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dean701

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Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Messages
96
Location
Barrie, Canada
I have side project started and I hope it pans out.
Make this one look like the above. (Graphtech black TUSQ, Darken the fretboard, slap in nickel cover pickups)

Screenshot_20250304_231828.jpg
 

dean701

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Messages
96
Location
Barrie, Canada
Yeah I think covered pickups are key. And add in a chrome switch tip while you're at it :)
Good idea. Picked up a $5 warped neck at Solo to practice staining. Stressful. 1 coat of various shades so far
Early stages. Top one has no stain.

20250313_195509.jpg
 

jlf599

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 1, 2020
Messages
401
Although technically not a Reflex I picked up this. I might have to adjust my Axis inventory for more of these.

Yeah. I picked up a 25th BFR (one off?) and a Reflex that I had refinished, and they've displaced the Axis as my favorite.

and that's a gorgeous axe! I like the Wilkinson saddles - been thinking about doing that on at least one of mine.
 

dean701

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Messages
96
Location
Barrie, Canada
Time to try some different pickups in the Game changer. lol. Just wow. Is the OG using the Dimarzio color scheme? I assume so since they are Dimarzio BHNG1BKL and BHWG3BKL

Screenshot_20250429_222814_Gallery.jpg

Screenshot_20250429_223108_Gallery.jpg

Screenshot_20250429_223511_Gallery.jpg
 
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dean701

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Messages
96
Location
Barrie, Canada
I checked a small area after 2 days and no change as of yet. I see on the web that some people waited as long as 9 days to see results. It seems to be a long process for the pigments to steep into the fretboard. Previously I tried various stains and other products on a few sample necks and at the end of all of it, I could still scratch the products away with my fingernail. I'll check again in a few days, but I'm no longer optimistic.
 
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dean701

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Messages
96
Location
Barrie, Canada
That's interesting- I thought it would darken up too. Does look great as is though.
me too.

After trying various products including:
Fiebing's Leather dye
Angelus Leather dye
Minwax stain
Saman Interior One Step
Varathane Gel Stain (probably the best of the group)

on several test necks, I wasn't happy with the finish with any of them. I could fingernail scratch off all of them. It would have looked awful inside a month.
I tried sealing them with a few different toppings (f1 oil, birchwood casey tru oil, gun wax, and my new fav musicnomad carnauba wax but they all looked off.
Montypresso shows a natural finish and doesn't scratch off. At least it has that going for it.
Perhaps if it was a dry fresh just-built neck, it would have soaked up more.

It will take a long time to dry out at this point so I won't be re-attempting anything any time soon.
 
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