NGD/Refinish - RG7620 to RG7CT "esque" Conversion

apadua · #1 02-01-2011, 05:08 PM

Hello Everyone,

I have had this guitar for a couple of months now and I am in the process of refnishing it..

I actually put it through its paces for a good month before I started the refinish process.

Man... I don't know what took me soo long to get a 7 string... Even my cheeszzy Chuga Chuga riffs sound kweeel...

Anyways, the stock pups are not bad by any means but not as clear as some of my other guitars.. So I will be swapping them out with the LF/CL combo when it is all said and done...

I am pretty far along in the refinish and will post pictures every now and then..

As the title says I will be going for the RG7CT look.... and be using a venner top to do the sunbusrt

apadua · #2 02-01-2011, 05:15 PM

Disassemble

Sanding

I was surprised how the grain looked.. Was not expecting Basswood to look like this...

This will stain nicely....

apadua · #3 02-01-2011, 05:31 PM

Supplies

Staining the Body

After 2nd coat .. It is getting darker..

Doh... looks like I did not remove all of the sealer. You can see the light spots in the top left horn and the at the bottom...

apadua · #4 02-01-2011, 05:38 PM

Re-sand and stain again..

Look like a violin finish when the flash hits it...It is actually much darker..

Let dry overnight

All dry now

linuxpenguin · #5 02-02-2011, 01:41 AM

Cool man

A veneer top would have been sweet, but I like what you are doing here. What are you using to top coat it?

AlaskaBat · #6 02-02-2011, 01:46 AM

I like it, but also think a figured veneer would have been really sweet on the top.

apadua · #7 02-02-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxpenguin

Cool man

A veneer top would have been sweet, but I like what you are doing here. What are you using to top coat it?

I am still going with a veneer top... Stay tuned

Hopefully, I can post more pictures later today..

I will be about 3 cans using Deft Clear for the top coat..

Scarified_pr · #8 02-02-2011, 12:28 PM

That is exactly what I'm thinking for my 1st project. Thanks for the pics. Now I know I'm not the only one thinking about this.

I would love to see the veneer in there too.

Keep posting pics man. I'm catching ideas here.

apadua · #9 02-02-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarified_pr

I would love to see the veneer in there too.

Keep posting pics man. I'm catching ideas here.

here is a little tease

D.M.RG7620 · #10 02-02-2011, 12:48 PM

looks sexy!

Scarified_pr · #11 02-02-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apadua

here is a little tease

What kind of glue did you use to put the veneer on?
Do you have a template for the routing?
Did you route the first (holes and tremolo cavities) and then put it on the body or routed it once it was in place?

apadua · #12 02-03-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarified_pr

What kind of glue did you use to put the veneer on? ?

I used Titebond II which I picked up from home depot..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarified_pr

Do you have a template for the routing??

No I don't.. But that is an EXCELLENT idea.. I should of made one out of construction paper or something... I have had issues cutting/routing the veneer.. It took me 3 tries to get it right.

. Especially at $20 a pop it starts to add up...Since the Veneer is so thin you have to be carefull because it can split and crack if you are too aggressive with it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarified_pr

Did you route the first (holes and tremolo cavities) and then put it on the body or routed it once it was in place?

IMPORTANT TIP: You want to do one side at a time. That way you have access to the cavities when cutting the veneer. You will need an exacta knife with plenty of replacement blades. I used 6 blades for this project.. Also DO NOT rush... I will be posting my mistakes later in this thread..

apadua · #13 02-03-2011, 06:41 PM

Prep for Sanding Sealer

Supplies
Deft Sanding Sealer, Tack Cloth

Wipe down body with Tack Cloth

After S&S:

You can see it looks kind of dusty/ashy.. Don't worry this will be gone after light sanding and when you apply the clear coat..

All Dry...

Scarified_pr · #14 02-03-2011, 06:48 PM

Where's the veneer? Are this previous pictures?

apadua · #15 02-03-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarified_pr

Where's the veneer? Are this previous pictures?

The veneer in the earlier post.. was just a tease... I will be posting pics of that later in thread..

I took alot of pictures and want to post them in sequence... This will include the mistakes I encounter along the way.