Copper KH-1

[HooligansMusicLab]

My most recent project was a Pitbull KH-1 kit, a replica of a Klein guitar. When I started I had a couple of goals in mind: 1) I wanted the finish to be shiny copper--not metal flake copper, but shiny copper like a new penny (or...a new, shiny copper pipe, if wherever you are from doesn't have copper pennies), and 2) I wanted to add a push/pull pot to let me split the humbucker at the bridge. It was a bumpy road, but I'm happy with the result.

First, a photo of the destination, to whet the appetite:



Now, back to the beginning...

[HooligansMusicLab]

The kit arrived and of course the first thing I did was to have a look at the neck. It had quite a bit of back bow! I found the truss rod wrench and did some adjusting, but I didn't want to push things too far and risk damaging the neck on my newly arrived kit. I contacted Pitbull to let them know about the excessive back bow, and was told that they thought the string tension would bring it out, but if not (or if the neck were damaged by trying to adjust the truss rod to get the bow out) they would warranty the neck and get me a replacement. I was somewhat comforted, but wasn't sure how I was going to level the frets if I couldn't get the neck straight...

[HooligansMusicLab]

Time to shape the body! I knew that a Klein has a lot of contours that the kit body did not have, and luckily I was able to find a drawing of a Klein body online that gave me all of the info I needed to shape the body as it needed to be. My trusty angle grinder was VERY helpful with this job.

[HooligansMusicLab]

Then...sanding. Lots of sanding. Luckily the basswood body is fairly soft and easy to sand.

[HooligansMusicLab]

To the basement for primer and paint. I knew I wanted a shiny copper finish on the guitar that wasn't sparkly like a metalic flake would be, and the closest paint I could find was copper Rustoleum. My father had encouraged me to find an automotive paint that would suit, as he has the equipment (including a paint booth) to spray it, but I couldn't come up with anything that was quite what I was looking for. Also, his shop is a two hour drive from me, so to the basement I went with my rattle cans.









The copper paint had a little bit of texture and it cannot be buffed or smoothed (or it just goes dull), so I knew I wasn't going to get a real "copper mirror" effect, but it was very shiny and I was pleased with the paint results. I sprayed the whole thing with a few coats of Rustoleum clear coat, and gave it a week or so to dry. And then, tragedy struck.

[CascadiaGuitarGeek]

Nice work on the paint job. I've wanted to do the "copper mirror" finish too but it doesn't seem to be achievable with paint alone.

[Sonic Mountain]

Oh cool build. Weird guitar, but I like where you are going with it.

[Swanny]

Am I the only one holding their breath for the tragedy to unfold?

Cool looking guitar!

[Sonic Mountain]

Am I the only one holding their breath for the tragedy to unfold?

Cool looking guitar!

Its Ok Swanny, I saw the preview and the main character survives... :P

[wokkaboy]

cool build HML, I like the body re-shaping and you did an excellent job on the copper paint. Don't forget to enter December GOTM has to be in by midnight tonight Perth time