daveinspain Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 This project took me 2 years to complete. Three attempts at the gold leaf failed and the guitar had to be stripped and started over. I didn't do the gold leaf myself, I got a professional to do the work. I got someone who works restoring antiques but that's not the same as refinishing a guitar. She applied stucco to the top of the guitar in an attempt to fill the grain of the wood. The base guitar I used in the project was a LP worn brown studio, the finish wasn't smooth. After applying the gold leaf, what looked like a smooth surface was loaded with bumps and imperfections. Took the guitar back down to the wood. Next we applied the gold leaf strait to the wood. Came out beautiful. Sent the guitar to my luthier to apply the Nitro. After spraying the guitar black finger prints started popping out all over the gold leaf. Took the guitar back down to the wood again. After applying the gold leaf again a protective lacquer was immediately sprayed over the top to avoid any chance of that happening again. We still don't understand why but after the nitro was sprayed on again black lines appeared in the seems of the sheets of gold leaf. The guitar was taken down to the wood again. I was about to give up but decided to make one last attempt. Can't think of anything else we did differently but for some reason this last time it worked. Later many more coats of nitro were applied and Wha Laa... The gold leaf was expensive but I didn't get charged for every attempt… The Gold leaf is not the 100% pure gold leaf that comes in smaller sheets and is much harder to work with but it does contain a good percentage of gold. The refinishing was just the last step of this project though. Every part of this guitar I hand picked. Some of the pieces were bought on ebay like the nickel tail piece and stop bar. I wanted 70's double line double ring tuners which I also found on ebay. The electronics I ordered from RS Guitar Work ( Jimmy Page push pull kit with bumble bee caps) The pups are Seymour Duncan custom shop Jimmy page 4 lead hum buckers. The first tone and volume knobs I put on were vintage amber but I later changed them to Gold reflectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 I use working guitars, and I find them all beautiful.......Here's seven of around 50 left........I recently gave 8 away as gifts.... . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share Posted August 5, 2014 Hey nice to see you Damian… It's been a while, hope a lli is well. Your guits are beautiful ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buliwyf Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Ok not to upset anyone but I have never been a big Strat fan (well this is a Gibson forum) . I have had a few Strats over the years and my absolute favorite was my Fender Iron Maiden Strat,what a monster! I dont know how close it was to anything anybody in Maiden played but with the 3 stacked humbuckers and the Floyd Rose I had to buy it.Jet black with a mirror pickguard and a maple neck (I dig maple necks) it sounded killer and the tech at Mars where it came from did a free set up for me so it was amazing feeling after that.I never was able to find out much info on this axe,like how many were made,any reviews on them,Fender for some reason made it seem like they never exhisted.Still one killer axe. How about a Parker P-38 one of the first inexpensive ones they made but still had all the bells and whistles and worked with most styles of music except harder rock or metal.Anybody ever have or play a Parker,dont hear much about them around the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPguitarman Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 I'll play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg50 Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 My LP Project guitar… The 22K Les Paul This is the best thing ever. I think it's hilarious (I love one liners), and I think it's beautiful. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Groupings shots I always liked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Groupings shots I always liked NICE "Groupings" CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 hey cookieman took my sienna burst strat... no wait, it's still here... phew.. (really - it looks just a lot like yours, awesome guitars ay?) and by the way,,, I had to wipe my keyboard off from the drool the white falcon left behind.. Damn you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 A few more of my babies… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Awesome collection dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Do these count :unsure: ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbrian66 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Do these count :unsure: ;) Of course they do !!! They look great all pretty'd up and outside for a picture :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Of course they do !!! They look great all pretty'd up and outside for a picture :) Cheers man.... And yes im pretty happy with them. I was just checking the weight of them the Oak one is about 9lbs and the beechwood one is about 7/8lbs.. which is about where youd want to be :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Dave....you're quite the photographer, and your decor' is ....simply.....perfect ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Do these count :unsure: ;) Your guitars are unique… You can and should be very proud of them. I lean towards the pointy cut aways but thats just my preference, both guitars have lots of style... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Dave....you're quite the photographer, and your decor' is ....simply.....perfect ! Thanks... Just lucky shots and a good camera though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Your guitars are unique… You can and should be very proud of them. I lean towards the pointy cut aways but thats just my preference, both guitars have lots of style... Thank you for the kind words sir :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson Artist Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 So proove me wrong and bring on the porn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson Artist Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Groupings As far as hoards go, yours is darn near perfect cookieman, can i be in your will? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 As far as hoards go, yours is darn near perfect cookieman, can i be in your will? Shoot, my kids are just waiting to get their mitts on my gits. I'm taking mine with me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Ahem.... Your Honor I believe the proposition stated in the title of this thread has hereby and forthwith been comprehensively disproved by the substantial and perhaps even incontrovertible evidence exhibited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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