Finished! Gibson 2013 LPJ Refinish

Andyjr1515

Still got to properly scrape and sand but initial results are promising:

usedtobe

Super job.

Fretwired

Great job ...

Andyjr1515

Thanks, folks   

I'm pleased with it so far and think I can meet the owner's expectations - now the scary bit is done!

breakstuff

Brilliant,great skills.

10thumbs

Greta job mate , loving this thread.

Andyjr1515

With the binding done and scraped, and the body re-sanded, I've been laying down the initial stain coats - at this stage to get the general colour tones rather than the finished effect.  This is broadly what I'm aiming for - Chris P the owner sent me this photo of a 58/59 original in terms of the broad colour palette:

This is the base colour I've got to with a combination of wood stains and fountain pen inks that I will then use to fine-tune:

Pattern-wise and overall look, it looks a bit s****y at the moment, but that will smooth out significantly as the rest of the finishing process continues.  However, I think I'm OK with the general colour tones.

DartmoorHedgehog

Definitely looks the right general colour compared with that photo.

Andyjr1515

Long way to go, but I think I'm on the right lines at least...

Andyjr1515

I don't know about you folks, but I can never envisage what things are going to look like without the hardware!

Albeit, this will eventually have cream pickup rings, this is probably more representative.  What do you think?   The finish will get deeper and grain will shine more, but this is probably close to how it will look in overall terms:

  

Deadman

Way to go Andy. If mine turns out anywhere near as good as this I'll be a very happy man.

Andyjr1515

Deadman said:

Way to go Andy. If mine turns out anywhere near as good as this I'll be a very happy man.

Nice of you to say, @Deadman, but I'm not sure myself. I think the grain needs to show though more and I think there needs to be a hint of red in the burst. It'll head closer to the second picture at the beginning of the thread, but I think that might suit it better.

Deadman

I see what you mean Andy, but I do love the colour and it's more of a flat top traditional look. I've no doubt you'll nail it whatever.

Andyjr1515

I've stripped it all down and done it again.  I realised that one of the wood 'dyes' I was using wasn't at all what it said on the tin.  When I started sanding it, it was clear that it was a 'paint' type of stain, not a dye at all.  A bit naughty as their other products are definitely dyes.  As such, where-ever I'd applied it, it simply hid the grain.

I've re-dyed it and this is a lot closer to what I was trying to achieve:

The clearcoat will darken and soften it.  I may do a bit more tweaking, but it's starting to get into the right ballpark...  

Deadman

Niiiice colour and very rich looking 

Andyjr1515

Deadman said:

Niiiice colour and very rich looking 

Thanks @Deadman I've deepened the burst a touch and just put on the first sealing coat. I'm happy with this now.

BigMonka

Great stuff Andy. I bet the owner will be thrilled, it's already a mile away from how it looked when you first got it!

ICBM

This reminds me of something…

http://www.iguitarmag.com/media/49992/bolan_lespaul_640x750.jpg

Andyjr1515

ICBM said:

This reminds me of something…

http://www.iguitarmag.com/media/49992/bolan_lespaul_640x750.jpg

I didn't realise my reflection was caught in the photo! )

Aidanspaghetti

That was an interesting article bout that Bolan Lester

Fantastic job OP - looking forward to the end product!