Third Build ES-3

[stansby40]

While the Telecaster clear coat is drying I thought I would try to make a Jazz guitar for a friend who has just decided to start playing again. Received the ES-3 kit and in general looks quite good except for around the neck join and the rear where the sides join. The pics illustrate the issues which I know others have come across with this kit. I am open to solutions and the gaps may indeed lessen when the clear coats go on, but what is the consensus on how to fix such gaps?

[DarkMark]

Oh boy, is that neck all the way in?
I thought I had some dark wood knots on my ES-3 kit, and some of them are...and some turned out to be something like black glue smeared over some kind of patch up job. Makes me laugh every time I see them. I post a photo in my diary one day.
Good luck with this kit.

[ILRGuitars]

Might just need some sanding in the pocket corners?

[FrankenWashie]

Might just need some sanding in the pocket corners?

Possibly, maybe a very sharp chisel to square up the corners, and the shoulders on the tenon?

[stansby40]

Test clamped the neck on and did a bit of sanding and the gaps were a lot smaller. Once the final finish is on it should be acceptable. Stained with Colortone vintage amber and had the usual problems with glue especially around the f-holes. Tried acetone, sanding, turps but could not get rid of the glue. May have to live with it. Colour is OK though.

[stansby40]

A friend of mine at work is a great believer in shellac as a finish and many use it as a sealer. Tested shellac before adding dye but the colour did not develop as much. I assume shellac sealed the wood and prevented the dye from adsorbing into the wood. Applied shellac after the stain (about 9 thin coats and sanding with 400 grit after each 3 coats). It slightly altered the colour but the glue stains disappeared! The photos show both the front and neck with wipe on poly on the front and tru oil on neck. No final finish is on the sides or back as yet. For people with glue problems shellac may be worth trying especially for lighter stains. I assume that shellac may be able to coat the glue stains.

[DarkMark]

You had a win! Do you think the shellac picked up some stain and carried it over the top of the glue?

[blinddrew]

Now that is a useful thing to know!

[stansby40]

To Dark Mark - No I had already stained the guitar and unless the shellac in alcohol moved some of the dye I didnt add any more dye to the guitar. Shellac itself has a slight amber colour to it and perhaps the combo of its natural colour and spreading some of the dye resulted in covering the glue. Dye can be added to shellac so that is another potential way to cover glue stains.

[stansby40]

Times up for the poly and time to sand and polish. That turned out OK so decided to glue the neck on as well.