1st go at guitar building!

rjb2679

Although I got one (kimbara strat) when I was about 10 years old, I didn't take up guitar properly till I was about 36 around 4 years ago. Mainly use the acoustic but was given a Burswood strat copy and decided to learn the ins and outs of building with it.

So, pics of the rebuild, going to change the pickups/elecs so will need to twist your ear if you're a pro at times no doubt - pics of the rebuild 1st then....

As it was;
<img src="https://i.ibb.co/Q66ZNtM/1.jpg" alt="1" border="0">

The evolutionary changes I did (go easy on me, it's my first go!);
<img src="https://i.ibb.co/Rgh7VX5/9.jpg" alt="9" border="0" />

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/wKqh9Y3/11.jpg" alt="11" border="0" />

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/zVFnRtz/20191118-162513.jpg" alt="20191118-162513" border="0" />

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/ynnx72B/20191201-154202.jpg" alt="20191201-154202" border="0" />

Burst didn't look right so went back to blue - now;
<img src="https://i.ibb.co/yBsCTxM/bluey2.jpg" alt="bluey2" border="0" />

Quick look at some others I've been/am doing;
<img src="https://i.ibb.co/b5xF4vt/cb-sky-rebuild.jpg" alt="cb-sky-rebuild" border="0" />

Gonna go black pick-ups/guard with gold hardware on the red one I think;
<img src="https://i.ibb.co/kJ8xcWB/duo.jpg" alt="duo" border="0" />

Might re-do this one, all same guitar - keep it as an old shredder;
<img src="https://i.ibb.co/279PFSF/Un.jpg" alt="Un" border="0" />

As it is now - camera not the best, there's black and purple mix and that's silver not grey/white and that's not dust it's some of the metal flake of the silver - looks better in sunlight but might re-do again as it's fun!
<a href="https://ibb.co/6HZ7sFW"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/jy5P4Dr/harlequin.jpg" alt="harlequin" border="0" /></a>

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/n1qYBVk/coll22.jpg" alt="coll22" border="0" />

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/GnbNsNb/fr-mn.jpg" alt="fr-mn" border="0" />

rjb2679

Updated the pics so you can see them directly.

Any builders have any tips on doing the burst, I could never get it looking quite right in the blend?

MattNovak

Welcome aboard @rjb2679 ! The metallic blue looks good. Like everything, spraying etc gets easier with practice - I'm no expert when it comes to burst finishes, but a stain over bare wood would make it easier to control the fade between colours. 

Do keep us posted on projects, there's some really knowledgeable folks on here who I'm sure will give you some guidance if needed.

rjb2679

Thanks Matt. There was paint I couldn't get off (went through 6 sanding discs on one of the guitars) and they're just cheap guitars, £20-30 from local shop, so the body's weren't great either so they all got a primer base.
Interestingly, this red here;

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/zVFnRtz/20191118-162513.jpg" alt="20191118-162513" border="0" />

is the same as this one, just the former was a white primer and this a black one - quite a tone difference when done!

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/X3tDdLD/20191223-084222.jpg" alt="20191223-084222" border="0" />

I think I'll do a none primer one sometime in the near future, probably get a booboo guitars 2nd body with a good grain pattern and use a stain though

rjb2679

I've edited this and kept it simple as I can't get direct photos up - Encore Satan 666 building thus far;

1st paint jobs I've done on guitars as you can tell, few variants here I went through with this;

https://flic.kr/p/2jARYkt

https://flic.kr/p/2jAWeaz

Was going to do it White for Red, White N Blue but thought I'll have to do a Jimi spec white strat;
https://flic.kr/p/2jARYmL

So I thought I would strip it down and unsurprisingly it's a 4pc guitar (no need to bother I guess if you're adding a Satan sticker) - then I coated it in Raw Linseed Oil to see how it looked;

https://flic.kr/p/2jAVqqM

Then thought I'd get some Crimson guitar stains (Brown, Yellow, Cherry Red) and I was going to either do a Brown/Yellow mix or a distressed walnutty type depending on what they looked like....had a play instead!

This is what the brown stain acts like when put on raw linseed oil and no sanding as I wanted to see;

https://flic.kr/p/2jKShvf

After sanding it back to varying degrees to see what the underlying brown looks like as it comes through the stain, I played with the colours and here are some of the variants;

https://flic.kr/p/2jKNHoM

https://flic.kr/p/2jKShwC

Sanded back again to varying degrees, see how it does playing with the stains;
https://flic.kr/p/2jKTcXX

Then I thought, "hmm, the sunburst distressed looks good!", so had another play and this is where I am at with it, time to sand it down properly now and the pockets and try and blend the grain/4 pieces of wood (aka "a paint body" I believe it's called!).

Really enjoying playing with the stains I must say! Quite pleased with my first goes on a knackered old distressed runt (it's getting sentimental value now with all this!).

Mmmm;
https://flic.kr/p/2jLa7Xu

https://flic.kr/p/2jL9cGW

https://flic.kr/p/2jL5Bge

rjb2679

Try this link for the album;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/186175450@N06/

rjb2679

Quick update - I've put up the links which should work now, done some montages to make it easier.

What look do you guys prefer? I'm pretty much ready to sand it all and sort the pockets etc then do the final one - sunburst or distressed walnut/oak type?

MattNovak

I really like this colour:

MattNovak

ok, seems I can't link them either! It was the HSS 'violin' finish one...

rjb2679

MattNovak said:

ok, seems I can't link them either! It was the HSS 'violin' finish one...

Everyone seems to use Imgur, this forum doesn't seem to like Flickr links, managed to get the 1st ones up but it's just playing up.

BUT.... I've done more - this also helps me in future or some of the noobs like myself I hope.

So, when it was somewhat finished like that it looked like this;
https://flic.kr/p/2jMwMSq

It seems a bit, 80's ish though doesn't it?
https://flic.kr/p/2jMvZc5

So I suddenly remembered what a plonker I was being Rodder's, always wanting a Cherry Burst LP and having the colours to play around like that and I can't tell you why I was doing it that way, probably something to do with the tone contrast in the grain or the stain not covering certain knotted areas like here;

https://flic.kr/p/2jMwMU9

Stripped back again and normal type of burst/mix this time, bit of brown added to the bits the stain's not holding to in order to help blend things better - didn't take many pics, just had a play;

https://flic.kr/p/2jMwMVM

Bit too much dark;

https://flic.kr/p/2jMwMTN

These are the area's I was concentrating on to blend as best poss and what it ended up like (for now!), some of the dark sanded back, joins blended as best possible for now, bottom middle join about the only one not have covered ok;

https://flic.kr/p/2jMwMUQ

Currently like this;

https://flic.kr/p/2jMwMTn

Getting there - really enjoying playing with the stains/grain and learning it all - 1st bit of woodwork I've ever done and painting/staining wood, plus I've not even got a hand sander or many tools really!

Oh, also did the back, went a heritage burst kind of thing, changed the white to black, feathered it a bit and have already sanded it down for doing more but it'll look pretty much like this only tidier!

https://flic.kr/p/2jMsrbu