2015 Challenge: WezV Harley Benton mini guitars

TTony

WezV said:

I have just veneered the mini-RG using @Andyjr1515 's method from last years challenge

He's not daft, that @Andyjr1515

Andyjr1515

You'll make me blush, @WezV & @TTony   

Andyjr1515

By the way, looks great  =D>

WezV

credit where its due fella.   I have tried a few different methods before and never got results I could live with.

best I achieved was with a large clamping caul made from a sink cutout of worktop and a hell of a lot of clamps.  I have tried the sheets of iron on glue as well which didn't work as well as the rollered on evostick

I am a bit worried about routing the binding slot, but if it works well it should give a very neat edge.  if it doesn't i will try reveneering with the slot already done and trimming back to that edge instead

the upside of all those failed attempts is I have quite a bit of nice veneer not doing anything

dindude

The mini Rickenbacker looks fantastic in the mock up.

Andyjr1515

WezV said:

I am a bit worried about routing the binding slot, but if it works well it should give a very neat edge.  if it doesn't i will try reveneering with the slot already done and trimming back to that edge instead

Hi, @WezV

I've never tried a binding slot on a self-veneered surface, but I do route inlays through it (see below - and this was a very brittle veneer) and that works just fine.  Might be worth trialling it on a piece of scrap wood... 

WezV

its not just the veneer I am worried about chipping... I am trying to leave the back and sides finish pretty much intact too

WezV

just stripped and veneered the headstock too.

Andyjr1515

WezV said:

just stripped and veneered the headstock too.

Excellent - on this kind of build it adds a certain je ne sais pas...  

WezV

just found another small error on the B-stock mini-rg.    there is a broken screw still stuck in the back of the headstock

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zpsdcd488bd.jpg

WezV

Just found a slab of african walnut I had forgotten about.   Its not big enough for a proper guitar but it should be just right for shorty.  I have split it in half and glued together for the new body.  I love working with this wood so its nice to find a use for this bit

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zpsd94f465f.jpg

and i decided to put some finish on the mini-rg.   I will probably still be binding this but wanted to try staining and sealing first as sometimes the binding glue prevents stain taking properly.... may as well try a different order or operations on this

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zps15d95c69.jpg

Hertz32

Oh man that looks amazing! I would consider a slight burst to it too, but thats just me  

Andyjr1515

That looks fantastic!

Andyjr1515

What did you use as the stain?

WezV

Chestnut spirit stain - also recently used on the moderne build

Andyjr1515

Lovely job. Goes superbly well with that veneer

WezV

well, its a bit of a gorefest  - but Its working out quite nice

WezV

Just got my vouchers!!

WezV

Orderd a couple of upgrades for the mini rg. A cheap hardtail bridge based on the hipshot design. It will be strung through the body. Its also getting some abalone dots.

Then I have a Gibson 500t pickup that's spare so may go in this

JudasVigilante

Looking really good there. You don't waste much time do you. Mine just arrived yesterday. A tele te-30. Quality is better than expected. 

Love that red stain finish. beautiful. In a couple of weeks you're gonna have 2 very happy kids.