rob's TL--1 - Lyn #10

[vh2580]

Awesome work Robin. Love the veneer. Had seen the iron method for fine furniture but never on a guitar so in the data bank for future builds now.

[robin]

@Brendan
Thanks mate, I can only do the best that I can do, hey?

@vh2580
Thanks Tony.

One word of warning. I dampened the veneer to raise the grain and the day after I had a bubble/blister in the veneer. Not sure if it was related or not but I was a bit over exuberant with the water as the grain looked amazing when wet. So I might have overdone the water a bit. lol. The glue recommended is Titebond Original which is the least waterproof of all the TB versions. I used the iron again to flatten it out and reactivate the glue and then clamped it for 24 hours. its now been 48 hours with no sign of it lifting again.

Today I am going to bite the bullet and try staining it. I am hoping that the stain doesn't seep through the .6mm of veneer and react with the glue. Finger crossed.

See, I said there was plenty of opportunities for things things to go wrong.

cheers guys
rob

[wokkaboy]

amazing job on the veneer Rob, I missed your update last week. The timbermate filled the gap nicely, you won't even notice it.
Love the iron method. My next tele build I'm going to do something similar and mod the control cavity like yours and veneer on the top. I'm hoping my veneers are wide enough for one piece so I don't have the joining dramas you had.
Can't wait to see some stain on this cap. What colour you got planned ? photos please !

[robin]

Hey Warren,
After seeing the veneer wet I was very tempted to keep it a natural colour, it would have looked outrageous. But this one has to be a bit special. In a few weeks it will be the 3rd anniversary of the passing of my beloved Lyn and as blue was Lyn's favourite colour I promised myself that at least one of my guitars should be blue. I figured it might as well be this one.

Unfortunately I think it may have been the wrong decision as the dark blue has covered up much of the subtle areas of grain, but it too late now!

I used blue and black Stamp Pad Ink. My original plan was to do a 3 colour burst of blue, blue/black and black But the blue is much darker than I expected so I had to just do blue with a black burst near the edge. Not quite the affect I was going for but I have only just finished the first coat so it and it may lighten up when it dries.

Here's a quick pic, its a bit blotchy but that's because its still wet. At least I hope that's the reason. lol.

cheers
rob

[wokkaboy]

love the colour blue Rob, but agree a little dark to really show off that lovely veneer. I think after clear coats the grain should be more obvious and as you say the blue may dry a bit lighter.
So is the back going to be blue/black burst same as the front and maybe dark edges ?
either way its going to be a slick looking axe.
Might want to re-think the headstock to natural, the headstock has the best grain in it

[gavinturner]

The blue burst looks great Rob. Yes, sure there is some nice veneer under there which is being occluded, but what you can see looks good all the same! Great job I say!

cheers,
Gav.

[robin]

Yeah Warren the back is the same as the front, but being basswood it is much lighter and more to the colour I wanted.

And you are definitely right about leaving the headstock natural, unfortunately I stained that first. Hahaha.

Hey mate, it is what it is. We live and learn. If it plays well and sounds OK I'll be happy.

rob

[robin]

Thanks for the encouragement Gav, I'll be wiser next time.

rob

[wokkaboy]

no worries Rob, can we please see a pic of the headstock ? Sure it looks awesome.
so maybe natural neck then if that hasn't been stained yet

[Brendan]

Rob - seem to remember DB saying something about natural sunlight fading stamp pad inks - maybe an option? I like the colour, but it does seem to occlude the grain a little.