COMPLETED!!! Warmoth Z Metal build(56K Warning)

[Cagey]

Nice.

Something to consider when taking pictures is that even a cloudy day will provide much better light than any ambient room or flash lighting will. Also, even a crummy camera responds well to good light. The cameras on cell phones usually aren't as bad as many of the pictures you see would attest to. The grainy low quality is usually because the sensors are no good at all in poor lighting. Given good lighting, even cell cameras can return decent results.

 

[Syntheticocean]

Oh. Btw. The tuners are not yet screwed into place that's why they are out of wack in some of the pics

 

[Syntheticocean]

Nice.

Something to consider when taking pictures is that even a cloudy day will provide much better light than any ambient room or flash lighting will. Also, even a crummy camera responds well to good light. The cameras on cell phones usually aren't as bad as many of the pictures you see would attest to. The grainy low quality is usually because the sensors are no good at all in poor lighting. Given good lighting, even cell cameras can return decent results.

I know. I'm huge into photography. I just got lazy with the pics.

 

[Cagey]

Nice.

Something to consider when taking pictures is that even a cloudy day will provide much better light than any ambient room or flash lighting will. Also, even a crummy camera responds well to good light. The cameras on cell phones usually aren't as bad as many of the pictures you see would attest to. The grainy low quality is usually because the sensors are no good at all in poor lighting. Given good lighting, even cell cameras can return decent results.

I know. I'm huge into photography. I just got lazy with the pics.

We'll forgive you. Crummy pics are better than no pics. But, the old adage about a picture being worth a thousand words gets beat to death when the picture is so far from reality that it doesn't return any data. Get out your guitar stand, and put the thing on it out on the driveway or the lawn. That way, we'll be able to see what you've done or what you're talking about.

 

[Syntheticocean]

Nice.

Something to consider when taking pictures is that even a cloudy day will provide much better light than any ambient room or flash lighting will. Also, even a crummy camera responds well to good light. The cameras on cell phones usually aren't as bad as many of the pictures you see would attest to. The grainy low quality is usually because the sensors are no good at all in poor lighting. Given good lighting, even cell cameras can return decent results.

I know. I'm huge into photography. I just got lazy with the pics.

I'm not sure where the problem lies? Because there weren't trees reflecting in the pictures they are bad? The last pics I posted were from a 15MP DSLR and any reduction in quality is simply on photobuckets end. The color reproduction is very accurate according to my monitor.  The back of the guitar has no 'reflection' because I did a satin finish on it.
We'll forgive you. Crummy pics are better than no pics. But, the old adage about a picture being worth a thousand words gets beat to death when the picture is so far from reality that it doesn't return any data. Get out your guitar stand, and put the thing on it out on the driveway or the lawn. That way, we'll be able to see what you've done or what you're talking about.

 

[rapfohl09]

Man I love the finish on the back! You did a great job!

 

[Syntheticocean]

I did that simply by grainfilling one coat so the grain still showed, then sprayed the nitro coats. After it cured I wetsanded it to 800, and buffed it slightly with rubbing compound so it looks pretty damn good without being overly shiny. Thanks for checking her out rapfohl09. I'll be finishing her up real soon. I'm debating ordering the pickups right now... 'f' it... i'm gonna do it! THey're the last part I need and I don't know why the hell I'm delaying!

 

[taez555]

That thing is looking killer!!  Love the Z's  (especially as a Z myself) ;-)  Great job so far, can't wait to see it finished.

 

[Syntheticocean]

Alright. Pickups are on their way!!!

 

[rapfohl09]

Alright. Pickups are on their way!!!

Sweet! This thing is gonna be a shred machine with those EMGs. I like the Z body more and more everyday.

 

[Syntheticocean]

I think a black dye on flamed maple top would have looked pretty awesome as well. I just wanted BLUE!!!!!!! :-D

 

[dmraco]

I really like the hue of blue on the neck too.

 

[Tipperman]

I am in love with your guitar man. Super jealous! That stripe running down the fretboard just made my day. Absolutely beautiful. And that blue dye.... well... let's just say I am now considering a re-finish on my strat. Absolutely wonderful build.

 

[Syntheticocean]

I am in love with your guitar man. Super jealous! That stripe running down the fretboard just made my day. Absolutely beautiful. And that blue dye.... well... let's just say I am now considering a re-finish on my strat. Absolutely wonderful build.

Thanks so much! It really means a lot to me. The finish is by no means perfect. I've got sand throughs, but none on the front. I am extremely happy with how it came out. Monday/wednesday I should have the pickups in and it'll be DONE!!!

 

[Tipperman]

I am in love with your guitar man. Super jealous! That stripe running down the fretboard just made my day. Absolutely beautiful. And that blue dye.... well... let's just say I am now considering a re-finish on my strat. Absolutely wonderful build.

Thanks so much! It really means a lot to me. The finish is by no means perfect. I've got sand throughs, but none on the front. I am extremely happy with how it came out. Monday/wednesday I should have the pickups in and it'll be DONE!!!

Exciting! Who cares if the finish isn't perfect - it's personal because you did it yourself, which in my mind adds a way rad vibe to it. Can't wait to see the finished result! How easy was the dying and sanding process?

 

[Syntheticocean]

I am in love with your guitar man. Super jealous! That stripe running down the fretboard just made my day. Absolutely beautiful. And that blue dye.... well... let's just say I am now considering a re-finish on my strat. Absolutely wonderful build.

Thanks so much! It really means a lot to me. The finish is by no means perfect. I've got sand throughs, but none on the front. I am extremely happy with how it came out. Monday/wednesday I should have the pickups in and it'll be DONE!!!

Exciting! Who cares if the finish isn't perfect - it's personal because you did it yourself, which in my mind adds a way rad vibe to it. Can't wait to see the finished result! How easy was the dying and sanding process?

They dying was EASY. Sanding was EASY. I made the sandthroughs because I actually sanded the edges. Simply don't do that. I learned the hard way to sand only the flat surfaces until you're nearing the end of the sanding process and do only light passes on them. One major sandthrough is on the back, but honestly I LOVE the way it looks. Its on the edge of the tummy contour(can't see it in the pics cause of reflections) but it gives the back a 'relic-d' look. I'll try to get a pic of it tomorrow. I had 5 teeth pulled today so I'm not up for much of anything right now.

 

[Syntheticocean]

Alright, so I decided to throw together a number of pics showing all the flaws and mistakes I made.

I like this sand through. It was before the nitro and completely protected.

I don't know what happened here. I found a ding and had no choice but to grain fill it or leave it as is. I decided to grain fill it.

Stupid sand throughs here. Now I know: When sanding, NEVER SAND CORNERS

Here I peeled the tape off of the neck pocket and it pulled up some of the nitro. I guess we'll see how this stands up over time. I'm not too worried. I'm more of a rhythm player, hence the 22 frets.

All in all, I can't complain. This is the end result(minus pickups/knobs which are going in later this week.)

This is the most perfect guitar to me and I know every inch of it better than I know my LTD MH-300 that I've owned for 13 years. I will be buried with this guitar(unless I have kids that play).

I'll post the final pics when I get the pickups delivered. They're coming in the mail monday via UPS.

 

[Tipperman]

I really like the sand throughs. Gives it a certain vibe.

 

[Syntheticocean]

Alright, Mr. UPS brought me a present today.

Sent it over to the shop to have them installed! Wooooooohoo!

 

[Tipperman]

Are those passive EMGs? I've had NO experience with EMG but I like the way those look. Pretty cool! ....you better post some pictures and soundclips/videos real soon  arty07: