Originally Posted by
Simon Barden
I'll warn you in advance that the neck angle on the ES-1 is probably going to be too shallow to get a decent action using the kit bridge and its mounting kit, so you may need to buy a few replacement pieces like rimless post inserts for the bridge so you can set it low enough to get a decent action. The alternative is to try and adjust the neck angle using a glued-in shim, but this could also introduce some larger gaps around the join areas.
And black hardware looks good, but the finish on it is electrically insulating so you'll need to scratch away at it to allow metal to metal contact in order to ground the bridge and strings.
I'd mask off the binding before staining, otherwise micro-cracks in the binding can take up the stain and ruin the looks.
And always check for glue spots on the veneer, especially around the binding and centre join area. You'll find a lot about glue spots in people's build diaries.
Definitely read a few ES-1 build diaries first (if you haven't already).
If you aren't sure, always ask first before doing anything. Almost all errors or faults can be corrected, but sometimes it means revising your ideal finish to something that will cover up items you can't live with. By asking, you minimise the risks of that happening and we're here to help if we can.
This may all sound like doom and gloom, but it's better to be forewarned, and in most instances, it doesn't take too much effort to get things right in advance; which makes the build far more enjoyable. There is a good guitar hiding within the kit, you just need to let it out.