transparent green on mahogany

[fdesalvo]

Thanks for reviving this!  I’d have never seen it otherwise. That’s gorgeous.

 

[bagman67]

Hi!
I found this thread on google by searching for the same thing. I am also building a mahogany Tele and I really want to go green just like yours. Looks lush! I have ordered some Mixol green. Can you tell me more about what lacquer thinners/retarders you used? Also, what colour grain filler did you use in the end? I'm planning on using finishing oil on mine.

Many thanks!!

Justin

Hey, Justin. Thanks for the kind words.


I used Behlen Qualalacq reducer and retarder, but it will work with really any brand, since the stuff boils off completely in minutes and so will not contaminate whatever you use as a topcoat.


I followed up, as I recall, with a shellac sealer (Zinsser rattle can), and then filled the grain with Timbermate ebony waterbased filler. 


Topcoats were Deft in a rattle can, which looked great but has really taken a beating.  Not a durable finish, and I applied it pretty light to boot. 


If you are doing a home-brew finish and you are ultimately looking for a relic look, you can get there without resorting to trickery by using rattle-can Deft and just playing the hell of the instrument, leaving it out of its case on a stand, and cohabitating with a toddler in the guitar's early years.


Here's our girl today.  This guitar is ALWAYS out, gets picked up and played every day by me and my 18-year-old son, so it looks grubby as can be, but it still sounds and plays as good as on day one. I had to do one truss rod adjustment when I moved back from Vegas to San Jose a few years back, but other than that the neck has been very stable.

 

[rgand]

It still looks good. It just has a little enjoyment rubbed onto it.

 

[fdesalvo]

It still looks good. It just has a little enjoyment rubbed onto it.

That’ll buff right out!

 

[Bodsterbug]

Thank you! So, I have finished mine now, inspired by this guitar!! Love it! Team Green Tele!

 

[fdesalvo]

Rad!

 

[rgand]

That's a fine shade. Looks good.

 

[bagman67]

That looks smashing!  Great work!

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Ok, I’ll bite: what’s going on with the lights? At first I thought they were just knobs with an LED, but looking closer it doesn’t appear that there are any knobs there? Looking closer it appears the pickups are backlit as well? Whatever it is, it, cool!

In red it would definitely be Cylon tech...

 

[Bodsterbug]

Ok, I’ll bite: what’s going on with the lights? At first I thought they were just knobs with an LED, but looking closer it doesn’t appear that there are any knobs there? Looking closer it appears the pickups are backlit as well? Whatever it is, it, cool!

In red it would definitely be Cylon tech...

Sorry for extremely late reply! They are LED push button switches, one latching (for the LED's to power on) and one as a kill switch. There are 3 LEDs under each pickup (just the strip type) with a diffuser cut from some clear plastic. All powered from a single 9v battery mounted in the back. Bit crazy, but I like crazy! lol!

 

[Rick]

:yourock:

 

[JPOL007]

Love it :icon_thumright: The green turned out sweet.