Basket Case 52 Goldtop .... Conversion Candidate Just For Me

[boogieongtr]

A bit more fading

Scrape the binding

Ready to tint the binding

 

[KS 5150]

Of course! :jim

This one has only faded a little.

Check out the fade.
Then gauge the amount of red it started with.

Hi Tom, that's such a beauty!! :dude: Is that the one that you had refinished to match the original burst coloring?!? (from the Guitar Collector DVD).

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Hi Tom, that's such a beauty!! :dude: Is that the one that you had refinished to match the original burst coloring?!? (from the Guitar Collector DVD).

No, that's the original seen on the cover of the DVD. :ganz

 

[Red Baron]

A bit more fading

That is a wickedly cool top! ...great choice.

 

[KS 5150]

No, that's the original seen on the cover of the DVD. :ganz

Great, thanks for clarifying! Both are absolute beauties!

 

[boogieongtr]

All the amber shot and just a bit more fading.

Final sand and ready to buff out.

This is going to be a very light guitar, about 8 lbs when assembled.

Les Paul Model silkscreen

 

[MapleFlame]

Sweetness

 

[Minibucker]

Holy cow that fading came out nice!

 

[viking LP]

boogieongtr quote :"All the amber shot and just a bit more fading"

How do you do the fading btw ? Thanks.

 

[Three13]

This is turning out to be a spectacular looking conversion. Almost makes me want to rethink doing my next project as a Goldtop...

 

[bluesforstevie]

How do you do the fading btw ? Thanks.

Very quickly. Apparently...:wow

Killer looking guitar. I love the prefaded color too.

 

[MapleFlame]

How do you do the fading btw ? Thanks.

It's called outdoor Sunshine :jim :jim :jim :jim

 

[Minibucker]

So you can specifically go for an aniline dye that's the same 'formula' as '58-'59, and hence fades very quickly under strong UV light, correct?

Is it quicker when done before the lacquer clearcoats et al?

 

[boogieongtr]

Amazing progress in only 2 weeks and it's been really interesting watching it come together. :jim

I have been working on the conversion for 2 months and had it almost completed before starting this thread. I didn't want it to drag on

So you can specifically go for an aniline dye that's the same 'formula' as '58-'59, and hence fades very quickly under strong UV light, correct?

Is it quicker when done before the lacquer clearcoats et al?

I fade the guitar after all the build coats are applied. I don't have room in my shop for a tanning bed so I use direct sunlight and watch so the temperature & humidity aren't too high.

 

[boogieongtr]

I am using a MoJo Axe pickguard and ThroBak pickups & rings for this project.

Fun time... assembly

Retrospec pots & caps.

A few shots of the pickup routes (you can see some gold from the original finish in the wire channel)

I also decided to use brass studs for the bridge

Mahogany plugs didn't go away but still look better than the oak ones.

And yes my end plug...

 

[Three13]

Beautiful work - how does it sound?

 

[boogieongtr]

The guitar came without backplates so I will need to make them. First I make a template out of MDF.

Trace out the new plates using a set of 52 backplates from another guitar I have in my shop.

Rough cut on my band saw

With some 2 sided tape, a router with a bearing bit cut the plates to the exact profile.

Same with the switch control cover.

Bore out using a countersink bit.

Backplates installed.

Fret job done, original inlays look great but the board is dry.

I condition the Brazilian fingerboard with some Luthiers Delight. This oil is made from Brazilian rosewood oil.

This project is completed and I'll be posting one more time with completed pics stay tuned..........:bug

 

[corpse]

From 7/28 until 8/20- just like Boardwalk Empire- the season goes by too fast...

 

[bushburst]

Cannot wait! Love your work!

 

[KS 5150]

Fantastic job, as always!!