Marcel's auction win JK2 (PBG build #4)

[Marcel]

As my nephew will not be doing this build I figured that I may as well make a start.

Pulled it all out of the box and did a mock assembly so that I could get a better Idea on how it should look. I'm liking the colour of the natural wood against the Black hardware so I'm very tempted to do a solid colour of Cream on all the Maple and Basswood. The spray cap shows the intended colour. And then somehow try and darken the fretboard to something closer to Black. Thinking that Black stain might get me there but keeping it on the fretboard and not have it come off on my fingers will be the issue.
The original PU's have been replaced with Alnico 5 Belcat's that have a 'blackout' style finish. For the time being sticking with the original hardware everywhere else.

[wokkaboy]

cream solid paint will look great with the black hardware, metal guitars look better with solid paint anyway

[Andy40]

Nice score Marcel. great price

[Dedman]

1 or 2 coats of TO over stain on a fret board will seal it and not go too shiny

[Marcel]

Thanks Dedman.

One Black (or very dark) fretboard is now on the plan...

Might try a 50/50 turps/TO mix to seal it up....

[Marcel]

That's a better colour for the fretboard...

[wokkaboy]

looks good Marcel, what did you use to darken the fingerboard ?

[Marcel]

Used a folded rag Wokka that was lightly moistened with the contents of one of those little sample bottles of FW Japan Black from the Green shed. Didn't need to drown it as it only needed a few drops, and kept rubbing at it (or rubbing it in) until it looked even and dark enough and all dry again.. Applying the stain in this essentially drop by drop manner got a nice even dark colour with just a hint of grain showing through, and took nearly 45mins to get done.

Slightly annoyed that the fret markers are near invisible now, but at least they are not gone completely into the darkness.

Since the photo have also applied a very thin coat of TO purely to seal it in to lessen any rub off onto the fingers. All the pores on the fretboard wood still appear to be wide open, and I gave the spirit based stain at least 6hrs in 32C warmth to dry before the TO....

[Marcel]

I wasn't too happy with the darkened fret markers, so got the razor blade out and gave the entire fret board a scape. It took most of the TO that I had applied off and also took off some of the stain, which has left the fret board in a state that I was much happier with. Another light rub with TO applied and to the naked eye only experts would identify that this isn't an Ebony board.

Broke out the files and hack saw and removed some excess bits on the headstock.

Was at the local hardware store on an errand for SWMBO (yes, I got sent there) and spotted rattle cans of "Copper" coloured paint...... Okay...New Plan....That Copper over the Yellow oxide undercoat, and then some poly clear over the top....

[wazkelly]

Did you see the hammer finish copper coloured Rustoleum? Not sure it if would work on timber as it is mainly supposed to be used on metal outdoor furniture build gives a really cool effect.

Nice touch on headstock tip.