KWS Strat (first build) completed!!!

[jlegnor]

    It's a slow start, but it's started.  Co-worker broke her arm so now I get maybe 1 to 2 weekends a month off until she's back.  

    What I've done so far:  Sanded 220, raised the grain and sanded 3 times, masked off for natural binding and put down a very thinned coat of shellac, broke all sharp corners with 220, and drilled for toggle switch.  Have run into one issue, when removing the tape for the natual binding, two "splinters" were pulled out.  Didn't notice until I was applying the shellac.  So I'll have to add some grain filler in that spot. Anyone know if applying clear grain filler over shellac will blend in color wise?  If not I may just wait and drop fill some lacquer to build it back up.

    Anyways the pics I have show the masking that was done and the final look for the natural binding.  Most of the time the natural binding is done with the edge of the flame maple exposed, but I wanted something different and thought it would look better if the top of the Alder were exposed instead.  Next step will be staining the top when the weather clears up.  Which according to the weather channel, will be 2 weeks. :hello2:

    Will post more as I go along. :headbang1:

 

[Nando Vallart]

Reverse natural fake binding? :laughing7:

Looks good! I forgot, what color is going on it?

 

[jlegnor]

Reverse natural fake binding? :laughing7:

Looks good! I forgot, what color is going on it?

    Dark brown sanded back, Amber top mixed with a drop of Red, along with a Dark Brown burst in the edges.  And either a Black sides and back, or a dark brown stain sprayed.  I found out when I was raising the grain that the Amber really soaks up more along the edges and tummy cut, so the stain may not be a good idea.  So leaning more towards Black.

 

[muttznmongrelz]

What kind of neck are you planning to use...Maple Board maybe???  ccasion14:

 

[jlegnor]

Yeah it's a birdeye maple KWS neck.

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Right on! Must be a Kramer fan huh? Looking forward to seeing this one when completed!

 

[jlegnor]

My 3rd or so guitar I bought was a tele bodied maple neck Jackson. Actually been practicing fret leveling and crowning on 2 old kramer necks I have. Well, one is a focus neck. Love an all maple neck!

 

[m4rk0]

Very nice project!!!!

Is raising the grain really necessary? I did it on my first couple of projects, but not on most of my more recent projects

 

[jlegnor]

Very nice project!!!!

Is raising the grain really necessary? I did it on my first couple of projects, but not on most of my more recent projects

oh yeah. The maple and alder both would feel like burlap after running a damp rag over it. 3rd time wasn't too bad so I stopped after that.

 

[MUYFUE]

a very snazzy idea!
I think this will come out very well.

 

[jlegnor]

Brown dye completed.  Next will be a sand back, then the Amber, with another brown ring around the edges added.
Sorry for the grainy pic, cell phone camera. :icon_biggrin:

 

[TonyW]

Coming along nicely

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Lookin' good!  :headbang:

 

[Nando Vallart]

Jesus! Looking good! Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooore pics!

 

[jlegnor]

Tell you one thing, this is very nerve racking!!  And fun also. :icon_thumright:

 

[jlegnor]

Finished staining the top.  Started with a dark tobacco brown, sanded back, applied Amber with a little red.  Wasn't Red enough so lightly sanded back some, and applied pure red dye on top.  The final color is more red than the pic shows.  The strip of shellac I put under the vinyl tape for the faux binding worked like a charm.  Only had one small spot where the stain got on the fake binding, and that was because the tape had lifted some and I didn't catch it.  Was able to scrape that off for the most part though.  I now have the top masked off and waiting for a dry spell in the weather to paint the rear and sides black. 

Question, I know about not applying clear coats during humid times because of blushing.  Would the same happen with black? 

 

[Mor Paul]

Looks good!
Let's get some better pics.

On the back and sides, I would do a diluted brown or something.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Looks vire nice!!! It deserve better pics!!!

 

[jlegnor]

yeah these were taken with my iPhone.  My digital camera is alittle on the cheap side and always seems to wash out.  I'll try to get some pics of it outside.  Well, it's already taped off again so next ones will be after the paint.

I've thought about mixing some brown stain in shellac and spraying that with my Preval cans, but the the faux binding is coated with shellac, I'd be afraid of it bleeding.  And it's an Alder body, and a very thirsty one at that, so applying stain to the bare wood is alittle frightning. 

 

[rapfohl09]

Man you did a really nice job with that! Did you not have to tape off the sides because of the "binding"? Can you explain how that works to me?

Again nice job, really awesome color! :icon_thumright: