Kit clinic-all brands- routine & fixes

[abfackeln]

Originally Posted by bfcg

I still have not seen one of these GM kits strung up in any of the previous posts.
I would be interested in seeing how the strings run down the f/b edges.

See if this helps:

[bfcg]

Yours appears to be straight, did you get it that way or did you have to mess with it?
Is everything equally off center towards the treble side (neck,pups,bridge and tail)?

[abfackeln]

Definitely didn't come that way - the neck fit was very loose with a lot of play when I got it. There's a maple shim about 1 1/2" long at the top edge of the neck pocket on the cutaway side, and another similar shim at the bottom of the neck pocket on the opposite side - this effectively changed the angle of the neck join (right to left looking at the top of the guitar, not up and down for action or bridge height, although that had to be done too). I also used a centerline measurement of the body to mark the location of the tailpiece, and then used one of those laser level things to sight down the center of the fretboard (from the nut) and fine-tuned the shims until the laser hit the center of the tailpiece location.

[bradland]

Wow Bill, it looks like you are already well on your way to whipping the kit into shape! Thank you for expediting everything. Just a FYI my FB measures the exact same as abfackeln shows in post #241.

Thanks again!

[bossman302]

Question for those you replaced the head stock veneer. What did you use and where did you get it?

[jordans0nly]

Good question Rob. Will probably send you my guitar next week for you to drill, cool?

[bossman302]

Originally Posted by jordans0nly

Good question Rob. Will probably send you my guitar next week for you to drill, cool?

Works for me.

[bfcg]

2 inches at the 16th fret (without binding)will leave you 0.157 too narrow. That will have to be made up with binding. Vintage correct would be 2.158 inch at the body joint including binding.

[jworle01]

should be about right since the above sample is not including the binding in the 2" measurement.

[Shai`tan]

"This is not a bfcg Kit!"

hehhehhhe I had to laugh when I saw that.

[bossman302]

I'm looking at LMI for veneer but I don't what I should get. They have a ebonized and maple veneer. Which one would give me the best results? I'm not doing a historic build so i'm not worried about that part of it.

Edit: here is a link to the veneers: http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdpro...dplate+Veneers

[jordans0nly]

Now those are great prices Rob. Thanks for the link man.

[Cpt_Gonzo]

Does anyone know which aftermaerket cavity cover fits the electronics cavity of the Bulldog kits?

Allparts does NOT fit.

[ievans]

Gibson now uses fiber board headstock overlays. At LMI here:
Fiber Veneer Sheets - Information and Pricing at LMI

Ebonized veneer is just maple that's been blackened, probably using some iron shavings and a mild acid. If you've ever used citric acid to remove rust on metal, you know how much that black stuff stains.

LMI also has thicker headplates in a whole bunch of different woods:
Headplates - Information and Pricing at LMI

When I order fretboards from them, I ask them to match the headplate's color to the fretboard if they're the same kind of wood.

[bfcg]

Email me if you want real American Holly or vist my half-assed web site.

[bossman302]

Originally Posted by bfcg

Email me if you want real American Holly or vist my half-assed web site.

sent you an email.

[emoney]

Can I sand holly down if the piece I have is thicker than the logo piece?
I haven't measured it, but it wouldn't be a lot. Or, is there another way
to approach this, like putting something behind the logo itself? What I'm
using isn't your standard, "ivory-type" inlay...(mainly because I already have
this, but if you tell me to re-think it, I suppose I'll try and find the right stuff)

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by bfcg

Email me if you want real American Holly or vist my half-assed web site.

Looks like I have one of these Master kits on the way to me... Sounds like some kind of fun.

You all saw (I assume) how this one is going: BYO Guitar Kit

Still trying to swindle my wife into letting me buy one of yours.

[bossman302]

I'm in the process of installing the holly veneer. It's been glued and even routed for my inlay but I have a question on how to finish it. Is the holly dyed black or is it painted black?

teaser:

[swoodrum]

I'm looking to see how to shape the top of the neck. any suggestions? I want it to look like a Les Paul. it's missing the "M" shape on it...thanks

[silverkw]

Originally Posted by bossman302

I'm in the process of installing the holly veneer. It's been glued and even routed for my inlay but I have a question on how to finish it. Is the holly dyed black or is it painted black?

teaser:

I believe current historics are dyed black. The advantage is that you don't have to use knife to scrap the logo since the logo does not take in the dye.

[Dirk$Diggler]

I would'nt recomend dye at all. I tried dying the headstock veneer with Fiebings Oil dye from Stew Mac. The dye darkened the MOP logo and the only way to get it off was by sanding the logo, messing up the veneer at the same time.

After retrying a few times with the same result even when dying the details with a thin brush I gave up. I shot the headstock with black nitro and then scraped the logo with a razor blade which was surprisingly easy. The nitro did'nt stick that hard to the MOP and came off with real straight edges around the logo. The only disadvantage was that the clear nitro dissolved the black messing up the edges a bit. Rescraping and then shooting several very, very thin coats of clear took care of that problem fine. Good luck!

[emoney]

I have a "faux" mop inlay, and I thought about taping it before I shot the black.
Any thougts on this? Is that 'not' the way to go?

Swoodrum, I took a 3 sided file, marked the center of the headstock, and just sliced a
line down the middle. Then I took my dremel, with a small drum sander attachment, and
shaped the rest by sanding it down. Mine's not perfect, but it'll do for me.

[w666]

I have had very good luck with coating the inlay with Vaseline before I spray. Use a very tiny bush, and be very careful not go out side the inlay area (Ah, now I know why my kindergarten teacher gave me so much grief for coloring outside the lines!). Then just shoot black right over it, and let it cure for a day or two. Now the fun part.....use a piece of masking tape that's big enough to cover the entire area, and rub it lightly to ensure good adhesion. Then, pull the tape off "smartly", and your inlay will be exposed. You may still have a tiny bit of scraping to do.

Clean up the mess with Naptha very well (and several times) before you put clear on top.

Originally Posted by emoney

I have a "faux" mop inlay, and I thought about taping it before I shot the black.
Any thougts on this? Is that 'not' the way to go?

Swoodrum, I took a 3 sided file, marked the center of the headstock, and just sliced a
line down the middle. Then I took my dremel, with a small drum sander attachment, and
shaped the rest by sanding it down. Mine's not perfect, but it'll do for me.

[emoney]

Thank you sir. Always helpful...as usual!

[emoney]

Here's a mock-up pic of mine in it's current stage. I'm searching for how to
measure to drill for the bridge/stoptail...

Almost ready for clear

[bfcg]

.

[bfcg]

Originally Posted by emoney

Here's a mock-up pic of mine in it's current stage. I'm searching for how to
measure to drill for the bridge/stoptail...

Do you mean for location or hole size?

[swoodrum]

Originally Posted by emoney

I have a "faux" mop inlay, and I thought about taping it before I shot the black.
Any thougts on this? Is that 'not' the way to go?

Swoodrum, I took a 3 sided file, marked the center of the headstock, and just sliced a
line down the middle. Then I took my dremel, with a small drum sander attachment, and
shaped the rest by sanding it down. Mine's not perfect, but it'll do for me.

Thanks, I used a dremel sander, but a big one...it's not perfect, but I'm not building a Gibson Les Paul...I'm building a copy....as long as the guitar plays great thats all that matters to me.

[Riche]

Hi, does anyone know what glue to use when trying to attach binding to wood and then binding to binding? any tips would be very welcome. Ive tried super glue but all I end up with is my finger glued to to the headstock .. It driving me insane..

Rich