Incoming: NVD

[ItsaBass]

Got a killer deal on this from Sweetwater, due to a couple finish issues and a personal request for an even lower price...so I jumped. I can't wait to hear the chorus of "NO" when I post the progress pix of what I plan on doing to it. Let's just say that I don't care for Joe Bonamassa, natural finishes, or poly finishes, and to me, it's nothing but an affordable way into a '50s style V body with nicer specs than the Epi '58 Korina model.

It'll be my first V. I have wanted one for a while...but I was picky about specs. It had to be '50s style, but they are few and far between, and expensive. The Epi '58 Korina wasn't quite nice enough for what I wanted (I have played several over the years, and was never impressed by them). This one has everything I want...except the finish...but it's not so nice and expensive that I mind doing some major mods to it.

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Incoming: NVD

Lemme guess....seafoam green!

[ErikH]

Re: Incoming: NVD

Carry on with the mods. I am curious how this will turn out. I've always had a thing for V's but never owned one. Now I want a Dean V.

[ItsaBass]

Re: Incoming: NVD

Lemme guess....seafoam green!

No, nothing pastel or otherwise stereotypically '50s looking. I will say that it is not a classic Fender or Gibson color...but my backup idea is Inca Silver (not silver burst – just silver).

[Silence Kid]

Re: Incoming: NVD

Awesome. Suggest this finish/mod combo

[Wattage]

Re: Incoming: NVD

Cool, I played a few but could not get with that Joe B neck profile. Other than pickups and neck profile I didn't find any significant difference between the '58 and the Joe B.

Guitar Mag is doing a nitro/parts upgrade, looking forward to seeing what you do

https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/convert-epiphone-flying-v-to-1950s-spec-part-one/

https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/diy-convert-an-epiphone-flying-v-to-1950s-spec-part-two/

[ItsaBass]

Re: Incoming: NVD

Cool, I played a few but could not get with that Joe B neck profile. Other than pickups and neck profile I didn't find any significant difference between the '58 and the Joe B.

Guitar Mag is doing a nitro/parts upgrade, looking forward to seeing what you do

https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/convert-epiphone-flying-v-to-1950s-spec-part-one/

https://guitar.com/guides/diy-worksh...spec-part-two/

The neck profile is better than the '58 to my taste, and the guitar includes a hard case that looks a lot better than the typical V cases you see nowadays. And I got it for only $100 more than a new '58. I didn't know a magazine was doing that project, but it'll probably be pretty similar to what I end up doing to it. If I like the pickups, they will stay. If not, Seths or DiMarzios. But I will definitely go VTT with the controls, instead of the stock VVT. Thanks for the links.

The '58 actually has the more vintage accurate headstock, as the Amos version has a scarf joint. But my paint is going to be opaque anyhow.

[Chistopher]

Re: Incoming: NVD

How do you plan to get around the friction pad when you do the refin?

[ehdwuld]

Re: Incoming: NVD

Something fluorescent perhaps

[ItsaBass]

Re: Incoming: NVD

How do you plan to get around the friction pad when you do the refin?

I'm pulling everything off, and reinstalling it, or different/better versions of it, after the refin.

What I do will really be very similar to what the guy did in the articles that Wattage linked me to, right down to the replacement dots, skinnier frets, 3-hole to 2-hole truss cover conversion, rimless ferrules, and true ABR-1 conversion with possibly relocated posts for better intonation adjustment range. I was actually kind of surprised, and very pleased, that he nailed nearly every darned thing I wanted to do to the guitar. Now I know it can be done and I'm not crazy or alone for wanting to take this approach. The main difference is that I won't be doing any fake aging on the guitar; I'll be going for a factory fresh finish...and it certainly won't be the typical clear finish that I dislike so much.

Stripping poly is no fun, even on a Fender style guitar. It'll definitely not be an easy project, nor will it be a cheap one. But I can't think of a cheaper way to get the V I want (including my own labor in the cost of that cheapness).

[texred]

Re: Incoming: NVD

[texred]

Re: Incoming: NVD

I'm pulling everything off, and reinstalling it, or different/better versions of it, after the refin.

What I do will really be very similar to what the guy did in the articles that Wattage linked me to, right down to the replacement dots, skinnier frets, 3-hole to 2-hole truss cover conversion, rimless ferrules, and true ABR-1 conversion with possibly relocated posts for better intonation adjustment range. I was actually kind of surprised, and very pleased, that he nailed nearly every darned thing I wanted to do to the guitar. Now I know it can be done and I'm not crazy or alone for wanting to take this approach. The main difference is that I won't be doing any fake aging on the guitar; I'll be going for a factory fresh finish...and it certainly won't be the typical clear finish that I dislike so much.

Stripping poly is no fun, even on a Fender style guitar. It'll definitely not be an easy project, nor will it be a cheap one. But I can't think of a cheaper way to get the V I want (including my own labor in the cost of that cheapness).

Are you thinkin of a satin or matte finish?

[ItsaBass]

Re: Incoming: NVD

Are you thinkin of a satin or matte finish?

It will be glossy. Plans for the finish are still not complete. I am requesting a few quotes (RS Guitar Works, MJT, Brian Monty, Gord Miller, etc.), and also looking into getting myself a real paint gun and doing it myself. Plus I am still deciding if I want the color in a standard non-metallic, or a three-stage metallic. Also considering other colors, one of which is that insane looking new Mazda metallic red.

[RorySquier]

Re: Incoming: NVD

I think that guitar loos awesome the way it is. The only thing I would change is the white plastic guard for the output jack to a black one for a more complete look.



;>)/

[Wattage]

Re: Incoming: NVD

I didn't want to refin the headstock so this was workaround for the truss cover screws. The screw closest to the nut is glued into the cover and I clipped off the exposed threads