stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
- Thread starter blakejcan
- Start date
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
I've learned that the first step in getting anything to strip is always tequila!
I've learned that the first step in getting anything to strip is always tequila!
blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
I've watched that Dan video a million times. Dare I say, he has much better tools & expertise than I do. By like.......a mile. Man, I want a planer.
Anywho, still chugging along. Cleaned out the pickup route. Just need to figure out what I am going to do with the big jackhole (that's fun to say) on the horn.
It does look pretty crazy right now. Not much wood left in this sucker.
I've watched that Dan video a million times. Dare I say, he has much better tools & expertise than I do. By like.......a mile. Man, I want a planer.
Anywho, still chugging along. Cleaned out the pickup route. Just need to figure out what I am going to do with the big jackhole (that's fun to say) on the horn.
It does look pretty crazy right now. Not much wood left in this sucker.
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
Fill, smooth, then cheat and put a decal or something over it if it's visible through your new finish.
Filler wise? Bondo for ease with dubious tonal characteristics, rout out and plug with proper wood for style and finesse points
Or even just get a fabricated corner protector and don't do much of anything
Fill, smooth, then cheat and put a decal or something over it if it's visible through your new finish.
Filler wise? Bondo for ease with dubious tonal characteristics, rout out and plug with proper wood for style and finesse points
Or even just get a fabricated corner protector and don't do much of anything
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blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
This keeps coming along slowly.
I'm thinking of doing a silverburst but I'm trying to figure out what paint to use. I like reranch and have had good success with it but I don't think their silver is metallic enough. Not seeing much from Stewmac either and I do prefer nitro if I can pull it.
If I go with Duplicolor or something the color choices are straight up overwhelming. Anyone done one and have advice?
This keeps coming along slowly.
I'm thinking of doing a silverburst but I'm trying to figure out what paint to use. I like reranch and have had good success with it but I don't think their silver is metallic enough. Not seeing much from Stewmac either and I do prefer nitro if I can pull it.
If I go with Duplicolor or something the color choices are straight up overwhelming. Anyone done one and have advice?
ICTGoober
New member
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
My training is in real lacquer - nitrocellulose and acrylic lacquer.... So I still head to the hobby shops and buy Tamiya rattle cans full of real lacquer. It goes on thin, and looks good as long as you did proper prepwork. Comes in a world of colors - metallics, pearls, candies, clear, and opaque.
My training is in real lacquer - nitrocellulose and acrylic lacquer.... So I still head to the hobby shops and buy Tamiya rattle cans full of real lacquer. It goes on thin, and looks good as long as you did proper prepwork. Comes in a world of colors - metallics, pearls, candies, clear, and opaque.
blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
well, I got some progress. holes are routed pretty cleanly. Body is stripped (I need to clean up some parts a bit more). Started working on blocks to fill holes. Block is clearly going to show some gaps. Dan Erlewine sure makes it look easy to make a perfectly aligned match with no seams. Planning on filling the gaps with kwikwood or epoxy or something then sanding it back. Still haven't decided on the plan for the added jack-hole above. I almost want to just fill it w/ quikwood and be done with it.
well, I got some progress. holes are routed pretty cleanly. Body is stripped (I need to clean up some parts a bit more). Started working on blocks to fill holes. Block is clearly going to show some gaps. Dan Erlewine sure makes it look easy to make a perfectly aligned match with no seams. Planning on filling the gaps with kwikwood or epoxy or something then sanding it back. Still haven't decided on the plan for the added jack-hole above. I almost want to just fill it w/ quikwood and be done with it.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
I totally appreciate the effort you're putting into that, at the same time as I would sort of want an HSS (or SSS) V with a Kahler (and perhaps get more use out of one that way.) I wouldn't start with an old Gibson or mutilate any other guitar to that end, granted.
I totally appreciate the effort you're putting into that, at the same time as I would sort of want an HSS (or SSS) V with a Kahler (and perhaps get more use out of one that way.) I wouldn't start with an old Gibson or mutilate any other guitar to that end, granted.
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
You butchered that thing? Yes...
I’d have turned the guy away.
You butchered that thing? Yes...
I’d have turned the guy away.
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
I have been meaning to ask: Why was it routed out so far out around the Kahler hole?
Also, it looks like a pickguard might totally cover the swimming pool rout. If it does, might as well not bother filling it IMO. Just put a narrow piece of wood in around the neck joint to support the front of the guard. And maybe just slap in a narrow pickguard support in the middle, if it's even needed to prevent the guard from bowing into the hole under the weight of the humbuckers.
I have been meaning to ask: Why was it routed out so far out around the Kahler hole?
Also, it looks like a pickguard might totally cover the swimming pool rout. If it does, might as well not bother filling it IMO. Just put a narrow piece of wood in around the neck joint to support the front of the guard. And maybe just slap in a narrow pickguard support in the middle, if it's even needed to prevent the guard from bowing into the hole under the weight of the humbuckers.
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blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
Pickguard would almost cover it all. Almost. Mostly, this is just a real thin body. I'd be sketched out without having some more wood in there, even if I am going to route out a bunch of it for H/H setup. It will for sure be far from perfect but I'll do my best to hide it.
I'm having fun doing it so that's good. Man, challenging stuff all around.
Pickguard would almost cover it all. Almost. Mostly, this is just a real thin body. I'd be sketched out without having some more wood in there, even if I am going to route out a bunch of it for H/H setup. It will for sure be far from perfect but I'll do my best to hide it.
I'm having fun doing it so that's good. Man, challenging stuff all around.
ICTGoober
New member
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
OK, here's the deal AGAIN.
Guitar was first owned by a local pro player who routed it for a middle humbucker - thus yielding a triple pickup Vee. When he traded it for a Les Paul locally, my client purchased it. I was the local Gibson and Fender authorized repair guy in town at the time, and I did all his work - BTW, he was a touring pro for 20 years.
Anyway - for awhile I returned it to the 2 pickup configuration. Then the client wanted the Kahler added. The routing was not oversize - Blake routed it square to make it easier to fill with a square block. Do you understand so far? Later, I filled the pickup holes with new wood, and routed it out for a 3 pickup Strat setup - H/S/S..., which was how it was delivered to the current owner. What you can't see is it was also routed for a Strat jack cup down on the lower wing.
It was played for DECADES by a guy who recorded and played live all over the Midwest. It wasn't butchered. It was USED. It played music. It's not a holy thing. It's a ****ing guitar, and it has years of music yet to play. I have every bit of faith in Blake to configure it how he wants, and then he will play the hell out of it.
So if you don't like it, TOUGH ****. We all do want we want with our stuff, and we don't have to consult your ass first - GOT IT?
Also, I have urged Blake to fill the body however he sees fit, and then laminate a thin veneer over the top so it's all clean paper again, so to speak. But he can do it nice, or crappy - and he doesn't have to take my advice, and I'm cool with it. All I want is for him to enjoy it!
And the previous owner has given his blessing to Blake, with the proviso that he plays it and loves it. Which I'm sure he will.
I'm done now.
OK, here's the deal AGAIN.
Guitar was first owned by a local pro player who routed it for a middle humbucker - thus yielding a triple pickup Vee. When he traded it for a Les Paul locally, my client purchased it. I was the local Gibson and Fender authorized repair guy in town at the time, and I did all his work - BTW, he was a touring pro for 20 years.
Anyway - for awhile I returned it to the 2 pickup configuration. Then the client wanted the Kahler added. The routing was not oversize - Blake routed it square to make it easier to fill with a square block. Do you understand so far? Later, I filled the pickup holes with new wood, and routed it out for a 3 pickup Strat setup - H/S/S..., which was how it was delivered to the current owner. What you can't see is it was also routed for a Strat jack cup down on the lower wing.
It was played for DECADES by a guy who recorded and played live all over the Midwest. It wasn't butchered. It was USED. It played music. It's not a holy thing. It's a ****ing guitar, and it has years of music yet to play. I have every bit of faith in Blake to configure it how he wants, and then he will play the hell out of it.
So if you don't like it, TOUGH ****. We all do want we want with our stuff, and we don't have to consult your ass first - GOT IT?
Also, I have urged Blake to fill the body however he sees fit, and then laminate a thin veneer over the top so it's all clean paper again, so to speak. But he can do it nice, or crappy - and he doesn't have to take my advice, and I'm cool with it. All I want is for him to enjoy it!
And the previous owner has given his blessing to Blake, with the proviso that he plays it and loves it. Which I'm sure he will.
I'm done now.
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Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
A bit late to this question, but I have a silverburst Tele which I did with mixing my own......specifically adding silver sparkle powder to clear, then with a black mix around the outside.
A bit late to this question, but I have a silverburst Tele which I did with mixing my own......specifically adding silver sparkle powder to clear, then with a black mix around the outside.
Re: stripping a 1981 gibson flying v
Whatever lets you sleep at night.
Just as you don’t need my permission to butcher a guitar, I am ALSO free to call it a pile of crap if I see fit. GOT IT? Idgaf who you are or who he is, you ****ed that thing up and I think you ought to be ashamed.
Whatever lets you sleep at night.
Just as you don’t need my permission to butcher a guitar, I am ALSO free to call it a pile of crap if I see fit. GOT IT? Idgaf who you are or who he is, you ****ed that thing up and I think you ought to be ashamed.
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