can see the build in process]
http://www.gilchristmandolins.com/current/
I saw what he was using to fill the F holes of his instruments prior to applying the finish and thought it was a great idea, sure beats stuffing newspaper into a instrument, as the balloon would be so much easier to remove.
Thought I'd share the finding.

[Dedman]

good one Tweaky! will try that in the future

[Simon Barden]

Good for a semi-acoustic with a solid centre block, or for small instruments as in the picture. The ES-3, being fully hollow with two humbucker cut-outs and an open neck cavity, is easy to fill and un-fill, though I'm mainly using pieces of bubble-wrap which are fairly bulky but strong.

[Tweaky]

Yeah, probably.
Still trying to get my head around last night's Crowded House Gig at the Opera House....Brilliant......different from the original 'Farewell' concert 20 years prior.

Paul Hester was a major crowd stirrer.... sadly missed

[Ghaynas]

You're right Tweaky, it's not MOP. It's a 'white abalone' sheet from here: Rothko and Frost

Very cool web, there are a lot of interesting stuff, I've just had a GAS attack hahaha

[Simon Barden]

There is a lot of stuff there. I also use this one a lot: http://www.tonetechluthiersupplies.co.uk/

Very easy to spend a lot of money on useful tools!