Black korina VIP

[kdownes]

I've posted a couple of pictures of this body and neck before, but now it's actually turning into something that might be a real guitar someday.  Both the body and neck are black korina (neck has an ebony fretboard).  I've spent the last several weeks (lost track at this point) grain filling using Stew Mac clear and alternating with coats of Birchwood Casey sanding sealer and filler, per the directions from Luthier's Mercantile (http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/TruOil.htm).  The topcoat is Tru-oil -- I put the second coat on this morning.

I really dig this figure on the neck -- this was part of what sold me on the idea of using a strat-style peghead with the VIP body:

The figure on the body:

...and the back:

I've posted several questions recently about my problems with Tru-oil curing, and although the weather is gradually warming up here, once I've laid a dozen coats or so on the body, it's going to sit for a damn long time to harden up before I go anywhere near it with polish or wax.  It seems like many of you using Tru-oil have had things cure more quickly than I have, but I'm planning at least a month and a half of curing time and two or three days between coats.  Better safe than sorry.

Thank you, Warmoth 30th Anniversary Sale...

 

[DangerousR6]

That's damn HAWT....

:headbang1:

 

[Unwound G]

Glossing up nicely.

 

[Malta]

It's looking good! I've been waiting to see your vip before starting my chambered korina jazz, as I think I'll be using the same method.

 

[Superbeast520]

Very Cool!!  Very Unique as well, I love how the neck and body are of the same wood and the grain patterns compliment each other....bet it would look cool with a bunch of shiny chrome hardware, any Ideas for the hardware and pickup choices yet?

 

[SlingBass]

 

[mgaut051]

Wow.
Can't wait to see it put together.

 

[kdownes]

It's looking good! I've been waiting to see your vip before starting my chambered korina jazz, as I think I'll be using the same method.

Thanks!  The wood looked great straight out of the box, but man if that Tru-oil doesn't make it glow.  If you follow the Luthier's Mercantile directions, one thing I did a little differently that you may want to try was to use 320 and 400 grit for sanding back the coats of filler and sealer -- I found 220 to be a little too aggressive, although certainly technique had a lot to do with it, too.

Very Cool!!  Very Unique as well, I love how the neck and body are of the same wood and the grain patterns compliment each other....bet it would look cool with a bunch of shiny chrome hardware, any Ideas for the hardware and pickup choices yet?

Thanks -- I loved that complementarity, too.  I'd never even heard of black korina until I started poking around Warmoth's site, but now I'd love to see more of it, not just in guitars, but generally around the house.  I've made a few hardware choices: it's getting Sperzel locking tuners and a Wilkinson VS-100N trem, which I have on my half-moth strat and like quite a bit.  For pickups, I'm thinking of Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAFs with the nickle covers.  I've had great luck with Dimarzio pickups so far, and the price is right (I've already spent a lot on this build so boutique pickups will have to wait until later).  I have some fantasies about using ebony pickup rings and knobs if I can find some that are affordable.

 

[hannaugh]

Man, that's some nice BK. 

 

[Cagey]

That's gonna be one gorgeous fiddle. Better play it nice, or the guitar gods will getcha! <grin>

 

[Orpheo]

that body looks so damn lovely! I wouldn't have chosen a black korina neck, cause it has to be finished, and I don't finished-necks, but thats a 'detail'. it looks stunning! I'm thinking: chrome pickups, creme rings!

 

[D-rock]

That is a very stunning combo you have there!! i am excited to see this one finished

 

[kdownes]

that body looks so damn lovely! I wouldn't have chosen a black korina neck, cause it has to be finished, and I don't finished-necks, but thats a 'detail'. it looks stunning! I'm thinking: chrome pickups, creme rings!

Next time I think I'll go for a neck that doesn't need a finish, although I like my clear satin finish CBS strat neck from Warmoth.  As long as the Tru-oil cures up properly, I think a good sanding, polishing, and waxing will make it nice and smooth.

I was thinking of chrome pickups, too (or nickle, as the case may be), but ebony pickup rings to match the fingerboard, and ebony speed knobs.  I hadn't thought about creme, but that's an intriguing idea...

 

[Soylent]

That's brilliant mate. I love it.  :icon_thumright:

 

[jay4321]

I was thinking of chrome pickups, too (or nickle, as the case may be), but ebony pickup rings to match the fingerboard, and ebony speed knobs.  I hadn't thought about creme, but that's an intriguing idea...

Whatever you do with all of that, I'd go as subtle as possible, so as to not distract from the gorgeous wood.

 

[kdownes]

Well, it only took about six months, but this has finally turned into something with strings that makes sound:

First the specs: black korina body & neck, clear water-based grain filler and a Tru-oil topcoat; ebony fretboard, big-arse frets, and a TUSQ nut; Schaller locking tuners; Wilkinson tremolo; Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAF pups; ebony pickup rings & ebony speed knobs.  The volume knob has a pull-out switch to control a dual sound (series/parallel) switch for the neck pup, and the tone knob controls a phase switch.

Sadly I had the same issue with the Tru-oil as with my alder j-bass project from a few months back -- for whatever reason I was not able to get rid of a mottled, splotchy look that's visible when the light catches the surface.  This after waiting at least five days between coats (11 altogether), and leaving it to hang out in a warm, dry basement for a full month before level sanding and polishing.  It could be that I just needed to keep sanding a bit deeper, but I was nervous about sanding through.  I followed LMI's directions all the way, including wet sanding with micromesh papers for the final polish, and a lemon oil treatment at the end.  Everything turned out very smooth except the peghead, which somehow still has some little divots here and there (ARG!).  The grain was really, really deep, and this was my first filling job, but the body turned out excellent in that regard, and so did the back of the neck.  I also screwed up a bunch of things during the assembly, resulting in a couple of dings, a wee crack on the surface next to one of the tuner holes (not serious but definitely annoying), and I broke one of the pickup rings trying to get those honking Dimarzios through.  But a little wood glue on the ring and I can't even see where the crack was anymore, and all in all it came together nicely.

Best of all, however, is the sound.  Wow.  I still have some tweaking to do, but I did a basic set-up this weekend, and the best way I can think of to describe the tone is *alive* -- much more so than any of my other guitars.  I guess the combination of woods and pickups really came together.  Lucky me!

Given that, the frustrations with the finishing process feel less important, but I clearly have a great deal still to learn there.  Many thanks again to this forum for all the advice and guidance!  Next up: a from-scratch Jazzmaster -- I'm taking a lutherie class in August and I'll be making the neck and the body from blanks.  Woohoo!

 

[D-rock]

Nice guitar!!  :headbang:

 

[chrisg]

Looks good.  I'm a fan of the natural finishes though have also had some issues with Truoil.  It takes a bit of practice to get right, and as CB says "keep it thin" .  How thin - damn thin!!

I hope you enjoy your new guitar.  ccasion14:

 

[rapfohl09]

Wow that is spectacular! I love oiled korina, someday I will own some.

 

[lafromla1]

Hmmm, cant say that I like it...not being in my collection that is. 

What a great looking VIP.  :icon_thumright: