ES-3 second build custom.

[Andyxlh]

I revisited the Teleblaster Andyxlh, great headstock! Thanks for your input. What is the difference between ‘fine sanding’ and ‘cutting back’? Second ignorant follow up question, in your last sentence do you mean cut back and ‘polished using gloss poly’ (ie. Using the liquid poly like a polishing product) or ‘polished’ a hard gloss poly surface?

Ooh yes, my reply was a bit cryptic wasn't it!
Generally to get a super shiny surface I have wet sanded with a very fine paper, 2000 or even 3000 grit, that's the sanding bit, then used cutting compound, the automotive type, to put a shiny surface on it, finishing up with an auto polish like Maguire's.
The wet sand removes any imperfections such as dust and orange peel from the surface making it very smooth, the cutting compound removes the scratches from the sanding.
Poly takes a while to go nice and hard, a week or two, before polishing.
You can do this with gloss or satin. You will get the finish on the body of the teleblaster with satin. The neck is gloss, both poly.
Thanks for the cudos for the headstock, it made me smile, still does!

[DarkMark]

Thanks Andyxlh, I think I’ll take the glossy path.

[DarkMark]

Headstock roughly reshaped.

[Kick]

Nice classy shape

[DarkMark]

Thanks Kick. If I can’t get those off centre bits symmetrical I’ll consider taking them off altogether.

[king casey]

Thanks Kick. If I can’t get those off centre bits symmetrical I’ll consider taking them off altogether.

Well they look symmetrical to me. If somebody pulled me up on it I'd say 'They are meant to look like that!

cheers, Mark.

[Andyxlh]

Yep, I reckon it's very close!

[DarkMark]

Ha, good response king Casey. But I know, and you know that I know, that they are not symmetrical. I think the knobby bit might go. Not that I’m looking for an easy life, but it will make my life easier as the project progresses.

[DarkMark]

Ok, well I’m keeping the headstock shape for now. The base of the neck has caught my attention. Seems to me the angle of the overhang is going to dig into the body quite a bit if left as is. Does this look familiar to anyone who has built an ES-3? Should I square it off a little more?

[trv]

I agree with Kick, that headstock shape is nice and classy. As for getting it symmetrical, if you have a router and a flush cut bit you can always 'trace' one side of the headstock on a scrap piece of wood and use it to shape the other side so it matches perfectly