Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

That '69 SG project is right up my alley (I have an all-original '68 Standard myself). Should be fun!

Does your '68 have 3 humbucker routes under the pickguard? This one is rather light. I'm debating whether to restore it as a special or make it a "standard". I got it dirt cheap. Unfortuantely, the nibs were taken off during the last refret and there's the break by the cavity. A couple hundred bucks is better than a $2750-$6000 SG Special or Standard. Once I'm done, this will be roughly be the cost of a new SG Standard. I want to restore it to this:

Edit: F***in a, 2018 sg standards are $1500+??? Wow. Nevermind, I might go under ha.

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[ItsaBass]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

The guard on mine has never been off, so I don't know what's under there.

Those old Gibson finishes are THICK. Paint stripper will make quick work of that finish with less risk to the wood and far less effort than Scotch-Brite pads. Just take care to keep it off the bindings and the peghead face, by applying a little at a time in controlled areas. And work outside, with gloves, a mask, and preferably a pair of long-sleeved coveralls. Put cardboard down first. Melted laquer that has re-hardened is hard to remove from concrete.

Some Bondo will take care of the cracks. Just paint it a solid color, and make sure to use several applications of wood pore filler on the entire guitar body, so you have a glassy smooth surface (will keep the Bondo'd crack from showing a different texture than the rest of the guitar). Try to keep the pore filler out of the serial number.

The proper tuners are individual double ring keystones, which are available new (Gotoh, I think).

I am sure you're aware it had a Vibrola originally. Reproductions can be purchased new (relatively inexpensive, since it's not a Maestro Vibrola with the extra trim plate).

It's worth whatever you put into it, IMO. It's a great project.

FYI, MJT Aged Finishes do refin set necks. While I personally dislike fake aging, they do a tasteful "closet clean," which can be requested with no yellowing and no artificial dings, and which you can polish up further yourself in order to get it looking like new. Worth the price for a vintage peice, IMO. I have refin'd set necks myself, and while it's certainly possible at home, with good results, you do have to know what you're doing, and be ready for a long, involved process.

Personally, I would keep it a Special.

Good luck. I am jealous of your opportunity to work on such a project!

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

Those old Gibson finishes are THICK. Paint stripper will make quick work of that finish with less risk to the wood and far less effort than Scotch-Brite pads.... Melted laquer that has re-hardened is hard to remove from concrete.

For real lol. I used lacquer thinner and it was syrupy and thick. Clogged up the scotch brite pads. I did make more progress however. Any suggestions for removing the melted lacquer more cleanly? I'll working on it Saturday and Sunday. Hope to finish it up this weekend.

I'm going to have my luthier assess the guitar this Saturday. More so the break. I found a screw that's embedded with wood putty. I feel comfortable stripping it. Fixing the break is a bit iffy, but finishing is out of my league. I've had him restore an old MM for me. It came out good.

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[ItsaBass]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

Paint stripper + a putty knife, and some patience (and plenty of protective equipment – breathing paint stripper, even outside, for too long can give you a hell of a nasty cough). That'll make relatively clean work of the finish removal.

As for the break, ideally you could separate the broken pieces, clean off the old glue, and re-glue the pieces well. The re-gluing part is easy. The rest is not; it might be more trouble than it's worth. I would personally be tempted to just fill the cracks that are there with Bondo, and just slightly re-shape the body if its necessary in the spots where the broken piece sticks out farther than the body lines. The good news is that that area is just about the least contoured part of the entire body, so any re-shaping needed will not be too hard to do seamlessly.

Shame about the re-fret, but what can you do? At this point, just be happy the frets are decent – maybe have them dressed if needed. Mine are ground away beyond the level at which they should have been replaced. I really need to get it re-fretted. But I loathe the idea of of a re-fret, because: 1) It plays so well, and I love those frets (wide and low). 2) Hard to trust that a guitar tech can do a fret job right, preserving the binding nibs, while also getting the perfect size of fret on there. 3) The guitar is, quite literally, 100% original down to the screw, and belonged to my dad since it was only 6 or 8 years old. Those are the frets he played on for 30+ years.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

The guitar is, quite literally, 100% original down to the screw, and belonged to my dad since it was only 6 or 8 years old. Those are the frets he played on for 30+ years.

Dude, that is awesome. That guitar has been in the family for decades. I see why you'd want to keep it bone stock.

Ah, okay. I think I recall reading a thread at TDPRI regarding the putty knife. Makes tons of sense now. Cool, I'll definitely use that for the next portion of work. It'll cut down the cost of the restoration. The frets are passable and may only need a dressing. There is more wear in the first position though.

As for the break, I spoke with my luthier and he gave me 3 options. 1) Glue it place with bondo or epoxy, but risk the repair show due to contraction of the surrounding wood while the bondo or epoxy remain rigid. 2) Reinforce the cavity with a mahogany "veneer" under it. 3) Most extreme, but beneficial for the refinish, remove and add a new wing/bout. I was iffy about that. I understand why he recommended it, the entire right corner fell off. This would be the "2nd" repair. I'll post a pic soon. I don't mind modifying vintage guitars that have been already hacked (the nibs cut off and binding shaved), but I sorta draw the line with removing that much wood. Anything under the guard and maybe the inlays are fair game, but a bout? Man, I have to sit on it. Granted, I got the guitar dirt cheap, so I have options. I'm leaning towards bondo and the veneer under.

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[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

Warmoth Pau Ferro Neck arrived - R3 Nut, Compound Radius, Jumbo 6100s and ‘59 Back Shape.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

Finally got around to doing this to the Fireman Tele. Maple neck should be done in August. Will probably do a pickup swap on the 336 mahogany.

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[silvertonebetty]

Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

This beaut

My neck is finished and will be shipped early this week .

I’m thinking I need a bigsby for my ash tele [emoji848]

it also needs a neck . The old one twisted on me .


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[dystrust]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

I’m thinking I need a bigsby for my ash tele [emoji848]

it also needs a neck . The old one twisted on me .


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I have a Tele vibramate in nickel that I'm not using if you're looking for one for your ash Tele.

 

[silvertonebetty]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

I have a Tele vibramate in nickel that I'm not using if you're looking for one for your ash Tele.

I would but I’m that broke it’s not funny I could barely afford a 85cent peanut butter ball


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[dystrust]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

I would but I’m that broke it’s not funny I could barely afford a 85cent peanut butter ball


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It's been sitting in my parts box for at least 3 years, so I'm in no hurry to sell it. If you change your mind I'll let it go for $60 shipped to Canada.

 

[silvertonebetty]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

It's been sitting in my parts box for at least 3 years, so I'm in no hurry to sell it. If you change your mind I'll let it go for $60 shipped to Canada.

Does it it come with the bigsby ? Usd or cad


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[dystrust]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

Does it it come with the bigsby ? Usd or cad


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I was thinking USD, and I don't have a spare Bigsby, sorry. If that seems steep, I'll consider any reasonable offer since I really won't have any use for it.

 

[silvertonebetty]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

I was thinking USD, and I don't have a spare Bigsby, sorry. If that seems steep, I'll consider any reasonable offer since I really won't have any use for it.

Il think about it


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[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

Kramer Project Body #2 arrived today - ‘87 Pacer Custom I Body which will be getting an ‘83 Kramer Voyager Lefty Neck, Chrome OFR German R3 Nut/Gotoh SG-38 Tuners, Seymour Duncan '95 SSL-1/'95 SSL-1 RWRP/2018 Custom Shop MJ “Slightly Hotter” RTM TB, DiMarzio 500k Volume/3 On-Off DPDT, Top Mount 2017 Floyd Original “1984” Chrome w/42mm BBB. Need to decide if I’m going to refinish or leave it a Natural Relic.

Should go well with the 2017 Warmoth Pro Rosewood Neck/1989 Kramer F6K Body Project: Black R3 Nut/Tuners, Vintage Late 70s NOS DiMarzio SDS-1 9.37k/Late 70s NOS SDS-1 9.05k /2018 DiMarzio Tone Zone F Blue, Volume/Tone/Tone/5 Way/Bridge HB On/Off DPDT, Recessed 1986 Floyd Original Black w/34mm BBB.


Haven't "felt the love" for putting anything together for a while now but I am enjoying these two. I'd still rather piece together an old Super Strat with Duncans or DiMarzios and an OFR for under $500.00 with top shelf parts than buy just about anything new.

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

3 Black DPDT Switches away from having all the parts I need.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

I made a glitter sparkle strat with rattle cans. Then I added Minwax wipe on poly and it yellowed the white finish. I sanded it away and restarting the whole paint job again.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

Not a fan of the minwax wipe on poly.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

You need to be using a waterborne poly of some sort if you want it to be non-yellowing. The oil based ones are great for wood-tones, but suck if you have any kind of normal color underneath there… Unless, of course, you want that color to turn yellow!

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Who's working on a build right now? Let's see your stuff!

Finished (finally) my Warmoth Iceman Bass: Roasted Swamp Ash body, Roasted Maple neck, Bill Lawrence USA EB-50 & EB-60 pickups.