Newbie with an ib7 kit

[Shaunalves]

Hi everyone.

Just wanted to say hi, before i pepper everyone with questions haha. Perth based guitarist building his first ever guitar. I have been wanting to build one for as long as I remember (15 plus years) and finally have the time and space to do so. Been working with electronics and car stereos for 10+ years, so the wiring side of this should be easy enough!

Time for the first question to you all out there haha. I have contacted Adam from here, as well as several luthiers and wood suppliers around Perth with no definite answer. Anyone know where i can get some offcuts of basswood? I want to try several different techniques and processes to finish my body without jumping in and potentially ruining it. Adam suggested that there might be an equivalent wood to basswood in Australia as it's an Asian wood. Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Shaun Alves

[wokkaboy]

Hi Shaun welcome to the forum. Well done starting your first kit. I haven't come across any wood suppliers around Perth that have basswood in stock. I had a look at the pic of the IB-7 kit and if you want some areas to do some test staining you could stain the bottom of the humbucker routes and neck pocket will be covered. If you want to test some solid paint options then that is going to be more difficult.
What sort of finish tests are you planning ?

[Shaunalves]

Thanks wokka
I have purchased the dingotone black stump and Uluru red stains. I was hoping to give the face a light coat of the black first, sand it back slightly, then do the red over the top. The sides and back and neck will all midday be done with the black. Think it will all work out? Hoping to have a red stain with dark black grains in the background

[wokkaboy]

Hi Shaun yes that technique should work ok. Some of the basswood kits have some pretty nice grain so you might score a nice kit.

When the kit arrives start a build diary and ask any questions there. You might even think about a darker edge on top like a burst.

[Shaunalves]

Yeah the kit I have looks to be pretty good! I might have struck it lucky hahaha
My kit arrived last week, and it looks like my stains have arrived today. I'll start up a build diary when i do something other than look at it hahaha

Thanks again

[wokkaboy]

sounds good Shaun, yes the forum is always keen to see new builds so please post some pics of the kit in your build diary.
You can make a start sanding. I'd sand the top to about 240 grit then apply your black stump, rub back with 240 grit and sand up to about 320/360 grit is usually enough over the whole body and neck

[Andy40]

Thanks wokka
I have purchased the dingotone black stump and Uluru red stains. I was hoping to give the face a light coat of the black first, sand it back slightly, then do the red over the top. The sides and back and neck will all midday be done with the black. Think it will all work out? Hoping to have a red stain with dark black grains in the background

Good plan Shaun. Ebony timbermate also goes quite well under Uluru Red to pop the grain a bit.

Just to throw you a bit....have you considered a black stump/Uluru Red burst......just sayin is all...they go well together