Now for something completely different

My Dragon-caster....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/2981489758_d7ef580173.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2980634177_cd3967f276.jpg

Work on this one has been slow going. I've been battling gout & being on my feet, for any length of time, is a problem. I've also got another build going at the same time and I'm dividing my time between them.

This will be finished black on the outer edge and have a blue "burst" to transition between the black and the pattern. Black single layer pickguard and maple neck.

That's pretty wild lookin', man.

That looks great.

Hooray!

How did you adhere the graphic? Or are you a brilliant painter as well?

How did you adhere the graphic?

It is fabric that was attached with Decoupage glue. I laid down a pretty thick layer of it and put the fabric on. Then I used a plastic card to squeegee the glue smooth and get it to soak into & through the fabric. A couple coats of glue on top and then let it dry. Once dry and hard I used an X-acto to trim the excess off. Superglue gel on the edges to get the transition smooth between the fabric & wood. Lot's of sanding sealer and sanding. It's almost ready to start clear coating.

Very nice,low budget custom!

Okay, now that I've wiped up the drool, I want one!

My wife and i were out christmas shopping a ways back and she had to stop at some local fabric superstore for something,so i looked around and saw some really cool stuff in there.Ihave a few spare cheapo bodies around and might like to try this on one of them.

Imagine my surprise when I saw this in a catalog a couple weeks ago:

http://4imgs.com/301/x/ph1034_BIG.jpg

This guy helped me out with the technique. He has done some awesome work.

http://www.jaiguitars.com/

OMG!!
I thougt you had tatooed that body!!!!

Does the decoupage glue change the color of the fabric much? Where did you source the glue. Thanks, and that looks really cool.

Does the decoupage glue change the color of the fabric much? Where did you source the glue. Thanks, and that looks really cool.

The glue is made to dry clear. Kinda like Elmer's except it's a lot tougher once dried. Definitely clean up while still wet. You can get it at any craft store.

Imagine my surprise when I saw this in a catalog a couple weeks ago:

http://4imgs.com/301/x/ph1034_BIG.jpg

This guy helped me out with the technique. He has done some awesome work.

http://www.jaiguitars.com/

That is CRAZEEEEE. You should get the shirt, like every destination needs one.:grin:

I finally got some more done on this project. Now it just needs more clear then wait.

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp301/Toadlc/dragontintfront.jpg

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp301/Toadlc/Dragontint.jpg

Lookin' good.

This is great! Well done! :grin:

That's outstanding. I'm speechless.

If it were MY band...matching shirts and matching guitars!

Way cool!

Thanks for sharing.

I appreciate it when something like this is pulled off well. Too often it's not. I like it!

PLEASE put a maple neck on that monster :)

PLEASE put a maple neck on that monster :)

Yep, maple neck and a single ply black pickguard.

I appreciate it when something like this is pulled off well. Too often it's not. I like it!

I could see this in my mind's eye before I started and was hoping I could pull it off. I know it won't appeal to a lot of folks but I wanted to build something that I liked and was unique.

Pickguard??? NNOOOOOOooooooooo

Pickguard??? NNOOOOOOooooooooo

That was my reaction as well! If you have to have one, go with clear. Having said that, I will respect your decision.

I'm liking this ! Looks great !

That is really sweet. I don't think a pick guard would be bad. It would cover up the partial dragon and make it look more like a custom paint then a repeating pattern.

Please don't forget to post any further progress and the finished product.

You'll loose a huge dragon under a black guard, I think a gloss single ply Perspex guard would look awesome!!!

Looks fantastic.

Maybe a cut down pickguard of some kind?

That is really sweet. I don't think a pick guard would be bad. It would cover up the partial dragon and make it look more like a custom paint then a repeating pattern.

Exactly. That's how I laid it out.

great work and very cool!

Too cool !
an' much too nice to cover with a pickguard imho...a neck P-up ring or a clear guard would be my preference...

I didn't like it until I saw the blue ring and clear on it. Now I think it is freakin' cool as hell. Kudos my friend. Stay the course, and make your dragoncaster the best dragoncaster it can be.

That blue burst really set the whole thing together. Amazing.

Maybe a clear guard with the pickup hole dusted around with the same blue, ala the paisley guitars.

I love these fabric finishes!

Far out !!! I love it ! I am in the planning stages of doing something fairly similar , themewise anyway . So I will share an idea that I had to use with mine , I dont know if you will care to use it or not . In my case I am going to make my own neck so I was thinking of Yin and Yang inlays . That might go well with a dragon ?

I've seen a couple of the guitars that Jai has done, he hangs at the Reranch forum a lot. Pretty cool idea.

Yours turned out spectacularly! It's giving me some ideas for sure...

PS, you have to get the matching shirt! http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8399/thumbsup4kk.gif

In my case I am going to make my own neck so I was thinking of Yin and Yang inlays . That might go well with a dragon ?

That sounds great. I think it would go really well with the dragon theme. Look forward to seeing it.

I've seen a couple of the guitars that Jai has done, he hangs at the Reranch forum a lot.

Jai was a big help to getting this done. He definitely made this project easier.

That is one seriously sweet guitar. I like the rear access cavity for the pots.:cool:

Now that the clear coat is done I wanted to see what everything looks like together. Here's a preview of how it will look after it assembled.

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp301/Toadlc/dragon222.jpg

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp301/Toadlc/Dragon111.jpg

Looks realy cool! I'd go without a pickguard.

REALLY looking good! How thick is the wood in the cavity?

REALLY looking good! How thick is the wood in the cavity?

If you're talking about the cavity for the controls, it was too thick. The pots were fine but the switch wouldn't throw all the way. I routed out the switch area just until the switch would work. I would have to measure to know exactly what that is.

Looks realy cool! I'd go without a pickguard.

Yes it does. Either no pickguard, or a clear one. That paint job is way too sweet to cover up.

Perhaps some smoked translucent plexi for a PG. The pattern would show through on close inspection, but from a distance it would look black.

Looks realy cool! I'd go without a pickguard.

Or a clear pickguard.

Jim

slick!, but the prospect of a clear guard has to be driving you nuts.

slick!, but the prospect of a clear guard has to be driving you nuts.

Nope, I have wanted a black pick guard on this from day one and haven't wavered. Even though there are a lot of folks that disagree, I'm liking the black. To me it lends the "mojo" of a Tele even though it has an outrageous finish. :lol: I had it made special without the round cut out for the control plate. I will need to make a small cut out for the top switch screw though.

Finally got this one finished. Here's a couple photos.

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp301/Toadlc/dragon2-21d.jpg

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp301/Toadlc/dragon2-21c.jpg

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp301/Toadlc/dragon2-21b.jpg

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp301/Toadlc/Dragon2-21a.jpg

Looks realy cool! I'd go without a pickguard.

I would definitely choose a clear plexiglass pickguard. Let that wonderful dragon be seen.

Beautiful !!!!

Maybe a clear pickguard + thin blk/blue paint ring around the neck pu (like the metalic pink paint on a clear plexi paisley Tele pickguard)... just a thought...

I don't know whether to show this to my daughter, or NOT! She's talking about having me make a Tele for her one day. Show this might get me into trouble.

Looks great!

wow that looks great

Wow, indeed.

That's gorgeous.

:shock:

(calming down) it's beautiful!

i'll definitely do this tomorrow...first thing in the morning...immediately...

i'll have to buy some shirt...

I don't know if anyone has suggested this yet, but maybe try a clear pickguard?

:mrgreen:

Hey, if you dig what you have, that's all that matters! I know I dig what you have!!!

Tim

I don't know if anyone has suggested this yet, but maybe try a clear pickguard? Tim

LOL, thanks for that Tim. I was starting to worry that it might get put to a vote & I'd have my TDPRI account pulled unless I changed it. :lol:

Simply gorgeous, I liked the idea when you first started the thread but now I really love it.

Can I be the first to recommend a clear pickguard?
























:mrgreen:

That looks freakin amazing. Great job!

Man that came out fantastic!!! So what bodies are you getting at the BBQ ;)

Man that came out fantastic!!! So what bodies are you getting at the BBQ ;)

After a marathon weekend wet sanding, polishing and assembling two guitars, I think I need a break. :razz: At least until GAS strikes again. I will be there though.

After a marathon weekend wet sanding, polishing and assembling two guitars, I think I need a break. :razz: At least until GAS strikes again. I will be there though.

I hear ya bud! Well (hopefully) the shop will always be there ;)