My first guitar project - The Snowstorm SG
Hey everyone! I'm going to document my first ever project for you all, right here from my laptop in Cambridgeshire!
Now, I have to make it clear, a perfect result is not what I want. I don't know if I'll get a playable guitar from this, or just a personal piece of wall art. But without further ado...
Step 1 was to pick the guitar - easy. 1990s Epi SG310 with a bolt on neck. Drab sounding electronics, and since it was never played, I thought I'd have a little fun with my first guitar...
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/8...b428f6bb_z.jpg
IMAG0234 by Paul has some old cameras, on Flickr[/IMG]
Not a pretty guitar. Scratched, dented, dropped, part melted and fallen from a skateboard (long story). PERFECT.
It needed to be stripped, so I invested in a Mouse palm sander. It still took many many many hours.
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/8...a06c7597_z.jpg
IMAG0259 by Paul has some old cameras, on Flickr[/IMG]
Interestingly, the innards of the guitar had been modified by a previous owner, further reducing the real world value of this guitar. I continue.
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8...f3ebbe3f_z.jpg
IMAG0286 by Paul has some old cameras, on Flickr[/IMG]
Plain white wood primer from a rattle can was used. Sanded between the last few coats to make it a little more even. It was still textured, but I really wasn't too fussed. That could add to the desired final look.
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8...d27c69c7_z.jpg
IMAG0288 by Paul has some old cameras, on Flickr[/IMG]
A test piece of wood was used to test the paints. It turned out fine, though there was not much glitter in the white bit (I was using a glitter paint, which was clear enamel to show the white primer underneath). I will add a bit more glitter.
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/8...7ceccd2f_z.jpg
IMAG0295 by Paul has some old cameras, on Flickr[/IMG]
BOOM. This is how it looks from a few feet away. The paint wears thinner towards the top, normally not desireable, but unavoidable for me and something I actually wanted - a sort of sunfaded look. Note the scratchplate had also been primed and screwed on.
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/8...f41c0fa0_z.jpg
IMAG0293 by Paul has some old cameras, on Flickr[/IMG]
The arse end of the SG. Not as good as the front, but it's only the back, right?!
The primer does not match the paints very well, and has repelled it in a few spots, which are visible as tiny white spots. However, as the guitar is the 'snowstorm' guitar, this actually really adds to the feel of it. I'm currently in the process of using a gloss varnish on it (polyurethane for the sake of cheapness). Then I'll polish it with autoglym (what? It makes things shiny...), then put the original neck back on (which is still going be cherry red on the back - I'll marble that another time, maybe over Christmas).
Hope someone out there enjoys seeing me destroy this blessed guitar (my first! You never forget your first...)
P
