COMPLETED - motor_city_tele 2014 Build Challenge - Gilmour Workmate

No, I will leave these as they are. They will be just fine.

 

First thing today - get the black pick guard outta the way.


The body is sanded smooth and mounted in my holder


Then wipe with naptha and put on my gloves


Black first


Looks about the right amount of black.


Then mix my red. I remember from last year that this color is too bright. I added 1 drop of aniline red mahogany to the mix.


Then red


After the color coats, I start in with the clear. I spray vertical then shift the body flat.


After repeating this sequence several times I let it dry. I had the white guard hanging around. I'll just see how it might have looked as a regular 1955 Esquire.


Then the black. I knew this would be tough. Sure does look nice with the white guard. I have plenty of ash in case I want a new Esquire like this one. I'm all in for the Gilmour workmate.


I'll start working the neck with my dremel tool and wire brush bit. but first I sketch the pattern onto the neck.


I'll grunge these up after I "weather" the bare wood with the tea and steelwool/vinegar technique.


Same with the back.

 

I will be using a mix of petrol based oils. I need to be careful not to add too much at one time. It is the gradient between light and dark on the neck wear that gives this affect. If the contrast is too great between these areas it will look fake.

 

todo

polish body
Assemble with clean hardware and white pick guard and top hat switch tip
add string T
Photo
disassemble
relic metal pieces (Muriatic Acid fumes)
define wear pattern - body
remove unwanted finish - body
apply Colt's tea recipe to areas needed (mostly neck)
add grunge to neck
assemble using black PG and barrel switch tip
wire with blend circuit - Duncan Schematic - works better with switch I have
setup
photo
play - record video

 

My relic techniques - not for the squeamish

The parts are gathered and inspected to see what type of metal we are going to be dealing with.


Everything is arranged into a plastic tub with a lid that fits good and tight.


This is a liquid that will prematurely age these new pieces.


I pour some acid into a small tub and set inside the big tub.


I seal the lid and wait.


The neck gets it's rub down with the vinegar/steelwool solution. It starts to look weathered but not played.


I add all sorts of stuff to the neck to make it look old. analine dyes, shoe polish, dirt, dirty wax, and top it off with engine grime. I rub this into the frets to make it look like layers of crud have been building up over many years.


It's close. In certain light it looks really old. In other light it just looks dirty. I'll work it a bit more but like I said, it's close.


On to the body, but first I'll get this pick guard outta the way. I sanded it smooth then buffed it out with a chunk of ash. - worked great.


On to the body. I did some smooth sanding and buffed the finish with 3-M Finesse-it II. I didn't spend all day on this. I don't need a glass like finish this year.


Next I cut out my paper template and taped it down to the body.


The tools of ignorance.


Most of the detail will be done with this guy.


I scribe a line where the lacquer will be removed. I've done this in the past. Not on a guitar though. On a pumpkin.


Dots will be to line up the saw.


When the template is removed, I have a guide where to remove the material.


After a little while I have a rough area of bare wood. I'll have to smooth out the roughness and give it a little color when I am done with the dremel.


Tomorrow will be good day to break in the BBQ season for 2014. maybe some salmon, maybe some beef ribs.