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Sticky1973

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Feb 21, 2008
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869
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Scotland
I'd say either....

1) Black pearloid with black pickups.

2) Abalone, 'cause it's classy and I am biased.

3) Moonstone. That would just look great if you went for a Silo Special pick guard (HSS).
 

Kaloyan

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Jul 27, 2009
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274
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Glenview, IL
I'd say either....

1) Black pearloid with black pickups.

2) Abalone, 'cause it's classy and I am biased.

3) Moonstone. That would just look great if you went for a Silo Special pick guard (HSS).

I am almost convinced to transparent pickguard with red pups ... =)
 

Sticky1973

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.... transparent pickguard with red pups ... =)

Wild :cool:

Red pickups; could have a Jason Becker feel to it if you kept the body natural.

That wiring needs to be tasty with a clear pickguard, surely.

Braiding kit, maybe?

(Link above is an excellent PC modding store in the UK; just for inspiration of what might be available)
 

Kaloyan

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Jul 27, 2009
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274
Location
Glenview, IL
Wild :cool:

Red pickups; could have a Jason Becker feel to it if you kept the body natural.

That wiring needs to be tasty with a clear pickguard, surely.

Braiding kit, maybe?

(Link above is an excellent PC modding store in the UK; just for inspiration of what might be available)

This is just amazing. Thank you so much for the braiding web. I was planning on 'painting' the wires red also but I can just use that.

I wish the wood was alder or mahogany so I could keep the original colour. I appreciate the poplar look But not enough to agree to keep it clear. I already put the base coat and colour. Unfortunately I couldnt take photos of doing it just because it was my buddy's body shop so time is of an essence at all times =)

Wednesday is the final day! Thanks everyone. Yay
 

Kaloyan

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Jul 27, 2009
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274
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Glenview, IL
The Body paint is READY!

Shall post pics tonight. I used BMW white pearl paint and the German poly that comes after it. 2 layers of base coat, buff, 2 layers of the white pearl, 4 layers of the poly. It's drying next to the UVB lamps. Looks fantastic so far. The pics would show all the imperfections that potential restorers should be aware of while finishing.

I also found a set of Gibson 498t/490r for $60 (sixty) and a set of PAF Classic for $30 (thirty) and a set of Red DiMarzio FRED and PAF Pro for $50. I am debating what to start with and where to find that transparent pickguard from?!

Suggestions?
 

jamminjim

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May 25, 2006
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2,303
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Grand Junction, Colorado
Wow, thanks for the bare body pics - cool - now I'm debating a reapaint of one of my sub1's. White is a geat color. I think the black pearloid guard would look great on it. For the red pups a tortoise shell guard wouldn't look bad. Can't wait to see the finished pics....

Thumbs up baby!!
 

Kaloyan

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274
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Glenview, IL
The paint looks fabulous. I 'd have to take some photos tomorrow out in the sun so you could see all the purple, blue and black nuances that this paint contains of. It's absolutely amazing and it turned out what I wanted. Then comes the wet sand and then the buff and finally putting it back together!
 

Kaloyan

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274
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Glenview, IL
Finally Done! (with the body)

Okay fellow musicmen =)

Thanks to the unpredictable humid, sticky, oily and dirty aired Chicago (badmouthing) I had to postpone the painting But it's finally done. The body has been sitting 5 days already to cure completely out of the BMW paint that I used and the german poly that came with it. I am sorry for the delay:

Pictures:

Painted Custom pictures by EmbedTheWidget - Photobucket




Wet sand and buff next. Suggestions?
 

luv

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Colorado
hard to say what that looks like in person, but the pictures look great. good color choice too. good job!
 

Kaloyan

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Jul 27, 2009
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Glenview, IL
Thank you fellas. I personally love it just because the paint changes colours from different angles. Most of the time you'd see that blue reflection as in picture 12 but it also goes through thin red and gray (since the flakes of the metallic paint are gray) besides the white. I couldn't figure how to arrange the lights to show all that but I am sure that when it's ready and a show comes up I'd be more than glad to share. Let's not forget that we have quite of wet sand to do and then buff. Then we'll see the 'true' colour =)

Starts tomorrow ... Thanks again
 

Sticky1973

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Scotland
Really starting to take shape; love the colour.

With sanding and buffing ahead, there's plenty of hard work no doubt.

I bet it'll be worth the effort.
 

Kaloyan

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274
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Glenview, IL
Thank you. I brought it all-the-way to here so I have no doubt that I'll finish it. I just sanded the rosewood down since the previous owner probably never cared even to clean it and polished the frets with quad 0 steel wool. It's looking awesome. I am still debating whether I should use the dark amber finish (Stew Mac) just for the head of the neck which would also completely seal it and give it that darker yellow/brown finish without covering the wood grain. I shall start the wet sand with 800 grit and then go to 1000 and finish at 1200 since I have a professional car buffing tool to use at the end.

I am also debating whether I should put the red DiMarzio or the Chrome Gibson 498T and 490R in it. I'd try both but I really wish I didnt have to solder that much.

Something like the Gibson plugs ... Oh well ... I shall succeed
 

Kaloyan

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Jul 27, 2009
Messages
274
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Glenview, IL
Please, don't ever CUT poly

Hehhhehehe... Pretty disappointing Title. Either way. Long story super short:

1) The fretboard is totally restored after I used single-sided razors to scrape of the dirt one more time since the wood was still looking 'wet' around the frets (although the humidity in the house is very stable). I buffed the frets also so it looks great. That was EZ.

2) Wet sand. I suggest to all of you potential restorers - using grit less than 800 is something I'd totally call 'nuts'. After three serious coats of poly, 6 days of curing time in front of UVB lamps, that thing is pretty easy to burn through (as what I did as what you'll see in the pictures I took). Take your time with the high grit sand paper NOT with the low numbers one which now makes me understand that the key is Perfectly sanded body, excellent paint job and very patient wet sand where the imperfections stand out. I went through the body with 800 grit wet sand Twice without pushing on it to try to make it as even as possible. Then I moved to 1000 and did the same thing. I skipped the 1200 and went to 1500 for a final fix. Unfortunately I decided to use a razor to Cut the drop of poly (since one of the Pros from the local guitar repair shop recommended??!!!) and a small piece of it came off. Now I'd have to fill in with super glue, let it cure and then shoot last spray of poly. By that time the pickguard should be ready so I could finally assemble the instrument and play/record! Back to work. Thanks!

Pics:

WetSand Custom pictures by EmbedTheWidget - Photobucket
 

Sticky1973

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Feb 21, 2008
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Scotland
Lots of top work in there, fella.

Following this thread closely, looking forward to the rebuild too.
 

Kaloyan

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Jul 27, 2009
Messages
274
Location
Glenview, IL
Lots of top work in there, fella.

Following this thread closely, looking forward to the rebuild too.

Thanks. Tomorrow I should be able to put the SuperGlue on it and let cure for about 30 min and slowly even it out and I have set an appointment to put another 3 coats on it and wet sand again. This time for a total perfection =)
 
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