Es-1gt

[Storm1822]

Received my ES-1GT kit a few weeks back now, but only just got around to mock assembly and hopefully starting the sanding and fixing this weekend (In between language study and Elite Dangerous... Yet to see if I do make a start)





Mock build & Problems to fix :
As I have seen in other build threads of this guitar, the cavity for the heel is a bit too small and needs a tidy up overall in the area due to the wood being very 'sandy' and choppy in texture. The neck pickup here also does not fit into the slot which user Eric overcome on his ES-1GT by simply sanding a small amount off the pickup, you can see his amazing build here : http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=6244

I didnt take a close up picture of this but I did find a small blood dot seeped into the surface of the guitar? Hopefully the person didnt hurt themselves too much when that happened *Sending thoughts out*.

Color plans:
The body will be the fun part, Im thinking a bright deep orange color with a single cream/white stripe running parrellel from the neck across the guitar.
(As for the white stripe, it may look better with 2 black lines encasing it, or 2 white lines just outside of it. Think racing car sort of stripes).
Im planning on doing the neck with Minwax Satin, the same I have done on my TL-1TB build.

The paint choice will be duplicolor touch up cans, followed by the duplicolor gloss coats, then polished out.

Also after talking to a friend I will need to order a 3rd kit sooner than later as i'll be commissioning her to do some art work on it which should be pretty exciting.

Finally, Dedman who had noticed i had said in my Tl-1TB thread "on my next kit"... is probably reading this '2nd & 3rd kit' business and just sitting there like this : http://imgur.com/6ADLV4r

[FrankenWashie]

The GAS is strong in this one.....

I like the racing stripe concept, definitely go the pinstripes either side. Maybe in a contrasting colour to the body colour?

[Dedman]

Close LOL

[wokkaboy]

very nice looking kit Storm, would be a shame to cover up that lovely flame maple veneer with solid paint ?

love the idea of black/white racing stripes down the centre

[Storm1822]

I had read several opinions on the veneer on this kit - After ordering it I did see that user Andy40 http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=5612 Had asked for a damaged body since he was planning on spraying (That black and white! WOW!).

After some consideration and a chat to a workmate, a stained orange with white stripes sounds like a good choice. His thoughts were the same as everyone else "Why hide the grain of a traditional shaped guitar".

Although, the Gibson ES-333 Tom Delonge conceptually is quite appealing to my eye, except for the color choice. http://images.epiphone.com.s3.amazon.../BR_Splash.jpg


Hmmm. On further searching whilst writing this post, why not just go all out orange stain? (As I have stated before, choosing colors is the real hard work of any build / creation).

Ill need to hunt this orange down further or if someone knows something straight off please let me know, but I'm loving the Desert Sunset color on this Gretsch :


Is there a dingotone with the same orange as the last guitar?

[wokkaboy]

Hey Storm, you could ask DB to make a brighter version of Dingotone outback sunset

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/shop/d...utback-sunset/

[Storm1822]

Thanks Wokka! After doing a search for outback sunset on the forum, wazkelly appears to have done the hard work already! 1 part Outback Sunset to 3 part Coolangatta Gold : http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...outback+sunset

Thats a pretty close color for what i'm after!

Is there anything special I'll have to do maple for surface prep? As far as i recall, the veneer is a few mm deep so sanding it out is no problem. Just unsure if I should use a lighter timbermate color for grain filling, or not at all? Should i just sand it up a bit, then stain and move on to gloss poly wipe on coats?

Also pondering how much color difference there will be between the body and veneer... hopefully not too much

[FrankenWashie]

As far as i recall, the veneer is a few mm deep so sanding it out is no problem.

I though the veneers were really thin, like 0.6mm or something like that. Or is that only on the solid body kits?

[wokkaboy]

Hi Storm, treat the veneer as Franken said under 1mm thick. If you want to pop the flames I usually put a black stain over the veneer with no pre-sanding and let that dry and sand off the black with about 320 grit, then add your orange stain. Staining it black will pop the flames more than a grain filler will.
Good research finding Waz's build diary, DB should be able to mix you a similar colour to Waz's mix

[Storm1822]

Ok will do for the veneer!

Hmm, I kinda want a subtle look like the gretsch guitars have rather than a crazy pop. Not doing the grain filler step, will that affect the surface? Or will sanding level it appropriately for staining without affecting the surface?