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|  Not sure how this is going to progress, I've already sanded some of the top and the high spots look like they are showing the bracing under top. I know the top is a cheap laminate. Not looking for a good wood look although i considered a veneer on top. Probably would go gloss or matte black after a ton of filler. Any thoughts?
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | As long as it plays decently, cosmetics be damned! Shoot some stain on the top to even it out, a couple of clearcoats, and string it up. Suppose you could get creative with a rosette, if the original has eloped. |
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| the original rosette was attached to the pickguard. shows you how the cheap models were made. |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Cheap may be a bit harsh. Entry-level maybe, or inexpensive, as compared with the de rigueur product line. Applesauce models played pretty well, generally. Then, there's that aluminum neck........good excuse to learn slide guitar. |
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| I've owned this one since i was 13 (52 now). played it a lot in my stepdads bluegrass band back them. I punched a hole in the back when i fell on it last year thus the inner epoxy resin you can see. I'm just worried about sanding it too much and not being able to get a flat area. |
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| gonna do a lake placid blue metallic job on it. |
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| so update, the original finish was poly over a paint job and the wood is just plywood really. I tried 2 attempts at sealing it with vinyl sealer lacquer and got too many cracks. i'm going to do a light white poly wipe-on coat, then lacquer on top of that. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | You need to post play-by-play photos. 
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| cracks. applied too fast and too thick.
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Location: When?? | Yep. Vibration is going to be pretty limited with that thickness. Could make for an 'interesting' sound though. |
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| i missed the part where they say not to do more than 1-2 coats of sealer. my current attempt is much lighter. |
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Location: When?? | So is this white just a sealer, or is it the final finish color, or are you still going for the metallic blue? |
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| thats just the sealer, 2 light coats. next up is sand to 400 then metallic blue. |
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| progress, im 5-6 coats past this now so building layers.. no cracks yet 
Edited by slodoug 2020-11-17 2:38 PM
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Nice Rosette.
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| update: still applying clear coats. I'm re-masking after every 2-3 coats. My next strategy is to smooth out the edges where it meets the plastic binding. Not sure that if I brush it there, it will alter the metallic look versus the spray on the rest of it. Maybe brush to build it up, then spray to finish after ultra fine masking it? Can I lacquer the binding or will it not stick? I was planning on either leaving the binding plain or having an artist friend use acrylic on it.
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Location: When?? | Looking much better than the pre-work photos, that's for sure. I am curious to know how it will eventually resonate with so many layers on it. And I agree with Arthur... nice rosette. It seems that brushing would be especially risky, even if sprayed afterward for the final. And, just my opinion, I think the white binding looks good with the blue.
Edited by Love O Fair 2020-11-24 11:37 PM
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| final coat tonight. there were lots of runs and uneven coats it kind of lends itself to the "liquid metallic" look i was going for. I'll wait a month and then test it with strings, then decide whether or not to sand/buff, leave it, or make it a decoration.
Edited by slodoug 2020-12-23 10:40 PM
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Location: Muenster/Germany | Looks very good, I guess live even better than on the photo.You managed a fine metallic-effect, classic Mercedes style. And if this would be mine I would also make a matching headstock, like on some old Statocasters. At least the tuner buttons. |
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| after sanding out some cracks and doing another blue coat and more clear, i think its done. waiting until march to string it.  |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Nice work. Developed some tendinitis in that elbow, yet? |
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| holding strings again with no issues. sounds great.
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR |  
Nice.
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Location: northern Georgia | Very good, too nice for a beater. Is it tuned up to standard or down a bit? |
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Location: When?? | Glad to know it all came together to satisfaction and is sounding great. Looks very nice. Play on! |
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| standard tuning |
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Location: Muenster/Germany | 12 string cadillac. Great job. |
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Location: Cass County, Texas | Great results. Thanks for sharing your project. Another successful "I have the determination, and I will find the way" story here on OFC.
Edited by Tom The Piddler 2021-03-19 7:27 AM
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