ES-1Q Semi-hollow Kit

[Simon Barden]

Feast Watson's description of Black Japan statins:

http://www.feastwatson.com.au/consum...e/black-japan/

[danielcstudio]

I got some clear dingotone to apply after black stain. Looking forward to it..!

[danielcstudio]

What should I do with that gap in the neck? should I feel it? It's tight enough already.
Any suggestions before gluing the neck?

[wazkelly]

Above shot looks normal and no need to fill any of that vertical channel below 3rd last fret.

On your 1st post it showed a gap underneath the fret board overhang and that can be easily filled with timber mate and would suggest using natural as it takes on stain colours really well. As you are doing Japan Black ebony timber mate would work and not show up too dark.

Joining the neck before finishing does make things a bit harder to work on, particularly if you want to do an all over coat on each application, as is my preference, and helps to build layers at the same level of thickness and hopefully reduce the chance of runs building up in all the usual places.

[Adam Barnes]

Also make sure you mask the binding with blue painters tape those stains leach into cracks in the bindings

[danielcstudio]

I am about to glue the neck...! I guess it is the most important part of the building so I am a bit nervous..
And looks like there will be slight gap under fretboard. Should I glue then use woodfiller?

[wazkelly]

If you have done all your sanding and prepping, which above shot suggests you have, then proceed with titebond, leave to set for 24 - 48 hours, or longer, and then carefully add in the filler.

Not sure which part of the globe you are at but if you can get your hands on Timber Mate it works really well. For filling these sorts of cracks & gaps you don't really need to moisten the filler, in fact the stiffer the mix the better you can work it deeper into the crevices. An old credit card usually does the trick and by keeping the mix stiff there won't be as much excess to sand off the neck & body.

[danielcstudio]

Thanks guys. I feel like I am getting personal instruction to build this thing and I feel less nervous about this kit..!
Hopefully it will turn out nice and let me make some nice music. I am in Sydney now and was able to get things from Bunnings.


I glued the neck today so after few days I will be back in NewZealand and finish the rest.


I am wanting to make the binding black but seems like wood stain won't work on those. Are there any ways to achieve that on f-holes?

[Fretworn]

Some guys have successfully painted the bindings (after cracks caused stain to leak into them), I can't remember which builds though.

[danielcstudio]

My fretboard seems very dry and it feels very rough. What do I do to make professional feel to it? I assume it is not the best quality rosewood. Do I use clear stain? sanding and Oil? or Clear coat as the neck finish?