IB-5 Amber/Walnut

[groundfloordoofus]

Hi everyone!
This is my very first guitar build. Was intending to build a JB-4M kit but it wasn't in stock, so I ordered an IB-5 instead!
So it arrived real quick and first thing I did was to fit the neck onto the body and see if it has a good fit. Here's how it looked! Did a close up because the grains are real pretty too!

Haven't really been a guitar person all along, but I have the intention of picking up the bass guitar once I'm done with this build! Hence, I'll be requiring the help of my fiance who has done a couple of guitar builds himself! So after fitting the neck onto the body, we realized there were some gaps in between and had to fill it up with a wood filler. After some measurements, he drilled holes for the bridge, tuners and strap pins as well. Next, on to sanding!

[Tim]

Welcome Priscilla enjoy the build take your time .look forward to your build and ask questions we are always ready to help

[groundfloordoofus]

And on the very next day, we sanded away...

So here's how it looks after I sanded the neck and body with 220 grit. And as usual, fiance helped with some sanding too.
It was my first time sanding ever and I actually enjoyed it very much. Anyhow, I couldn't help it but to continue admiring those lovely grains on the ash body.

Up next... Wudtone application!

[groundfloordoofus]

Oops sorry guys! It's been more than a week since I started this build! It's just that I've accumulated so many photos and have yet to start my build diary on this forum!

So next up! Wudtone application! I went for Amber because I really like a more 'natural' wood colour. My Wudtone arrived a couple of days after the kit. So here's the first base coat! I chose a satin finish as well. So after the 1st base coat, the grains are starting to become more prominent! I intended to stain the neck amber as well. However as you can see, it didn't seem to absorb the wudtone as well as the ash body did. So we decided to go for a walnut stain for the neck instead, which my fiance already had from his previous builds. So we waited for a couple of hours and applied the 1st walnut coat on the neck.

So up next would be applying my 2nd amber base coat on the body as well as the 2nd walnut coat on the neck.

[groundfloordoofus]

So I waited for 2 days before applying the next coat!

This is the 2nd coat of amber on the body and 2nd coat of walnut for the neck! The walnut turned out to be slightly orangey as I applied the first coat of walnut on top of the initial amber coat. Grains on the ash body looking even better!

[groundfloordoofus]

Another 2 days between coats.

So this would be my 3rd coat! Forgot to take photos of the neck though.

[groundfloordoofus]

Another 2 days between coats!

Here is my 4th coat of amber! and 4th coat of walnut on the neck!
Everything is looking pretty good. Grains are ever lovely. The walnut stain looked pretty orange initially, and after the 4th coat of walnut, we actually decided to do a diluted ebony stain on top of the walnut to make it slightly darker to create more contrast with the amber body.

Up next.... 1st top coat!

[gavinturner]

The amber is looking great - the grain has really popped! Love the subtle colour.
Great work.

Cheers,
Gavin.

[groundfloordoofus]

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Tim on October 15, 2013, 19:53
Welcome Priscilla enjoy the build take your time .look forward to your build and ask questions we are always ready to help

Thanks Tim!

[groundfloordoofus]

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from gavinturner on October 16, 2013, 17:51
The amber is looking great - the grain has really popped! Love the subtle colour.
Great work.

Cheers,
Gavin.

Thanks! Yeah, I'm going for the natural look. I think it's gonna look like a warwick.