my latest project: Flying V from hell

[jimistone]

This is my latest project and it‘s been a BLAST so far!
It’s a Epiphone korina wood ‘58 flying V replica. All hardware, pickups, and electronics will be Gibson (I already have it all).

I have always loved “old school“ style hot rod flames on black cars…I figured the same thing on a guitar would look cool.
I have pictures documenting each step of this entire project but they are on my cell phone and I don’t know how to (translation = it’s a pain in the ass) transfer them to my computer. So, I got my daughter to take some pics with her digital camera for me and put them on my computer.

Here is where I’m at so far:

The guitar has been completely painted, cured to a hard sandable finish, and block sanded with 400 grit and now ready for the clear coat.. I used dupli-color brand acrylic lacquer for the colors (red, orange, yellow, and black). I will be using Deft clear nitro lacquer for the clear coats. After the clear coat cures I will wet sand with increasing grit sandpaper (2000 grit being the final grade) Then I will break out the buffer and Dupont renuizit and put the mirror finish on this baby!

I manufactured a pick guard and input jack mount out of plexi glass…(probably the toughest part of the whole project…the final :keeper” was my 4th attempt). I wanted as much flame as possible on the face of the guitar.
A white or black pick guard and jack mount didn’t really fit into the equation.

I’m torn on whether to keep the flames on the back of the neck or sand them off. I don’t know if I like them or not at this point.
Now’s the time to “take them or leave them” I guess…before I clear coat.
Any input on that from y’all would be appreciated.
Are they a bit too much or do they look cool?

 

[jimistone]

here is how the jackplate and the pickguard fit into the scheme of things:

 

[jimistone]

the headstock:

 

[ocnor]

You painted over Korina wood with those hideous flames? Sand all of that crap off before it's too late!

 

[Corndog]

Flames...*sigh*. O.K. if you MUST do flames try pin striping 'em in sky blue.
It really pops 'em.

 

[Roguetitan]

You painted over Korina wood with those hideous flames? Sand all of that crap off before it's too late!

I'm with you but um it is a flying V we are discussing after all

My question is who in their right mind would use Korina wood on such a hideous guitar shape

oh I forgot its an Epiphone

good looking paint job though.

 

[Corndog]

A V is pretty tame by todays standards.

 

[Roguetitan]

A V is pretty tame by todays standards.

that depends on which pickups is in it

 

[Roguetitan]

why did you paint the fretboard for?
you need to yank those frets out and inlay some MOP flames on the fretboard that would add to the whole flame scheme.

 

[danw]

Yeah, I'm assuming (hoping?) that fretboard's taped over. I vote to leave the flames on the neck. I've always though that far too little attention is paid to the backs of guitars. If you end up hating it, you can always sand back down to the wood. It's not like you're opposed to refinishing.

 

[jimistone]

Yeah, I'm assuming (hoping?) that fretboard's taped over. I vote to leave the flames on the neck. I've always though that far too little attention is paid to the backs of guitars. If you end up hating it, you can always sand back down to the wood. It's not like you're opposed to refinishing.

Of course the fretboard is masked. I'm not done spraying it yet.

 

[jimistone]

You painted over Korina wood with those hideous flames? Sand all of that crap off before it's too late!

I'm not crazy about the natural wood look of a Korina guitar...V or Explorer.

I like the flames better.

 

[KillerV]

If I'm not mistaken the Epiphone korina guitars only have a very thin veneer of korina on top of an alder body, so it's not such a bad sin in my book.

Nice work on the paint-job. I'm not too fond of that type of flames on anything other than a bike (and even on those I think it's been done a couple too many times....) bu the paint-job was done nicely. I think pinstriping will really make the flames pop out.

I really dig V's. Here's one that I built:

 

[ocnor]

Imagine if you will.... a place where people paint flames and stars on their guitars... and actually believe that it looks cool.

 

[KillerV]

Not that I think that anyone needs to explain their choice in guitar-finish or why they think it looks cool... but mine is a tribute to my favorite music video - Tonight, Tonight by the Smashing Pumpkins, who is one of my favorite bands. The walls of the vocal booth in my studio are painted the same. Anyway, that guitar has made complete strangers come up to me in the street more than a year after I last played in their area and ask about it. They then continue to speak to me about my music. Not that that was the primary idea behind building the guitar, but it definitely leaves an impression on people.

I think if you want to make a guitar an extention of something you like or think is cool, then that makes that particular guitar so much more personal and special. I will say that I would also keep the guitar as is if it was a solid korina guitar (BTW, seems like the newer Epiphones are solid korina, but I believe the older ones had the veneer), but in the end the OP has to be happy with his axe. I've certainly seen other korina guitars that weren't just clear-laquered. And I do think he did some nice work on the paint job.

 

[Thurgood]

very cool Jimistone. Not my fae ax or paint scheme, but do waht ya like. In trms of odd gtrs, Gibby RD77. How is the heat where you are at? (prepositions are cool at ends of sentences) is at a prepo?

 

[Hard2Hear]

I think its cool.


You ever seen the GMP V's with sparkle flames on them? Very cool guitars.

 

[Nightfire]

I dont care for V´s at all.
I dont care for Flames on guitars at all.
I dont care for stars on guitars at all either.

BUT, man, your doing something most of these guys arent and that is building your own guitar and doing it the way you want to. Kudos. While I may not like it, congrats and respect on a job well done

Mike

 

[Sloan]

Woah, this internets is full of asshoelses. Plz shred on faces.

 

[Roguetitan]

Imagine if you will.... a place where people paint flames and stars on their guitars... and actually believe that it looks cool.

that is just too funny
but I must be in the twilight zone because I think it loks cool

I dont care for V´s at all.
I dont care for Flames on guitars at all.
I dont care for stars on guitars at all either.

BUT, man, your doing something most of these guys arent and that is building your own guitar and doing it the way you want to. Kudos. While I may not like it, congrats and respect on a job well done

Mike

I make guitars for a living