Q418C 355 Kit Build

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DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
edited October 2018 in Making & Modding
I went to see the Stones in Stratford a few weeks ago, and I've been pining for something like this ever since.

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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    Can't afford one, so I bought this kit on ebay.

    Used hide glue to attach neck to body - here it is clamped up

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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    I stained it, stained it, stained it.
    Stained it black.

    ...then used some grain filler coloured with the same black dye, rubbed it in and sanded it off.


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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    Does anyone know if Keef has a name for his black ES355, btw?

    I know the white one is called 'Dwight' because it's 'Da white' one.
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  • Adam_MDAdam_MD Frets: 3420
    Nice I love threads like this.  
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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    edited July 2018
    So this is what we're aiming for



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  • Winny_PoohWinny_Pooh Frets: 7735
    Hi, really think you should consider replacing the binding and doing a solid finish. It'd really make a difference to the end product. 
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  • paulnb57paulnb57 Frets: 3044
    Watching with interest..what kit is it please?
    Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole - Just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock 'n' roll

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  • FretwiredFretwired Frets: 24601
    DannyP said:
    I stained it, stained it, stained it.
    Stained it black.

    ...then used some grain filler coloured with the same black dye, rubbed it in and sanded it off.


    Cool .. liking it thus far ...

    Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    edited July 2018
    I like the way the paint work is pretty intact, but the hardware is very worn. You see a lot of relics that get that the wrong way round.

    So I've used a combination of etchant, sanding and brasso to create some ware.







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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    Hi, really think you should consider replacing the binding and doing a solid finish. It'd really make a difference to the end product. 
    Hold your horses, the binding is masked and I've only filled the grain so far! The finished product will be solid (or very nearly solid) black and the binding will be very much in evidence!
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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    paulnb57 said:
    Watching with interest..what kit is it please?
    It's off ebay, from https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/guitarkitworld

    ...but I can't see any products listed from them currently. Maybe they've had a cease and desist because of that open book headstock....?
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  • longjawlongjaw Frets: 420
    Great build but it's a bit of a shame covering up the lovely flame on that top mind.
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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    longjaw said:
    Great build but it's a bit of a shame covering up the lovely flame on that top mind.
    I want to see it painted, painted black
    Black as night, black as coal
    I want to see the sun, blotted out from the sky
    I want to see it painted, painted, painted, painted black

    ;)
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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    I'm going a bit experimental with the finishing technique. I used nitro on the LP kit I did and it's my favourite finished finish as it were, but it's just so expensive, toxic, flammable, lengthy, easy to fuck up - and I don't really have the right equipment, expertise or even location to do it properly anyway.

    So my experimental technique will be:
    1. sanded to 1000 grit
    2. dyed black
    3. filled with black dyed grain filler then sanded back
    4. painted with Lamp Black oil paint
    5. tru-oil to nearly-gloss.

    I've done 1, 2 & 3 so far.

    I'm considering doing a tru-oil slurry sanding in between steps 3 and 4 to increase smoothness - as long as the oil paint goes on OK on top of that...

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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    edited July 2018
    I applied plenty of tru-oil and rubbed it right in there with 1000grit sand paper last night.

    This morning it seems nice and smooth. I'll flat it back a bit tonight with maybe some 2000 grit.

    Then it's unknown territory - brushing on Lamp Black oil paint ready for tru oil over the top. Apparently oil paint and tru oil get on with each other - I guess I'll find out soon...
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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    edited July 2018
    Unfortunately, you've plumped for our 'never dries' oil paint...

    http://imgur.com/gallery/uMtUDN5
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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    Apparently it'll take at least 5 days to dry.
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  • Adam_MDAdam_MD Frets: 3420
    How’s it looking now with the lamp black oil paint applied? 
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  • DannyPDannyP Frets: 1667
    To be honest, not great.

    The paint is thick, and the brush marks are VERY evident.

    And of course it will be next weekend before it's dry enough to do anything with. Best case scenario would be it dries nice and hard, I sand out the brush marks and get straight on to the tru oil, but I worry I won't get it flat. Might have to sand it all the way back and think again - possibly thin the paint right down so brush marks are less evident.

    The colour is good though. There seem to be two flavours of black oil paint: Ivory Black, which is ever so slightly brownish and Lamp Black which, to quote Father Ted, is very very very very dark blue.

    If I could get that colour, with a try oil nearly-but-not-quite gloss finish I will be happy, but it's a long way off yet!
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  • meltedbuzzboxmeltedbuzzbox Frets: 10337
    Can't you apply it with a sponge? Then you'd have no brush marks
    The Bigsby was the first successful design of what is now called a whammy bar or tremolo arm, although vibrato is the technically correct term for the musical effect it produces. In standard usage, tremolo is a rapid fluctuation of the volume of a note, while vibrato is a fluctuation in pitch. The origin of this nonstandard usage of the term by electric guitarists is attributed to Leo Fender, who also used the term “vibrato” to refer to what is really a tremolo effect.
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