First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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ForcedFire
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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:56 pm

I decided I liked the look of tinted shellac. I'm slowly building it up. I'm using a thinner cut to add the colour so I'm not adding too much finish. I started with yellow gold and then amber with yellow gold. I've done 2 coats now with a drop of blue into the amber to make dark green then a couple of drops of red to make brown. It's almost there...need to tone down the yellow some more. After it looks good to me I'll probably do an unthinned seal coat then some clear nitro before the brown burst.

Image

The grain filler turned out just the way I wanted. It was walnut tinted and looked lighter than the wood but once the finish went on it looks black:

Image

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by antisymmetric » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:33 pm

:-* :-* :-* !!!
Watching the corners turn corners

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by thepastrecedes » Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:23 am

:? :? :?

Do you have any more information on how you did that finish?
Game Of T0NZ

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:26 pm

thepastrecedes wrote::? :? :?

Do you have any more information on how you did that finish?

Well the wood helps. It was expensive but it's pretty nice.

First I used the timbermate in the walnut tint. It dried light and not very attractive but once the finish went on the grain looks dark the way it's supposed to. I regret not buying this stuff earlier, super easy to use. I did tape off the maple and used it fairly thick out of the jar scraping it on with an old plastic card.

Then I did a washcoat of wax-free shellac thinned with alcohol. Then I started with thinned shellac tinted with yellow gold dye. I wear gloves and wipe it on very thin with cheesecloth. I cut a small piece, you really don't need much. I don't over soak the cheesecloth. I don't reuse the cheesecloth. I let dry for half an hour-45 minutes then reapply. Don't go over the same spot twice on the same coat. If you get a streak wait until it dries, lightly rub it off with 400 grit sandpaper and naptha, clean up the dust with naptha. Let the naptha dry a minute. Wipe your next coat.

After yellow gold I mixed a fairly intense amber into the rest of the yellow. Did a few light coats. Then added a drop of blue to turn the mix green then a couple of drops of red to make a light reddish brown. This tones down the yellow and makes a nicer golden brown. Finally I added ONE drop of black and some more shellac and alcohol into my jar. I'm just making sure everything's nicely blended and even. It's getting really nice and golden coppery brown now.

Then I will do clear nitro. It could stop there but I want a brownburst...

I'm not an expert or anything, that's just what I did/am doing... :wacko:

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Sun Jul 17, 2011 2:13 pm

‪The Stranglers - Golden Brown (lyrics)‬‏ - YouTube

I had to go out of town for a couple of days. Now it's too hot and humid to lacquer...

Nice and sunny though:

Image

Image

I guess I will work on the pickguard, backplates and truss rod cover.

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by Oig » Sun Jul 17, 2011 2:28 pm

:? :? :? It's perfect as is.

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by Telenator » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:40 pm

That's a fine piece of work. Can't wait to see it completed.
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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by craicaddict » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:42 pm

The striping on the headstock looks killer! :-*
"A guitar is a divining rod.  Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over." - Captain Beefheart.

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by gishuk » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:52 pm

that looks truly brilliant. love the contrast in the woods and the warm tones of the shellac and everything basically

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:17 pm

Thanks guys!
craicaddict wrote:The striping on the headstock looks killer! :-*
I don't like it actually, I will try to sunburst it. The headstock face and sides will be black.

I think the striping would be cool on a more symmetric headstock, like the rics.

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:23 pm

I agree with you about the stripes looking strange on the headstock.

Saying that though, this build is superb, especially as it's a first!!
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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:29 pm

I made up the templates for the plastics:

Image

I went with a take on the non-reverse truss rod cover:

Image

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by spookybonus » Tue Jul 19, 2011 4:46 pm

Oh man, I love RD's!
I cant wait to see it done, so far it is amazing.
I love the headstock inlay, and the truss rod cover will look great.
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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by craicaddict » Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:40 am

ForcedFire wrote:
craicaddict wrote:The striping on the headstock looks killer! :-*
I don't like it actually, I will try to sunburst it. The headstock face and sides will be black.

I think the striping would be cool on a more symmetric headstock, like the rics.
Yep, fair enough, she's your masterpiece. I think I like it *because* it's asymmetric. Anywho, killer job, can't wait to see the further progress.
"A guitar is a divining rod.  Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over." - Captain Beefheart.

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by disconnect57 » Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:18 am

beautiful guitar. Cant wait to see the completion.

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