Winter Build Off 2022 - Star-Crossed-Caster

[2groggy]

Navy with shiny and cream is always fantastic. Mmm I want to do that combo on something now...

I saw a navy Pacer years ago with a cream interior, fully restored and gleaming and it looked fantastic. Not that I'm comparing your bass to a Pacer.

Oooh, I need to add some flames

 

[dwizum]

Yeah, the more I think about this the more blue seems like the right answer. With aluminum if possible. I would paint the sides solid black rather than do the tolex. I think that much tan tolex would be way too much in contrast to the dark blue.

 

[Bent77]

I’m thinking the Emerald looks nice

 

[2groggy]

Yeah, the more I think about this the more blue seems like the right answer. With aluminum if possible. I would paint the sides solid black rather than do the tolex. I think that much tan tolex would be way too much in contrast to the dark blue.

I see your point - the tan tolex and aluminum don't belong together. Maybe get some black tolex?

 

[dwizum]

Maybe, I guess I can't quite wrap my brain around tolex on the sides. But that's my problem, not yours. I think gloss black paint on the sides would look awesome with the blue and aluminum. If you do black tolex instead, I expect that you will easily prove me wrong and it will look great.

 

[Max Bogosity]

I more than half seriously want to see the top covered in Tolex to match the sides.

 

[2groggy]

Stain the tolex? I wonder if this is permanent.

 

[RichterScale]

Is that just regular alum angle, or is it soft, flexible alum angle, made for molding around curves?

 

[Max Bogosity]

Tolex - Python/Snakeskin Burgundy - By Yard (54" Wide)

 

[Five String]

Looks really cool.

 

[2groggy]

Tolex - Python/Snakeskin Burgundy - By Yard (54" Wide)

That's the supplier that I used for the tan tolex . Was that motif emulating a black mambo viper covered in somebody else's blood? Where's Quentin Tarantino when you need him?

 

[2groggy]

Is that just regular alum angle, or is it soft, flexible alum angle, made for molding around curves?

Regular Aluminum (extra vowel saved for my neighbours to the south). Is there a profile designed for flexibility? I presumed that my future involved too much hammering and cursing.

 

[RichterScale]

Regular Aluminum

I'm concerned. I've worked with it enough to vividly imagine bad things and regret. It won't cooperate. You'll have to cut a million slots, like that wood strip you use inside the body (forgot the name) and there will be ugly stretch marks where it bends.
I went back and zoomed in on the 3 dye colors. I think the blue looks the best with the grain.
I agree with @dwizum , the blue with black sides.
Fill/smooth the sides, route for regular guitar binding, paint the sides black, stain the front/back dark blue, high gloss clear to make the arch top stand out and you got yerself a deal!

 

[2groggy]

by "regular guitar binding" do you mean white plastic?

 

[RichterScale]

by "regular guitar binding" do you mean white plastic?

Yeah, unless there's a better color.
Maybe off white/vintage?
If they make a plastic binding that looks like chrome or aluminum, that would be friggin outrageous!

 

[RichterScale]

@SlingBlader just did binding work on some Teles and I believe @Gilmourisgod did binding on a recent build. If they wanna chime and link up some pics.

 

[Max Bogosity]

Link Removed

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Tolex sides are kinda cool, take a look.at some pictures of old Danelectros, maybe you can see how they handled the transition from side to top. Looks like the tops overhung the sides just by the thickness of the tolex, I dont see any binding holding it in image search. Maybe hunt a few Danelectro threads on TB. I've only done binding in white or cream celluloid and ABS plastic, which has the admirable quality of being easily glued on with acetone, which can also be used to melt small binding shavings into a color matched goop that can be troweled into minor gaps to hide all sins. That body shape should bind without much trouble, but you need a bearing guided binding slot cutter as sold by Stewmac or LMI. Typical ABS binding is sold in .040" or .060 thickness, so you need the correct bearing to match. Any of it needs to be scraped flush with top and sides, not sure how you'd do that with Tolex. Aluminum would be a huge PITA, but I suppose its possible with a thin strip of modelers or hobby store flat metal. Youd have to find a piece long enough to do the whole guitar in one piece. The chromed bumper trim looks intriguing, but I dont know how well it glues or bends to a curve as tight as a guitar horn. Science! Apparently Gretsch did it on some their older guitars, the Silvertone Esplanada model. It looks suspiciously like automotive bumper trim!
Silvertone Espanada - Aluminum Binding : Other Guitars : The Gretsch Pages

 

[Max Bogosity]

Not sure how older ones were made, but my (90s?) Danelectro looks like this. Body edges rounded over and a strip of Tolex glued on the surface. The free edges of the Tolex are pretty well glued down, but they are still vulnerable to getting snagged and torn.

 

[RichterScale]

Know what would be a huge PITA, but look killer?
If you cut a slot all the way around the body, along the edge of that tolex on both sides, then trimmed it with the biggest fret wire you could find.