WezV - building an electric with the laser cutter.

WezV

It won't be stain... all the maple parts have some lacquer on them already.

One issue with leaving it natural is the colour difference between body and neck.  Nothing fatal, but I think i would want to warm up the neck a little 

Looks like I need to mix up some tobacco lacquer

TheMarlin

Love this thread! very cool looking guitar.  

Looking forward to seeing the final product.

WezV

I sprayed the pickup covers a dark brown.  I did start colour matched to the body but didn't like it, so went darker.  Can't wait to peel the tape and see how it looks next to the rosewood as it should match up nicely with that



The maple truss rod cover will be the same brown as it will be surrounded by plain maple.  

The back plates will be left natural.

I'm still not sure about the colour difference between body and neck.

SteveF

I think that dark colour for the pickups looks great.  Good choice! 

WezV

Yeah, I think it makes the knob choice easy too.   I will either get some rosewood ones or spray some maple the same shade

SteveF

If it's a good match for the rosewood then that would be a nice easy win, but if you can match the knobs exactly to the pickup covers I think it would look great. 

WezV

I need a second opinion here

The headstock is looking pretty good on its own


But as you may remember on page 3, I changed the top design for a thinner border.   I left headstock as is, as the plan was to do a burst inside the line that would hide the different line weights.

does it look daft when all left natural?

paulnb57

I think its stunning as it is Wez

Sporky

It looks like it matches the body plate, which is fine. 

TTony

WezV said:

I need a second opinion here

The headstock is looking pretty good on its own



does it look daft when all left natural?

No.

I'd say "classy" rather than daft.  The plain finish emphasises the border, logo and TRC, which are the design-additive components.  Adding burst would be another, competing, design element which would/could detract from the others.

Less is more.

WezV

It's the match with the rest of the body I was unsure of, and a burst could disguise the discrepancy

If I was starting again I think I would have matched it to the body a lot more - kept it mostly maple, but cut a border of the Bosse to go to the outer edge of the line, or even fully inlaid it in the mahogany neck blank.  I  thought having the mahogany underneath would be enough to give a similar look to the body, but it isn't quite there for me.  Nothing I mind too much, certainly not enough to re-do it,  it just catches my eye as something I could have done better

paganskins

The headstock border is really heavy compared to the body's, is it heavier than the 'radiogram' motif behind the bridge or is that just an optical illusion?

Another great build @WezV ;

WezV

same thickness as the motif, which originally matched a double border on the body - but that wasn't engraved as cleanly

paganskins

Must be the angle with the headstock in the foreground, if it matches the motif there's consistency there.

Will the top and head plate darken with age?

WezV

It will yellow a bit over time

SteveF

I think the thicker border on the headstock looks good. Nice truss rod cover too. 

WezV

Yes, I'm particularly happy with that detail... especially since it sits so nicely in its recess.   The laser is allowing a level of accuracy I haven't achieved before.  


Also trying a new lacquer (new to me)on this as I am not going to relic it and heard this can work quicker than the other "nitro"  types I have sprayed.

I've gone for Morrels 280 pre-cat lacquer, 90% gloss.   It's got more solids than the stuff I am used to and after 2 coats of sealer and 3 coats of lacquer I could have buffed and called it done.  you can see that on the truss rod cover and pics from yesterday before I levelled it off.

It self levels nicely, dries quick, you can recoat safely with 30 mins.  It sanded well without clogging when I levelled it off today, less than 24 hours.  Will do 3 more coats, level off once more and spray a final light coat.   

blobb

The thick border of the headstock balances with the thick lines of the motif between pickups and behind bridge. The thin line body border is a lighter detail associated with the body and works to bring the thicker lines to prominence. Overall, it works well with the dark/light contrast of the natural tones and the rounded body edge. What's behind the headstock? It should be similar tone to the body edge. The only thing for me that doesn't balance is that it isn't a double cut! But each to their own... 

WezV

It's a reclaimed mahogany neck... not sure of the exact species. It's a bit pinker than the warm orange tones of the bosse cedar body.  I did consider tinting it to match better, but think leaving it as is will be safer

WezV

These are the covers I sprayed on Sunday - leveled and first buff today.    I will see how the lacquer acts over the next few weeks.