Oli's ES2

[oli4vd]

Hi folks!

Oli from Belgium here. This is my first post (and my first build as well). I've been modding guitars for years, starting with cheap knock offs due to the 'nomoneywhatsoever'-syndrome, gradually upgrading the hardware & electronics.

Ordering went smoothly. I had some issues with Belgian customs (the last nazis in the western world). I had to pay a hefty 130 AUD supplement for VAT and import to get the package. European buyers: beware...
Big thanks to PBG for the support and lightning quick responses to my e-mails. Customer service really makes a difference!

Now I'm trying a first build.

I chose the ES2. Not the easiest kit to start with, but hey, I like a good challenge. I'm going to take my time for this. I want to do it well.

I already ordered a bigsby vibrato for it. I think it looks better. I'm also going to go full-idiot by trying to include custom inlays on the headstock. We'll find out how that goes... If it sounds like crap, I can still hang it on my wall. :-)

First step: sanding. Sanding. Sanding. Sanding and sanding.

[Brendan]

Great feeling to open your first kit box! Build plan sounds good. If you haven't already, check out the Hellboy and the Nevermore builds by Tim - he's done custom inlays in both of those and they've come out well. Mind you, both were defretted basses, so he had a bit of room to work with.

Great to see your experience of customer service is like many here - really good! The VAT and import extras sound a bit steep - sounds like a 50% tax on top of the original kit! Looks like your government is like ours - ready to tax anything and everything excessively.

[kimball492]

Look forward to following your build Oli

[gavinturner]

Hi Oli, looking forward to seeing your build develop. It's a great kit and I'm sure you'll get a great result!

cheers,
Gav.

[stan]

enjoy the build Oli. looking forward to seeing it develop

[wokkaboy]

Hey Oli,
looks like a nice looking ES-2. what stain/paint colours you got planned ?
no reason you can't do a headstock inlay. Just practice on some scrap wood and see how you go.
Should be a beast with a bigsby tremelo.
Best of luck with the build and post lots of photos and updates.
That sucks that customs seem to charge what they want, that's a steep additional charge. Have to make sure this kit is a winner

[oli4vd]

So I've sanded. And sanded. And sanded. And I will sand some more later today.
I have a question about painting the guitar. I want to do a blue burst, I've seen a lot of vids about doing it with spray cans, and some who do it by hand.
What's the best method? I would prefer to do it by hand, with water based dye. I feel I'd have more control over it.

What do you think?

[gavinturner]

hey Oli,

I think at the end of the day it depends on what tools you have on hand. I have always done all my bursts by hand rubbing water based dye onto the guitar - a so called 'poor mans burst'. It isn't difficult to learn and there are a lot of you tube videos to give you some pointers. I would suggest doing a couple of tries on scrap before doing your guitar but you'll get the hang of it pretty easily.

Other options are to use the same dye (eg. Colortone) to tint lacquer and spray that on the guitar to form the burst. I wouldn't suggest using actual spray paint, as the burst you'll get isn't really 'subtle' enough. You can get tinted lacquer in cans though - this might be a good option.

hope this helps!

cheers,
Gav.

[andrewdosborne]

Hello Oli

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you are progressing well with your build.

I've personally only tried a burst finish using dye (my latest build) and had no issue in using hand rubbed method. Saves also having to purchase some extra equipment for spraying (unless you have it already).

There is a couple of Wudtone videos on YouTube that can give you some idea on technique.

http://youtu.be/lEefXGSPdao

http://youtu.be/9tW3cnaHlOQ

Cheers

[oli4vd]

Thanks Andrew! That's great info.

I also want to add a pickguard to it. What size and/or type should I look for. Are the pickups spaced like the ES 135 or am I better of buying just the material and cutting my own?

Thanks dudes! (And dudettes, if applicable)