Gibson Guitar Board: Elmer - Viewing Profile - Gibson Guitar Board

Hi all you handy people.

A friend of mine his first guitar is a Yamaha. It is all beaten up, and needs a few repairs (just check the pups and the setup). BUT: it is ugly and I want to make a beauty out of it.

I am pretty handy but never painted a guitar and it must look shiny!

What I already did: removed all parts (ALL)
So now I have a body that can be painted.

What I want to do: sand it, so all previous paint is gone and I have blank wood. I am planning to sand it down from 100 to 200.
Then I want to put a primer on it.
First question: how many layers of primer? Do I need to waterproof sanding (400) between primer layers?

Then I want to swirl it.
I know it has got something to do with borax in the water and special paint (enamel paint).

Any of you ever did a swirl job?
To swirl it: does that need an other primer?
What kind of paint is used? Is it as I think enamel.
I found some vids on tube but, I rather hear from first hand experience: how much paint, how much borax, where can I find borax etc etc...What is the best way to finish it after the swirl (20 layers varnish?)

All tips and tricks are welcome.

Hi peeps,
This happy camper made a CGB, a Cigar Box Guitar.
An old cigar box, (I think my grand father stored his sigars in it) and a neck from an unknown brand fender imitation (I reformed it)
An old pickup and ...loads of advice, thank you for helping me out with the pup wires!

If I had to start again, I would do a lot of things different, but now at least I know.
Klik the photo to hear and see it. Darn, that looks strange...seeing yourself on a vid, first time for me

Hi,

got this old guitar, some brand I never heard of, Jade or something.
A friend gave it to me. I gonna use the neck and a pup for my cigar box guitar but the pups are bothering me.
I only going to use 1 of the 3 pups. I only want a volume knob and of course no switch.
What wire I need to cut loose and where to attche it again? Is it possible to explane that in an easy way?
The pick up you see on the picture is the one I want to use. What knob is the volume one? I had 2 tone knobs and 1 volume. I have no clue which knob to use. What to do with the red wire and what to do with the white one.

I want to buy a Robert Johnson L1 guitar. I want that for some time now. Finaly I have my budget but...
If I search the net for the guitar I want I get overwhelmed by all those good looking guitars.
the shop where I bought my ES175 has got some L200 and J45 and 1 L-1.
But I also want to try L-0 and L-00 and L-1, L-2, L-3, L-4, L-7, L-10, L-12, L-30, L-37 (maybe some of those are not available at all in a store! But where can I find that info?)

I checked other stores but all I find is L200, J45 and also 1 has got a Gibson Blues king VS. Also I found a keb Mo Bluesmaster but only onlinestore. At Thmanns I see a L-1 VOS and a LG-2 small body VSB.

I have checked the dutch section here on the forum, I am from Belgium and The netherlands and Belgium are not that big countries but I cannot find a good store with more models to test.
How can I buy a guitar if I cannot compare. I did that with the Es175 and that was an exception.
If all models I found in stores near Belgium/ Netherlands where in the same store I could compare, but now 1 model in one store and another in that store and two others in the last store, that is difficult.

So send me your L models so I can test. I live in Belgium, street nr blablabla, I will send them back in good condition.

serious...are there stores in Belgium / Netherlands from which I cannot find the web page that has got loads of accoustic Gibsons?
I tried Keymusic, Guitar King, Vriese Music Palace, Rockpalace, Thomann.
Or do we Belgians need to order via online stores?

I am no big Nitro lover. Because if you look at it too intense it peels off. But now I read that Nitro is not the newest invention, it was used on old guitars too (exist a long time already) and it ages beautifull I read. It is good for the sound because it is only a very thin layer...but I also read the following:


Function
Guitar makers, called luthiers, all agree that the best guitar finish for sound quality is no finish at all. But bare wood is susceptible to moisture, oils and dirt, and must be protected. Finishing wood also enhances beauty, and can have sonic benefits when used with certain types of inexpensive porous wood.

Oil Finishes
Oil finishes don't seal and block wood pores like other finishes, providing free vibration, and adding aesthetic enhancements to wood grain. While oil finishes are attractive, and used on many high-priced guitars, they do not last as long as other common guitar finishes, nor offer the high gloss that some players prefer.

French Polish
French polish is a high-end finish, where numerous thin coats of shellac are applied and hand polished between coats. High gloss, "deep" finishes are hallmarks of French polishing, but the labor intensive process can add greatly to the guitar's cost.

Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Nitrocellulose lacquer is another high quality finish paint. It's also applied in many thin coats, but does not require the same labor-intensive hand work as French polishing. Many valuable "vintage" instruments and newer high-end instruments are finished in lacquer.

Polyester Resin
Polyester resin is inexpensive and durable. Although not considered an ideal guitar finish by purists, it does provide protection and good looks. Most inexpensive and mid-priced guitars are finished with polyester resin.


Just wonderiong what your thoughts are.