Swanny's ES-12G

[Swanny]

Finally, after weeks of patiently waiting I had the Aussie Post guy deliver a box to my door. Having never built a guitar before, and being generally crap at woodwork back in high school, this could be interesting!
I have a few weeks off at the moment, so in between other jobs and hobbies I'll see how far I get with the 12 string.

The grain looks okay




A quick mock up...





The plan is for a glossy finish, with a dark blue stain. I'm leaning towards a blue-burst finish, I've got a spray gun and compressor that I used to do my YouTube apprenticeship on a car I've been rebuilding, so I can put that to use, though I might have to get a smaller gun.

[Swanny]

Anyway, the kit looks good, the neck fits good...




I've already got my first upgrade...



Which I think will look better...



Although either the pickup cavity or the pickup is out of shape here...



I've read that the veneer cap can be thin, so I think the first step might be to bring out the grain with a black stain before I start sanding.

[johnc]

Hi Swanny, looks great, looking forward to seeing how you go. Unfortunately my 12G's on hold at the moment as I ran out of stain before I could finish and am waiting for more.
I too had a fit issue with the neck pickup, nothing a little sanding wont fix.
Good luck !

[jtsargeant]

Maybe its just that angles or the rings are on wrong, but the pick ups look to be in the wrong position and back to front. That is the bridge pickup is in the neck position and the low side of the ring is facing the bridge not the neck?

[Swanny]

Maybe its just that angles or the rings are on wrong, but the pick ups look to be in the wrong position and back to front. That is the bridge pickup is in the neck position and the low side of the ring is facing the bridge not the neck?

Yes, you're right, that's the bridge pickup. I swapped them around, and now it doesn't fit in the bridge position!

I measured the two pickups, and the bridge one is a couple of millimetres larger.

[Swanny]

Hi Swanny, looks great, looking forward to seeing how you go. Unfortunately my 12G's on hold at the moment as I ran out of stain before I could finish and am waiting for more.
I too had a fit issue with the neck pickup, nothing a little sanding wont fix.
Good luck !

Thanks John, now you have a chance to play with the neck, level the frets while you wait!

[wokkaboy]

Hi Swanny, nice looking kit and your plans sound good if you got a spray gun and a few weeks off.
I'd file out the pickup routes a bit so they fit.
The thicker pup surround should be on the bridge and the thinner edge of the surround should face the neck.
Dark blue should look excellent with the gold hardware. So will you spray a translucent colour so the flame maple is visible ?
I suggest you put the black stain on with no prior sanding on the veneer as they are so thin

[Swanny]

Yes Wokka, I want the grain to show through, so I'll highlight it with the black, sand then stain with blue, followed by a clear coat.

I guess I better file out that cavity before I get the blues...

[wokkaboy]

sounds good Swanny. Yes a mock build is important to get everything to fit before you start sanding and staining.

With the filing of the cavity file off a small amount and keep doing a test fit. You don't want to file too much off

[gavinturner]

Great kit Swanny and great upgrades. Love the grain on the back especially. Will be watching your build with interest. I do love a 12 string 335!

cheers,
Gav.