Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Sevens
- Thread starter lbridenstine
- Start date
Decals! These are the black nickel ones.
I haven't really decided how to finish off the finish... like semi-gloss vs. satin. I figured I would just see how it looks with the finish built up and go from there. Does anyone have any suggestions? It's open grained and the decals will not be completely buried so that limits how I can go about the next steps after I'm done applying the finish. I'm obviously not going for a mirror gloss on these.
I could use steel wool, but I'm not sure what to polish it with after the steel wool to take away the dullness without getting something built up in the pores.
I haven't really decided how to finish off the finish... like semi-gloss vs. satin. I figured I would just see how it looks with the finish built up and go from there. Does anyone have any suggestions? It's open grained and the decals will not be completely buried so that limits how I can go about the next steps after I'm done applying the finish. I'm obviously not going for a mirror gloss on these.
I could use steel wool, but I'm not sure what to polish it with after the steel wool to take away the dullness without getting something built up in the pores.
I'm going to try some paste wax on a scrap piece from the finish tests. Someone (Hopkins?) recommended that to me on my buckeye burl bass and it turned out really nice.
Hopkins
Commercial User
Lisa, from experience, if your logo is going to sand proud of the finish, don't sand it because it is likely you will cut into the logo and sand the black off of it. Your best bet would be to apply the decal after you achieve your desired finish.
It's already applied and has a coat of finish over it. I think I'll use steel wool.
Hopkins
Commercial User
Be careful with that as well. The finish on those logos is very thin and it doesn't take much to cut into them.
I got the 1st one mostly done. I'll have to wait on the shelf boards until I have room to get the bandsaw out (when I'm done with the miter saw). I need to make cutouts for the legs for the shelf. So, I started on the 2nd bench.
It kind of looks like a weird chair or bed right now.
You know, my shop kind of looks like that except mine is much cleaner and more well organized.
Yep.
I didn't like the way the wax looked on the test piece I did, so I just went ahead with starting assembly.
I didn't take many pictures because I was too focused on shooting video to finish out my building series.
Freshly polished frets:
Next time I guess I'll have to be more careful with not getting the polish on the fretboard. You can see some white stuff on the ziricote here and there in the picture. I think I got the rest of it off last night after this was taken.
I should have another update later today.
I didn't take many pictures because I was too focused on shooting video to finish out my building series.
Freshly polished frets:
Next time I guess I'll have to be more careful with not getting the polish on the fretboard. You can see some white stuff on the ziricote here and there in the picture. I think I got the rest of it off last night after this was taken.
I should have another update later today.
Just my 2 cents but, your videos would be so much more valuable with talking instead of music. Nothing personal. It is just a pet peeve of mine. Your work is so beautiful and I am sure you have so much to share.
I can understand that if I never built an instrument, I'd want a narration. But from my perspective, I enjoy just the musical background against the build sequence. Perhaps I'm just a build nerd 
I hear ya maplego, I just like to learn more about people's approaches, hear what they are thinking. There are so many different ways to do things. I learn and get inspired from the posts on this forum. Just looking for a "hit" of that same drug in videos 
There are plenty of instructional videos out there. I never intended mine to be that. I just like making videos and I like supporting local bands by using their music in videos I make. Plus, I hate talking on camera.
Well, I had some issues with the wiring and also the pickups sitting weird, but I did end up getting everything fixed and working. Haven't done the setup yet, but at least assembly is done (minus the covers).
The nut and strings are sitting at pretty good heights right off the bat, so that's good. The neck looks straight. Bridge saddles need adjustment. Setup is one of my least favorite parts of a build, but it leads to the best part - a finished instrument. I'll get this one done, then go back to the spalted tamarind/katalox guitar.
The nut and strings are sitting at pretty good heights right off the bat, so that's good. The neck looks straight. Bridge saddles need adjustment. Setup is one of my least favorite parts of a build, but it leads to the best part - a finished instrument. I'll get this one done, then go back to the spalted tamarind/katalox guitar.
I'm trying to get back in the workshop and work on wrapping up these guitars.
I had to spend some time vacuuming up spider webs first...
Then, I made the truss rod covers for both guitars.
You can really see how much the finish darkened the myrtle headstock compared to the raw cover.
I setup my finishing area in the other basement room so I can start that as soon as I'm ready for it. I have a puppy now, so I can't do the finish in the living room anymore.
I still have the neck pickup route to clean up on the tamarind/katalox guitar, but of course my neck pickup template got messed up so I'll need to make a new one. I'm looking forward to working on a bass next so I don't have to deal with the fretboard right next to the pickup route!
I had to spend some time vacuuming up spider webs first...
Then, I made the truss rod covers for both guitars.
You can really see how much the finish darkened the myrtle headstock compared to the raw cover.
I setup my finishing area in the other basement room so I can start that as soon as I'm ready for it. I have a puppy now, so I can't do the finish in the living room anymore.
I still have the neck pickup route to clean up on the tamarind/katalox guitar, but of course my neck pickup template got messed up so I'll need to make a new one. I'm looking forward to working on a bass next so I don't have to deal with the fretboard right next to the pickup route!
Just one short sanding sesh away from putting finish on.
